WPT Final Tables are a Joke

[xDiamond_CutteRx]

I mean, I've seen SnG's with better structures. $100,000/$200,000 blinds when there's like $8,000,000 on the table is beyond ridiculous (this is on the Legends of Poker on right now). I'm sorry, but it is unfair to the great players out there who hack through these big fields for days with a fair structure, just to walk into a crap shoot for the majority of the prize pool.

[Ewi]

But those all-ins every other hand make for such great TV!

[flafishy]

A lot of the players ... Negreanu, Annie Duke, Todd Brunson ... have been complaining about it.

Apparently, the blind levels are reasonable until you get down to the final table, then the WPT puts rocket fuel in them to make things go quicker and keep production costs in line. They simply couldn't afford to have to do coverage on a 12-hour final table, which is routine for the WSOP. It also doesn't hurt that it does force a lot of action, which makes for exciting TV.

The WPT is a made-for-TV event, has been from the beginning. So they do whatever necessary to make it TV-friendly.

[xDiamond_CutteRx]

Whatever... they could easily afford to pay their crew overtime, as WPT is a multi-million dollar industry. What this is really about is making Poker for the spectators, not the players.

Imagine if the NFL all of a sudden made every game only 10 minutes long and outlawed all running--pass is the only viable maneuver. That's more exciting for the audience right? Or how about NBA with only 3-pointers and dunks allowed? That would be more exciting to watch too.

Personally, I'm behind any pro who boycotts the WPT right now. I understand it's great up until the final table, but players should not have to play a crapshoot for 50% of the prize pool. Plus it's total garbage that the WPT requires players to sign a release saying that WPT can use their name and likeness for anything without compensation--that's just wrong.

[galderon]

Imagine if the NFL all of a sudden made every game only 10 minutes long and outlawed all running--pass is the only viable maneuver. That's more exciting for the audience right?

Actually, they did. It was called the XFL. Not those changes specificially, but changes to the rules with the intention of making the game more exciting to watch. Unfortunately for them, they were unable to please both types of fans at the same time (NFL fans and WWE fans) and it tanked.

In poker's case, there are more fish than professionals, so the WPT caters to the former group. The typical fan doesn't care about pot odds or the details that go with making good poker decisions...they want to see some guy go all-in with crap and catch miracle cards.

[truplaya_177]

Yeah, i ve heard this 'opinion' before. it's definently a problem , but a LOT of the game's top pro's aren't in the WPT anyways becasue the WPT can use they're name to sell they're products. also dealmaking, staking players in tournaments, and i forget what Mike Sexton also said that's whats wrong in todays poker world.

[TxShadow]

Whatever... they could easily afford to pay their crew overtime, as WPT is a multi-million dollar industry. What this is really about is making Poker for the spectators, not the players.

You have to keep in mind though, the reason that the WPT is a multi-million dollar industry is because people like to watch it. Sponsors pay big bucks to be advertised on a show that gets watched by that many people. Eliminating elements that keep people into the show would of course decrease their profits dramatically. They are a business like anyone else. Of course they are going to do what nets them the most money.

There are good and bad things about this. The good thing is that we, as poker fans, are able to watch a new poker tournament every single week. The bad is that they have to include things in that tournament that appeal to the maximum amount of people. Think of it this way, if it weren't for those crazy blinds that force a lot of action, you probably wouldn't be able to watch WPT every week at all.

[xDiamond_CutteRx]

Then how do you guys explain the continued success of WSOP broadcasts? The hands they show have the same retarded "excitement" factor as any WPT broadcasts, but they don't have to change their structure to screw the players.

[BeerWench13]

Then how do you guys explain the continued success of WSOP broadcasts?

They're on ESPN. Everybody watches ESPN. 8)

The big problem I have is how all this forced action is misleading those players that are new to the game. They think this is regular play at any point in a tournament (and some even think so for cash games also), not just when the blinds are high and it's the final table. So, new players are getting their asses handed to them (unless they luck out) by seasoned players because they're playing like they do on TV.

As long as there are players that are willing to play, viewers who are willing to watch, and, most importantly to the WPT, sponsors that will continue to pay big bucks for this type of tournament it will continue.

[TxShadow]

Then how do you guys explain the continued success of WSOP broadcasts? The hands they show have the same retarded "excitement" factor as any WPT broadcasts, but they don't have to change their structure to screw the players.

I'll venture a guess

I'd say it is because the WSOP is a huge once a year event. It's like the world series...well it is the world series . Anyone that is remotely interested in poker gets hyped up about it. It definately has a different appeal than WPT. It's "special". It decides who is the best, so to speak. Because of all the hype (and the major cable sports network that it airs on), sponsors are more than willing to pay big bucks to get a commercial slot. Also, there are so many players involved and so many tournaments going on that the WSOP I'm sure makes a considerable amount on tournament fees alone.

If it were a once a week show, like WPT, I am sure they would have to make major adjustments. Most people wouldn't want to watch a long (days long), grueling tournament every week. They want their quick fix, 2 hour a week poker tournament with lots of pros and lots of action.

Bottom line, the WSOP is an event. You are comparing it to a big company that airs a TV show weekly.

[xDiamond_CutteRx]

I thought it couldn't get worse. Then they aired the Borgata Open. I wanted to puke.

I'm now officially boycotting all WPT broadcasts.

[BeerWench13]

Yeah I watched that one the other night. Man, those blinds were huge in relation to the chip stacks. I never really paid much attention before, but since you pointed it out, I watched it a bit closer. Those blind structures are ridiculous.

[Dat_Dude]

I thought it couldn't get worse. Then they aired the Borgata Open. I wanted to puke.

I'm now officially boycotting all WPT broadcasts.

It is pretty bad. So bad that enough people are complaining about it to make Sexton defend WPT in Card Player. Here is a snippet from his article:

"3. Final-Table Structures in TV Tournaments — This is a hotly discussed topic among players right now. The vast majority believe that you play for four days in a big tournament and the conclusion results in a crapshoot (because the blinds and antes are increased every 30 minutes after several hours of play in a WPT event). Players say, “Give us more time to play at the final table.â€

[MasterShake]

Another thing to remember as that without the WPT, none of these tournaments would have these huge payouts. You'd have 50 people playing for a $100,000 first prize. So it's almost a double edged sword.

[BeerWench13]

Good point, MS.
I will still watch. I just think it's tough for the newbies out there who are "learning" from this.