[RoyalLance]

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Would Hellmuth, et al, really rather go back to the WSOP of 10-15 years ago, where they played the same pros each year, but the winnings were relative peanuts?

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Back when the fields were smaller, Hellmuth would give his left nut to face a field of 300 flounders in the WSOP, and his right nut NOT to face guys like Stu Ungar, Doyle Brunson, Chip Reese, Johnny Chan, and the other big dogs in pursuit of the bracelet. His chances of winning a Big One would boost obscenenly if he only had to face 300 other guys and all of the were bad. When the field grows to 5000+, however, Phil's chances of CASHING IN, much less winning 1st, will be VERY slim, no matter how many good or bad players are in the tournament.

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A pro should shrug it off, and take the long view, confident that the donks, as a category of player, overall pay him far more than they take.

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That would be so true if you didn't count the last four Main Events WHICH WERE WON BY NOBODIES!

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If so, there's nothing stopping them from starting their own, exclusively pro tournament.

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Is ESPN the only channel you have?