If predatory professionals fleece the previous few remaining recreational poker players out in their money, and no-one new is interested in the game, poker's got the shelf lifetime of an organic banana. The game, and the industry surrounding it, will last another QUARTER-HOUR at best.
Something must be done to modify all that, and anyone and everybody who desires to join the industry has a responsibility to assist make that happen, for the affection of the sport and all that's good for it.
It's with that during mind that we glance to this week's Five Thoughts and hope for a brighter future for the sport of poker and all of the individuals who has been touched by it.
1. PokerStars' New Duel Brings Back the Cool
John Boyega and Neymar Jr.
With online poker still against archaic laws in a few of the United States, and the post-Moneymaker boom now greater than a decade old, the expansion of poker has certainly plateaued over the last few years. However the formula for sparking a brand new flame that would reignite poker's popularity is hardly rocket science. As an industry, we simply want to have the ability to make poker cool again. It needs to be fun, exciting and the "in" thing, find it irresistible once was. Remember what Rounders did for the sport? Everyone desired to be Matt Damon or Edward Norton. Heck, some even thought John Turturro's Knish character lived a life worth emulating. Everyone desired to play.
PokerStars took a step toward making poker cool again this week, releasing a brand new Web Series featuring six super star celebrities playing in one-on-one matches for charity.
Make no mistake about it; watching two of the preferred athletes at the planet, Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar Jr., tackle red hot Hollywood actors like Breaking Bad's Aaron Paul and the brand new Star Wars film's John Boyega and top models like Sara Sampaio and Miss World Mireia Lalaguna Royo in a chain of extremely tense heads-up battles has poker looking super cool.
These celebrities and this show aren't going to reignite the poker boom all by themselves, but there's little question it is a move within the right direction, and one all of the industry should get behind.
2. Is Poker a Profession?
Tony G
I'd love to applaud PokerNews founder and EU Parliament member Antanas "Tony G" Guoga for saying what many of the remainder of the sector was thinking for years on last week's episode of the PokerNews Podcast. In reacting to recent changes within the poker industry that seem to be lining up against the pro player, Guoga suggested playing poker is not the roughly career youngsters must be aspiring to, but instead a game and a hobby that folks who do something else with their lives should enjoy of their spare time with their disposable income.
Personally, I've always felt the term poker professional was slightly an oxymoron. In my mind, and in lots of others' within the real world, professionals are doctors, lawyers, accountants, etc. who undergo specialized training and contribute something to society, practicing what they've learned professionally. They don't seem to be freedom seekers who get up sooner or later and realize they're ok at a game to drop out of standard society and gamble for a living.
While it's certainly a fun game and mentally challenging pastime, poker - and the allure of huge money that a high-stakes player could make - have always been a little a brain drain on society. Individuals who would otherwise be ready to be doing something a bit of more meaningful with their lives are selfishly interested in it.
Outside of some select pros on the top of the food chain who make big money and promote the sport to others as a recreational pursuit, only a few players who call themselves professionals are doing anything positive for the sport or the industry as a whole, never mind society; and the earlier more of them adopt Guoga's line of thinking, the easier off we can all be, both within the poker industry, and beyond it.
3. AN ISSUE of Character
Sebastian Malec
Polish qualifier Sebastian Malec placed on quite a show, beating Uri Reichenstein heads as much as win the ecu Poker Tour Barcelona Main Event title and €1,122,800 last week, after reportedly moving into the development through a €27 satellite.
He started ordering cocktails, openly talked his way through hands, or even stopped to pose for a selfie within the audience as what will be the final hand of the tournament played out. Several people, who apparently take poker and themselves way too seriously, have criticized Malec's speech play through the heads-up match, suggesting he crossed a line.
If this line does exist, it must be erased. Malec's performance was entertaining and injected somewhat personality right into a game all too thirsty for it. He presented himself as a character, giving tournament poker what it really needs more of those days.
He even got Reichenstein to name off the last of his chips within the final hand despite himself, after correctly stating the truth all of Malec's talk could only come from a player holding the most efficient of it. And when Reichenstein did call and he had finally secured the title, Malec even burst into tears, the burden of his accomplishment overwhelming him.
It all made for some of the entertaining ends to a tournament in EPT broadcast history, and very seemed like the type of thing that would attract someone at the outside into the sport of poker. Within the end, Malec and characters like him should not be chastised for injecting personality right into a game increasingly with out it. They need to be praised for it because a lot of these performances can really help throw the spotlight on just how great this game can be, helping it grow and entice the masses.
4. Obsession Equals Success
Chris Moorman
Listening to Chris Moorman discuss his path towards becoming probably the most successful tournament player in online poker history, I DISCOVERED it particularly interesting what number of times he stated his relationship with the sport as an obsession.
Moorman got addicted to the theory he can make money playing a game, became consumed by the sentiments that winning provided and ultimately obsessive about climbing the PocketFives rankings as a way to becoming one in every of poker's best.
When we hear the word "obsession," there is a tendency to think it's unhealthy, and of course, Moorman himself wasn't truly happy until he found slightly more balance in his life.
But while you go searching at successful people in lots of different walks of life, obsession appears to be a typical theme.
Perhaps it is time to start taking a look at obsession in a distinct light, and rather than the negative connotations it conjures up, start taking a look at it as a vital evil, the type of single-minded dedication that could be a prerequisite for achievement in exactly about anything. Moorman's story is definitely an even example of that.
5. The Aussie Millions Stands Alone
Aussie Millions
With PokerStars folding all of its many regional tours into one in all two new ones, PokerStars Championship and PokerStars Festival events, the Aussie Millions has decided to go back to its roots as a stand-alone series.
Crown Melbourne's crown jewel since its inception in 1998, the Aussie Millions were part of the PokerStars' Asia Pacific Poker Tour the past few years, but hardly had to be. In fact, truth be told, the Aussie Millions easily did more to prop up the APPT than vice versa.
The major tournament series runs enough live satellites year-round to bloat prize pools and attract poker players from around the globe on the lookout for the largest action. The series has long been a well-liked poker destination for those from Down Under and well beyond, and that is the reason certainly prone to continue, with a sponsor or without.
The Aussie Millions also has a name for setting new standards in tournament poker. They were the primary to introduce super high roller events and shot clocks and all indications are they'll continue to set the bar in live events when the 2017 Aussie Millions kicks off January 11, and for years to come, even without the support of an incredible tour.
Be certain to complete your PokerNews experience by trying out an outline of our mobile and tablet apps here. Stay on top of the poker world out of your phone with our mobile iOS and Android app, or stir up our iPad app for your tablet. You can too update your personal chip counts from poker tournaments around the globe with MyStack on both Android and iOS.
PokerNews.com is the world's leading poker website. Among other things, visitors will discover a daily dose of articles with the newest poker news, live reporting from tournaments, exclusive videos, podcasts and such a lot more.
PokerStars is the biggest online poker room offering the most important amount of poker games and different game variations including Texas Hold'em, Omaha and other popular poker games. By joining PokerStars you'll be able to easily learn all of the poker rules and poker strategy by playing free poker games. Join PokerStars and luxuriate in prime quality online poker.
Read More... [Source: PokerNews]
No comments:
Post a Comment