World Series of Poker Final Table Announcement

[The Loner]

There was a press conference earlier today to discuss the major changes that are coming to the World Series of Poker main event.

Late last night, USA Today reported that the World Series of Poker main event would be paused for 117 days. The main event would play down to 9 players, and then the tournament would be paused, picking up again in November. The reasons for making such a change were immediately obvious - higher ratings and a heightened interest in the final table.

Many players and casual observers couldn't believe the news, but it was confirmed by representatives of ESPN and Harrah's today.

The Main Event will begin on July 3rd and run until July 15th, when the final table is reached. The tournament will then be paused, restarting on November 9th, a full 117 days later. The tournament will then play down from 9 to 2 players, and the final heads-up battle will take place on November 10th. The final table will be broadcast on ESPN on November 11th, just one day after the winner is crowned. This will provide for a "nearly real-time broadcast" and should have a significant impact on ratings. ESPN will have less than 24 hours to cut and edit the final table broadcast.

All nine final table players will be paid out ninth place money on July 15th. The rest of the money will be placed in an interest-bearing account - the players will receive any interest that is accrued during this pause, and not Harrah's. As players are eliminated from the final table, they will receive the remainder of their money based on what position they finish in.

ESPN will air a "Final Table Preview" Show on November 4th that will give brief bios of each player at the final table, and detail what they have been doing during the pause in the Main Event.

Players will now get the opportunity to review footage of the Main Event prior to the final table. They will also be able to receive four months worth of coaching, negotiate lucrative endorsement deals and sell pieces of themselves.

Any player that is unable to attend the final table on November 9th, for any reason, will be blinded off.

Reaction to the announcement so far has been decidedly negative.

What do you think?

[The Loner]

This means that there will be a 117-day pause in the tournament.

ESPN have said that they will also air a "special" on November 4th that will talk about what the final table players have been doing between July and November.

The reason for the change is fairly obvious - higher ratings.

This change will impact the tournament and players in a number of ways, including:

-it will allow players more time to negotiate lucrative sponsorship deals for the final table

-it will allow players to receive extensive coaching from July to November

-it enhances the possibility that a player might not be able to participate at the final table due to illness, death or another reason (how bad would it look if a player were simply blinded off at the final table?)

-it will allow players more time to sell "pieces" of themselves at the final table

-it will allow players to review footage of the Main Event up to the final table and adjust their play accordingly

The people behind this decision say that it is good for the game and good for the "growth of poker".

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, so here is mine: I don't think that this is a good move at all.

Your Thoughts?

[smitch124]

I think its a great idea, maybe not the greatest for the players, but better for the fans. The actual play, unless your at the event pretty much happens in a vacuum and you don't get to see it until the results are well known.

Good Move.

[Wellahiya]

i suppose that ESPN will broadcast the tourney and what happend in teh tourney before they play the FT... and then, players at teh final table could get 'some kind of reads' and see the hole cards... if ESPN wouldnt do that, they'd spoil their own show... so this will happen, same with the HU... imho this will influence the play at the final table...

[Gerk]

Not suprisingly, most of the players I have seen quoted like Chan, Negreneau etc. seem to be behind it as they can attract alot of sponsors to wear their stuff with the time off.

Seems pro's could get some tendencies from the amateur players from watching their play during the initial rounds, but the amateurs could hire coaches to help them with the pro players still left, so that seems like it could go either way

My personal opinion is to have a time period off isn't that big a deal, but 4 months seems rather excessive to me. That would be kind of eerie to have some player make it and god forbid they pass on during the time off, but as Doyle Brunson said, I guess I will have to hang on for another 4 months

[revnecro1273]

i liked it last year when they showed the final table live...was decent to watch...i don't mind this idea by spacing it out...but why can't they just show the entire final table live again?

[iggs111]

stupidest thing i have ever heard.

[Bobtheicon]

This is like playing the Overtime in a football game the next day.

[Wellahiya]

Originally Posted by Bobtheicon

This is like playing the Overtime in a football game the next day.

that happend this season already, i remember a team being called back from the locker rooms!

a friend won his ME ticket 6 hours ago... now he bugs me to get one aswell

[rjb1816]

i understand the reasons behind it for ratings and sponsors, but if i'm a player i'm not happy about it. to get to the final table you have to be playing some great poker, making great reads...i just feel like you're robbing yourself of a better chance to win by losing your hot streak

[Kramer]

What if you're on a hot streak?
No problem says Two time main event winner Johnny Chan

Poker is a game of SKILL .
The hands are random.
ITS HOW YOU PLAY YOUR HAND .
I don't beleive in streaks ...

Chan says this format will allow players to connect with sponsors
who come up to them and say
" wear this patch , we'll pay you X amount of dollars"
No matter how you finish ..."

Daniel Negreanu also likes this format.

All finalists get to watch the boradcasts and go " oh did you see that?"

Players can get coaching.
Both great players and amateurs aliike will have an opportunity
to devise shcemes and plans for how they play.

Greg Reymer is torn
It may be huge for the growth of poker ,
However the down side is players may become completely different types of players between the time they got to final table ,
and when they play it .

Jerry Pollack , WSOP commissioner says its no different than
final chapter of American Idol or The Apprentice ...
Its about building interest and ex citement for the final
chapter of the storey he says ...

[JDSilk]

Its alright, but i feel that it will hurt the chip leader's mindset or someone who is on a run going into the final table.

[Bisket]

I guess they really want a pro to win this again. Huge advantage for them now.

[HoosierDaddy23]

eliminates that cinderella moneymaker type week where a guy just plays outta his mind and catches every card....this is a good idea for fans, but i think it would be annoying for a player...altho to get to the final 9, u cant be too bitter about much

[The Loner]

Originally Posted by Bisket23

I guess they really want a pro to win this again. Huge advantage for them now.

isn't it beautiful