Professional Poker Tour...
 

Linda Johnson released this Press Release earlier today (I wish my name was on that list... maybe next year):

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WPT Enterprises has created the Professional Poker Tour (PPT), a series of
$500,000 freeroll events. Season one will consist of five event with the first
one scheduled to take place at Foxwoods on Nov. 9 & 10. The final table will be filmed for televison on Nov. 19.

An advisory committee came up with criteria to narrow the field to
approximately 200 invited players for season one. Some of the criteria
included:

All WPT Champions (i.e. winners of any WPT regular season event)
Anyone who made more than one final table in a particular season of the WPT
First, second, or third place in the $25K WPT Championship event
Top ten players on WPT Player of the Year list (Season II)
All winners of World Series of Poker $10K championship event
First, second, or third place in 2003 or 2004 World Series of Poker $10K event
Top ten players on Card Player Player of the Year list (2002, 2003)
Top Ten Players on Phil Hellmuth Champion of the Year List (2002, 2003)
Members of WPT Poker Walk of Fame
Members if the Poker Hall of Fame
Fourth, fifth, or sixth place in the $25K WPT Championship event
Fourth, fifth, or sixth place in the $10K World Series of Poker event -
2003-2004
Players selected by Advisory Committee
Top Ten Players on Poker Europa List (2004)
World Poker Tour Commentators

The following players were invited to play on season one of the Tour:
Benyamine David
Brenes Eric
Brunson Doyle
Corkins Hoyt
D'Agostino John
Darden Paul
De Knijff Martin
Elezra Eli
Esfandiari Antonio
Flack Layne
Francisco Noli
Goehring Alan
Gordon Phil
Greenstein Barry
Hansen Gus
Helppi Juha
Johansson Christer
Judah Mel
Karagulleyan Chris
Kinney Michael
Laak Phil
Lederer Howard
Lindgren Erick
Negreanu Daniel
Phillips Paul
Rose Ron
Rosenkrantz Jose
Sunar Surinder
Ulliott David
Gerasimov Kirill
Ivey Phil
Habib Hasan
Matros Matt
Preston "Amarillo Slim"
Pearson Puggy
Baldwin Bobby
McEvoy Tom
Johnston Barry
Hellmuth Phil
Matloubi Mansour
Daugherty Brad
Dastmalchi Hamid
Bechtel Jim
Hamilton Russ
Seed Huck
Nguyen Scotty
Furlong Noel
Furguson Chris
Mortensen Carlos
Varkonyi Robert
Raymer Greg
Chan Johnny
Moneymaker Chris
Farha Samy
Williams David
Arieh Josh
Harrington Dan
Watkinson Lee
Liebert Kathy
Reese Chip
Moore Roger
Berman Lyle
G Tony
Nguyen Men
Cloutier T.J.
Seidel Erik
Juanda John
Plastik David
Seif Mark
Pham David
Jett Chip
Shoten Charles
Meehan Jim
Vahedi Amir
Benvisitsi Tomer
Brecher Steve
Forrest Ted
Grijalva Richard
Hoeppner James
Lester Jason
Rosenblum Russell
Alspach Dan
Awada Joe
Barton Don
Baxter Billy
Beevers Joe
Bigler Chris
Bjorin Chris
Bloch Andy
Bloom Tony
Boatman Ross
Boatman Barney
Bonetti John
Bonyadi Farzad
Boubli Jan
Brenes Humberto
Brindley Roy 'the boy'
Brunson Todd
Bush Garry
Caro Mike
Cassidy Joe
Cernuto John
Chiu David
Clarke Paul
Colclough Dave
Cordovez Diego
Costa Peter
Cousineau Tony
Cuningham Allen
Deeb Kassem
Demetriou Harry
Duarte Billy
Duke Annie
Enright Barbara
Esposito John
Faltinsky Ron
Feduniak Maureen
Feduniak Bob
Fischman Scott
Fitoussi Bruno
Flaton Ken
Franklin Tom
Friedman Prahlad
Gazes Bill
Gazes Kristy
Giang Chau
Goldstein Stan
Goldstein Ken
Gregorich Mark
Gresch Joseph
Grey David
Hansen Thor
Harman Jennifer
Haveson Brian
Hayden Melissa
Hennigan John
Hinchcliffe Chris
Hoff Robert
Holland Randy
Hua Can Kim
Hufnagle Tommy
Ibrahem Mohamed
Jacobs Tom
Jaffrey Allyn
James Kenna
Jensen Randy
Jones Jesse
Kabbaj John
Kaplan Gabe
Kastle Casey
Keller Thomas
La Meng
Laing Mike
Le Hon
Lent Gary
Leonidas Toto
Levi David
Longson O'Neil
Lund Tuna
Luong Dee
Luske Marcel
Ma Tony
Magriel Paul
Marmorstein Phillip
Matusow Mike
McKelvey Carl
McManus Jim
Mehrmand David
Ng Evelyn
Nguyen Minh
Nguyen Phi
O'Dea Donneca
Oppenheim David
Parkinson Padreig
Perry Ralph
Phan Young
Ramdin Victor
Reyes Cecilia
Rice Shawn
Roberts Ben
Rodman Blair
Rokach Lucy
Salem Lee
Schoenfield Adam
Shirey Hilbert
Shulman Barry
Shulman Jeff
Song Kevin
Stonum Al
Tann Willie
Tomko Dewey
Tran JC
Tran Jimmy
Tran Mimi
Tsiprailidis Chris
Turner Robert
Vaswani Ram
Vinh Vinny
Violette Cindy
Waggoner Marsha
Waterman Dennis
Williamson Robert
Wolfe Paul
Zolotow Steve

WPT COMMENTATORS
Sexton Mike
Van Patten Vince
Johnson Linda

Funny, I didn't see "Aequitas58" anywhere. Is that the updated list?

I am a bit of a cynic by nature, but I think the whole PPT thing is due to the "pros" being tired of relative newbies buying into big events and taking them down.

I reckon they think it makes them look bad - people watching on TV and thinking, "That pro just got his ass handed to him by that kid".

Anyone can outplay anyone else in one specific hand. That's why Mike McD in "Rounders" was an idiot - imagine thinking you could win the WSOP just because you laid a big bluff on an old pro in one hand.

CF

Dude... it was just a movie :p

Kidding... I know what you mean.

I think the PPT is a result of finally getting some big money sponsors and trying to remodel (as in business model) the sport. They are going to try to make it more like the PGA, and honestly, I think it's a great idea. They needed to start somehwere to find the initial 200 players, and I think the process they used was as good as any other...

Poker is alredy being divided into groups. Now people will push to try to get onto the PPT. Should be interesting to see a final table full of pros.

freerolls???

The only problem I have with the idea.

At least, it will be a problem till I'm on the list :)

the only thing that bothers me about this is that they decided to make it a freeroll invitational, not just add money to a regular event. sure, you want to see the best of the best fighting it out, but the biggest bump for poker recently is the idea that everyday schmoes can make final tables and change their lives with a big win. i think everyone recognizes this "moneymaker effect."

i can understand that sponsors want to ensure that their investment will be profitable, but eliminating a huge part the player base doesnt seem to be particularly smart.

Exactly, why is it that pros, who assumably are asking for this as a way to compete without less experienced players cramping their style, should have this as a freeroll? I don't get it.

One big problem with sponsoring IMO is that you take away the deal making possibilities.

Defendant