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Virtual Roundtable As we go to press, the World Series of Poker has been in full swing for over a month and the Main Event is about to begin. The big buzz this year centers around the WSOP and ESPN moving the final table of the Main Event from July 16 all the way back to November 9 and 10. They are doing so in order to provide an (almost) live broadcast of the final table on November 11, just hours after the champion is crowned. This means there will be nearly four months from the time nine players make the final table until they play to the conclusion. Some of the positives they feel will come from this include the fact that most people won’t already know who won when it’s shown on television; players will have more time to line up sponsorships and coaches, review the play of their competitors, participate in other tournaments, and take advantage of the new publicity and promotional opportunities that will be available. Each of the players making it to the final table will receive ninth place prize money on July 14 when the finalists are determined. Harrah’s will then provide each of those players with an all-expense-paid trip for two for their return to Las Vegas in November to play the final portion of the tournament. For this version of The Cardroom’s Virtual Roundtable, we asked for your opinions on this change. Is it a good or bad idea (or maybe a bit of both) and why?
Shirley Prokosch When I first heard this new format for the WSOP final table I was totally against it. I thought it was one of the worst decisions ever. I didn’t feel it was right to have the nine players wait four months to play out a tournament they worked so hard in getting to the final table. I felt they would lose their momentum. It just didn’t seem fair for these individuals to have to wait to play out a grueling final table. However, after thinking about it, and reviewing all aspects of the game, I find it may be a huge advantage for some players. Depending on who the nine players are, it may be a great idea. In the past few WSOP final table events there have been many amateurs who have made it to the final table. This is where I believe it may be to the advantage for these players. With them having four months to prepare for the final table, they can decide if they should have a mentor or coach that could possibly help better their skill and knowledge for the final table. They can do research on the individuals they will be playing against to find out what kind of players they are. Knowing a little history about your competition could prove to be very valuable, especially with millions involved. So with this in mind, I feel the decision to wait is not a bad idea. However, announcing it days before the WSOP events started was not good public relations. I feel they should have done this year’s WSOP the same as past years, and introduced this November final table finish to begin in 2009.
Yvette Rupp Pushing back the final table at the WSOP Main Event may keep the “suspense” in who won and may even provide an excellent opportunity for the players to pick up sponsors. By doing so, you are making this all about what is good for the players rather than what is good for the game. Most players and spectators see the Main Event as not only a test of the player’s knowledge and skills but also of their endurance and stamina. Poker is one of the most mentally challenging sports that exist. Delaying the final table can change how the game is played and therefore affect the outcome. No other sport has their championship delayed, so why should poker? Allowing the players to review the play of other competitors is possibly going to change how they play. This is opening the door for players to develop an edge against the others’ habits, styles, knowledge, and overall game play. I would much rather have the final table played out in July and see who the true champion is, rather than a “doctored up” final table. Let’s get back to my original thought of keeping the suspense in who the winner is…. Is that what’s most important, or the integrity of the game itself? Jerry Yang, Madera Many of you may know that the TV ratings for poker have declined during the last year or so. I believe that Commissioner Jeffrey Pollack and the council members made their decision to postpone the final table based on what they feel is best for the future of poker. Therefore, let us stand behind them and support them in our thoughts and words of encouragement. Furthermore, with the 2008 Olympics taking place this summer, many viewers will tune away from the WSOP. Therefore, I think it’s a great idea that the final table will take place in November. May the 2008 WSOP be the most successful event yet! Matt Keikoan, San Rafael I say, what’s good for poker is good for me, and the increased publicity gained from this new format will, I believe, be good for poker. The downside is that the inexperienced players who make the final table (and there are ALWAYS some, if not many, inexperienced players at the final table of the Main Event) will have several months to get coaching and better prepare themselves for the finish; however, getting coaching, and actually putting that information into play, with the cameras, lights, and pressure of the situation, are two completely different things. I predict you will still see one, if not several, “meltdowns” or “Matusow blowups” that we inevitably see every year. And if I make that final table, and I have to deal with inexperienced players getting slightly better, while my game stays the same. . . well, I hope to have that problem!
Dennis Williams Personally I don’t like it at all. The World Series of Poker is going on now, and I think people want to know now, who the winner of the Main Event is. Why break the momentum of the tournament? This is like a marathon that gets stopped after twenty-five miles. Now you give the runners three months off to practice sprinting, then bring them back fresh to run the final mile. You’ll likely change the outcome of the event. If monetary considerations are the reason for this change, it’s a mistake. Aaron Fitzgerald, Fresno I think it’s a great idea. Not only will the nine become instant celebrities, but the public interest will be at an all time high. Everyone will know who they are, what pro or pros are coaching him or her, what website they’re affiliated with, and so on. It will resemble a reality show. Just like American Idol or Dancing with the Stars, the country will be captivated. “Who will win?” will be asked instead of “How did so and so win?” I think the positives outweigh the negatives in this case. Davin Anderson, The Cardroom This is a very interesting turn of events. The idea is actually a tremendous experiment in modern tournament structure especially with the addition of coaching, sponsorship and video replay leading up to the final table. I can’t wait to see how it turns out. That being said, if I was the chip leader of this years Main Event, or had momentum going into the final table, I would hate everything about it. I can say from personal experience in the Main Event that anything that changes the vibe, rhythm or momentum can be bad—very bad. The flip side is that any player, especially one that is new or feeling overwhelmed by the environment could benefit from advice and coaching prior to playing the final table. I for one would welcome a new twist to poker tournaments. The past few years of the same thing over and over is getting rather dull. I really enjoy the several variations that already exist (i.e., heads up tournaments) and that could come from this new format. The poker purest in me doesn’t believe that the WSOP Main Event needs to be changed or should be changed. Anyone who has been watching ESPN’s WSOP coverage has heard me say over and over in the introduction and in the repeat broadcasts: “This is the greatest tournament in the world!” |