ESPN to broadcast 2020 World Series of Poker Main Event

(PRESS RELEASE) -- For the 19th consecutive year, ESPN will exclusively broadcast the 2020 World Series of Poker Main Event on Sunday, 28 February at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN2. The series will feature four hours of hand-to-hand action of the International and Domestic Final Tables, culminating in the first-ever Heads Up World Championship. Hosting the program is legendary announcer Lon McEachern, and for the first time as co-host, poker pro Jamie Kerstetter.

The 51st year of the World Series of Poker (WSOP) $10,000 No-Limit Hold-Em World Championship, also known as the Main Event, was unlike any of the previous fifty events, taking on a new hybrid format due to travel restrictions and out of an abundance of caution for player safety. Play began online, with one entry on WSOP.com or GGPoker before shifting to a live setting for final table play on two continents. The winners of the two final tables then battled in the first-ever heads-up duel for the World Championship at Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. At stake, $1 million in additional prize money courtesy of Caesars Entertainment, Inc. and GGPoker, and the most valuable trophy in the world of sports - the 2020 diamond and gold encrusted WSOP Main Event bracelet.

“We could not be more excited to deliver poker fans new primetime content on ESPN,” said Ty Stewart, Executive Director of the World Series of Poker. “With compelling storylines and unpredictable action, these episodes remind us all why there was a poker boom in the first place.”

“We are ecstatic that even in an unprecedented year, we can give our audience another fantastic World Series of Poker event to look forward to,” said Tim Bunnell, Senior Vice President, Programming & Acquisitions, ESPN. “The format may be different, but the action remains captivating.”

The 2020 Main Event made millionaires of both first and second place for the domestic field, and when combined with first and second place payouts for the international bracket, saw four players hitting the millionaire mark thanks to the tournament.