Big Event, Little Field
2007-09-07 19:50:58
By:
Gene Bromberg
I was surprised to see that the field for the first event of the World Series of Poker-Europe was a modest 105. I thought there would be hundreds of European online
wunderkinder who aren't allowed to play in U.S. casinos who would descend on London looking to become the youngest-ever bracelet winner. I thought wrong. Perhaps H.O.R.S.E. isn't quite a popular yet as I think it's going to be, or maybe players are just waiting for the PLO tournament and the £10,000 Main Event before dipping into their bankrolls.
Or, maybe, there are more pragmatic problems to deal with.
Reading a post from my friend Pauly, who I worked with in Vegas, there are logistical issues that might really restrict the ability of European casinos to hold big
poker tournaments. Like, they aren't big enough. They simply don't have enough empty space to comfortably hold 100
poker tables. And when you think about real estate prices in places like London and Monte Carlo, you begin to understand why.
It gives you an appreciation of just how massive the WSOP really is. When the first event of this year's World Series started, I sat there and just reveled at how awesome it all was. And when I say "awesome", I honestly mean it was awe-inspiring.
Poker tables as far as they eye could see, and not an empty seat in the house. Until that first all-in and call was heard.
There's been talk about the World Series moving from the Rio to a ritizier casino--Caesar's Palace, say. But it's hard to say that even Caesar's has the space to hold the World Series. Jeffrey Pollack has already said that there will NOT be a "Poker Pavillion" tent next year...so where do you put everyone? One option is to move into one of the convention rooms even bigger than the Amazon. Or to house the cash games in one room and the tournaments in another. The race for space will be an interested subplot during the leadup to the 2008 World Series of Poker.
But for now they're playing for bracelets in Europe, and both Annie Duke and Phil Hellmuth did not cash in this opening event.
Pauly has a nice photo of Phil, Jeff Madsen, Brandon Adams and Tony G getting massages at the same time. When will we see the first whirpool/hot tub at a
poker tournament? Maybe at the next World Series, if space allows.
Permalink:
http://www.ultimatebet.com/poker-blog-post/Big-Event-Little-Field/2040
