World Series of Poker

[troutman]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200...x.html?cnn=yes

Former Hollywood talent agent Jamie Gold pulled off his best acting job ever early Friday, bluffing his way to victory at the World Series of Poker and taking home the grand prize of $12 million.

Gold, of Malibu, Calif., somehow convinced Paul Wasicka he had a weaker hand, getting him to push all his chips in the pot. The 36-year-old Gold screamed for joy to see Wasicka pocket 10s to his pair of queens.

http://www.worldseriesofpoker.com/pd..._Structure.pdf

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/poker/

[VANFLAMESFAN]

The amount of money in this tournament was just ridiculous. 12 people are new millionaires. aint no other event gonna beat that.

My only issue is the amount of people in this thing really hurts the "name" players and in turn ruins the watchability of the event. I had no interest whatsoever in keeping track of the main event after the big name players were out. I couldnt put a face to any of the guys on the leaderboard aside from Cunnigham. I think there has got to be a way to make this event smaller and let the top players in the world battle it out. Not throw in the best and have a **** load of new players and have the new guys catch a lucky flop to knock out a legend. I don't know, maybe make it like the PGA, where you have to have a tour card to be in the events including the main event. And then have a few qualifying tourneys to get some more people in there, sponsor exemptions, stuff like that. It should not be open to whoever wants to throw in 10 grand. Im sure some rich folk entered just to see how they could do if they matched up against the best.

Now, with less people comes less money, Im aware. But, to the big name guys and to lots of other people, it's the bracelet, it's the status of World Champ that appeals to them more.

[habernac]

don't kid yourself, vanfan, the newfound popularity of this "sport" has lined the pros pockets with more money than they ever could have won if it weren't a staple on the ESPNs of the world. Jamie Gold worked with poker legend Johnny Chan on a proposed TV series, and it looks like he picked his brain on how to play poker as well.

[Bobblehead]

A big part of this event is that anyone can play in it, and play against the big name pros even if you don't get a sniff of the final table.

The pros have more than enough WPT events (and others) in which to play against each other.

I was watching a game while on the treadmill a few days ago and "The Mouth" took a pot from someone who was obviously in over their head and you could hear Mike say "Thank you Chris Moneymaker" in reference to all the "amatures" who now play.

And you say Vanfan - its the braclet, not the money the pros are after. I think its because there is now so much money in poker, they no longer need to struggle. From what I've read, the WSOP is only a fun event for the pros, but with all the side money games going on they make boatloads of money from the poker wanna-be's .

[VANFLAMESFAN]

[quote=habernac]don't kid yourself, vanfan, the newfound popularity of this "sport" has lined the pros pockets with more money than they ever could have won if it weren't a staple on the ESPNs of the world. quote]

Believe me, even I'm not that delusional. but some of these guys im sure want a good chance of winning the Main Event and with 8700 entries, its pretty much luck of the draw.

[Daradon]

Originally Posted by VANFLAMESFAN

Believe me, even I'm not that delusional. but some of these guys im sure want a good chance of winning the Main Event and with 8700 entries, its pretty much luck of the draw.

Isn't that the point though? Really it is luck of the draw when it comes down to it. I mean there is skill and yes there is strategy, and over a long period of time that will help you win more consistantly then someone who is just getting the cards or hitting their hands. In a single tourney though, you can't escape bad beats, weird plays etc. And that happened all the time, not just when the 'new internet' players came in.

When it comes down to it, I just don't believe there is as much skill to poker as the pros who earn their livings on it would have us believe. That's why I don't really cae about the big name players. I watch for the drama, it's interesting TV. I watch cause I play, and I enjoy playing and the thrill of winning. But it's not a sport, nor is it even a really a game that requires a ton of skill. It requires some practice, knowledge of the rules and odds, a lot of guts, patience, and that's about it.

The reason we saw so much of the usual pros before this 'internet revolution' was because it was more of a mans club or secret club. Only a small group of people had the bankrolls to compete consistantly in large tournaments. Now with the internet providing satelittes all over the world in larger numbers, players that were always good, or could have always been good are getting in on the action.

There is not a huge difference in skill (if any) between an 'old school pro' and the vast majority of people who have to battle through the internet satelitte system.