After last year’s Final Table in the $50k HORSE event was loaded with some of the biggest names in the history of poker, ESPN decided to dramatically expand its coverage of the event. After all, there was a ton of marketability in the 20+ bracelets, the names (Brunson, Reese, Ivey, Cloutier) and the hype that these were obviously the best players in the world.
Well, this year is a new story, and highlights the variance that takes place for one single tournament. Out of this final table:
Seat 1 - Kenny Tran - 2,445,000
Seat 2 - David Singer - 1,330,000
Seat 3 - Bruno Fitoussi - 895,000
Seat 4 - John Hanson - 1,995,000
Seat 5 - Freddy Deeb - 3,500,000
Seat 6 - Thor Hansen - 40,000
Seat 7 - Amnon Filippi - 4,015,000
Seat 8 - Barry Greenstein - 750,000
…there is ONE bracelet (Greenstein, for Deuce-to-Seven three years ago). The only returning final tablist, Singer, is the one with the least camera presence. Deeb and Filippi are names known to the serious poker fan…but that’s not the audience that ESPN is catering to. And even I know almost nothing about Tran, Fitoussi, Hanson and Hansen.
As ESPN edits the footage, it’s possible that they can create some stars here…but that’s not the point of the “Players World Championship”. The stars were supposed to be ready-made. This event will be an interesting test of ESPN’s commitment to showing non-NLHE tournaments.
July 2nd, 2007 at 12:51 am
I have to disagree with your blog. Sure its not Ivey and Brunson but some well known players with more then one bracelet.
Barry has two WSOP braclets plus 2 WPT titles
Thor Hansen has two WSOP bracelets
Freddy Deeb now has two bracelets with a WPT title
Amnon has played on HSP
Singer a WPT final tabel.
Why it might not be a dream table considering the players in the field it IMO isn’t all that bad.
July 3rd, 2007 at 1:00 am
Thor Hansen has two bracelets and this was his *third* final table this series. Hell, everyone at that table is pretty famous, but I just wanted to correct that bracelet fact.
July 3rd, 2007 at 3:19 pm
Good catch on Thor Hansen…but he’s far more known for being the “chip leader to out in 2 hands” guy from the 2003 WSOP coverage. What’s Barry’s other bracelet?
I will admit that I underestimated how good all of these guys are to prove a point. Kenny Tran’s one of the most admired cash game players out there, as is John Hanson. And Bruno Fitoussi is a name in the European poker community through his role at the Aviation Club. Nobody who played in that tournament is soft.
But keep in mind what ESPN’s goal is. It’s not to appeal to the hundreds who read here now, or the thousands who can navigate the CardPlayer pro profiles. It’s to reach 2 million households, and they’ll almost assuredly do it without emphasizing Greenstein, Deeb and Singer’s success on the WPT or anyone’s appearances on HSP (aka the “competition”). Compared to the history that could be told from last year’s HORSE FT, this one was a disaster. ESPN got lucky that the most colorful guy at the table (hell, in the entire game) won it.
July 4th, 2007 at 12:48 pm
Barry’s other bracelet was in PLO just a few years ago. I see your point reagarding “star power” Hell with ESPN, the true fans know the players. Great site, look forward to reading the daily blogs.
July 18th, 2007 at 2:16 am
The guy Grapsfan is talking about is named Olaf Thorsen from the 2003 WSOP.
He went from Penthouse to Outhouse. LOL
I wrote an article referencing it on my blog. Alwaysbluff I hope this is ok, if not just remove it. Thanks
http://www.poker-speak.com/mtt-strategy/penthouse-to-outhouse/
October 6th, 2007 at 6:37 am
Thank you for sharing!