05-23-2002, 11:59 PM
When the WSOP begun in the seventies, the buy-in of the main event was $10,000. Since then, we have seen something like a ten-fold inflation, but the buy-in remains the same. The low price and super satellites at $200 have given the event a super large field, making it extremely hard for the world’s best players to even reach the final table (as we have seen this year).
The coolest thing would be to increase the buy-in to $50,000 or more. Few want to put up that kind of money for a poker tournament, leaving only very successful poker professionals, and a small number of wealthy gamblers. Of course, this will never happen. Today’s very big event is just too good promotion for the Horseshoe (and perhaps, poker).
But a similar event already exists: the No-limit Deuce to Seven $5000 re-buy event. This event has a very tough final table every year; not many suckers enter. It’s also the most expensive event. In Deuce to Seven NL the expert has a huge edge.
Therefore, Allen Cunningham is the World Champion of Poker, 2002.
Winners 1994 – 2002:
1994 Lyle Berman
1995 John Bonetti
1996 Kassam “Freddie” Debb
1997 Johnny Chan
1998 Erik Seidel
1999 N/A
2000 Jennifer Harman
2001 Howard Lederer
2002 Allen Cunningham
From the 2001 poker pages report:
“Howard showed how good he was in a hand against Weitzman. Mark opened for $12,000 and Howard called. After the draw, Mark bet $25,000. Howard studied the situation and his opponent for a full two minutes and finally called with a pair of deuces. He won. Mark had paired his eight.”
The coolest thing would be to increase the buy-in to $50,000 or more. Few want to put up that kind of money for a poker tournament, leaving only very successful poker professionals, and a small number of wealthy gamblers. Of course, this will never happen. Today’s very big event is just too good promotion for the Horseshoe (and perhaps, poker).
But a similar event already exists: the No-limit Deuce to Seven $5000 re-buy event. This event has a very tough final table every year; not many suckers enter. It’s also the most expensive event. In Deuce to Seven NL the expert has a huge edge.
Therefore, Allen Cunningham is the World Champion of Poker, 2002.
Winners 1994 – 2002:
1994 Lyle Berman
1995 John Bonetti
1996 Kassam “Freddie” Debb
1997 Johnny Chan
1998 Erik Seidel
1999 N/A
2000 Jennifer Harman
2001 Howard Lederer
2002 Allen Cunningham
From the 2001 poker pages report:
“Howard showed how good he was in a hand against Weitzman. Mark opened for $12,000 and Howard called. After the draw, Mark bet $25,000. Howard studied the situation and his opponent for a full two minutes and finally called with a pair of deuces. He won. Mark had paired his eight.”