Making the case AGAINST the November Nine format

In 2008 the World Series of poker decision-makers came up with the idea to delay the final table of the World Series of Poker Main Event for roughly three months, and for the past four years we have been subjected to the November Nine storyline.

The reasoning behind the November Nine was likely two-fold:

#1 – it allows for virtually live coverage of the Main Event final table

#2 – it allows ESPN and the WSOP to promote the final table and flesh-out storylines

However, having a three-month hiatus does more harm than good in my opinion. Not only does it throw an absolute wrench into the flow and continuity of the tournament, but it also changes the overall dynamic of the players that have made the final table.

Imagine you are a typical online satellite winner, not the best poker player in the world but a long-term winner in small stakes NLHE games, and have been on a whirlwind ride for over the past week, taking bad-beats, hitting a miracle to stay alive, and winning two big all-in flips to make the final table of the WSOP.

In the old days you would get a terrible night’s sleep and find yourself back at the poker tables before the magnitude of the moment could even set in. However, that has all changed with the November Nine format. Now players have three months to assess their play (maybe pay for some coaching), bone-up on their opponents, maybe sign a sponsorship deal or two, and let the magnitude of your accomplishment sink in.

Every player is given 9^th place prize-money, and three months to do as they please. Some sign such a sweetheart sponsorship deal that they are basically set regardless of their performance; others have won big tournaments in that three month interim as well with their newfound bankroll.

Basically, the three-month hiatus takes the edge of the players, and allows them to relax, gather their thoughts, and not have to worry about anything other than the WSOP – Compare this to the old days before the November Nine where players would be sitting at the final table, being approached with sponsorship offers, wondering if they can quit their job, trying to get in touch with their family, and on and on.

You can literally see the difference on the players’ faces if you watch one of the newer WSOP’s and compare it to say a WSOP final table from before the November Nine. Players now leave smiling for the most part, where before they would leave dejected, looking more like the money-bubble-boy than the 4^th place finisher in the WSOP Main Event.

I prefer the old format, even if it means knowing the results of the WSOP months before I can watch it on ESPN.