ISOP Cancellation
 

I'm sorry we haven't been around the forums lately. There has been a ton of work to be done to try and hold the ISOP together that consumed all our available resources, and we haven't had anything concrete to report anyways.

It saddens me to announce that the ISOP is canceled effective immediately. We worked very hard and spent much capital on delivering a premier event to take advantage of this poker boom. Unfortunately, several sites who committed to the ISOP have pulled out at this 23rd hour and we are also having severe contract problems with current sponsors. I have been ill recently and I would like to thank my partner jek for working double duty to try and resolve these issues, but after a thorough review of the current "State of the Union" I am now completely caught up, and jek and I have jointly determined that this diluted series that is still far from resolved of its problems, is no longer a viable or attractive event to the player pool we had hoped to attract.

We apologize to all, especially Chuck and Mason who believed in us so deeply. Their assistance to get us to this point was a statement of faith in us that makes this all the more difficult. The ISOP forum has been dismantled and all contracts are now null and void.

We have poured our heart and souls and finances in this, but we are down to only 5 rooms, 5 poker rooms does not an ISOP make and therefore we are ending the concept effective immediately. We apologize to those that spent time in creating your marketing tools but this can't be salvaged. We deeply apologize to Chuck Weinstock especially and want to thank him for all of his technical assistance, hard work and guidance.

Deepest Regrets to all,

Granny Mae
jek187

Re: ISOP Cancellation
 

Too bad, I'm very sorry to hear that. Good luck in future endeavours.

Re: ISOP Cancellation
 

Well that sucks. Sorry guys.

[ QUOTE ]
5 poker rooms does not an ISOP make

[/ QUOTE ]

Why not?
It seems like it might have been better to begin with holding the events on a smaller number of sites. Maybe I just don't understand some of the business aspects here.

Re: ISOP Cancellation
 

It really is a shame that those sites pulled out at the last minute. You guys did a great job getting this series together.

I hope you keep these juices flowing. Ideas like this one are hard to come by.

-2kF

Re: ISOP Cancellation
 

Why won't 5 sites be enough? 2 on each, and then the 2 sites with the biggest turnouts get the final 2. I don't know anything about this except from a post from a while ago, but I'd be happy to throw in some creative ideas if you still had some hope of making this happen. I don't know where everything stands from a business standpoint, but if you PM me I'd be glad to brainstorm something for you.

Re: ISOP Cancellation
 

I'm sure that it matters greatly which 5 sites - an ISOP with the 5 sites being Pokerstars, Paradise, Party, Pokerroom and Prima is probably a pretty viable thing. On the other hand, the ISOP headed by like Jetset poker and Full Tilt poker or the like just really isn't going to be much of a draw, at all..

Re: ISOP Cancellation
 

What are the sites that pulled out.. maybe there needs to be hell to pay!

Re: ISOP Cancellation
 

Well thanks for the hard work. I was interested in participating but not in playing at Royal Vegas, and I am sure issues like that are a contributing factor to the demise. Maybe it was a bit ahead of its time and can be reborn down the road.

Thanks again for all the effort you both put into it.

Re: ISOP Cancellation
 

[ QUOTE ]
Maybe it was a bit ahead of its time...

[/ QUOTE ]

I don't know the exact details of what went wrong to result in this decision, but I suspect this is exactly the case.

Online poker is still in its (relative) infancy and many of the sites are still fighting to establish themselves in the marketplace. It seems they aren't quite ready to cooperate for the greater good because it would mean putting aside their own site oriented agendas and working with their competitors in a stage of the game when perhaps it isn't in their best interest (as a business) to do so.

[ QUOTE ]
...and can be reborn down the road.

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm certain that jek and granny will make this become a reality when the situation is more favorable. In the limited amount of time I worked with them on this over the last few weeks I know this idea is something they believe in whole-heartedly, but I also know they want to do it correctly. I think their willingness to take a bath on their initial investment (which was a considerable amount) rather than launching a crippled version of the ISOP is a testament to that fact. They don't want the ISOP to just "happen" they want it to be an enormous success and are willing to wait for a better hand to play rather than going all-in right now.

It's a very brave decision that many of us probably wouldn't be willing to make and we should support them for making the right choice, regardless of the consequences. In time (when the poker economy stablizes a bit more and the sites are more receptive to cooperating amongst themselves) I'm confident we'll see the return of the ISOP, it will be worth the wait.

Peace,
J
(My last post as ISOP Media Director [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img] )

Re: ISOP Cancellation
 

If I ever win a large amount in a tourney, some of it is going to this idea. The ISOP is a goldmine and generally is wanted by 99% of internet players, don't worry folks, it's time will come!!!
~Justin

Re: ISOP Cancellation
 

Sorry to hear this got cancelled.

If you still want to organize something, take a look at the pro-Bush vs anti-Bush tournament in the works in the Politics forum. [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

I am doubtful that it will get off the ground either. I mean the liberals demanding we trade in our SUVs for compact cars if we lose is just going too far. [img]/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]

Re: ISOP Cancellation
 

Even though I saw this coming, I'm sorry to hear it was cancelled. Unfortunately the sites are too busy competing with themselves, and promoting their own agendas to let something like this go forward. I agree with a previous poster that the ISOP's time will come.

Re: ISOP Cancellation
 

Sometimes even the best ideas do not prosper for one reason or another, despite one's valiant efforts to make them a reality.

It is the mark of a winner to know when it's time to fold.

Thanks for your efforts on behalf of the community.

Re: ISOP Cancellation
 

I'm really bummed to hear about this cancelation as I was really looking forward to competeing... Hopefully you guys will get this idea up and running again sucsessfully sometime in the near future.

Re: ISOP Cancellation
 

[ QUOTE ]
I'm sorry we haven't been around the forums lately. There has been a ton of work to be done to try and hold the ISOP together that consumed all our available resources, and we haven't had anything concrete to report anyways.

It saddens me to announce that the ISOP is canceled effective immediately. We worked very hard and spent much capital on delivering a premier event to take advantage of this poker boom. Unfortunately, several sites who committed to the ISOP have pulled out at this 23rd hour and we are also having severe contract problems with current sponsors. I have been ill recently and I would like to thank my partner jek for working double duty to try and resolve these issues, but after a thorough review of the current "State of the Union" I am now completely caught up, and jek and I have jointly determined that this diluted series that is still far from resolved of its problems, is no longer a viable or attractive event to the player pool we had hoped to attract.

We apologize to all, especially Chuck and Mason who believed in us so deeply. Their assistance to get us to this point was a statement of faith in us that makes this all the more difficult. The ISOP forum has been dismantled and all contracts are now null and void.

We have poured our heart and souls and finances in this, but we are down to only 5 rooms, 5 poker rooms does not an ISOP make and therefore we are ending the concept effective immediately. We apologize to those that spent time in creating your marketing tools but this can't be salvaged. We deeply apologize to Chuck Weinstock especially and want to thank him for all of his technical assistance, hard work and guidance.

Deepest Regrets to all,

Granny Mae
jek187

[/ QUOTE ]

Hi All,

Just to clarify; This post is basically a reprint of an email that was sent yesterday to all of the sponsors and the guys here at 2+2 (Mason, Chuck etc.). I'm still away for a few days. If you have written me an email or PM, thanks very much. I will be answering those midweek.

I just wanted to put this post in context. For instance, the relevance of my mention of being sick was simply a communication to the sponsors that were getting that email that I was sorry I had been out of the email loop for a few days. It had no relevance to the demise of the series. The series tanked because 11 rooms became 6, became 5. Out of the five, there were contract issues Still remaining with 2. It took 6 months to get 11 independent rooms to agree to such a concept. However, once we accomplished that, next step was getting a contract past 11 teams of site operators and legal departments all overseas. This proved to be the demise of the ISOP due to our inability to get all these separate entities on the same page. The ISOP was a grandiose plan and we thought we were going to get it launched up until the last few days. We gave it our best and are proud of our efforts.

It simply could not be fixed but no particular room(s) will be named as requested earlier in this thread. So, while this post was not really meant as the official announcement, it should be noted that an official announcement would not have read much differently. I'll be happy to discuss it more in depth when I return if there is still interest in what went wrong.

The hidden, good news is that Mason will be providing you with a humor column this month because I missed my deadline. So there is a 99.99% chance it may actually be funny, which I know you are not accustomed to.. If it is, don't get too excited, I'll be back for next issue (though I am sure there is room for many funny columns). Thanks for the support.

Re: ISOP Cancellation
 

Thanks for all your hard work on this guys.
You have vision for the future of online-poker and it's unfortunate that the sites don't uniformly share in that vision.

I suspect if the idea of the World Poker Tour had come up in 1995 Steve Lipscomb would hav been laughed out of the room and the Travel Channel (and all other channels) would have been doubled-over thinking about "televised poker?!?! Woo-hooo-hoo-hooohooo!!"

I would be willing to guess that there were a lot of people pulling him aside in 2002 when it was getting going telling him "are you nuts?? this is a really stupid idea. Sure you got one channel on board which is a real accomplishment but it's still pretty freaking dumb."


Same goes for the idea of ESPN showing 1 month's worth of WSOP tourneys...as well as putting together a drama (which is more of a comedy) and now the WSOP tour events.

No way this would have happened even 5 years ago, much less 10.

Online-poker has grown tremendously in just the past 2-3 years...so, for all we know, 2-3 years from now may be a more opportune time to attempt a bold venture such as the ISOP.
Just a couple of years ago it wasn't very easy to envision 70k players on party at a time...or $500k guaranteed tourneys on Stars...etc etc.



[ QUOTE ]
good news is that Mason will be providing you with a humor column this month

[/ QUOTE ]


This is the part of your post that truly frightens me.

Re: ISOP Cancellation
 

I personally want to publicly thank Granny for her sincerity and months of hard work in trying to put this together. We like the idea of the ISOP and committed to it last fall.

Truepoker would always be willing to work with Granny and participating sites if she wants to try starting this again in the future..... but not at any risk to her health.

Thanks, Granny.

David Gzesh, CEO
Truepoker

(I disagree that the prospect of Mason writing a humor column for the 2+2 magazine is frightening, it will be hilareous ... albeit likely unintentionally so.)

Re: ISOP Cancellation
 

Thanks to all of you for your efforts relating to the ISOP. Sorry things did not work out or maybe are just delayed.

Would it be feasible for one site to host the ISOP? The sites could bid on what they would pay to host. It would probably be small at first but could grow in future years. The bid money could be added to the prize pool. I would think a site like PokerStars would be interested in hosting this type of ISOP.

Thank you,

Jim Kuhn
Catfish4u
[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img]

Re: ISOP Cancellation
 

pokerstars has the wcoop so i don't think they ever wanted to be in this. there are so many online tournaments now and all the huge land based monster events that this idea was probably too late. i still think it would have done good because it was located from 2+2 and the competition would have been great. maybe that would have hurt it though. the pool of players from here are probably much stronger than an average pool of players so the fish may have stayed away.

Re: ISOP Cancellation
 

Thanks David and everyone for the nice comments. I need to clarify again please. Mason did not necessarily say he was writing it. He only said to be on time next month and there will another humor article this issue. I can't verify who the author is.

I will be back Wednesday because I have to start taking American Idol bets! [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Take care

Re: ISOP Cancellation
 

*bumpy*

Re: ISOP Cancellation
 

[ QUOTE ]

He only said to be on time next month and there will another humor article this issue. I can't verify who the author is.


[/ QUOTE ]

Does this mean the dude wrote a strategy article? [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]...

Thanks for all your hard work on this granny, even if it didn't work out. Like most forumers i was pretty pscyhed to see this get off the ground.

Re: ISOP Cancellation
 

Too bad to hear, G&j. I'm not really a tourny guy, but planned to hook up with RV anyway (despite the FL connection) and give it a shot for the sake of Zoo spirit. I'll do the same when you guys and grans pick it up again in the future.

Adde

Re: ISOP Cancellation
 

Thats too bad, was looking forward to a large wsop style online tourney.

Re: ISOP Cancellation
 

I do not think the idea was too late at all. It is rather the case that successfully organizing such a collective action is very difficult .... and maybe impossible in this industry whatever the timing.

There is validity to the point that Brick & Mortar events are an alternative marketing tool for sites, but they are not as direct a concept or as economically efficient concept as would be a successful ISOP.

As a marketing idea, an ISOP certainly works from a site's perspective, so long as a reputable forum like 2+2 is available for publicizing it to an avid target group. (I am afraid that some of the sites did not appreciate the target group here or the benefits of collective action in this instance.)

David

Re: ISOP Cancellation
 

Thats too bad, was looking forward to a large wsop style online tourney.

So you stole the idea? gl.

Lori

Re: ISOP Cancellation
 

Without trying you will never know if it can be done.

Edit: didn't notice it was an old topic. Ah, doesn't matter.

Re: ISOP Cancellation
 

The ISOP was cancelled?!?! Next thing you know we'll be landing people on the moon! [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]
~Justin

Re: ISOP Cancellation
 

[ QUOTE ]
The ISOP was cancelled?!?! Next thing you know we'll be landing people on the moon! [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]
~Justin

[/ QUOTE ]

Who among us hasn't lost a few months of time when we find ourselves drugged out in a Turkish whorehouse and no idea how we got there?

Re: ISOP Cancellation
 

can someone link me to a thread explaining what ISOP is exactly?

Re: ISOP Cancellation
 

[ QUOTE ]
can someone link me to a thread explaining what ISOP is exactly?

[/ QUOTE ]

ISOP no longer exists. Basically it was going to be an online version of the WPT, with several different host sites.

The next closest thing is the WCOOP that Pokerstars has every year, that should be coming up in a few months.

Re: ISOP Cancellation
 

Is anyone that was involved in the ISOP involved in this new OSOP?

Re: ISOP Cancellation
 

ISOP was a concept of 11 tournaments sponsored by 11 rooms. the concept is on hold indefinitely.

OSOP is a 4 tourney concept that is part of an affiliate program. it is a series of tournaments sponsored by the owners of the poker portal PSO.

Re: ISOP Cancellation
 

[ QUOTE ]
ISOP was a concept of 11 tournaments sponsored by 11 rooms. the concept is on hold indefinitely.

OSOP is a 4 tourney concept that is part of an affiliate program. it is a series of tournaments sponsored by the owners of the poker portal PSO.

[/ QUOTE ]

Man, did PSO grow fast or what? Gezus.