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Thoughts on GGPoker WSOP Online Schedule

The 2020 WSOP Online is underway and the series will award a ton of bracelets over the next couple of months. Yesterday, we posted the schedule of events for GGPoker and so now we know what to expect over the next few weeks online.

Today, I give my take on the WSOP online series on GGPoker. I’ll look at the good and bad of the schedule and my opinion about where the WSOP goes from here.

Targeting the Asian Market is a Smart Play

One thing I like about the GGPoker schedule is that they are putting a focus on the Asian market with several events kicking off in Asian time zones and an Asian Championship in HKD. This is a fantastic idea that makes perfect sense.

After all, the WSOP is targeting the American market with events on WSOP.com in Nevada and New Jersey, so why not target another emerging market. The Asian market has been a hotbed for rising poker talent in recent years, so we can expect some fierce competition from these events.

GGPoker Missing the Boat With All Flop Games

I was hoping that GGPoker would somehow come through and offer something other than NL Hold’em and PL Omaha. Even if all they did was put together some Omaha Hi-Lo and Seven Card Stud events, I would have been ecstatic. Unfortunately, it was not to be.

The one semi-bright spot is that the series will feature Limit Hold’em. It is the only limit game on the schedule and is somewhat disappointing. In terms of Short Deck being on the schedule, that was to be expected due to its rising popularity.

When push comes to shove, mixed game players got the shaft. Again, it’s still better than not running the WSOP.

People’s Choice Events Should Be Carried Over to Live Events

I like the concept of a People’s Choice event. It gives players some extra control and makes them feel a part of the process. The pros getting to pick an event is a nice touch as well. Too bad they can’t pick some mixed games to spice things up.

This is one concept I would like to see the WSOP carry over to the live tournament series once it resumes or even next year. People’s Choice events could be heavily hyped and would be a fun gimmick to keep the WSOP fresh.

Ultra-Low Buy-in Bracelet Events Are a Joke

The worst part about this schedule, in my opinion, is the ultra-low buy-in events. While some people will get a kick out of getting a chance to win a bracelet for $50, $100, or $150, it makes the bracelets won somewhat of a joke.

You really can’t sit there and tell me that a bracelet won in a $50 buy-in event is the same as someone winning the $10k Heads-Up Championship. On paper, it is a bracelet, but what is its true value.

This series already has some outcrying that the WSOP bracelet is being cheapened. You can add me to that list of folks. Hopefully, this is a one-off affair with ultra-low buy-in bracelet events and now a new trend.

Don’t Expect a WSOP in the Fall

With the rising number of new COVID-19 cases in the United States and the extent that the WSOP is going all-in on the online series, don’t expect the WSOP to have a fall schedule. While some have said that the series will hold a smaller schedule, one has to wonder what the point is now.

With the Main Event featuring a $25 million guarantee and multiple championship events being held, it seems that this is the fallback position for the 2020 WSOP. With a potential second wave expected for the ROW later this year, it is probably wise to call the live version of the 2020 WSOP a bust. Let’s just sit back and enjoy the online version, as it is likely all we will get until at least 2021.

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