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#654 – From the Full Tilt News Desk, Part III – FTOPS XI
FTOPS XI starts on Wednesday, February 4, with a $200 + $16 No-Limit Hold ‘Em event hosted by Howard Lederer. It concludes on Sunday, February 15, with the customary $500 + $35 Main Event.
FTOPS is evolving. I believe the changes in the tournament composition reflect the growing tournament presence of cash-game players and players outside the United States. Note the following:
* There will be eight weekday FTOPS events starting at 14:00 ET. That’s not a high-traffic time in the United States, with most American poker players at work or still asleep from the action of the previous night, but it’s prime time in Europe. Those events are hosted by some of Europe’s top players.
* If you are angry that I’m not holding an event, hold on to your rage. The host is still TBD for Event #9, $500 + $35 NLHE-heads-up, and the Main Event. Given the chances they’ll ask me to host one of those high-profile, big-ticket tourneys … feel free to stop holding your rage.
* Recognizing the influence of the cash-game players and the Europeans, there are seven events featuring some form of Pot Limit Omaha, including 2 PLO-Eight-or-Better, and one each of PLO played heads-up, 6-max, and with rebuys. In one event, PLO combines with Pot Limit Hold ‘Em.
* 3 knockout events.
* 7 6-max events and 2 heads-up events, which I think is recognition of how the cash-game players like it. If you look at cash games at almost every level, short-handed games dominate. And at the highest levels, 9-handed tables are almost non-existent.
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