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WSOP: Changing the Main Event?
By Al Spath

Okay, so I reject the notion of raising the entry fee to $25,000 or $50,000 to compete with the H.O.R.S.E event. In effect, it would thin the field, allowing more professionals an easier path to the money spots (as it was pre-internet). Furthermore, without No-Limit Hold'em in the formula as part of the H.O.R.S.E event, how can it be considered the best all-around format?

I would like to propose an alternate and interesting concept for the consideration of Harrah's, albeit one that was met with plenty of opposition at the www.PokerSchoolOnline.com (PSO) forums.

The majority of players at PSO clearly said: "Leave the main event as it is." But, if Harrah's is entertaining a change in the event, I hope they will give some consideration to the following proposal.

What if the field were capped each year (similar to the NCAA basketball tournament), at approximately 7500 players, or any number that works so long as the players can sensibly fit into the same room and not into tents? The current WSOP main event has taken much longer to complete these past few years due to the influx of entries, and this is a primary reason for change. Capping the number of entries would result in an overall shorter main event.

Example:

7500 players, max.

Single-table NL events to start.

Fees: $10k ($75,000,000), less 10% juice (assuming Harrah's only takes 10%), for a total of ($67.5m) in prize money. Adjust prizes awarded below if slightly more or less.

Single table shootouts to begin on days one and day two, instead of the present five days with a 1 day break:

Round 1: The top two finishers advance from each table. With 750 tables in action, 1500 players will move on.

Round 2: The top two finishers advance from each table. With 150 tables (1500 players in action), 300 players will move on. (Pay this group a flat prize fee of $50,000 for a total of $15 million)

Round 3: Now you must switch to the top finisher at each table advancing, so the 30 tables in action will produce 30 winners who will move on. (Pay them each $200,000 for a total of $6 million)

(Note: As an option, you could continue with the top two finishers advancing here, and then have 60 players at the end to play it out.)

Round 4: 3 tables (30 players) are left to play it out. Use the current WSOP percentage payout structure for the remaining $46.5 million.

I'd like to share some opinions and comments from PSO members who have strong feeling about any changes to the main event:

"What I didn't like was the doubling of starting chips chips, along with doubling the blind structure. It was a poorly thought out move IMHO."

"I would certainly increase the entry fee to account for inflation since the 70's, so an entry fee of 15k at least."

"I have a big problem with taking a week off just to play two days of poker. Also, there is a huge built-in advantage to somebody who is lucky enough to stay at the same table, as opposed to somebody who has moved tables four times during the day. The shootout format eliminates this inequity."

"Just my thoughts... keep the buy in the same. If the buy-in were to have been raised this past year to, say, $20K, I would not have had enough PSO sponsorship points to have played. My family and I would have missed out on an unbelievable lifetime experience, cashing deep and being on ESPN TV... and winning some nice cash, also."

"In my humble opinion, the $10,000.00 main event should not crown the world champion. The $50,000.00 H.O.R.S.E. event should."

"H.O.R.S.E. should crown the WSOP champion, not the $10,000.00 NL Hold'em tournament. To me, the $50,000.00 H.O.R.S.E tournament is 'The Main Event.'"

"If I were playing the main event, I would certainly prefer a regular tournament structure over a shootout sort of structure. About the capping of players, that I could agree with."

It's a no-brainer; we can only agree to disagree about "changing" the WSOP main event. Passionate arguments on both sides of the aisle leave us exactly where we started, with the main event being left alone for now. But, for sure, the upcoming years should be interesting.

""If I was in charge [of the WSOP]," says Daniel, on changing the main event. "The first thing I would do would be to raise the buy-in to either $50,000 or $100,000. The second thing I would do would be to change the format completely. I would change it from a typical tournament to a shootout style tournament."

About the Author:
Al Spath is the "Dean" at PokerSchoolOnline and has authored the "Poker Journal." In addition to having one place for all your poker records, you'll get advice and tips on reading hands, playing live, reading tells and so much more (www.alspath.com). Al's poker expertise, coupled with his insight and ability to communicate effectively to both large and smaller sized audiences, make him an ideal speaker for any company, convention, college, or organizational group venue.

Comments to: AlSpath@pokerschoolonline.com

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