ESPN tries to spice up the November 9 event

In a bid to gain more ratings and make the televised version of the World Series of Poker final table more interesting, it’s being reported that ESPN has flown the Hinkle brothers from Kansas to Las Vegas. They’re being given front row seats in the Penn and Teller Theater at the Rio to view the live event.

The brothers Hinkle, Grant and Blair, both won WSOP bracelets this year, which is the first time that brothers have ever won two WSOP events in the same year. On May 31st, Grant coughed up $1,500 to enter one of the early No Limit Texas Hold’em events. He ran though one of the largest fields in WSOP history to take down an $831,462 payday. Not even two weeks later, Blair entered another No Limit Hold’em event and walked away with the gold bracelet and $507,563.

So between the two brothers you have over one million in total tournament winnings and one heck of a public interest story. That’s exactly what ESPN is hoping to capitalize on when they broadcast the final table next week. Without question, the two brothers will not only be seen watching the event but almost certainly will be the focus of a breakout feature during the two hour TV episode.

The debate still rages on whether the delay of the final table being played was a good idea for ESPN and the WSOP. This author thinks that it will pay dividends over the long haul but in the interim, the poker playing world continues to wonder aloud if this whole thing is good for poker.