World Series Of Poker 2011: Lots bigger prizes more

Poker world changed forever on April 15, 2011. Legal actions have shaken American online poker industry, leaving the air dozens of predictions, assumptions and uncertainties.

For many, the first major test would be World Series of Poker 2011, where I had to find out if players still bankrolluri sustainable or not, if they were willing to play, but it remains to be seen if the fans can bear the brunt in case most online players would be involved because (1) they were frozen liquidity, or (2) there are many who come from other continents and prefer to play online from home than to be tired and travel to play in tournaments bracelets.

If the first 23 events are any indication of what will happen this summer, it seems that Black Friday will have a minor or no on the WSOP. Main Event may, however, be completely and totally different (because the majority stake WSOP packages online are for this tournament), but this is what increases were the events of the first two weeks compared to 2010.

Figures WSOP 2011:

No. tour	Tournament Name	Inputs	Prize	2010 entries	Awards 2010	Difference% (entries)
1	Casino Employees NLH	850	$ 382,500	721	$ 324,450	18%
2	$ 25K Heads Up NLH	128	$ 3,040,000	256	$ 2,406,400	26% (prize pool)
3	$ 1,500 Omaha Hi-Lo	925	$ 1,248,750	818	$ 1,104,300	13%
4	$ 5000 NLH	865	$ 4,065,500	792	$ 3,722,400	9%
5	$ 1,500 Seven Card Stud	357	$ 481,950	408	$ 550,800	-14%
6	$ 1,500 Limit Hold'em	675	$ 911,250	625	$ 843,750	8%
7	$ 10K Pot Limit Hold'em	249	$ 2,340,600	268	$ 2,519,200	-7%
8	$ 1K No Limit Hold'em	4178	$ 3,760,200	4345	$ 3,910,500	-4%
9	$ 1,500 2-7 Draw Lowball	275	$ 371,250	250	$ 337,500	10%
10	$ 1,500 6-handed NLH	1920	$ 2,592,000	1663	$ 2,245,050	15%
11	$ 10K Omaha Hi-Low Split	202	$ 1,898,800	212	$ 1,992,800	-5%
12	$ 1,500 Triple Chance NLH	1340	$ 1,809,000	965	$ 2,663,400	39%
13	$ 1500 NLH Shootout	1440	$ 1,944,000	1397	$ 1,885,950	3%
14	$ 3,000 Limit Hold'em	337	$ 920,010	476	$ 866,320	6.1% (prize pool)
15	$ 1,500 Pot Limit Hold'em	765	$ 1,032,750	650	$ 877,500	18%
16	$ 10K No Limit 2-7 Lowball-	126	$ 1,184,400	101	$ 949,400	25%
17	$ 1,500 HORSE	963	$ 1,300,050	828	$ 1,117,800	16%
18	$ 1,500 No-Limit Hold'em	3157	$ 4,261,950	2092	$ 2,824,200	51%
19	$ 2,500 Limit Hold'em 6-handed	354	$ 805,300	384	$ 883,200	-8%
20	$ 1,000 No-Limit Hold'em	3175	$ 2,857,500	3042	$ 2,737,8 00	4%
21	$ 10K Seven Card Stud	126	$ 1,184,400	150	$ 1,410,000	-16%
22	$ 1,500 Pot Limit Omaha	1071	$ 1,445,350	885	$ 1,194,750	21%
23	$ 2,500 Eight Game Mix	489	$ 1,112,475	453	$ 1,041,900	8%
Totals	23 events	23.967	$ 40,949,985	21.781	$ 38,409,370	10.0% 6.6% Fund awards entries

Only six of the 23 tournaments have seen declines in participation and some events, including 2-7 Lowball Championship $ 10,000, increased by 25%. The latest statistics come from events impressive 18 and 20, where it was broken the record for the largest influx of people on tour with one day home to two categories: entry $ 1,000 and $ 1,500.

"It's a fantastic start for us," said Ty Stewart, Vice Caesars Interactive Entertainment. "There are many people came up with a consistent and poker bankroll is very alive in the WSOP 2011."

Stewart is right. If an Omaha event may attract over 900 players, then poker is certainly the highest level in Rio. Interestingly, maybe Black Friday had a positive impact on the WSOP, faster than negative.

"I know many people who say that if you have a good year at the WSOP, will move to Costa Rica," says Randall "randallin" Flowers. "WSOP will decide many things about people. There is quality after WSOP poker is a swan song. "

It is normal for people to try to foresee what will happen and the next test will come in July, when he started the Main Event. Indications so far are interesting and sharp increases in several events with lower buy-in, but like every year world tour will focus on $ 10,000, 
No-Limit Hold'em World Championship.

"I'm optimistic," adds Stewart. "You will not get a prediction from me, but I think we have more than 5,000 participants in writing and give it a hundred percent rate."

Whether that will happen because players are trying their last chance online, or whether people will want to play poker, these increases in the number of participants will be beneficial for both the WSOP and the game itself. Who knows, maybe five weeks in Rio will be as excited as the first two and the WSOP will continue to grow.