Play Begins with the $50,000 Poker Player’s Championship
The Poker Player’s Championship, evolved from the $50K H.O.R.S.E. tournament started in 2006, has become known in professional poker circles as “the REAL main event”. First won by the late Chip Reese, the winner of this World Series of Poker event not only wins a coveted bracelet, tons of money, and the respect of the poker world, but also the Chip Reese Trophy. Past winners also include Freddy Deeb (2007), defending champion David Bach (2009), and Scotty Nguyen (who won in 2008, and had some rather unforgettable public behavior on display – and that’s just what we saw on the edited TV broadcasts!).
With a sky-high buy-in, and few opportunities to satellite in for a seat (unlike the $10K WSOP Main Event), only the best of the best pros can afford to play in the Poker Player’s Championship. This usually produces an A-list field of about 200 live and online poker pros and some of the year’s most exciting poker play.
In a marked changed from past years, this year’s Poker Player’s Championship will feature eight games for the majority of the tournament run until players reach the final table, which will feature just No-Limit Texas Hold’em. Why the change from 8 games to 1? TV. Fact is, most casual poker fans out there (i.e., the ones who watch the poker broadcasts on ESPN) find it difficult to follow most of the other poker mixed games on TV. Hold’em is practically made for TV. In short, Non-Limit Hold’em = better ratings = more exposure for poker’s top talents. This change will likely boost the number of participants a bit too, as the promise of (formerly non-existent) final table TV exposure is a major attraction for both known poker pros as well as those professionals who have yet to become household names.
The Prestige of Being Crowned “A Pro’s Pro”
While the WSOP Main Event will forever and always be the crown jewel of poker’s premier tournament series, the $50 Poker Player’s Championship has since its inception carved out a special place in the hearts of the pros. To be sure, while there’s no 7,000-8,000-player minefield to wade through, emerging victorious in this tournament is a true test of poker skill. You won’t ever see a fluke winner in the $50K.
The buy-in alone is always enough to ensure that only the best of the best poker players even attempt to enter. That aside, once you pony up the funds, you’re going to be seated among the game’s most elite. It’s a 5-day affair with a phenomenal blind structure and plenty of deepstack play, so any mistakes or suckouts often get ironed out by the sheer nature of the tournament itself. Generally speaking, the most deserving players who’ve played the best tend to advance towards the final table, where one eventually emerges victorious.
Besides the $50K Poker Player’s Championship, there’s much more World Series of Poker coverage to come throughout the summer right here at Cardplayerlifestyle.com. Be sure to keep checking back with us for updates as the summer wears on.
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