Negreanu Criticizes the WSOP 's one-dimensional lineup

[Dynasty]

Turnouts for this year's WSOP events.

6/17 $1,000 7 Card Studd High-Low 8/B: 595
6/17 $1,500 Limit Hold 'em Shootout: 450
6/18 $1,500 No-Limit Hold 'em Shootout: 780
6/19 $2,500 Limit Hold 'em: 373
<font color="red">6/20 $2,000 7 card Stud High-Low 8/B: 279 </font>
<font color="red">6/20 $1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha: 291 </font>
<font color="red"> 6/22 $5,000 Pot-Limit Omaha: 239 </font>
6/23 $2,500 Omaha High-Low 8/B: 359
6/24 $1,500 No-Limit Hold 'em: 2,013
<font color="red">6/25 $5,000 7 Card Stud: 192 </font>
6/26 $2,500 No-Limit Hold 'em: 1,056
6/26 $2,500 Pot-Limit Hold 'em: 425
6/27 $1,000 Ladies No-Limit Hold 'em: 601
<font color="red">6/28 $5,000 Pot-Limit Omaha: 134 </font>
<font color="red">6/29 $5,000 Limit Hold 'em: 269 </font>
6/30 $2,000 No-Limit Hold 'em: 1,072
<font color="red">6/30 $1,500 Seven Card Razz: 291 </font>
6/30 $5,000 No-Limit Short Handed (6/Table): 301
<font color="red">7/2 $5,000 Omaha High-Low 8/B: 224 </font>
7/3 $3,000 No-Limit Hold 'em: 1,010
7/3 $1,000 No-Limit Hold 'em Seniors: 825
<font color="red">7/4 $10,000 Pot-Limit Omaha: 165 </font>
7/4 $3,000 Limit Hold 'em: 406
7/5 $1,000 No-Limit Hold 'em: 1,584
<font color="red">7/6 $5,000 No-Limit 2-7 Draw Lowball: 85 </font>
7/11 $1,500 No-Limit Hold 'em: 863
7/12 $1,000 No-Limit Hold 'em: 971
7/13 $1,000 No-Limit Hold 'em: 758
7/15 $10,000 No-Limit Hold 'em Championship: 5,619


Events which drew less than 300 players are highlighted in red. None of them are no-limit hold 'em and only the $5,000 event is limit hold 'em. Meanwhile, just two non hold 'em events were able to draw more than 300 players.

Even when you exclude the Championship Event, the open no-limit tournaments drew an average of 1,166 players.

I think the players have spoken very clearly to Harrahs about what they want.

[shaniac]

I'm not arguing that hold' em does and will attract many times more the players than any of the side events, but it has nothing to do with Daniel's point.

The other events deserve some representation at the WSOP. If Harrah's spread a HORSE and another lowball event, you wouldn't hear players complaining that there wasn't enough hold 'em at this year's series.

Also, since my point is that people are interested in playing WSOP tournaments no matter what the game, I'm curious how those numbers in red compare to the numbers from the same events in years past. Care to look it up Dynasty?

[Kyo Souma II]

[ QUOTE ]
I think the players have spoken very clearly to Harrahs about what they want.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes, but it still sucks that money talks so much louder than tradition that the latter cannot be heard.

-kyo

[52s]

2004 #'s in blue

6/17 $1,000 7 Card Studd High-Low 8/B: 595 (2004 similar was $1,500) <font color="blue">213 </font>
6/20 $2,000 7 card Stud High-Low 8/B: 279 <font color="blue"> 224</font>
6/20 $1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha: 291 (2004 similar was $2,000)<font color="blue"> 145 </font>
6/22 $5,000 Pot-Limit Omaha: 239 <font color="blue"> 145 </font>
6/23 $2,500 Omaha High-Low 8/B: 359 (2004 similar was $2,000) <font color="blue">234 </font>
6/25 $5,000 7 Card Stud: 192 <font color="blue"> 144 </font>
6/30 $1,500 Seven Card Razz: 291 <font color="blue"> 195 </font>
7/2 $5,000 Omaha High-Low 8/B: 224 <font color="blue"> 121 </font>
7/6 $5,000 No-Limit 2-7 Draw Lowball: 85 <font color="blue"> 46</font>

As always with the WSOP, the schedule is nowhere near the same year to year, ditto the entry fees, so "similar" events needed to be used. A while back I broke down the events and buy-ins for the WSOPs from 2002-2004, trying to come up with the "perfect schedule" for another site, and one funny factoid is that in 2002, there were a grand total of 4 Open NLHE events (including the ME). I might go ahead and re-do the breakdown altogether. I know I came up with something like 40 total events.

[AceHigh]

[ QUOTE ]
I think the players have spoken very clearly to Harrahs about what they want.

[/ QUOTE ]

Exactly, Harrah's wants players, ESPN wants viewers, players and viewers want Hold 'em. Everybody but the pro's are happy. What the problem?

Just more whining from the pro's. For some reason the pro's think because they are pro's there opinions are worth more. They are wrong.

[JohnG]

[ QUOTE ]
I think the players have spoken very clearly to Harrahs about what they want.

[/ QUOTE ]

And 200-300 players want a mix of other games in addition to holdem. It's not like only 20 are turning up. It wasn't that long ago people were amazed that 300 turned up for the main event.

[ QUOTE ]
Turnouts for this year's WSOP events.
<font color="red">6/20 $2,000 7 card Stud High-Low 8/B: 279 </font>
<font color="red">6/20 $1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha: 291 </font>
<font color="red"> 6/22 $5,000 Pot-Limit Omaha: 239 </font>
<font color="red">6/25 $5,000 7 Card Stud: 192 </font>
<font color="red">6/28 $5,000 Pot-Limit Omaha: 134 </font>
<font color="red">6/29 $5,000 Limit Hold 'em: 269 </font>
<font color="red">6/30 $1,500 Seven Card Razz: 291 </font>
<font color="red">7/2 $5,000 Omaha High-Low 8/B: 224 </font>
<font color="red">7/4 $10,000 Pot-Limit Omaha: 165 </font>
<font color="red">7/6 $5,000 No-Limit 2-7 Draw Lowball: 85 </font>



[/ QUOTE ]

Thank you for this information. This reminds me of a TV show that is facing cancellation and the president of its fan club organizes a letter writing campaign to save the show. The players want hold 'em. As much as many of us would like to see mixed events, hold 'em is the game of choice for the masses. I don't blame Harrah's at all for focusing on it and dropping these &lt; 300 entries tournaments.

[Ghazban]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]

Can't they give a little back to the Poker Players by building more bathroom facilities and/or adding the events we want to see?

[/ QUOTE ]

They are giving the public what they want to see. They want hold 'em.

I don't have any info on the bathrooms.

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm sure there's a witty remark in here about "hold em" and waiting in long lines for the bathroom....

[air]

I can't find the 2006 WSOP schedule. Anyone have a link? Thanks.

[shaniac]

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/051024/phm051.html?.v=17