WSOP divided? Daniel Negreanu thinks so

Opinionated poker pro Daniel Negreanu has expressed his concerns over the ‘division’ in WSOP buy-ins, which he claims polarises pros and recreational players.

Speaking to ‘The Poker Show’ – a UK internet radio site, Negreanu refers to an ‘A’ WSOP and a ‘B’ WSOP. Whilst pros may hold bigger buy-in events such as the $50K H.O.R.S.E and $40K NL Hold’em in high regard, they are disinterested in $1,000 - $5,000 buy-in tournaments, which attract monster fields of predominantly amateurs. With the WSOP supposed to be the pinnacle of live poker, this apparent ‘disinterest’ is harmful towards its integrity.

Feelings of indifference to the ‘lesser events’ from the pros are somewhat understandable. Firstly, to triumph over 2,000 odd entrants in a $1,500 NL event, you need an incredible amount of luck (Grey Raymer claimed that to be successful in the Main Event, you need to win every ‘flip’ and come through every marginal situation). Secondly, a $500K first prize to some of these players isn’t all that much, when you consider that a single pot on GSN’s High Stakes Poker can soar above $800K. The likes of Gus Hansen, Phil Ivey, Patrik Antonius and Tom Dwan are accustomed to multi-million dollar swings in the high stakes PLO games, on Full Tilt.

But if these professionals want poker to keep expanding, shouldn’t they feel obliged to participate? Don’t they have a responsibility to maintain a competitive spirit? There’s also the prestige of a bracelet, something that Phil Hellmuth knows all too well as he searches for a record twelfth.

Meanwhile the penultimate day of the $50K H.O.R.S.E saw the final table bubble burst. Eight players remain, with Swedish online prodigy Erik Sagstrom the chip leader. With all players holding big stacks in relation to the blinds, however, there will plenty of opportunity for change. The likes of Erik Siedel (after a 9th WSOP bracelet), Vitaly Lunkin (victor in the $40K NL Hold’em) and Ville Wahlbeck (favourite along with Jeff Lisandro for the WSOP player of the year title) are all in the hunt for the $1,276,802 first prize and the Chip Reese memorial trophy.

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Tags: Daniel Negreanu,  Erik Siedel,  Full Tilt,  Greg Raymer,  Tom Dwan,  Vitaly Lunkin,  WSOP 2009