Seth Palanski Announces Major Changes for 2012 WSOP

The 2012 World Series of Poker (WSOP) is set to be bigger and better than ever. Seth Palanski, WSOP Tournament Director, announced that the entire conference center at the Rio will be utilized for the first time, allowing for nearly 500 tables. The Brasilia Room will host 92 tables and will be the starting point for all afternoon tournaments.

The Pavilion will primarily host satellites, one-day deepstack tournaments, and cash games. The Amazon Room will host all major tournaments from start to finish. The second and subsequent days of afternoon tournaments will start at 1 PM instead of 2 PM. The first day of the most popular afternoon tournaments will last 11 levels, ending at 2 AM.

In terms of player amenities, the Miranda Room will be exclusively used for the poker kitchen, with suvenirs moving to the Rotunda Room. Caesars Entertainment now equates poker players to casino visitors, allowing them to use all Total Rewards benefits. Live video coverage will be available for some final tables, with additional cameras for flop games. The main event of the WSOP will have three starting days instead of four.