dn latest blog entry

[jooka 0]

I think this is exactly one of the many reasons that there needs to be some type of Poker Players' Union. There is nobody policing the people who put up the money and space to hold the poker tournaments. They can do basically whatever they damn well please when they have uninformed players coming. Normally if they did many things that were pushing the envelope, the big names would stay away. However, there are so many bad players in many of those tournaments like the WSOP that the Pros put up with the bullshit from the people who put the tourney on because there is so much money to be made. If all of the big name pros banded together and made the people like Harrah's realize that their tournaments will get no publicity without any of the big name pros. This is just another example of the people like Harrah's only doing things for their own interest completely, and taking no interest in the Poker Players or what they could potentially do.

I agree. DN has spoken in the past about him and a group of players negotiating some terms with Poker Superstars or whatever they call it on Fox and I think I remember him saying that they where basically blackballed or other Pro's got the invite that did not negotiate terms...A players Association is a huge can of worms..

I seem to recall him regretting banding with those players not to long after in a post here.

[pokerplayer24 0]

I kind of thought that adding hellmuth, doyle and chan into the TOC mix was crap as well. When people bought into the circuit tourneys they did so thinking that if they came top 20 along with prize $ there would be seats valued at 18.34k. With 3 more entries these seats have been devalued. So really its no different then the tourney directors deciding midway through a tournament that they are going to decrease the overal payouts by 2 or 3%. At the same time its only a small deduction in value so I dont think its a huge deal but it definitely doesnt seem like the fairest thing in the world as along with the value of the seat going down you now have to contend with 3 players who are most likely going to be frontrunners to win the tourney.

[poker_cutie 0]

I agree with Daniel 100 percent. Im sure if we were in the tourney our perspective would be completely different. Im glad he is willing to call out someone when they are doing something wrong.

[PokerFan 0]

I kind of thought that adding hellmuth, doyle and chan into the TOC mix was crap as well. When people bought into the circuit tourneys they did so thinking that if they came top 20 along with prize $ there would be seats valued at 18.34k. With 3 more entries these seats have been devalued. So really its no different then the tourney directors deciding midway through a tournament that they are going to decrease the overal payouts by 2 or 3%. At the same time its only a small deduction in value so I dont think its a huge deal but it definitely doesnt seem like the fairest thing in the world as along with the value of the seat going down you now have to contend with 3 players who are most likely going to be frontrunners to win the tourney.

Why are the players that took the invite not held accountable for not playing by the rules??? ok, so that answer is obviuos, however it's the reason you will not see a Players association.

[Ten Pin Bandit 0]

I agree with DN here that changing the rules mid game sucks. But I think the real beef should be that these players are now gonna have to listen to queen Hellmuth whine about every beat.

[PokerFan 0]

I agree with DN here that changing the rules mid game sucks. But I think the real beef should be that these players are now gonna have to listen to queen Hellmuth whine about every beat.

I agree, lets argue who should have gotten an invite, Hellmuth would not have been on my list....ohh by the way, if I ever find myself at hellmuth's table and he fires off to me that I can't spell poker....we are going outside and for the record I'm 3 times Sam Grizzles size...

[Vatche 0]

Dan is upset over a reduction in equity not a few pro's bumping players that qualified from the field which is not the case if I understand it right. also the Pro golf tour does this very thing every single week (obviuosly with the players knowledge) for the same exact reasons the TOC is doing it

Don't you see that this makes it VASTLY different? The fact that the players know and it's part of the rules makes it ok. What happened here is not ok at all. The players who qualified PIAD money out of their pocket for an opportunity that they weren't given. They paid to play only against qualifiers, and then it was opened to the whole world. Let's use an extreme example: let's say they justify the high % of juice because they are giving away a $2 million dollar freeroll. Then, a week before the event they announce that ANYONE can play if they buy in for $100. So now, your 1 in 109 chance has become a 1 in 3000 chance.

what about last year when you took some1 elses spot that was worth 200000 in equity?...dont remember you complaining about that.

[SAM_Hard8 50]

Dan is upset over a reduction in equity not a few pro's bumping players that qualified from the field which is not the case if I understand it right. also the Pro golf tour does this very thing every single week (obviuosly with the players knowledge) for the same exact reasons the TOC is doing it

Don't you see that this makes it VASTLY different? The fact that the players know and it's part of the rules makes it ok. What happened here is not ok at all. The players who qualified PIAD money out of their pocket for an opportunity that they weren't given. They paid to play only against qualifiers, and then it was opened to the whole world. Let's use an extreme example: let's say they justify the high % of juice because they are giving away a $2 million dollar freeroll. Then, a week before the event they announce that ANYONE can play if they buy in for $100. So now, your 1 in 109 chance has become a 1 in 3000 chance.

Actualy for the TOC on the PGA tour you do have to qualify and there are no sponsors exemptions.

[HammerG 0]

Maybe he is just pissed that he was not also honorarily asked since he won PLayer of the Year last year.....I dont see a problem with them honoring these three who have given a lot to the game...Especially Doyle.

[cuddlemonkey 0]

Maybe he is just censored that he was not also honorarily asked since he won PLayer of the Year last year.....I dont see a problem with them honoring these three who have given a lot to the game...Especially Doyle.

There's no problem with honoring players like Doyle. The issue at hand is circumventing the rules to let in those who didn't qualify. No one was told that their might be a few players added at the last minute for any reason, and that's unfair. End of story.

[thatguy 0]

I doubt anyone will really care unless Doyle, Phil, or Johnny wins. But if it is true that a few spots were taken from qualifiers I could understand why they'd be mad.

[Guest]

Well, it's not really changing the rules, as there are at least three clauses in the rules that basically say they can do this : Harrah’s may cancel, modify, relocate or reschedule the WSOP for any reason with prior notification to the appropriate gaming regulators. All decisions regarding the interpretation of rules, eligibility, etc. for the WSOP lie solely with Harrah’s, whose decisions are final. andHarrah’s reserves the right to cancel, change or modify the WSOP at any time, for any reason, subject to all applicable regulatory approval, provided that such modification shall not, as of the date of such modification, materially alter or change any participant’s prize already awarded.

[Pickkleman 0]

The TOC was thinking in the best interest of their bottom line, while completely ignoring the players position. It is the players who make this happen in the long run, and if the TOC had any sense, they would come forward, and make some sort of amends to said players. Whether it be in a form of additional monies to the pot, etc...It really shines a bad light on the situation in general. It would be like...Oh hey.....You made a heads up tourney by finishing in the top 10...Phil Hellmuth didn't finish in the top 10 in any of the events, but you must play him because we said so at the last minute. See, that changes things a bit.

[rk 0]

I admire your courage for speaking out against something that you see as wrong. These casino companies are getting to be bigger and bigger corporations as a result of mergers and acquisitions. As the monopolies grow so shall the choice dwindle with only a few companies creating all the rules and situations for the gamblers. And it will get to the point where there are only a few such companies and thus you are faced with a follow their rules or don't play at all situation. I'm glad you had the courage to stand up to harras twice, for this tournament and also the schedule for next years wsop.Too many other pros are just kissing the behind of their sponsors and towing the line and would never talk up against these companies. You have courage for not being afraid to do so. Thank you for doing so.My only question to you is if they had offered to let you into the tournament jsut as chan, doyle and helmuth, would you have expressed the same sentiments that you have? So i hope you do really believe in the principals that you say they violated rather than being passed over. However, you are in the same company as they are.I hope you will continue to speak up against what you see as wrong. I hope that you will one day speak up against the casinos, tv stations and sponsers that are making money off the tv tournaments where in reality since the players are still paying for their fulle ntry, they are not profiting fully from this explosion. I hope you will tackle that issue one day.

[Webslayer 0]

There's no problem with honoring players like Doyle.

This isn't the way they should be honoring them. Put them in a Hall of Fame, retire thier jersey or do some cerimonial drop of the puck sort of thing.Stuff like this just adds to my dislike of the wsoh. As the years go on, the braclets are less and less meaningful. I'd rather win the player of the year than a braclet. You atleast have to consistantly play good to win that. Not be some one hit wonder like most recent braclet winners.

[Evan 0]

Would everyone feel that it was ok for these three pros to be added to the freeroll if they each paid 18167 dollars? That would add up to the 54,500 in lost equity (the sum of 500 dollars for 109 players). I think even if they were required to pay to play...to keep the $$$ right it is still unfair and unethical to the players that earned their spot. It is not only about equity, but also integerity. These players earned a spot...it is unfair!

[Webslayer 0]

Too many other pros are just kissing the behind of their sponsors and towing the line and would never talk up against these companies.

It just amazes me why they are. Any halfway decent player can make a good living at a 10/20 game. After you pass that level, the money doesn't mean anything. It isn't the reason you continue on playing at higher levels. It's beating the compitition. So I don't why are these players just bend over and take it in the rear at these tournements because they throw a few dollers at them.

[pokerplayer24 0]

Too many other pros are just kissing the behind of their sponsors and towing the line and would never talk up against these companies.

It just amazes me why they are. Any halfway decent player can make a good living at a 10/20 game. After you pass that level, the money doesn't mean anything. It isn't the reason you continue on playing at higher levels. It's beating the compitition. So I don't why are these players just bend over and take it in the rear at these tournements because they throw a few dollers at them.

You're nuts if you honestly think you can make a good living playing in a 10/20 game. Maybe if you're really dominating the game and putting in lots of hours you can get by but not make a good living. (of course if you're talking about 4-8 tabling 10/20 online my statement isnt true)Players go up in limits so they can make more money, while many players have egos and may find satisfaction in beating higher limits in the end people play poker to make $, and moving up in limits is a way to make more $.

[Webslayer 0]

You're nuts if you honestly think you can make a good living playing in a 10/20 game. Maybe if you're really dominating the game and putting in lots of hours you can get by but not make a good living. (of course if you're talking about 4-8 tabling 10/20 online my statement isnt true)

Average $500 for about 10 hours a day at the local casino. $120 grand a year. Which I would consider a good living. You won't be driving a Lexus, but its more than enough to own a home and raise a family off of.

[MrHoldemAZ 0]

As a long-timer reader (but not poster), DN's blog has moved me to add my 2 cents... I'm not going to simply respond as others have that "its the principle". And I'd even go further than DN on the subject. The principle involved here is the arbitrary violation of their OWN pre-published rules. If the organizers of the tourney can ADD players at (non) random, there's nothing to stop them from REMOVING them (e.g. to substitute "name" players, or in the name of brevity, or what ever). In fact, toleration of this kind of thing only emboldens them to make any change at all at any time for any reason at THEIR sole discretion. DN is absolutely right when he points out that it is the players putting up ALL the $$. One doesnt go to a Ford dealership and say pay for a Mustang, but then gets an LTD because the dealer just feels like it...the networks dont get to say "we want the Yankees", and just stick them in after the playoffs. We're already seeing a "rabbit-cam", for example.Suppose all the so called "good-TV" name players get knocked out.Can the organizers give them a redraw at a 6th card..for the sake of the ratings, of course..or let them rebuy in a no-rebuy tournament..but not you because you're NOT a name..That is exactly where this is headed. The first stirrings of this can be seen even at last years WSOP with the way ESPN's agenda and setups take precedent over any other consideration and in next years schedule. I guess I'm in the minority, when I say that I dont view the TV phenomena as the end-all, be-all unqualified rosey success that many other people seem to think it is. I was playing BEFORE TV, and I'll be playing after the Hollywood crowd relegates poker to cigar smoking. For me, it ALL about shuffling up and dealing....

[cu in 4years Dan 1]

at first i thought he was just plain B*#$%ing about it but then i thought about it and i do see his point entirley.I mean they did pay money out of their own pockets to qualify but they wernt really thinking about the TOC at the time were they? it was a WSOP buy in for the main event.but i mean i can see that is is just bad buisness and it was not fair, for them to say one thing and then totally go and screw it up by adding in 3 greats to the TOC was totally wrong, they didnt earn their seat there so why should they get there?????

[ddudley 0]

Dan is upset over a reduction in equity not a few pro's bumping players that qualified from the field which is not the case if I understand it right. also the Pro golf tour does this very thing every single week (obviuosly with the players knowledge) for the same exact reasons the TOC is doing it

Don't you see that this makes it VASTLY different? The fact that the players know and it's part of the rules makes it ok. What happened here is not ok at all. The players who qualified PIAD money out of their pocket for an opportunity that they weren't given. They paid to play only against qualifiers, and then it was opened to the whole world. Let's use an extreme example: let's say they justify the high % of juice because they are giving away a $2 million dollar freeroll. Then, a week before the event they announce that ANYONE can play if they buy in for $100. So now, your 1 in 109 chance has become a 1 in 3000 chance.

Daniel - Instead of complaining about the corporations ruining poker maybe you should be doing something to level the playing field? What have you done to help form a good poker players association?You have money, influence, friends in the right places, and an agent with insight from the golf world that, im sure, poker can learn from... If not you, who? If not now, when?

[HarryDemetriou 0]

DN is plain wrong about his view on letting non-qualifiers in the TOC. If the people putting up the $2 mill do not get a good tv rating ( return on investment) they will not have it in the future....oh I know he says they should have said there would be Sponsors exemptions from the beginning which they should have done but the bottom line is, this is really a freeroll and DN should have played better to get it...if he was one of the exemptions he'd feel different.

I posted my reply under the DN Journal Entry Tournament of champions section but DN is NOT wrong and has hit the nail on the head EXACTLY as to how I feel.I am disugusted by the WSOP changing the qualification rules in this way and take it as a personal insult......and as for people like myself and Daniel being non qualified..........well they could have easily changed the rules to allow both of us to be qualified and I guarantee you that Daniels participation would definitely help TV ratings.This freeroll is about those good enough and loyal enough to have played the circuit events and was introduced to reward those players and not just those lucky enough to be invited through a Mickey Mouse vote last year (Annie Duke won that one and was not entitled to be there imo).If they wanted a high profile "Celebrity" event then I would have had a 1 table tv event similar to last year and would have chosen the ten highest profile players.How I desperately wish that I had won a bracelet this year as then I could have been happy in the knowledge that I would never EVER have to play another one of their events.Now I want to win one or better still the main event for all the wrong reasons namely to refuse to give them an interview and be in a psotion where I can castigate them for treating myself and my peers so badly.

[HoosierAlum 0]

DN is plain wrong about his view on letting non-qualifiers in the TOC. If the people putting up the $2 mill do not get a good tv rating ( return on investment) they will not have it in the future....oh I know he says they should have said there would be Sponsors exemptions from the beginning which they should have done but the bottom line is, this is really a freeroll and DN should have played better to get it...if he was one of the exemptions he'd feel different.

I posted my reply under the DN Journal Entry Tournament of champions section but DN is NOT wrong and has hit the nail on the head EXACTLY as to how I feel.I am disugusted by the WSOP changing the qualification rules in this way and take it as a personal insult......and as for people like myself and Daniel being non qualified..........well they could have easily changed the rules to allow both of us to be qualified and I guarantee you that Daniels participation would definitely help TV ratings.This freeroll is about those good enough and loyal enough to have played the circuit events and was introduced to reward those players and not just those lucky enough to be invited through a Mickey Mouse vote last year (Annie Duke won that one and was not entitled to be there imo).If they wanted a high profile "Celebrity" event then I would have had a 1 table tv event similar to last year and would have chosen the ten highest profile players.How I desperately wish that I had won a bracelet this year as then I could have been happy in the knowledge that I would never EVER have to play another one of their events.Now I want to win one or better still the main event for all the wrong reasons namely to refuse to give them an interview and be in a psotion where I can castigate them for treating myself and my peers so badly.

WSOP just got PWNED.

[ddudley 0]

Harry,Any thoughts on forming a players association to try to prevent the corporations from imposing their will on poker. We all know they make desicions based on profit, not the best interest of the game.Thanks,