The Powertool Shed

So the World Series of Poker final table crew is set in stone: nine poker playing baddies with millions on the line.

But, what’s this? The final table was selected in July, and we have to wait until November to see the final event take place live? Anyone else see the big, glaring issue with that?

Here’s a hint: collusion. Players at final tables in any poker tournament event are notorious for offering up deals to the other players. Most involve splitting the pot equally and then playing hard for whatever’s left. It makes sense, given the fact that luck will always have a role to play in a poker game, regardless of a player’s skill level.

But that’s somewhat ok, and legal. Contracts are signed, the pot if split, and everyone walks away with a cool million or so (winner takes $12 million if they do it solo). What if the long time off means something more sinister however? Like cheating, or muscling out players? What if the collusion is only happening between two or three players, and the rest are made into easy marks?

This is the big problem with the WSOP final this year, but I suppose it’s inevitable. Poker has peaked, some say, and the WSOP and TV networks needed to amp the hype way up this year for the final. Hence, the long wait. I jus hope it doesn’t mean a final that’s been decided by cheating or collusion months in advance.