Two Weeks Notice
Thursday, June 11, 2009 - Gene Bromberg
Hard to believe that we’re two weeks into the 2009 World Series of Poker. We’ve already reached Event #23 out of the 57 that are scheduled. Still a long way to go, but there’s a good bit in the books as well. If I may make a few observations:
- Attendance numbers seemed to be in line with last year. It’s hard to make direct comparisons because the schedules don’t directly correspond and some new events (the $1,000 Stimulus event especially) may skew the numbers. But the economy hasn’t resulted in dramatically smaller fields at the World Series, at least not yet. Tomorrow is another $1,500 No-Limit event, a broad barometer the poker economy.
- If the tournament numbers look good, the cash game numbers in the Amazon Room have to be through the roof. This is the busiest I’ve ever seen the cash games during the WSOP, there must be 45 tables in use right now and I don’t think they’re spreading games smaller than 2-5 NL (and many games are much, much bigger). In years past the Amazon Room really cleared out late at night when the tournament fields shrank–not this year. There’s always a buzz from the cash-game area.
- The bracelet awards ceremony at 2pm has been a huge success. The whole Amazon Room turns it’s attention to the dais by the Feature Table stage to watch Jeffrey Pollack and Jack Effel award the bracelets to the newest champions. I wasn’t a big fan of the idea to play each winner’s national anthem, but it’s pretty cool to see the entire room stand, unbidden, to honor the winner and his native land. Even though there was a snafu and they played the Swedish national anthem after Finnish player Ville Wahlbeck won the $10K Mixed event, the bracelet ceremony is a smash hit and should become an instant tradition at the WSOP.
- All things considered, it’s been a fairly smooth ride so far. Some events have filled up earlier than expected, leaving some players on the outside looking in and grumbling about it. The decision to cap play on Day 2 at 3am and then play long sessions for the bracelet have worked out as well. The food in the Poker Kitchen is pricey but its not hard to find something edible (I’ve been in the rut with the chicken BLT wraps, which I can eat while working with little fear of dripping anything on my keyboard).
Hardly a comprehensive look at the World Series so far, but a few items that may be of interest. I’m starting to see people getting tired, a bit run down. Actually, I see that every time I look in the mirror. But that’s a universal truth about the WSOP, everyone gets that thousand-yard stare after two weeks or so. And then the Main Event rolls around and the real lunacy begins.
Actually, there’s another universal truth about the World Series–Phil Hellmuth will always show up late to the start of a tournament. And apparently he’s just arrived in the Brasilia Room for the $10,000 No-Limit Deuce-to-Seven event. Via LearJet and limo, giving Phil perhaps the largest carbon-footprint of anyone in the field.
Tags: 2009 world series of poker, 2009 wsop, bracelet ceremony, Phil Hellmuth, world series of poker, WSOP, wsop review
