The World Series of Poker Europe-Is It Worthwhile?
The World Series of Poker Europe-Is It Worthwhile?
For the first time in the nearly four decade history of the WSOP, bracelets were awarded outside the confines of Las Vegas. This, however, led some observers to question the event. Is the World Series of Poker Europe really a part of World Series lore? Should they award bracelets? And finally, was the inaugural WSOP-E well received?
The three events that comprised the WSOP-E were a success if youlook strictly at the numbers. One-hundred-five runners stepped to the line for the first event, a ?2,500 HORSE tournament that could easily be called one of the toughest fields ever. Among those 105 players, ninety-eight World Series bracelets were represented among the 105 entrants, and Jennifer Harman nearly became the first winner of a WSOP-E bracelet, finishing second to Germany’s Thomas Bihl. The second event focused on one of the most popular forms of poker in Europe, pot-limit Omaha, and for a ?5,000 expenditure (roughly $10,000) a surprising 165 players came to the felt. Dario Alioto, who also final tabled at the 2007 WSOP in pot-limit Omaha/8, was the winner.
The main event, a ?10,000 (almost $20,000) no-limit hold’em tournament, pulled in 362 players from around the world. From these numbers alone, the WSOP-Europe was an unqualified success.
Nevertheless, some problems were apparent. In England-as well as in the rest of Europe-there is an absence of large casinos and card rooms, the kind that are prevalent in the United States. The championship event was split among three different casinos in the London area, which caused problems for many players. Having set up in hotels closest to the main hosting casino (the Empire), some found out they had to play in one of the other two venues away fromthat spot. This was something that Harrah’s might have avoided by visiting the venues, but it is a nitpicky point. Overall, it appears the events ran smoothly and players were generally happy.
Should they be awarding bracelets at the World Series of Poker Europe? I think that Harrah’s management considered this since they acquired the rights to the World Series, and are probably envisioning something along these lines in other areas.
If we have the World Series of Poker-Europe, how soon will we have a WSOP stop in Asia, South America, Africa, or Australia? Although the World Series of Poker Circuit events in the United States award a very nice championship ring, Harrah’s could award a bracelet in these events too. Winning one of these tournaments, after all, is the equivalent of being a U.S. champion and could be recognized accordingly with the WSOP bracelet. The question of whether they should be recognized along with career bracelets won in Las Vegas is a thornier question. If Jennifer Harman won the WSOP-E mixed games event, would she be recognized as a three-time bracelet winner? If Phil Hellmuth took the championship event would his total go to twelve bracelets? These may be questions of semantics, but I believe they should count, with the appropriate designations. A player who takes one of the WSOP-E events has to defeat some of the finest players in the game today and, as such, should reap the rewards of his accomplishment. Is having a World Series of Poker event outside the U. S. viable? Why not? With the success of the first visit to Europe and the possibility of having other continents contest for similar crowns, it simply demonstrates that poker is something most of us already knew-that poker is a worldwide game, and that there is no difference between a straight on the felt in Las Vegas and one in London, or anywhere else.
What better way to demonstrate this than having continental championships, much like what goes on in international basketball, soccer, and other sports. I believe the World Series of Poker-Europe is viable and I predict that we will soon see similar contests ranging around the world.
WSOP-E came off with few problems and was well received, drawing the best from America as well as from Europe and other parts of the world. The bracelets won were taken with the same skills used in poker anywhere in the world. I hope we see the WSOP-E flourish alongside the traditional World Series of Poker in Las Vegas, and I hope we see more continental stops in upcoming years too.
Article by: Earl Burton
Filed under: Poker News