Poker Writer
The 2026 WSOP schedule release came with a surprise: a delay of the Main Event final table, with a current TBA date, prompting many questions about the reason for the unclear dates, with a suggestion that it may be returning to mainstream television.
The premier poker tournament of the year will play as it normally does until the final table.
“Play will proceed until the final table is reached on July 13, with specifics on the Main Event final table play dates and broadcast coverage to be announced at a later date,” the press release said.
Will the Main Event Return to TV?
The delay to the final table creates parallels to the November Nine era from 2008-2016. The final table was delayed a full four months until November, when it was then broadcast live (with an hour delay) on ESPN. The November Nine era ended in 2017 when PokerGO got the WSOP broadcasting rights, with the final table returning to July.
But it remained on ESPN for three more years, with PokerGO and ESPN sharing the broadcasting schedule. 2019 ended up being the final year of the WSOP on ESPN, when Hossain Ensan was victorious. In 2021, a new broadcasting deal was reached with CBS Sports Network.
The WSOP 2026 schedule release did not mention broadcasting rights for this year’s Main Event. That leaves the door open for a potential return to TV.
GGPoker may also want to air it exclusively on its YouTube channel, which would no doubt deliver massive streaming numbers and likely be the channel’s largest stream to date. But if that was the plan, that probably would have been announced with the schedule release.
The announcement delay indicates hopes of a big announcement after negotiations.
When Will it Be Played?
If the final table returns to ESPN, the time frame is clear. One would think there would be room on ESPN’s schedule in late July, during a slow period in the American sports calendar following the 2026 World Cup final on July 19th and before the NFL and college football seasons start in September. The period from July 20th to about August 20th is a perfect time for the WSOP Main Event to get as much exposure as possible.
If it is not moving to ESPN, the timeframe is more open and could be held at virtually any time on the calendar. Delaying the final table by a couple of weeks or more would be used to promote it more than it has been in recent years.
One downside of the Main Event final table’s quick one-day turnaround in recent years is that it has limited promotional potential. For instance, Leo Margets becoming the first woman to make the final table in 2025 was a story with the potential to reach a mainstream audience but was limited by only one day of promotion.
New WSOP Producer Has ESPN Ties
The WSOP, now under GGPoker’s ownership, is certainly going to make many changes to how content is produced. Former PokerGO presenter Jeff Platt announced he is now working directly with the WSOP at the end of January.
His new role is host and producer of the WSOP. He has made it clear that he intends to shake things up in how the WSOP is presented. One of the confirmed changes is a daily livestream that will include elements of discussion, as you would expect at a sporting event.
Platt began working in poker as a TV broadcaster in 2018. Before that, he worked for ESPN, covering his hometown Dallas Mavericks, and also worked with the San Antonio Spurs.
The 39-year-old suggested that an announcement on the official Main Event final table dates may be coming soon. He states that it will “hopefully” be announced soon, indicating that the details are still in the process of being ironed out.
We will announce Main Event broadcast coverage plans and final table specifics (dates) at a later date, hopefully soon!
