With its 47th edition due to kick off at the end of May this year, the World Series of Poker has announced a number of administrative improvements designed to make players’ lives easier.
Perhaps the biggest of these is the introduction of eQueue Payouts, which will hopefully obviate the long payment lines and frustrating hours of waiting that players complained about last year, especially in the very big competitions.
Using eQueue Payouts players will be able to join a pay-out list and be texted when their pay-out is ready for collection (within minutes) at the cashier.
The company is also introducing an idea from one of its past commentary providers in the form of a chip count tool it has dubbed “Chipin”. Similar to the old MyStack app, the new tool allows players to update their chip counts whilst participating in an event. Chip counts will automatically be updated on the WSOP.com site, synching with the reporting system.
WSOP’s social communications will also be upgraded through the appointment of Pocket Fives community manager Kevin “Kevmath” Mathers, who has been crowned Twitter Czar for this year’s activities.
Mathers has been much applauded in past years for his knowledge and live accessibility on Twitter during events, and he will now be responsible for the @WSOP and @WSOPcom Twitter accounts. He will additionally assist with the @WSOPTD and @WSOPChipIn Twitter accounts.
The rules on headphones are changing, with the “no headphones once the money bubble has been reached” regulation loosened. It will however continue to apply during final table action.
WSOP organisers have repeated their warning that wearing headphones does not exempt players from paying attention to verbal commands from officials.
Web Streaming will again be used at WSOP this year, with David Tuchman remaining the lead commentator, assisted by Tatjana Pasalic. The latter’s role will be expanded to give her more air-time experience, and she will organise player interviews for Tuchman to conduct from the booth.
It is clear that WSOP is putting considerable energy into improving all aspects of poker’s greatest live show this year, and online registration is no exception – see the full details here:
http://www.wsop.com/news/2016/Apr/7698/ONLINE-REGISTRATION-OPENS-FOR-2016-WSOP.html