It is now a mere 2 days until the main event of the WSOP begins.
Established in 1968, it was originally little more than a home game as the players had to receive the nod before they could attend. Clearly this was against the spirit of poker. Benny Binion, casino owner and card sharp, hauled it to over to Binion’s Horseshoe and started the process that caused it to evolve to the current format.
In 1971, there were only 6 entrants and the first prize was a titchy $30,000.
In 2006, swelled by online qualifiers, the tournament saw 8,773 hopefuls contribute a $10,000 entry fee which ultimately handed Jamie Gold a 12m dollar pay day.
It is big business and it appeals to a wide audience, which presumably explains why the event attracts a wide range of sponsors, including a Pepsi branded energy drink and a medicine to cure erectile dysfunction. (Intriguingly, it was originally claimed that Coca-Cola had a stiffening effect on its male drinkers so maybe the cola wars are now being fought under cover.)
With so much money on the table, it was inevitable that it would be subject to corporate take-over and attract the interests of TV.
In 2004, Harrah’s Entertainment bought The Horseshoe and the WSOP brands.
In 2005, the company moved the events to Harrah’s Casino and they, in their ultimate wisdom, have decided to plonk the start date for this year’s final tournament on July 3
However, it is the latest act of tinkering that is causing the greatest consternation: on July 14, the field will be reduced to 9 players but they will have to wait 114 days until they resume the action.
Between July 14 and November 9, ESPN will air tapes of the action up to the final table and then will cover the action live.
It is simply unacceptable.
Poker has a history of marathon one-to-one battles in which the participants gradually reveal their strengths and weaknesses. The original point of the contest was to be the last man standing after a battle of endurance and mental strength.
Now, with the players experiencing such a huge gap, they will be able to receive coaching or watch tapes of their opponents. No one will return to the game playing in the same style they were using in July.
The lucky, inexperienced punter has the potential to return as a Wikiplayer, having absorbed comment from a variety of sources and having had his kinks ironed out.
However, it favours the established pros and they know it: Daniel Negreanu, has said, ‘You’re going to see some really kind of more sophisticated play [with a] different dynamic.’
If you need a translator, what he actually said is: TV has been good to me and I’m not going to stir controversy by criticising a ludicrous decision.
It is possible that it will attract more people to poker but it still makes little sense as a scheduling decision. The majority of ESPN’s poker viewers have far more distractions for their couch time in November: the NFL, NBA and NHL.
In July, even the most ardent of baseball fans can appreciate a respite to the near constant thwacking of its season and poker offers the thrill of risk that is not replicated on the golf course.
If you are still in any doubt that is a terrible decision, consider the giant of the latter sport, Tiger Woods.
He plays events over four consecutive days and, typically, triumphs over the psychological and environmental conditions. He combines tremendous skill with sublime intuition but also displays great mental toughness and it gives him a great edge over his opponents.
If the final round were subject to a hiatus, would it not slightly dent your perception of a truly magnificent champion?
Established in 1968, it was originally little more than a home game as the players had to receive the nod before they could attend. Clearly this was against the spirit of poker. Benny Binion, casino owner and card sharp, hauled it to over to Binion’s Horseshoe and started the process that caused it to evolve to the current format.
In 1971, there were only 6 entrants and the first prize was a titchy $30,000.
In 2006, swelled by online qualifiers, the tournament saw 8,773 hopefuls contribute a $10,000 entry fee which ultimately handed Jamie Gold a 12m dollar pay day.
It is big business and it appeals to a wide audience, which presumably explains why the event attracts a wide range of sponsors, including a Pepsi branded energy drink and a medicine to cure erectile dysfunction. (Intriguingly, it was originally claimed that Coca-Cola had a stiffening effect on its male drinkers so maybe the cola wars are now being fought under cover.)
With so much money on the table, it was inevitable that it would be subject to corporate take-over and attract the interests of TV.
In 2004, Harrah’s Entertainment bought The Horseshoe and the WSOP brands.
In 2005, the company moved the events to Harrah’s Casino and they, in their ultimate wisdom, have decided to plonk the start date for this year’s final tournament on July 3
However, it is the latest act of tinkering that is causing the greatest consternation: on July 14, the field will be reduced to 9 players but they will have to wait 114 days until they resume the action.
Between July 14 and November 9, ESPN will air tapes of the action up to the final table and then will cover the action live.
It is simply unacceptable.
Poker has a history of marathon one-to-one battles in which the participants gradually reveal their strengths and weaknesses. The original point of the contest was to be the last man standing after a battle of endurance and mental strength.
Now, with the players experiencing such a huge gap, they will be able to receive coaching or watch tapes of their opponents. No one will return to the game playing in the same style they were using in July.
The lucky, inexperienced punter has the potential to return as a Wikiplayer, having absorbed comment from a variety of sources and having had his kinks ironed out.
However, it favours the established pros and they know it: Daniel Negreanu, has said, ‘You’re going to see some really kind of more sophisticated play [with a] different dynamic.’
If you need a translator, what he actually said is: TV has been good to me and I’m not going to stir controversy by criticising a ludicrous decision.
It is possible that it will attract more people to poker but it still makes little sense as a scheduling decision. The majority of ESPN’s poker viewers have far more distractions for their couch time in November: the NFL, NBA and NHL.
In July, even the most ardent of baseball fans can appreciate a respite to the near constant thwacking of its season and poker offers the thrill of risk that is not replicated on the golf course.
If you are still in any doubt that is a terrible decision, consider the giant of the latter sport, Tiger Woods.
He plays events over four consecutive days and, typically, triumphs over the psychological and environmental conditions. He combines tremendous skill with sublime intuition but also displays great mental toughness and it gives him a great edge over his opponents.
If the final round were subject to a hiatus, would it not slightly dent your perception of a truly magnificent champion?
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