November Nine

They're bringing it back again.

Why?

It's a horrible idea.

The wsop Main Event is the one everyone watches and wants to win. Adding this again, just hurts the game. IMHO They tried it last year and it sucked. I'm sure some people made money somewhere and that's one BIG reason why It's coming back, but as a fan and player..It hurts the game.
People make the FT and then go away for months to promote the WSOP, watch film, etc. It kills the flow of your game. You could be a big card rack and then come back and your feel for the game is off. Everyone is playing you different now. I think they should keep it the way it's been for years.

If It ain't broke right?

brianvoytek said:

They're bringing it back again.

Why?

It's a horrible idea.

The WSOP Main Event is the one everyone watches

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Cause ESPN's ratings for the 2008 WSOP were up 50%. In TV, that is pretty big. Especially considering their ratings had been falling by alot since 2004. It might not be the absolute best thing in terms of the players or the flow of the game, but it definitely is a good move for Harrah's and the WSOP brand to still be on ESPN.

If you need an example of what happens when you get stale, look at the WPT, which is now on it's 3rd network (Fox Sports Net) and their buy in numbers are beginning to drop off. They are also starting to cut events from their tour like the Borgata Winter Open. I don't see how that is good for anyone.

I don't see a problem with it. While the time in between is kinda ridiculous, having at least one day to rest before the final table makes sense, as the tournament has been going on for close to a week. Some rest to get your mind composed and your strategy set would be great if I was in the Nov 9. Maybe not the months that was actually given, but some time in between are probably universally appreciated by any player in that situation.

If you need an example of what happens when you get stale, look at the WPT, which is now on it's 3rd network (Fox Sports Net) and their buy in numbers are beginning to drop off. They are also starting to cut events from their tour like the Borgata Winter Open. I don't see how that is good for anyone.

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True dat. The WPT is really just kinda annoying as they only show the final table, making for confusing TV. At least in WSOP televised tourneys, they show the entire tournament over several episodes. In the end, WSOP is good TV, okay poker, whereas WPT is bad TV, not enough poker (in terms of showing entire tourneys).

I agree with the day off after the FT is set. But the months is way out of line. I understand the ratings are up, but to me...I dont like it. I like the way It's been. I think people will always watch the WSOP. It's a part of poker. The WPT is different because it's just not that interesting. What they need to do with that is have some sort of build up. Having tables full of nobodys isn't going to get the ratings up. If I wanted to watch that, I'd watch Club WPT.

I love it. I actually cared about who was on the final table. I actually didn't know who was going to win when I was watching it. I even got together with a couple of friends and found the FT broadcast absolutely thrilling. Next time (assuming I am not there and either IN IT or rooting someone on) I'll be throwing a big party! WOOT!

yeah but the break tends to screw up the play or luck, whichever way u choose to look at it, of the players. look at the chip leader going into the FT, dennis phillips. flew in a huge entourage only to bust out early.

heard he was taking poker lessons from an established pro during the break too. lol. should have left all the work to his luckbox, literally.

im not in agreance with it because i was to sphyched to watch it and i was forced to wait freaking 3 months but as for espn they made a fortune of extra cash therefore there gonna be probably keeping it around for like 10 more years til poker starts to go bk down in the ratings.

Its really not that bad. It makes it more intense. I like it personally. So much more dramatic. Its like the 2 week delay before the super bowl everyone gets into it

I agree - worst idea is history. What about big MO? I think this changes everything!

Yup I agree ...

To have people and especially the final 9 players to wait a few months later to play the final table was a very very horrible idea. To stage it like it was a super bowl event was even worst. Then to wait this long and not even televise it live on one of ESPN's channels ????? Yes I understand they only show the edit version on ESPN. Still wait this long to show a replayed telecast of the final table. Really, so what if every hand isnt exciting, imagine the ratings you would get if you had a marathon type style of the final table on one of their channels......oh well ...

postflopper said:

yeah but the break tends to screw up the play or luck, whichever way u choose to look at it, of the players. look at the chip leader going into the FT, dennis phillips. flew in a huge entourage only to bust out early.

heard he was taking poker lessons from an established pro during the break too. lol. should have left all the work to his luckbox, literally.

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So Phillips entering in as chip leader (not by much over Demidov) and busting out 3rd (NOT early like you wrote) was bad?

Every single guy at that FT took lessons from a pro btw.

I definately didn't like it. I think it takes away from the atmosphere. Players have to completely restructure their play. I know it is supposed to be a buisness deciscion. But I think it stinks.

yeah, u are right, 3rd isnt early. what i meant to say was that he gave up his chip lead early and never really recovered.

No way should it be held months after the final table is set. A day off, yes. Seriously, you get in a zone and its not fair to have to wait months to win the WSOP. I mean the NFL only takes 2 weeks off for the SuperBowl? Cmon, its a joke. What happens if someone gets sick or dies or something else horrible happen to them while the await the November date? Im like BrianVoytek, if it aint broke, dont fix it!!!

i hate the idea also, with my luck id make the final table then end up being in the hospital for a drunk driving car wreck or something the day of the final table

I don't like the long wait either, but it may be good for poker over the long haul.

The main event used to end by mid July... now at least some people and TV networks are talking about poker from July through to November, building up the final table show. ESPN can broadcast the WSOP $1,500 and $2k buy-in events between July and October, building up to the FT. It may help to keep poker in the public eye over a longer timeframe of the year.

For Harrah's, one year was probably not long enough of a trial period. They will try a few things and examine the results. I agree with not becoming stale.

DarkAceMafia said:

To have people and especially the final 9 players to wait a few months later to play the final table was a very very horrible idea. To stage it like it was a super bowl event was even worst. Then to wait this long and not even televise it live on one of ESPN's channels ????? Yes I understand they only show the edit version on ESPN. Still wait this long to show a replayed telecast of the final table. Really, so what if every hand isnt exciting, imagine the ratings you would get if you had a marathon type style of the final table on one of their channels......oh well ...

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srsly you have no clue about ratings. I plan on going into media and that idea of a marathon of every hand would be terrible for a television station. The money it would get from advertisers would be terrible. There is something in the middle of both of the ideas. It is Club WPT on FoxSportsNet. They show a lot of hands, not that good. Plus they are amatuers who we watch.

Short and sharp version:

- Fact: ESPN is Very Good For Poker(TM). No ESPN = no Moneymaker effect, no huge fields and no huge Main Event prize pools.
- Therefore, what ESPN says goes.
- End discussion.

brianvoytek said:

I agree with the day off after the FT is set. But the months is way out of line. I understand the ratings are up, but to me...I dont like it. I like the way It's been. I think people will always watch the WSOP. It's a part of poker. The WPT is different because it's just not that interesting. What they need to do with that is have some sort of build up. Having tables full of nobodys isn't going to get the ratings up. If I wanted to watch that, I'd watch Club WPT.

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There are two major problems with what you've just said.

First, while you may think that "people will always watch the WSOP", the figures tell a different story. The reason they did this is because people weren't watching.

You're approaching this as a poker fan - you'll watch the Main Event year in and year out, because that's what poker fans do and besides, the new season of High Stakes Poker hasn't been screened yet. But poker fans only make up so much of the viewing audience. The people ESPN really wants to get watching are the casual viewers - the ones who say "I already know who wins that, it was in the papers months ago! Why would I bother watching it?!?".

Figures from 2008 clearly show they were successful in getting those type of viewers to tune back in.

Second, the WSOP has the exact same potential to suffer from a final table full of nobodies as the WPT. More so in the Main Event, because the odds are stacked so heavily against the pros and really, there can't be more than maybe a dozen pros that Joe Public actually recognises and would be a drawcard anyway. Chino Rheem, anyone?

You're right about a build up helping with that problem, but I ask you this: how can there be a build up if you don't take a break to create it? And more to the point, how can you build up anticipation for something that's already happened?!?

Announcer: "Starting next week, it's the Main Event. Who will outlast one of the biggest fields in the history of poker and walk away with the $9 million first place prize? Tune in next week to find out."

Viewer: "I don't need to tune in to find out - Eastgate wins it. It was in the papers months ago. Is there a football match on?"

ESPN wants it, it's going to happen. End discussion.