Tournament of Champions

jimmytheg · #1 11-17-04, 06:23 AM

you didnt see it right after their coverage of the main event ended? i figured everybody here saw it. It was a really good event, but i won't believe for a second that no deal was made

BlibbityBlabbity · #2 11-17-04, 08:54 AM

Maybe Annie wouldn't deal?

Can't you just see her dancing around the room in front of the other 9 of them like an elementary school pixie screaching "IIII beat you, III beat you!".....

With brother Howard standing there, red in the face, shrugging his shoulders and saying "I know, I know, I have to deal with this EVERY time I lose ANYTHING to her

"

Aequitas58 · #3 11-17-04, 10:03 AM

There had to be a deal... but I doubt ESPN knew anything about it. They were paying for a winner, not a 3-4 way tie. There's nothing glamorous about three champions; besides, in this fast-food nation, we want to see one winner, a big payoff, and drama.

I think they like the whole idea though: good ratings, etc - and I wouldn't be surprised if we saw another TOC after next year's WSOP.

jimmytheg · #4 11-17-04, 10:15 AM

They've set up their own poker tour, sponsored by Harrah's, that concludes with the tournament of champions next year. They are having tournaments at Harrah's casinos around the country throughout next year, all of which we be filmed and televised by ESPN

BlibbityBlabbity · #5 11-17-04, 10:16 AM

"In 2005, the World Series of Poker begins its evolution from a month-long special event into a year-round sport," said Ginny Shanks, senior vice president of acquisition marketing for Harrah's. "The road to the World Series of Poker Championship will be a challenging and arduous one. But unlike professional football, basketball, golf or auto racing, even the greenest of amateurs can mount a challenge for the title."

Players will earn points based on their performance in the circuit tournaments and the World Series of Poker. The top 100 point-earners will receive a free invitation to the 2005 World Series of Poker Tournament of Champions, where a single winner will take home a top prize of $2 million.

Looks like you have to earn your invite this year....

Link to circuit schedule on WSOP site<daydream>...Wonder if I could win a sat into an event in Atlantic City????</daydream>

eddo31 · #6 11-17-04, 12:42 PM

i like the idea of turning the toc into an event that you have to qualify for. it just makes sense, both for the players and for espn.

all of the rhetoric over at rgp about who should and who should not have been in the event seemed a little bit ridiculous (even though i agreed with daniel), but with an expanded field hopefully there will be significantly less bitching.

i also think that a deal was made. i think that annie and phil defintely chopped up the first place money, and that at that point they were playing for pride alone. neither one of them was going to tank the heads up match, so i dont think that espn should really have any complaints even if a deal was made. it was still some great poker, and even better entertainment.

badblood44 · #7 11-17-04, 02:16 PM

I know ESPN didn't want a deal made, but I also have to agree that one was made.

Especially after it got down to the final two and Annie quite flippantly asks Phil if he's ready for the heads up match. Just didn't seem like at that point you'd be so nonchalant when there's 2mil up for grabs and one of you gets zero.

I have no evidence supporting my claim however.

Jackass_man · #8 11-17-04, 02:23 PM

Annie Duke is a piece of shit who got extremely lucky , but think of it this way it was a freeroll sitngo, I know alot of people who could have one that thing if they had gotten half the lucky breaks she did.

jdiana86 · #9 11-17-04, 02:49 PM

I'd have to agree that espn probably made them sign something not to make deals because that would just take the raw competitiveness out of the tournament. but then again we are talking about poker players. also, phil seemed pretty mad that he lost, so he was either acting or really mad. at times i was convinced the whole thing was rigged, the crazy hands that happended were amazing: doyle almost flopping quads in the same hand howard had KK, his sister had AQs and made a flush, and ivey went all in and made top pair on the flop. interesting tournament that is a must-see.