Saturday, July 4, 2009

Las Vegas, NV--The Main Event tournament at the World Series of Poker began with opening festivities. WSOP President and Commissioner opened up the tournament by introducing WSOP Tournament Director Jack Effel, who recited customary instructions and rules to all players. Effel also thanked players, fans, and the entire staff at the WSOP. 

He recognized the dealers in particular for their skill and devotion, which received a nice ovation. Effel then announced any player dealt four jacks in this year's Main Event will receive a special prize from Jack Link’s Beef Jerky valued at more than $100.

The microphone then passed back to Pollack who revealed the 2009 WSOP platinum and diamond bracelet to the large crowd. This marked the first time poker's most coveted prize has been shown in a mass public display.

Next, Pollack introduced "Sasquatch," a huge hairy man-beast who is the face of the official WSOP sponsor Jack Link’s Beef Jerky. Sasquatch was given the honorary "Shuffle-Up and Deal" honors. The monster blathered "Shuffle-Up and Deal" to a room full of 2,000 people and was heartedly applauded by the crowd as he hugged both the Commissioner and the Tournament Director, who were the unexpected targets of Sasquatch's affections.

This is the fourth consecutive year that the WSOP has been guided by Tournament Director Jack Effel. After being assigned as the Assistant Tournament Director in 2005, he assumed the top floor position in 2006 and has now overseen operations for the four largest poker tournaments in history.

The tournament officially began on July 3, 2009 at 12:07 pm.

-WSOP-