ESPN moving WSOP ME Final Table to November

Do you guys think this is good for the game? Playing a final table months after the rest of the tourney seems like a stupid idea to me because all the players can read up and study their opponents. i guess it's still fair in that everyone has the same opportunity, but i don't like it.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/poker/news/story?id=3375032

So fucking stupid. Momentum plays a huge ass factor in these tournaments which is going to suck for the chipleader going into it fucking five months later.

Harrahs already said they're not going to do it.

this is really stupid

I'd laugh if someone limped to the FT with like a 3 bb stack and had to wait for 3 months to shove it allin first hand

what the fuck, so stupid

pretty retarded the shortstack can just murder everyone in between that time

On May 01 2008 10:42 BJLTNYK wrote: Harrahs already said they're not going to do it.

Link?

rofl

fucking ridiculous

On May 01 2008 10:42 KOFgokuon wrote: I'd laugh if someone limped to the FT with like a 3 bb stack and had to wait for 3 months to shove it allin first hand

Man, that'd kill me.

this sucks pretty bad, i personally don't care having to come back a few months later to play but all the idiot fish will have time to learn how to play better

On May 01 2008 10:45 TheHuHu wrote: Show nested quote + On May 01 2008 10:42 BJLTNYK wrote: Harrahs already said they're not going to do it. Link?

wow i didn't realize this had been revisited...this was originally just brought up as an idea but harrahs nixed it(cant find the link). i guess someone caved...this is beyond dumb.

On May 01 2008 10:42 KOFgokuon wrote: I'd laugh if someone limped to the FT with like a 3 bb stack and had to wait for 3 months to shove it allin first hand

rofl

This has been brought up before but:

WHAT IF SOMEONE DIES
WHAT IF SOMEONE GETS ARRESTED
WHAT IF IM NOT FREE IN NOVEMBER ALREADY

THIS IS DUMBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB

never ever stupid idea

god this is so dumb & bad for ME fish if they cant make it in 5 months etc maybe they wont enter

On May 01 2008 11:14 BJLTNYK wrote: This has been brought up before but: WHAT IF SOMEONE DIES WHAT IF SOMEONE GETS ARRESTED WHAT IF IM NOT FREE IN NOVEMBER ALREADY THIS IS DUMBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB

they get blinded out. Actually thinking more about this, im not sure its that bad a thing. If its going to be good for the TV audience, and bring new people into poker, then it will probably be worth passing up on some tiny -EV (since the chance someone final tables is so slim).

Obv for whoever makes the final table and is good this will suck, but in general it might not be that bad, and its certainly good for all the random LPers who won't even be playing the ME (i mean it can't be bad for you guys!!!)

This sounds like just about the worst idea ever.

wtf u guys talking about ? This is gonna add a lot more popularity to poker in general, plus espn is gonna have like a 20 hour special on this thing.

And frankly if i made to the FT i wouldnt give a fuck if i had to wait a few months for it to play out, since i would already be a millionare.

On May 01 2008 10:45 Python817 wrote: pretty retarded the shortstack can just murder everyone in between that time

ROFL :D

FUCK my life this is so retarded

wowzers

On May 01 2008 12:06 albonycee wrote: wtf u guys talking about ? This is gonna add a lot more popularity to poker in general, plus espn is gonna have like a 20 hour special on this thing. And frankly if i made to the FT i wouldnt give a fuck if i had to wait a few months for it to play out, since i would already be a millionare.

How is it really going to add that much more popularity...the ME has been given huge coverage the past 5 years on ESPN. Anyone who has any interest in the game has already jumped aboard. That's not to say people aren't still learning the game but I think there's only so much room for future growth.

It's just really horrible for the better players at the table. Joe Schmo contruction worker knows he's a millionaire so he hires some pro to scout the rest of the FT and develop a game plan. It takes away the flow of the entire event and is just plain retarded.

utterly disgusting.

i dont think a single person actually planning to participate in the series will be happy with this. is there any way we the players can make our voices heard?

On May 01 2008 12:46 BJLTNYK wrote: Show nested quote + On May 01 2008 12:06 albonycee wrote: wtf u guys talking about ? This is gonna add a lot more popularity to poker in general, plus espn is gonna have like a 20 hour special on this thing. And frankly if i made to the FT i wouldnt give a fuck if i had to wait a few months for it to play out, since i would already be a millionare. How is it really going to add that much more popularity...the ME has been given huge coverage the past 5 years on ESPN. Anyone who has any interest in the game has already jumped aboard. That's not to say people aren't still learning the game but I think there's only so much room for future growth. It's just really horrible for the better players at the table. Joe Schmo contruction worker knows he's a millionaire so he hires some pro to scout the rest of the FT and develop a game plan. It takes away the flow of the entire event and is just plain retarded.

Because during the waiting time this will be on 24/7 on commercials, re-runs , interviews and whatnot will hype it so much forcing even the most disinterested to take a look at it.

Also the more ESPN and other networks dedicate to poker it gets one step closer to hopefully being legalized in the future.

Also the better the players get the more fun its gonna be to watch, so screw the pros.

actually yeah ur right in that its really good for the game. really terrible for the players that make it if they were already pro poker players (i'll be so annoyed if i ft the main event now), but otherwise anything that advances poker in the mainstream media is super awesome.

edit: nvm whatever i wrote here pre-edit isnt true and i got DESTROYED by an EXCELLENT level

So I guess all the FT players can just agree to a chop in the months before and take all the suspense out of it? That would be a great spit in the face to BSPN.

when u think about it though
it really doesnt matter for over 99% of the people participating cause their not going to make the final table so it doesn't affect them

I think it is good for the game although I guess if I was the one making the final table I would mind.

This is good for the game but sucks for the players. Who wants to go back to vegas ? I would hate to run that good and make the final table and then have to wait. Gives players to much time to go over your play. There also wont be as big as a live crowd because not as many people are going to go back to watch.

i dont think going over how ppl play matters that much. it's not like half of the FT has much room to play poker n e ways because their stacks are so short...

My first response was "wtf so retarded", but after considering that it's good for the game in general and the fact that it doesn't negatively affect me, it's an overall positive.

The day before the WPT Foxwoods FT they were talking interviewing Eric Siedel on PokerRoad Radio and asked him about this. IIRC he pretty much said that it wasn't that bad of an idea for some of the reasons Ket mentioned pre-level (XD), but he still said that if he were to make the FT then he would be absolutely pissed off that all the fish would be able to catch up to him in skill level by hiring top level coaches etc.

I guess this is really bad for the good players/pros who make the FT and extremely good for the random fish who make it. Maybe they want people to think that they will have an even better chance of winning somehow and get even more dead money to register for the event and make the prizes bigger for those at the FT. I guess we'll just have to see how it works out. Good thing I have a year to go until I am able to play so I can see what will actually happen as a result of this =]

http://pokerworks.com/article-2028.html

close thread

The rumors are swirling throughout cyberspace. The 2008 World Series of Poker mainWSOP event may delay the final table for 90 days, then play it out live on ESPN. Some heard it from a “reliable source” while others simply repeat what has been said. After much speculation, Harrah’s has put it to rest with a quasi-firm “no.”

We have heard those rumors as well but we don’t stoke rumors. If there was news to announce we would certainly share it publicly. We announced the schedule back in December and nothing has changed to it – 55 bracelet events over 47 days from May 30 to July 16.”

well since disney owns espn and they are a much bigger company than harrah's, if they say it's gonna happen it probably will. if harrah's wants to take a stand, i'm sure if espn wanted, they would just find another venue. the almighty dollar will win out everytime

On May 01 2008 18:27 jkpickett wrote: well since disney owns espn and they are a much bigger company than harrah's, if they say it's gonna happen it probably will. if harrah's wants to take a stand, i'm sure if espn wanted, they would just find another venue. the almighty dollar will win out everytime

LOL? Disney doesn't own the WSOP or the rights to it....Harrah's does.

this is stupid.. 16 weeks is ridiculous WTF... ok fine if they wanted do to this break idea.. it should be 3 weeks max or something not 16. also i would just want all my winnings asap so i can start balling asap

Dont think about how itll impact the final table players. Think about what it'll do for the games popularity. I'm sure WSOP FT airing in the fall will get more viewers and thereby giving online sites more players.

On May 01 2008 19:31 BJLTNYK wrote: Show nested quote + On May 01 2008 18:27 jkpickett wrote: well since disney owns espn and they are a much bigger company than harrah's, if they say it's gonna happen it probably will. if harrah's wants to take a stand, i'm sure if espn wanted, they would just find another venue. the almighty dollar will win out everytime LOL? Disney doesn't own the WSOP or the rights to it....Harrah's does.

well we'll see who wins this battle. if the final table is in november well you can chalk another one up to big business. owning the WSOP doesn't mean Harrah's is gonna take a hard line. i'm pretty sure what ESPN wants to do will get done and i'm well aware that Disney doesn't own the WSOP (but thanks for clearing it up anyways). what would the WSOP be without ESPN?

On a side note, not directly related to whether you like the idea or not: If the final table is three months later, should 9th place prize money be played to all players in advance, and only the difference received by players who place 8th or higher after they bust from the final? I note amateurs may create some argument about how this changes the play when in reality it changes nothing in terms of correct play.

I note that it is very ethical of Harrah's to be opposed, because they could financially profit from three months of interest on the prize fund.

fuck that, im just gonna bust out in 10th on purpose now.

This is such a ridiculously absurd idea, that there must be some good reason to come up with it. :O

Stupid as hell, the negatives far outweigh the positives. Anyone who thinks this will radically increase the popularity of the ME is kidding themselves. At best it might increase interest %1 or something. I hope Harrahs sticks to their schedule.

This is totally unfair to people who already arranged their schedules to play in the ME. Also as someone pointed out already, what if someone dies? Just blind them out? Who would get the prize money then?

Utter joke, as players we should all protest this crap.

Would they air it live without any editing showing every hand? If they would I don't agree with you maidenfan i think it'd make a huge difference

I just figured out that it won't be televised live.. they'll just edit it quickly and air it 1-2 days later


i don't really see the point now either.. stupid idea

you do realise if they show it live they'll have to make the blinds go up ridiculously fast and turn it into a crapshoot so it doesnt take up too much time on tv, right?

lol absolutely no one would watch an entire Main Event FT live on TV, contrary to what may be popular belief, unless you have a % of someone still playing at a FT, even if it's your friend, it's pretty fucking boring to rail live tournaments for a really really long time.

i think this is just asking for foul play/collusion amongst the final tablers

WSOP Main Event final table moved to November
1 May 2008

By Vin Narayanan

The final table for the World Series of Poker Main Event has been moved to November, Harrah's announced today. Harrah's hopes the 117-day pause in action increases the publicity and drama surrounding poker's premier event.

"Our intent is to provide an even bigger stage for our players," said WSOP Commissioner Jeffrey Pollack. "Now fans and viewers will ask 'who will win' our coveted championship bracelet instead of 'who won.' The excitement and interest surrounding our final nine players will be unprecedented."

This is a very exciting day for both the WSOP and ESPN," said Jamie Horowitz, senior producer for ESPN Content Development. "Just as when baseball added the wild card and NASCAR added the Cup chase, this has the potential to add new drama and we're excited about it."

"The same day telecast will be a must see," Pollack added.

"Expect poker's biggest names to come out, whether or not they're playing," Pollack said. "There will also be stars of film, television and music."

In previous years, the Main Event concluded in the summer and ESPN aired a tape-delayed broadcast months after the fact. This year the Main Event will begin as planned on July 3 and continue until nine players are remaining. But final table action won't begin until Nov. 9, when the players will take to felt and play until the field is narrowed to two. Heads-up action will begin on Nov. 10 and WSOP officials say they don't expect the champion to be crowned until the early hours of Nov. 11. ESPN will broadcast an edited version of the final table on Nov. 11 from 9-11 p.m. ET.

The rest of the World Series of Poker, which runs from May 30 to July 14, remains unchanged. ESPN will begin airing its coverage of the Series on July 22, with two hours of programming every Tuesday through Nov. 11.

On Nov. 4, there will be a one-hour final table preview that documents what the players have been doing during the break, Horowitz said.

"In the final show, the storytelling will more precisely detail their journey," Horowitz added.

The WSOP says it worked closely with its Players Advisory Council (PAC) in making the switch.

"The embryo was created internally (at Harrah's Entertainment)," said WSOP spokesman Seth Palansky. "But then we bounced it off several of the thought leaders in the industry, including our television partners and players."

"There was a vigorous debate, and things just mushroomed from there," Palansky added.

The whole process, from the conception of the idea to approval from the Nevada Gaming Control Board, which came Tuesday, took over a year.

"It really gained steam in February when we got through all the major hurdles that we were tasked with," Palansky added. "And then it became a matter of taking it to the various interested parties to ensure each group could do their part to ensure its success."

"In the end, everyone loved the idea of trying to align our product with TV and create 15 weeks of programming and a same day result."

"This is a huge step forward for poker and more specifically poker on television," said Daniel Negreanu, a WSOP PAC member and three-time bracelet winner in Harrah's statement announcing the change. ""Not only will this innovative step create more buzz for the final table, the added time prior to the final table will help get poker mainstream media attention."

Outside of the PAC, however, player reaction has been mixed.

"I am very torn over this proposal," said Greg Raymer, 2004 Main Event champion and member of Team PokerStars Pro. "It might be huge for the continued growth of poker, however, the down side is this long gap allows the players to become completely different people between the time they make the final table, and when they play it."

"I feel it's a big tease to people who want to wake up the next day and win the big bucks," said Hevad Khan, a PokerStars pro who was also finalist at last year's table. "I think that is this idea is fresh, but needs some more adjusting and review."

The general consensus appears to be that the 117-day hiatus, which gives final table players the chance to study their competitors, obtain sponsorships and hone their own games, helps the amateurs the most.

"I'm not sure what to think," says PokerStars Pro Isabelle Mercier. "For sure the delayed final would give some great exposure to the finalists and plenty of time to get in good shape for the final. But it would probably favor the amateurs who would have time to train with a pro. My opinion, they should play the final straight with the tournament and not months later."

"It doesn't bother me to have the final table later," says Chad Brown, another popular PokerStars pro. "But I do think it will be an advantage to the amateur players, because they will have time to get coaching and a scouting report against the better players."

"Also, the endurance advantage that comes into play will be taken away," Brown says. "The upside for the pros is the huge publicity leading up to the final table. Bottom line: If I make the final table, I could care less what they do."

Palansky agrees that the break "levels the playing field." But he says that this will also improve the quality of play "and better tournament play should be embraced by participants and the public."

eads-up action will begin on Nov. 10 and WSOP officials say they don't expect the champion to be crowned until the early hours of Nov. 11.

LOL WAT?

well fuck, lets hope this attracts some more fish, should be awesome if it works and i hope the fucking guy who wins it does more than his fair bit being the 'world champ' and doesnt just leech away money from the poker community

On May 03 2008 17:32 Kapol wrote: Harrah's announced today

so looks like Harrah's took that hard stance afterall.

When I make FT of ME Ill have all the other players murdered

--- Nuked ---

awesome... now another retarded shithead Jerry Yang could win much more easily the WSOP

cheers

omg they gonna make so much money on this stuff, think about all the comercials and so... crazy, not within the all idea of poker
i ve never heard about such thing, in any kind of sport events

LOL

Each of the players who make it to the WSOP Main Event 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.

that is so -EV for who ever makes it to the final table. That amount of interest made from the millions won is definitely not worth a free trip back

definitely a good idea though since the chance of me making a final is almost 0 and this will create a lot more interest in poker.

LOL at Palansky saying "and better tournament play should be embraced by participants and the public." cuz that is why we play poker...

On May 04 2008 00:39 devon06atX wrote: who fucking cares? are you in the final table? is your stake? shut up

is anyone in the final table yet? what the fuck kind of question is that?

are all your posts as insightful as this one? it's like the 2nd or 3rd thread where you ask the question "who cares?" well people must care or else ESPN and Harrah's would waste time announcing it. find a better use of your time fool than trolling threads

hmm idk, i actually think this might be a good idea

but i'm not going to be playing in the ME anyway b/c i'm too young