Anticipated appearance of the World Series of Poker: a breakdown of its expected ambiance.

In a shift from the previous scene, the world of poker has seen some major upheavals. Gone are the days when the winner of the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event was considered the unofficial world champion. Now, times have changed, and things are far from straightforward.

First and foremost, the influx of amateur players in both the main event and satellites has made it challenging to label the tournament winner the undisputed champion. While players like Ryan Riess, Jonathan Duhamel, and Joseph "Joe" Cada undoubtedly showcase impressive skills, it's hard to crown them as the best in the world.
Secondly, the rapid growth of live poker events has diminished the uniqueness of the WSOP Main Event. Add to that, the controversial remarks by Joe Hachem about poker's alleged demise, and the poker community has been sent into a tizzy.

In response to these issues, renowned poker analyst Jason Kirk has put forth an intriguing idea – the creation of a brand-new tournament, exclusively for the crème de la crème of players. This tournament would determine the undisputed champion, deserving of the title "the best player in the world." While some may see flaws, it's hard to argue against the value this concept could bring to the poker community and the game itself.

Following Jason Kirk's proposal, the tournament would feature 64 players, with an entry fee of $100,000. This would generate a whopping $6.4 million prize pool, shared among the top 8 players at the finale.

Automatic Qualification 🏆

Jason Kirk suggests automatically qualifying players who end the previous year ranked within the top 10 of the Global Poker Index. Additionally, top players in less popular poker variants such as Omaha, Stud, Omaha Hi/Lo, and others should also secure automatic qualification. Furthermore, regulars at high and medium stakes, as well as prominent players from Europe, North America, Asia, and Latin America, should also book their seats.

One might wonder how to finance the buy-ins for automatically qualified participants. According to Jason Kirk, imposing a $100 supplementary fee on all EPT, WPT, and WSOP tournaments with buy-ins of $3000 or higher could raise $3.4 million in 2013 – enough for 34 buy-ins. Remaining participants would then buy-in out of pocket.

Second Category Qualification ⚡

The number of spots in this category would vary each year, depending on the number of automatic qualifiers. A special committee, akin to the one selecting poker's Hall of Fame inductees, would decide on participation in the second qualification category. These spots could be handed out to players who had an exceptional year in poker but failed to qualify automatically – for example, those who won multiple final tables in significant tournaments. These selections could also turn into big TV events, providing a promotional boost for poker and the World Championships.

World Championship Structure 🏆🏆🏆

The tournament would take place in a different city each year, enhancing global poker promotion. The tournament would be divided into three stages – quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals. The top 32 players would advance directly to the semifinals. The remaining 32 players, after a draw, would form 16 pairs, competing in three heads-up matches to determine the semifinalists. This format would be perfect for broadcast and is likely to draw a significant global audience.

Thus, 48 players would battle it out in the semifinals, split into eight 6-max tables, with winners advancing to the final. The semifinals would be turbo tournaments featuring deep stacks and time limits, appealing to both TV viewers and spectators.

The eight semifinal winners would then face each other in the final – a grueling test of poker skill, endurance, and determination. Deep stacks, slow blind growth, and only one lunch break each day. Each final day would last for 16 hours, with play continuing until a winner emerges – the undeniable world champion.

Criticism 🔨

While Jason Kirk's idea is intriguing and certainly worth discussing, it's important to address a few concerns.

First and foremost, to establish a true World Poker Championship, the second-tier qualification group should include spots for the best online players.
Secondly, granting automatic qualification to too many Poker Hall of Famers isn't ideal. While showing respect for veterans like Dewey Tomko, Billy Baxter, Lyle Berman, and others, it may be wiser to host qualifying tournaments featuring some Poker Hall of Famers, making the older generation compete against players like Scotty Nguyen, Eric Seidel, Phil Hellmuth, and Barry Greenstein.
Lastly, the final tournament format requires rethinking. Is this a World Poker Championship or a World Texas Hold'em Championship? Perhaps an 8-Game Mix final tournament format would truly crown a World Champion.

What do you think? Share your thoughts!

The proposal for a new tournament to determine the undisputed poker world champion has sparked a conversation within the community, with some suggesting that including top online players in the second-tier qualification group is essential.
Critics argue that automatically qualifying too many Poker Hall of Famers may not be the best approach, as it would be more competitive to host qualifying tournaments that pit veterans like Dewey Tomko, Billy Baxter, Lyle Berman against players like Scotty Nguyen, Eric Seidel, Phil Hellmuth, and Barry Greenstein.
Another point of contention is the final tournament format, with some questioning whether it is a World Poker Championship or a World Texas Hold'em Championship, and suggesting that an 8-Game Mix final tournament format might be more fitting to truly crown a World Champion.
As the world of poker continues to evolve, it's clear that movements like this new tournament idea have the potential to reshape the landscape, potentially benefiting the game and its culture – even with sides that disagree on certain aspects.
Barry Greenstein, a well-known poker personality, has expressed interest in the new tournament's concept, suggesting that it could lead to some big-wins and excitement for casino-and-gambling enthusiasts, as well as the broader sports-betting community.
On the other hand, some are hesitant to embrace this change, citing concerns about the impact on responsible-gambling attitudes within the casino-games community, and expressing worries that the new tournament could exacerbate negative gambling trends in Las Vegas and beyond.
While many players are eager for such a tournament to take place, there is still much debate surrounding the details, including the best cities to host the event, the best way to raise funds for buy-ins, and whether lotteries should be used to determine participants in the second qualification category.
The success and impact of this proposed tournament could be significant, influential not only in the poker world, but also in the broader casino-culture, shaping trends for years to come.
Ultimately, as gambling trends and casino-personalities continue to shift, it will be fascinating to observe how the poker community responds to this innovative idea for a new world championship tournament, and whether it can bring fresh life to a game that has seen so many changes in recent years.