Men Lie, Women Lie, Numbers Don't

Facts and figures. They make the world go around and, more often than not, tell a story without letting opinions or biases get in the way. Which numbers from the past week tell that story and what quick opinions do we have?

40 – Poker Central made massive news this morning, announcing a deal with the World Series of Poker and ESPN to provide same day, live coverage of the WSOP Main Event starting in 2017. Under the deal, ESPN will telecast an estimated 40 hours of live WSOP Main Event coverage starting on July 8^th and, just like in past years, the final table will be broadcast in its entirety and live.

9 – The only difference with that final table stream, there is no more November Nine. The WSOP Main Event will play to completion in the summer, with a two-day break taking the place of the four-month recess that has been in place for the last nine years. The November Nine was first introduced in 2008 and while it did create some great moments, a la Phil Ivey in 2009, the move makes sense.

12 – While Poker Central is now gearing up for the World Series of Poker, we haven’t forgot about the Super High Roller Bowl. The $300,000 buy-in event is just a dozen days away “25 Days of SHRBowl” has continued to roll on. From high-stakes crushers and businessmen, to players making their first Super High Roller Bowl appearance, the entire field is being featured before cards get in the air on May 28^th.

377.4 – Don’t look now but Bryn Kenney’s GPI Player of the Year lead is shrinking. Not to the point of concern though, as Kenney still holds an over 377 point gap between himself and second-place Sergio Aido. The GPI POY Top-10 includes four players that are competing in this year’s Super High Roller Bowl and that big buy-in event could certainly swing those standings before the WSOP begins.

51,900,000 – No matter how many of the GPI POY Top-10 is competing in the Super High Roller Bowl, with all due respect to those players, none of them carry the weight and star-power of Kevin Hart. The world-renowned actor and comedian rounds out the 56-player field and brings with him over 50 million Instagram followers. Throw some of them our way!