Criticisms on Duke’s Dream Poker League
Posted on February 1, 2011
Filed Under FullTiltPoker Tourneys
Annie Duke and Jeffrey Pollack plans to head a new poker league that hopes to bring in all professional poker stars in one tournament. It’s aimed at reliving World Poker Tour’s Professional Poker Tour which turned upset due to the UIGEA. The core ideas of this new league are geared at continuous tournaments, glorification of poker celebrities and organization of the poker world. These prove to be great concepts but once you step into the league’s minor details. Things get pretty awkward.
Duke and Pollack has successfully stirred the media with its press release after their announcement, I found some unsettled issues on its background. As for me, I see three factors that can affect the success or detriment of their dream league or any poker league, for that matter. These are funding, TV and media partnerships, and the outpour of player cooperation.
In the press release, Duke pointed out that the still-to-be-named league will be funded by a private organization, Federation Sports and Gaming, Inc. Unlike other poker leagues and clubs, this one will seem to depend on an external financial backup. It’s a huge sum that has to be shelled out for a league that is yet to be tested. As of date, no FullTiltPoker.net download TV deal has been signed or contracts that are set. But Pollack said in an interview that this one is already on its way. The TV ad to be launched will have a tag “wait and see” that seems to lure avid poker players. Although TV deals can come handy, the most volatile factor is player cooperation. According to news, the league will have to start with invitational games. Players, around 200, will be pre-selected depending on a mathematical computation that will weigh every poker player’s latest standing. The rankings will depend on the player’s most recent successes, earnings, and titles excluding online poker tournament winnings. The possibility of one hundred percent player cooperation remains a big challenge for Duke and Pollack. In fact, WSOP Circuit had to offer a million dollar freeroll to invite the best poker players in. However, this promo did not receive the dream one hundred percent support of all professional poker players.
The league of Duke and Pollack is still faced with several minor issues that can compound into a big problem. As of now, PokerStars and Full Tilt haven’t announced yet their support for the league. These two online poker magnates are crucial in the success of such a league. The leagues tournament format does not allow player with bucks to play the tables. This will certainly affect the league’s return of investment. Usually, poker tournaments receive most of their financial backup through the entry fees. By cutting off this crucial factor, the league is faced at a short lived existence. However, I presume that the league hasn’t closed the possibility of having this game format. As what is apparent with the present poker league, maintain the enthusiasm of poker players is a tough challenge. This is especially true when you have to invite players for a tour out of Vegas. Even Doyle Brunson thinks that maintaining the action is a difficult task.
All these issues are yet to be addressed and as long the league is still in its conception, we can just hope for the best.
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