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Unless you’re one of the lucky poker fans currently sitting on the rail at the Rio in Las Vegas, text articles and brief video clips have been the only way to follow along with the 2011 World Series of Poker. Until now, that is – ESPN is currently streaming coverage of the WSOP Main Event, making the world’s richest poker tournament accessible to the international masses.

ESPN’s Main Event coverage will be broadcasted as unedited video with a 30-minute tape delay, and hole cards will be displayed on-screen. In an interview with PokerListings, ESPN Senior Director of Programming Doug White said that the sports broadcasting company will introduce several new features designed to enhance the viewer’s experience.

ESPN’s coverage will mainly focus on two feature tables, prioritizing calls, all-ins and other dramatic action whenever possible. In typical sports coverage fashion, the live poker action will be broken up with biographical profiles of previous bracelet winners such as Jake Cody and Chris Moneymaker.

David Tuchman and Lon McEachern are set to provide the stream’s commentary, while Kara Scott will be on the floor augmenting coverage. As play continues, poker pros will join Tuchman and McEachern in the booth to discuss strategy and analyze the hands currently in play.

If you make a point of watching ESPN’s World Series of Poker coverage every year, you may be in store for a surprise this year as POKER PROductions is taking over coverage responsibilities for the first time. POKER PROductions is the same company responsible for shows such as High Stakes Poker, WSOPE and Poker After Dark, so you can expect ESPN’s WSOP broadcast to share some stylistic touches with those programs.

Coverage will be shown on ESPN until July 19, with an official telecast scheduled to begin with Norman Chad on July 26. The telecast will continue for 16 weeks, right up until the final table in November.