Poker Forum - Playing The Waiting Game At The WSOP

By all accounts this year's World Series of Poker has been pretty successful.

According to a report from the Canadian Press, a number of key stats have increased from the year previous:

- Registration for this year's WSOP increased by 8 percent.

- The total prize pool for 2007 was $159.8 million ($USD) and increased 13 percent to $180.7 million this year.

- Jerry Yang took home the WSOP's NL Hold'em Main Event title and $8.25 million; this year's winner will pocket $9.12 million.

A separate report from the Associated Press says that there was also an increase in Main Event participants as 500 more players footed the $10,000 buy-in this year.

Another difference between last year and this year concerns the Final Table, but whether it is an improvement will remain to be seen.

In early May, WSOP officials announced that, unlike previous years, there would be a break between the final nine and the playing of the Final Table--a long break.

The field was whittled down on Tuesday to the last nine players, who won't see WSOP action until November.

Enough time to do scouting; something that doesn't sit well with professional players.

Prior to this year's WSOP, poker pro Brad "Yukon" Booth told Pokerforum he was a little divided on the new format.

"Because there have been declining numbers in the poker world, it's a good thing," explained Booth.

"But the part I truly don't appreciate is the fact that, there are a bunch of amateurs, generally, that make the Final Table."

"Now they're going to have three months to be able to increase their skills or have someone teach them. It's great because they get the endorsements but as a whole, I'd like to see the tournament go from start to finish [with no break], it changes the whole dynamic," Yukon Brad concluded.

Fellow poker pro Gavin Smith had similar views.

"I kind of look at it with mixed emotions," explained Smith.

"It could be good possibly, I know some people are concerned about safety but I'm not so sure it's such a huge issue."

"I think three months might be a little bit long but I'm basically willing to try anything. If it doesn't work, it doesn't work."

The Final Table will take place from November 9-10, 2008, long after the World Series of Poker Europe, which starts on September 19, 2008 in London and concludes October 2, 2008.