Are older players at a disadvantage in large 5-6 day tournaments?

SPANKYSN

SPANKYSN

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There seem to be more and more young players who make the final tables at EPT and WPT tournaments...fewer more mature players. Is it a matter of stamina or has the game just changed that much?
The wsop has had a Seniors tournament for years now, but the qualifying age is 50....that's young! They now have a Super Seniors tournament where the qualifying age is 65....got to wait 2 more years for that one, but seeing that playing in a pro tourney has been on my bucket list for ages, it seems my best bet on a tight budget is to wait the 2 years...entry is $1000, and they drew 4200 for the Seniors and 1500 for the Super Seniors...both 3 day events.
I welcome your comments.
 
BigJamo

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Yeah longterm fitness and endurance would be crutial.
I wouldnt be able to cut it for 5 days.
 
Delenia

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If you play with the Super Seniors you will need a lot of patience. Sometimes I play with an older group and they take f o r e e v v v e r to play. Half of them can't see the cards, then a quarter of those can't even hear you when you tell them what the cards are. They are a nice group of people, but you just have to have patience.
 
teepack

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This thread is an outrage! Did you notice that 2 of the final 9 in the WSOP this year were over 60? Pierre Neuville is 72! And Neil Blumenfield is 61! Put that in your pipe and smoke it you young whippersnappers.
 
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ELDONKOII

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i am 46 and i played my first major last year and i made it to day 3 busting out in 40th nearly bubble 25 paid :( but i was alive and ready for it shame utg played the limp game with kk and i had q9 suit i flopped 2 pr DOH and he rivered me pring board MEGA DOH 3 full days no prize but my first international event and finish in top 10% cant complain from winning 7.5k package from a freeroll and proves that the little guy can hold his own i was happy :) i had more energy than day 1 lol so no age does not matter 1 little bit heheheh
 
Elivo

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I don't think its so much of an age issue, as to the shape of the person, no matter how old they are. Ive met some "younger" people who could not go the distance for a 5 day tourney. And ive met some people in their 70s that would run circles around people half their age for the entire 5 days!!
 
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dturner100

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I'm dying of heart failure with 3 to 5 years to live maximum and I can play poker for days without sleep.
Until this all came along I've been in top physical fitness my entire life yet it's never played any part in my ability to play poker.

Mental endurance and awareness along with discipline and skill yes. Physical fitness? Not unless your cards are made of lead....
 
teepack

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Sorry to hear about your condition, dturner.

I don't think either Joe McKeehen or Justin Schwarz (or whatever his name was) have been hitting the P90X or the Bowflex much and they made it to the final table without too much difficulty. It's not the physical endurance that is key, but mental endurance.
 
SPANKYSN

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Yes, I know that there are 70s+ who are in great shape and players in their 20s who gasp for breath climbing one flight of stairs. And yes, there were two members of the November 9 who qualify for social security....they are the rarity, not the norm. Physical stamina would be required to stay mentally sharp. One cannot play their best when fatigued. Looking at the majority of final tables at major TV tournaments, it cannot be coincidence that the number of youngsters is disproportionately higher.
Thanks for all the input.
 
joker131

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its not as if your running around the room. I should think that older poker players have more patience for long tornys, I expect they carry their chair pillows to every game. and a electric shocker if they fall asleep
 
Poker Orifice

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"It Depends"
If it's your first time playing at WSOP, the adrenaline will carry you through.
 
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CSINSC

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There seem to be more and more young players who make the final tables at EPT and WPT tournaments...fewer more mature players. Is it a matter of stamina or has the game just changed that much?
The WSOP has had a Seniors tournament for years now, but the qualifying age is 50....that's young! They now have a Super Seniors tournament where the qualifying age is 65....got to wait 2 more years for that one, but seeing that playing in a pro tourney has been on my bucket list for ages, it seems my best bet on a tight budget is to wait the 2 years...entry is $1000, and they drew 4200 for the Seniors and 1500 for the Super Seniors...both 3 day events.
I welcome your comments.

I would say you kind of already know the answer, but to enforce the feeling that you have I will concur in the assessment that players in their 60's+ do have a slight disadvantage in 4-5+ straight day tourneys due to stamina. To be brutally honest it is tiring for all players, but the younger ones rebound more quickly than the older/mature players do. GL in your Super Seniors tourney
 
teepack

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I would say it's because the young players don't have the work ethic of the older generation and are just looking for a way to make decent money without having to actually work. How many poker pros are college dropouts who are basically slackers and just got lucky one time and have been playing off that bankroll for a couple of years?
 
CharlieWest

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I'm finding as I get older that it's the recovery time after an endurance event like a multi-day tournament or a marathon (walking or running) that has gotten longer but I could still hang in there during the event. I do think that physical fitness helps keep you mentally sharp at any age so I'd encourage a good exercise regime leading up to the big event. It's illogical but sitting on your butt day in and day out it tiring work! :)
 
PershingSt

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Strictly based on stamina speaking yes the younger players should have an edge in staying un fatigued for the longest time, however judging from some of my fellow younger players I have seen at the tables they are not exactly in the best physical condition either . Based on this I don't see the edge as being a tremendously big one as long as the older player is in decent health to begin with .
 
Sil3ntness

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You also see less older players because they're probably too busy with a full time job and/or raising a family. They could also don't have the funds to play the WSOP $10k main event.

I know I sure don't have $10k laying around to play a poker tournament... if I did spend $10k on a tournament my wife would kill me.
 
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wowasenotrusov

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Of course the game is likely to change. but this is not the primary cause. Now , most senior players have made a name for himself playing mostly for fun .
 
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