Responses inline

>>Any pokers players here? What do you think?
>>http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/poker/news/story?id=3375032
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>>I play quite a bit, both online and live, and frankly I love this idea. Anything that brings in the fish raises the profile of the game is great in my opinion.
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>I've got a couple of reasons for disliking this idea.
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>1. The WSOP is a marathon event and stamina should play a role. The other side of the coin is that players have put themselves in the proper mindframe, one that builds thoughout the event, and one the is difficult (if not impossible) to recreate several months later.

I agree, more below.

>2. Imagine Game 7 of the World Series, NBA/NHL finals being postponed for several months. We live in a world which want immediate resolution. Golf tourneys no longer have next day 18-hole playoffs, they go to sudden death (not exactly a fair comparison because that was done for television ratings purposes).

I don't think this applies. Those events are already shown live, whereas the WSOP is recorded and delayed by months before broadcast. This will put the final table closer to the broadcast date. Unless it changed this year the US Open Golf Tourney still has an 18-hole playoff.

>3. Too much could happen to the players in the interim that would affect their ability to compete. Illness, injury, etc., plus the emotional effects of waiting several months. To take an extreme example..........imagine a pregnant woman making it to the final table but being unable to compete several months later.

This is the best argument I've heard against the format. Mainly the complaint is regarding players changing their style via coaching during the interim.

>4. Not much of a real consideration but the players who don't make the final table (and people who attend primarily as spectators) won't be able to watch the event live.

If they really want to they can make the return trip.

>5. I have a full-time job and won't be able to return to Vegas and take my seat.

You're still using the same amount of vacation days, just split over two time periods.