Never-ending Discussion: Is November Nine Concept Good for Poker?

Every year, almost without exception, there is a big discussion about merits of having the final table of the WSOP Main Event in November as opposed to having it sometime soon after the finalists are known. Players and fans chime in with their arguments and views, although in the end it is all about ESPN and what they see as the best approach. But let’s take a look at some cons and pros purely from the fans’ and players' perspective.

Pros

Main Events attract huge fields nowadays. What this means is that the final table will most likely be made up from players that the wide fan base is not familiar with. Having a few-month delay for the final table will give ESPN opportunity to introduce these players during the coverage of episodes leading to the November Nine and create new fans for the finalists. In a way, it’s giving a face to the name. That guy or girl sitting behind a huge pile of chips becomes some with a real life story, dreams and hopes – someone an ordinary person can actually root for.

Making the final table of the Main Event is a huge deal for the big majority of those who get there. We are talking life changing money here for the most people and if there are truly big moments in life, this has got to be one. Naturally, people want to have their families and friends there for that big moment, and that is hard to accomplish on a short notice. People have jobs, obligations, things they just cannot leave on a week’s notice to go to Vegas. Having a four-month buffer allows for all the necessary preparations and most people who want to be there will be able to do it.

Final table players also have time to prepare for what is likely the poker game of their lives. Although some claim that this is not in the spirit of the game, we are talking really big money here and there is nothing wrong with giving people some more time to get ready. Best players will still have an edge as once again they will know how to make the best use of that time, but perhaps weaker players will have a better fighting chance with some extra preparations.

Cons

Having final table pushed so far forward is bit anticlimactic for diehard fans. They have been following the entire thing day in and day out and now, all of a sudden, they are denied the big finale. Like in any other form of sport or competition, truly hardcore fans are the minority but they are also often the loudest voices in the crowd. For them, this whole idea probably feels a bit like a torture.

Although it hasn’t happened thus far, there are many possible scenarios that could prevent one or more players from playing. Four months is a long period and a lot can happen. Although WSOP organizers retain the right to do whatever they feel is the most appropriate for any unforeseen event, it could still create a lot of bad press and project a bad image of the whole thing if one of the players was not able to play for serious reasons and the entire situation is not handled in the fairest way possible. And who is to say what is really fair?

Although it gives players some extra time to prepare, the wait period is also quite a burden to carry around. There is the whole media attention as well and although it may be good for some people, it is probably really hard on other who would prefer to just get it over with and come back to their normal lives, just much richer.

Conclusion

Whether it is good or bad, the November Nine concept seems to be here to stay. As soon as something becomes a big televised event, it has to follow television rules and guidelines and there is so much to account for that we, as an audience, are not really aware of. Televisions are in business of making money, just like everybody else for that matter, and that is and will be the only factor with any sort of weight in the entire discussion.