The 2010 World Series of Poker (WSOP) will commence on May 27, 2010, in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, with two major changes slated for the 41st annual rendition of professional poker’s signature event.

WSOP officials made the announcement Thursday in Vegas.

For one thing, the WSOP will no longer feature a $50,000 buy-in H.O.R.S.E. tournament.

Instead, that event, which featured five types of poker (hold ‘em, Omaha, razz, stud and eight-or-better stud), will be replaced next year by a new event that will feature eight types of poker, but with only no-limit Texas hold ‘em once a final table is set.

WSOP officials said they dumped the $50K H.O.R.S.E. tourney because ESPN wouldn’t televise it as part of its WSOP TV coverage.

ESPN agreed to televise the new eight-game event next year if the final table were only hold ‘em, WSOP officials said.

(ESPN claims types of poker other than hold ‘em draw poor ratings on TV.)

Also new at next year’s WSOP will be a $25,000 buy-in, six-handed, no-limit Texas hold ‘em tournament.

The $40,000 buy-in, no-limit Texas hold ‘em tournament that was held at this year’s WSOP will not be repeated next year.

WSOP officials said the $40K event was a special one-time-only event to commemorate the 2009 WSOP, which was the 40th annual WSOP.

As usual, the WSOP’s key tourney will continue to be its so-called Main Event, a no-limit Texas hold ‘em with a $10,000 buy-in.

The 2010 WSOP gets underway at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino on May 27, 2009, and runs through July 17, 2009, with an off day for July 4.

Then, once again, a four-month hiatus will occur after the Main Event final table is set, until it is played out, in November.

(E-mail Tom Somach at tomsomach@yahoo.com.)