Exact dates for 2006 WSOP Main Event?

[MicroBob]

If I play on day 1a and somehow survive then my schedule is:

Day 1 - Fri, Jul 28
Day 2 - Tue, Aug 1
Day 3 - Fri, Aug 4



Enough players have trouble just getting off work for a couple days to make it out there for day 1 and 2 (and improvising if they somehow make it longer than that).


This new format looks like it could some even more SERIOUS scheduling issues for some.

You could be stuck out there until day 3, which takes over a week, and STILL not even make it into the money (so it's not like you're in a position where you can quit your job).


Do we really believe that the main-event will get 8,000 players next year?
My guess would be about 5,600 again.