WSOP 2009: Goodbye to Rebuy
A lot of people may end up spending a lot less money during the World Series of Poker in 2009. WSOP Communications Director Seth Palanksy admitted that organizers are thinking of stopping rebuy events after several players voiced out their concerns. Hanah’s Entertainment and WSOP organizers are weighing the pros and cons of rebuy tournaments and currently, the chances are 50-50.
Some poker pros, such as Daniel Negreanu, is all for the move. Although Negreanu is not against rebuy tournaments in general, he believes that there is no place for rebuys at the WSOP since it would be unfair to an average player with limited bankrolls. In an interview, Negreanu admits that rebuys gives poker pros an unfair advantage. Some people even think that rebuy tournaments can be equated to someone “buying a WSOP bracelet.”
There are, however, a lot of poker luminaries who are not too happy with the possible demise of rebuy tournaments in the WSOP. Layne Flack, the winner of the WSOP 2008 $1,500 pot-limit Omahan rebuy event, doesn’t understand why there can be an unfair advantage when the field is pretty large. Furthermore, Flack stresses that players can only rebuy when he has less or the same starting chip stack. Therefore, it is not possible for a rich player to buy a big stack.
Another reason why WSOP organizers may be considering the axe is that rebuy tournaments just aren’t as popular. Although Flack did win against 320 players, the 2008 $5,000 pot-limit Omaha rebuy only attracted 152 players. The $5,000 deuce-to-seven lowball rebuy event attracted a mere 85 players.
Well, whether or not rebuy tournaments come or go, the WSOP is still the most awaited poker event of the year. If the public was able to weather the even more shocking four-month delay of the Main Event final table this year, people will surely get over their need for rebuys in no time.
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