Poker News: 19/08/09

As ever 32Red Poker has all the latest poker news. This week learn how you can watch the WSOP until 2017 with ESPN – now that’s a long contact! We have the winners, movers and shakers in the offline poker world plus information on Shaquille O’Neal taking on the poker pros at their own game in televised poker tournament. Read on for more.

WSOP and ESPN Extend Broadcasting Agreement

Television broadcasting giants ESPN have agreed a seven year extension to their current agreement with the World Series of Poker over broadcasting rights.  The new deal with run until 2017.

ESPN are currently broadcasting WSOP 2009 highlights in the United States and, despite their bullish views on the future of televised poker, they have seen an 8% decrease in viewing figures over last years highlights.  Those figures are almost certainly due to pick up, though, as the more popular Main Event is broadcast instead of the side tournaments.

The deal also keeps the WSOP in the mainstream public eye.  President and commissioner of the World Series of Poker, Jeffrey Pollack, said; “This long-term agreement ensures that our content will continue to reach sports fans around the world through a wide variety of platforms.”

Chris Brammer wins BMPT Nottingham

A low turn out of just 82 players took their seats at the Dusk Till Dawn poker club in Nottingham, UK for the British Masters Poker Tour.  Puzzled organisers were at a loss to explain the low numbers but that didn’t stop some of the biggest UK poker circuit names trying their hand at the event.

Sam Trickett, Mike Miller, Dewi James, Neil Blatchley and eventual winner Chris Brammer all made the final table for this event.  Brammer looked strong throughout the closing stages and the Southampton based player wasted no time in despatching runner up Jonathon Butters to the rail to claim the victory.

The finalists placed as follows:

1st £14,000 – Chris Brammer
2nd £9,000 – Jonathan Butters
3rd £5,950 – Matt Perrins
4th £3,900 – Neil Blatchley
5th £2,750 – Sam Trickett
6th £2,150 – Trev Pearson
7th £1,700 – Dewi James
8th £1,400 – Matt Russell
9th £1,150 – Mike Miller

Poker Giants take on Basketball Giant

Over in Las Vegas, basketball superstar Shaquille O’Neal was filming the latest segment of his new reality TV show.  Shaq has been taking on sports stars at their own games for his new TV show titled “Shaq vs.” Michael Phelps and NFL quarterback Ben Roethlisberger have already felt the full force of the “Shaq Attack”.

Now, poker players are set to take on O’Neil as the basketball star takes his seat at the poker table.  Phil Hellmuth, Mike Matusow, Chris Ferguson, and Erick Lindgren are four of the big names being touted to take on Shaq at Texas Hold’em.

The quality of the show may be questionable but, as Americans continue their struggle to play online poker freely and legally, poker will certainly be the winner when the show is broadcast on the ABC network and once again associated with a US sports hero.

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