Irish Open - Here's The Deal......

[tikay]

Liam Flood, who did such a good job as Tournamemt Co-Ordinator at the Paddy Power Irish Open, has just called me up.

Mindful that we record Poker 425 tomorrow, which features the Irish Open, he wanted me to be aware that the last 3 players "did business". I doubt if Poker In Europe, who compile the Rankings, will be aware of this in time, but we will make them aware in due course.

[Nem]

Liam Flood, who did such a good job as Tournamemt Co-Ordinator at the Paddy Power Irish Open, has just called me up.

Mindful that we record Poker 425 tomorrow, which features the Irish Open, he wanted me to be aware that the last 3 players "did business". I doubt if Poker In Europe, who compile the Rankings, will be aware of this in time, but we will make them aware in due course.

Obvious after that  call all in.

[M3boy]

Indeed Nem - EXACTLY what I said at the time

[Bongo]

Surely then he'd call with the Q9 though?

Who knows.

Any details of what was done?

[M3boy]

The deal MUST of been done AFTER that hand.

I would like to have a say on this subject,,,,, knowing that it probably wont be popular, but thats never stopped me in the past, so here goes....................

I for one (along with many other poker players) have been screaming for better structure MTT's. And here we had one - which was also the FIRST ever live final (I think) on TV.

To me, by the hands that were played, ie the Q9 laydown to the KQ call , this deal seems to have been made when the players were approx equal in chips with around 30 BB's each = CERTAINLY not a crapshoot, so why deal??

Money?? Well 3rd would of got what? around £40k?? and the deal would of pushed this up to what £65k??? Hardly live changing.

So again, why deal?!? All three of them were playing some great poker. Put me in that position and I WOULD NOT have done a deal (and yes I have been there, not live on TV I know, but for serious money)

If I was a tournament director, why oh why would/should I bother to ensure a GREAT structure, and that the final table IS NOT a crapshoot if people are going to deal anyway?!?!

This was the FIRST ever Live Poker final on TV - why would they bother to do another one? I dont think I would.

Ok, thats my say - slate me if you want, but we are all entitled to our own opinions.

[Royal Flush]

Correct me if i am wrong but wasnt 1st something like 350k? How would they each have only got 65k?

Also its not the first live final on telly....

[Colchester Kev]

pay out was

1st    350k
2nd   180k
3rd    100k


Now if the three of them had agreed to deal for 200k each and play on for 30k and the trophy ....

[Nem]

€100,000=£69,000

[Royal Flush]

lol cheers kev, how is that 65k each! and when did u get to a situation like that with so much to first!

[tikay]

Yes Paul, you ARE entitled to hold that view, & if we disagree, we sure won't get excited about it.

Personally, I don't see why the guys should not do a deal if they so wish.

What right for Peter is wrong for, well, Paul, in this case.....

I am a bit bemused at the "Thou shalt not deal" stuff that we see so often. Why should players not do a deal if they want to? If ONE players says "no deal" it's no deal. I just don't really understand why it's deemed to be almost an offence to the poker community to do a deal.

Sometimes I accept a deal, others times I politely decline. Like all poker questions, the answer is "it depends". But I sure as hell would not feel any guilt for dealing, or feel that I was answerable to anyone for so doing. I pay my own entry Fees, & for that, I will make my own decisions, generally with regard to my financial health & bankroll, & the "value" (i.e., fairness) of the deal.

Like most of us, though, I have never been in the situation those 3 lads were on Monday night. That was a whole lot of money they were playing for.

Look at it laterally. If the Payout Sructure had been flatter, then maybe........

[El Yortle]

FIRST ever live final (I think) on TV.

I'm fairly sure that distinction goes to the inaugural Poker Million event that John Duthie won.

[M3boy]

OK My figures were slightly wrong, but James remember they are in Euro's. And my point remains, that whatever the deal, 3rd place was not going to get a live changing amount by dealing, and it was certainly not a crapshoot.

Tikay, I am not saying that people cannot deal if they wish - like you say, they pay their money and its up to them what they do.

My point was, why as a Tournament Director, would you strive to get a better structure if people will deal anyway?

It is a "reverse" argument, if you wish, as to why me (as a tournament director) is not too bothered about structure - and in no way detremental/derrogative to the players involved.

Maybe this was not clear from my first post, but I hope it is now.

[RED-DOG]

I do not think flatter structures will prevent deals, and that is not the reason I campaign for them. I just think players should get a fair reward for the position they achieve

Plus, if a deal is offered, they will be in a better position to negotiate

Preventing deals should not be the reason for flatter structures

[Bongo]

What about sponsors adding money?

Do they have a right to demand no deals (although that would be hard to enforce)?

What if they only added a small % of the total prize pool?

[Royal Flush]

FIRST ever live final (I think) on TV.

I'm fairly sure that distinction goes to the inaugural Poker Million event that John Duthie won.

Yeah i think there have been a few poker millions, and i know of at least 1 in the states, as i watched it when i was over there.

Paul €210 for a chop is about £140k, no chop and its £70k. Thats quite a diffrence, would change my life!