Is this unprofessional?

[Hal 2000]

Date / Time: 2005-09-30 09:32:00
Title: Steve Brandvold Doubles Up Through Freddy Deeb -- After a Scare
Log: Steve Brandvold moves all in under the gun for a total of $59,000, and it's folded around to Freddy Deeb in the big blind, who calls with Ac-Js. Brandvold shows pocket kings (Kc-Kd), and he is in the lead. The flop comes 5c-3c-2h, and Brandvold is still in the lead, though Deeb flopped a gut-shot straight draw and a runner-runner flush draw. The turn card is the 7h, and Brandvold closes his eyes as the river card is shown. Tournament Director Jack McClelland announces the last card as a four, and Brandvold just sits quietly with his eyes close.


Then Jack says, "I'm just kidding. It's a two." At this point Brandvold snaps wide awake, scanning the board to see the truth for himself. He sees that the river card was indeed the two of clubs, and his kings held up to win the hand. There's a brief flash of confused anger before the joyful relief spreads across his face, and he joins the crowd in a good laugh.


Steve Brandvold survives to double up to about $140,000 in chips.

[paperboyNC]

Don't close your eyes and you don't have to worry about it. geez.

[curtains]

Sounds really terrible to me. No Tournament Director should [censored] with the players like that.

[random]

I think that's terrible.

[Autocratic]

I don't think it's too outrageous, but I'd only really consider it fine if the director knew the player.

[TomCollins]

It would be much worse to tell him he won, when he lost.

[Neil Stevens]

Nothing wrong with putting on a show for the spectators.

I agree: keep your eyes open if you care so much about what's going on.

I thought it was pretty funny to be honest.

[MicroBob]

Sort of unprofessional by the tourney-director but I don't think it's THAT unprofessional.
trying to add a little levity of course....but some TD's take this too far and don't realize how serously some of the players are taking the tourney.

I have a bigger problem with players closing their eyes or turning their backs to the board, etc etc.
Such stupid drama and I find it quite annoying.

I recall some guy always turning his back on every all-in in some recent WPT episode and I couldn't help but think that he was behaving like a total jack-ass.


(again...I provide the disclaimer that I've never been on a big-event final-table with serious pressure and TV cameras, etc etc....so I have no idea the levels of uncool I could reach in such a situation)

[Eric Draven]

[ QUOTE ]
It would be much worse to tell him he won, when he lost.

[/ QUOTE ]

LOL.

I agree, it depends on how well the director knows the player...