Pollack Defends WSOP Decision

Brian Thomas - 31 Jan 2009

If you are shaking your fist at the WSOP because they are delaying the final table of the main event this year – again – then the Commish has something he would like to say to you.

Jeffrey Pollack is the Commissioner of the World Series of Poker, and he knows what he is doing. At least, everyone sure hopes so, considering he has implemented another months- long delay in the completion of the WSOP this year, a move that rocked a lot of boats and upset more than a few fans last year. Why, you may ask, is Pollack going forward with another delay, despite of all the grumbles?

Why, because it’s good for poker.

This is what Pollack says in defense of the move, using the experience from last year as the bedrock upon which to build his house of cards (that’s a mixed metaphor, folks).

Pollack described the tension in the room during the final table play as “electric” and that there has never been a larger live crowd for a final table before. Now, we may be mis-remembering, but didn’t Dennis Philips, or at least his sponsor, fly in THREE HUNDRED supporters, decking them all out in white button-up shirts and red hats?

That might have had SOMETHING to do with the “larger than ever” crowd, Mr. Pollack. And while you were there feeling the body electric, the rest of us at home were grumbling about ESPN’s decision to show only TWO hands of the heads up play between Eastgate and Demidov.

Ultimately Pollack wins in the “who knows more about what is good for poker, the Commissioner of the WSOP or some dude” contest, but there are bound to be some grumbles still. Let’s just hope the Commish really does know what he is doing.

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