One of the many factors that has made the World Series of Poker a notable and challenging tournaments series is the endurance factor. Playing poker for days on end, with some tournaments running until the sun comes up again is not something to be taken lightly. Things have changed however, as that particular aspect of the WSOP is going the way of the dodo bird for the 2011 WSOP. This year play will always be stopped for the day after 10 levels are played

After hitting the 10th level, all surviving players will get their poker chips bagged and logged for the night and that tournament will continue the following morning. According to the WSOP, this stoppage will be mandatory and enforced no matter how many players remain in the tournament.

This new rule should put an end to the late nights that would sometimes see players still competing as the sun came up the following day – a great way to get yourself drained and sick for the rest of the WSOP tournaments.

The 2011 WSOP will take place at the Rio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas as usual and the start date has been set for May 31 and will wrap up on July 19 for everyone except the final nine players.

The WSOP $10,000 No Limit Hold’em Main Event structure will not change however, as it will see its Day 1A on July 7. The final November Nine will be established 12 days later on July 19 and there will be no mandatory stop time.

Once the November Nine are established they will return to the Rio, as usual, in November to play it out for the WSOP bracelet, millions of dollars and of course, poker’s greatest honor.

Last year’s winner was Jonathan Duhamel from Quebec, Canada. He beat a field of 7,319 players and returned home with nearly $9 million in cash.

If you’re looking for a seat to the 2011 WSOP you’ll want to keep an eye on Juicy Stakes online poker room which will offer online qualifiers to the WSOP and many more great international poker tournaments.