Would you like to play against the pro's.

[Garth Kay]

First of all this is not having a go at another provider but I am wondering how our players would feel about this.

Another provider is running a tournament this weekend this tournament has a $2,200 buy in (raked at $200 per entry) and has advertised this event as Qualify only (cannot be bought into) and never promoted pro player participation in the event.

Apart from the above this provider has now (in the last three weeks) opened up direct buy ins to EVERYONE and we see several Full Tilt Pros (Paul Khoury, Mosterdong, Simon Watt, etc...) and the likes of Joel Dodds and Jay Kinkade playing in this event.

As a player who has satellited into the 888PL Grand Final would you like to see pros of this caliber buying in directly into a self dealt pub poker tournament with over $200,000 in prize money or would you prefer to know you are playing against other 888PL members (min 10 Away games and must be a registered member)?

[AceLosesKing]

888PL Members, the way the event has been broadcast.

The few pro's that have been sponsored in or whatever, ala Warne and Fenech, are fine. But I think they must have some affiliation with 888pl, allowing just any pro to buy in (when they never played 888pl before as well) is too much.

[gmatical]

Nothing is more infuriating, arrogant and upsets loyal supporters than 'changing the goalposts' mid game.

If numbers are poor or you want to involve higher level players - recognise that it would be a good idea - NEXT TIME!!

I'm not against having guns at the table (you gotta beat the best to be the best IMO) but would be pissed off if i spent a decent amount of money qualifying (thinking i would battle against average players) then at the last minute rules changed and it hurt my chances.

Would probably be enough for me to stop supporting the company.

[Caleb]

If you read the pokernetwork forums most players feel the same way.

It was advertised as "NO BUYIN - qualify only" the whole time, with some players spending hundreds on failed satellites.

Now anybody can rock up with cash and play. I think if they wanted to open the buy-in up, regardless of how late notice, they should still have some qualification criteria.

NPL's problem is they made it a GUARANTEE, and from what I understand they are no where near the required numbers, hence the grasping at straws going on right now. A few recognizable names probably wouldn't hurt in their thinking either.

[Garth Kay]

First of all it was only GTD based on 250 players (this is highlighted in the T and C's).

I am seriously not wanting to turn this into a bash up NPL thread; I just want to know how peoplw would feel if I opened up the 888PL GF next year (or later) to direct buy ins without being an 888PL member!

[wabbit999]

nothing stopping them from doing it now... simply rock up to 10 pubs in a week and play or at least register... paying their 500 bucks for a ticket.

[Caleb]

I think the poll could be slightly altered.

I think most reservations would not be from players not wanting to play against pros for fear of being unable to compete.

It would be the fairness of the league in allowing any man and his dog to register without supporting the league in between. I know the GF is self-funded by tickets, but there is no GF without a strong league backing it up.

[666HARPS666]

First of all it was only GTD based on 250 players (this is highlighted in the T and C's).

I am seriously not wanting to turn this into a bash up NPL thread; I just want to know how peoplw would feel if I opened up the 888PL GF next year (or later) to direct buy ins without being an 888PL member!

Why have a league if all qualifying methods are just thrown out the window ? What makes it worse is that it has been changed 3 weeks out from the event . Its just plain WRONG .
888PL G/F is for 888PL members . As NPL is for NPL members or any poker league

[bennymacca]

it it was advertised from the start then i think its fine - warne, fenech etc were always promoted as playing. so i dont have an issue

at the last minute, getting some of the best players in the world to come play, that would suck especially if i spend a lot of money trying to qualify, only to get on a table where monster dong is on my left and i just get crushed

[Larx36]

888PL Members, the way the event has been broadcast.

The few pro's that have been sponsored in or whatever, ala Warne and Fenech, are fine. But I think they must have some affiliation with 888pl, allowing just any pro to buy in (when they never played 888pl before as well) is too much.

+1