Poker Forum - 2008 WSOP Final Table On ESPN Ratings Gold

Sure there were those who criticized the World Series of Poker's new main event format, where the final table play was delayed by a few months.

Why stop while players are hot after all?

Well it looks like the brass of the WSOP knew what they were doing as "almost-live" ratings for the final table on ESPN are in.

According to the Associated Press, ratings from this year's final table—which aired on same-day delay last week—were up 50 percent over last year's event.

ESPN reported, 1.9 million viewers tuned in to watch Danish player Peter Eastgate defeat Ivan Demidov to take home the $9.15 million first prize as opposed to the 1.25 million who watched Jerry Yang take last year's main event.

In fact, ratings were 18 percent better than in 2003 when Chris Moneymaker won.

The ratings, as the AP said, were "higher than the cable network's average for regular season major league baseball and NBA games last season."

No word on if the new format will be used next year.