Interesting at FT. Nearly all-pro cast in this $5 tourney...

Yeah, it's private, but doubt the password is available anywhere. In fact, FT would likely make an exception to their usual rules, and pull anyone who didn't belong. Why do you suppose with all these pros, it's only $5. Publicity? Hmmm, 1 more pro since I copied this in Paint. I'll bet they get railers galore.

Interesting. There aren't any really big pro names there but I definitely haven't seen a tournament with this many pros registered. I googled "gelders kampioenschap" but I didn't find out much. I took a look at the images and it seems like it's a series of (championship?) sports events. I don't think poker is one of their events though lol.

ryodejaneiro said:

Interesting. There aren't any really big pro names there but I definitely haven't seen a tournament with this many pros registered. I googled "gelders kampioenschap" but I didn't find out much. I took a look at the images and it seems like it's a series of (championship?) sports events. I don't think poker is one of their events though lol.

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If it's sports events, you think FT would give them honorary status as a 'FT pro'? No, not a lot of big names. FT has probably lowered their standards a lot. After all they need help in their new FT Academy, and all those 'EDU' ring games. I've looked in on them, and that's got to be a racquet. Wonder how many in there actually get good feedback and on how much of theor play. But theirs always a waiting list in the lowest stakes tables that it's offerred.

AlienGenius posted a screenshot with a lot of pros (incl Jennifer Harman) https://www.cardschat.com/forum/poker-rooms-10/late-registration-somewhat-disgraceful-152062/ - but that was a $50 buy-in and almost 6000 people.

Not sure about honorary status as a pro but my line of thinking, well, to be more accurate, what I was wondering was if entry to this event was something along the lines of a consolation prize (finishing dead last or coming in 4th place) or for that matter, winning a sporting event and getting an opportunity to play against some pros? This is pure conjecture and I have absolutely nothing to support this, but I can't think of much else. This is assuming that this is somehow linked to a sporting event. Too many conjectures on my part

I remember seeing AG's screenshot. The FTOPS and MiniFTOPS might be one of the exceptions now that I think about it. I played in one of the MiniFTOPS ($12+1, knockout) and there were 13 pros there - the most notable one was Phil Gordon. I think there's another FT series coming up - these are a lot cheaper if I recall. I'm not sure about the number of pros that might be in these events but I'd assume that events that are sponsored by FT would lead to greater turnout of pros but the screenshot you posted might be one of the few for a private tournament. I occasionally see the Relay for Life tourneys and they seem to attract a few pros too.

In addition to the FT Academy, I also think part of the reason why we see pros that we might not easily recognize is because FT is competing with pokerstars to try to get more people playing in their poker room. So by signing a wider range of players (pros outside of the US for example), they're able to cast a wider net that might entice people to join FT.

ryodejaneiro said:

Not sure about honorary status as a pro but my line of thinking, well, to be more accurate, what I was wondering was if entry to this event was something along the lines of a consolation prize (finishing dead last or coming in 4th place) or for that matter, winning a sporting event and getting an opportunity to play against some pros? This is pure conjecture and I have absolutely nothing to support this, but I can't think of much else. This is assuming that this is somehow linked to a sporting event. Too many conjectures on my part


So by signing a wider range of players (pros outside of the US for example), they're able to cast a wider net that might entice people to join FT.

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Yeah, that's kinda what I meant by 'publicity'. As far as winning a sporting event, this tourney is capped at just 36, with about 2/3 pros. Who knows, eh. Well, guess the pros could multi-table and not take this too seriously.

P.S. We can always rail for awhile and find out. hehe I'm just having a look around now. All these personal avatars. Guess the 'pros' get them for free. Good chat at williamsons table. At Adam Scoenfields, they're all sitting out except the 1 'civilian'.

Ah, gotcha. Did you see how it ended by chance? I guess the good thing of being seated to a bunch of pros sitting out is that you could build up your stack and potentially KO one. That said, I'd rather play and win against pros actually playing than sitting out.