William Hills Grand Prix Invited Players

[I KNOW IT]

This has been a topic on another forum and I wondered what Blondites opinions were.
Its been said that W Hills have invited star/named players from the USA to compete in their Grand Prix on a total free roll (inc hotel & flight expenses ). Is this fair? or should they have given this privalige to the top European players instead(maybe they have to some).

Its worth saying also that W Hills have also donated $100k+ to the prize pool (very commendable).
But with out these invites maybe that figure would have been $200k.

I understand the argument that its good for TV with these named players competing, but I think there are other players with better credentials.
Then there is the argument that its their tourny they can invite who they want, but is it.
In golf, star players get invited  to certain events and are paid apperance money, which is great when the sponsors are funding the whole prize pool.
But poker is unique in the fact that the players make up the prize fund, albeit in this case W Hills are donating reportedly 100k +, so why should these select few get the chance to win everything for in effect a free roll.

Just wondered what peoples  opinions on this were.

[Ironside]

The fact that for every player invited the entry fee is paid means its not like golf, in golf a player is invited nothing no entry fee or extra money is added to the fund. Here the players invited are being sponsored on a one off basis there fees paid for them and hotel/travel costs met. it's like THM deal but on a shoty term basis (one event). Also for willaim hills to make money they want to be able to sell the tv rights and the bigger the names they get the better deal they can achieve. i would have liked to have seen more europeans offered the chance of the sponsorship and think that all players should of had travel and hotel costs laid on but this would have proberly meant less money added to the fund.

[I KNOW IT]

Thats what im saying in relation to Golf it is different I used Golf as an example, where certain players recieve appearence money . i.e Tiger Woods got $1 million to just turn up to the Deutshbank Open , because the sponsors knew it would add prestige to the event, but the sponsors provided the whole prize fund for the event.

Poker is unique in the fact the players themselves provide the prize fund.

[byronkincaid]

Way I see it. if they wanna flog the program to America they're gonna need some big name Americans in it. Simple business decision.

[Bongo]

Were these Americans brought in as last minute replacements?

[TightEnd]

some were, yes

[Royal Flush]

I guess if European poker players were as 'big' as the Americans they would have done. Do i understand that Dave Ulliot pulled out of this, is this perhaps the reason?

[ifm]

just to say that golfers have to pay a percentage of any win to the governing body (R&A in uk).
I do think it's wrong to have some players pay and not others.

[tikay]

I agree ifm.

Then again, if Poker had a governing body, I'd happily pay them a share of my winnings. Red Card to the first wiseguy to say "what winnings"......

[ifm]

it affects the way people play if they have nothing financially to lose, it's the old rebuy scenario (wealthy player v limited income) the wealthier player can call bets etc. the others can't.
When freerolling you can also call bets etc. that others who have invested their hard earned won't risk.

[Rod Paradise]

I agree ifm.

Then again, if Poker had a governing body, I'd happily pay them a share of my winnings. Red Card to the first wiseguy to say "what winnings"......

[tikay]

Careful Rod, careful now......

[Royal Flush]

it affects the way people play if they have nothing financially to lose, it's the old rebuy scenario (wealthy player v limited income) the wealthier player can call bets etc. the others can't.
When freerolling you can also call bets etc. that others who have invested their hard earned won't risk.

I disagree, if i am competing for a £150k prize it is irrelevant how much i have paid to be there, if i lose i am losing out on £150k, not £6k.

[NoflopsHomer]

I agree ifm.

Then again, if Poker had a governing body, I'd happily pay them a share of my winnings. Red Card to the first wiseguy to say "what winnings"......

*mumbles something about even Poker Governing Bodies needing a chocolate biscuit fund.*