ESPN Coverage of the 2016 WSOP Main Event Begins September 11
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The wait is almost over for poker fans waiting to get their annual fix of World Series of Poker Main Event coverage on ESPN. The 2016 WSOP Main Event begins airing on Sunday, September 11 and will run for seven straight weeks as a lead up to the annual November Nine coverage.
The first six one-hour episodes will air on ESPN2 with coverage then switching to the ESPN main network. A total of 14 one-hour episodes will provide the lead-up to the 2016 November Nine allowing viewers at home the chance to get to know the players who make the final table before it airs live October 30 – November 1.
The November Nine was moved to late October this year to avoid conflicting with the U.S. Presidential Election. This isn’t the first time the network has moved the broadcast to avoid this conflict. In 2012 the November Nine was broadcast October 29 – 30 with Greg Merson emerging as World Championship.
The final table will air nearly-live across ESPN and ESPN2 networks beginning Sunday, October 30 at 8:30 PM ET. The opening night will be going up directly against Sunday Night Football on NBC which features the Philadelphia Eagles and the Dallas Cowboys. The next night the WSOP coverage moves to ESPN2 as ESPN will air the Monday Night Football game between the Minnesota Vikings and Chicago Bears.
Just like in past years, ESPN coverage begins on Day 4 to allow producers more time to showcase players who make deep runs, in particular the final nine players who comprise the 2016 November Nine.
Long-time commentators Lon McEachern and Norman Chad return to the call the action as does roving reporter Kara Scott. Expert analysis will come from poker pros Antonio Esfandiari and Phil Laak. Fans will also notice the feature table has an updated look and feel compared to the set used the past few years.
EPISODE | DATE | TIME (ET) | NETWORK |
Main Event – Episode 1 | September 11 | 8:30 PM | ESPN2 |
Main Event – Episode 2 | September 11 | 10:00 PM | ESPN2 |
Main Event – Episode 3 | September 18 | 10:30 PM | ESPN2 |
Main Event – Episode 4 | September 19 | 12:00 AM | ESPN2 |
Main Event – Episode 5 | September 25 | 8:30 PM | ESPN2 |
Main Event – Episode 6 | September 25 | 10:00 PM | ESPN2 |
Main Event – Episode 7 | October 02 | 8:30 PM | ESPN |
Main Event – Episode 8 | October 02 | 10:00 PM | ESPN |
Main Event – Episode 9 | October 09 | 8:30 PM | ESPN |
Main Event – Episode 10 | October 09 | 10:00 PM | ESPN |
Main Event – Episode 11 | October 16 | 8:30 PM | ESPN |
Main Event – Episode 12 | October 16 | 10:00 PM | ESPN |
Main Event – Episode 13 | October 23 | 8:30 PM | ESPN |
Main Event – Episode 14 | October 23 | 10:00 PM | ESPN |
Main Event – FINAL TABLE – LIVE | October 30 | 8:30 PM | ESPN |
Main Event – FINAL TABLE – LIVE | October 30 | 11:00 PM | ESPN |
Main Event – FINAL TABLE – LIVE | October 31 | 8:00 PM | ESPN2 |
Main Event – FINAL TABLE – LIVE | November 01 | 8:00 PM | ESPN2 |
Main Event – FINAL TABLE – Recap | November 20 | 9:00 PM | ESPN |
The 2016 Global Casino Championship, which was taped in August, will kick off the 2016 WSOP season on ESPN. The final table will air over two one-hour episodes beginning at 8 PM ET on Tuesday, September 6 on ESPN2.