The players with the final table standings are also the players with the most winnings on the WPT. Daniel Negreanu has made the final table seven times and has won the most money from the WPT tournaments. Two other players made the final table seven times and rank high in total winnings. Phil Ivey and Scotty Nguyen have also made the final table as many times as Daniel Negreanu.
John Juanda has been at the final table six times and is in the top ten money winners. Three players have made the final table five times, and of course, they rank well in the money list. The final table players are Gus Hansen, Eric Lundgren, and JC Tran. All three are near the top of the money list. As is easily demonstrated by this list of final table placing, the players that have the skill to advance to the final table are also the ones that score in the money department.
The interesting note about these seven players is that they also seem to place well in other TV tournaments. Luck has some effect on this, but when they are this consistent, there has to be a great amount of skill in knowing when to Holdem and when to Foldem. Any player can get extremely lucky in a tournament like Jamie Gold did in the 2006 WSOP. When the cards rush over you, like they did for him, no one else has a chance to win the tournament. The question is, can he do it again somewhere at another tournament. Playing skill, feel for the game, and luck will determine the level a player can get to in any single tournament. When a player does it time and again, the result has to be looked at as directly linked to their playing skill. Seven times at the final table is a level of play that tells onlookers that these players are something special. They may have luck, but they also definitely have the skill to play the game at a top level. A one-time good finish can happen to any player, but to do it in several separate tournaments is proof of their ability to really play the game of Holdem.
The WPT attracts the top players in the world, and the play is far superior than you would see in a local tournament. The winners of these tournaments are, for the most part, not new to winning tournaments. They have worked very hard to improve their game and raise their level of play, so they can compete with the best in the world. Their play looks effortless, but the underlying skill level is proven by the plays they make during the game.
Do winners of the WPT have a win at the WSOP main event also? The answer is that five different players have accomplished this feat. They are Doyle Brunson, Scotty Nguyen, Carlos Mortensen, Joe Hachem, and Dan Harrington.
It is interesting that the same names keep repeating in tournaments. Gee, there must be a reason for this to keep happening. Good players are hard to keep out of the top group in tournaments. Often, when they are knocked out of a tournament, it takes four running suited cards and the opponent has the suited Ace. Many tournament winners have survived due to a miracle draw. But the good players do not count on luck to give them the wins. They win because they know how to play well, and they make very few mistakes in their play.
The WPT has grown more competitive every year since it started. Many of the best players in the world make the trip to one or more of the tournaments during a season. This means the level of play is rising on a year-to-year basis. Another factor that is attracting more players is the level of prize money that is available to the winner each week. Taking a shot at winning over a million dollars in a tournament with a smaller player count than the WSOP makes sense to the poker gamblers who play on the WPT tournaments. Also, the winner of each tournament is automatically enrolled in the end of season finale that has a huge payoff. Prize money, winner prestige, and proving that a player is the best are the base reasons that players sit down and play at the WPT tournaments. The weekly WPT on TV is making some of these professionals celebrities that almost rival movie stars. They may not make as much, but they do get the adulation from the fans. This fame is opening the door to some very lucrative endorsements for some of these players. Non-risk income is a very nice addition to people who make their living gambling.
Conclusions
The WPT has grown each year and has had an amazing ride to a huge audience since it started being broadcast. People who do not regularly play poker watch it and are tempted to give poker a try online. This helps account for some of the rapid growth that poker is experiencing on a year-to-year basis. Many of the young stars on TV got their start in their imagination by watching the shows. They dreamed about being at the final table, and then they are there. A dream that seemed impossible and became real happens every year on the WPT. The younger winners on the WPT were able to win a satellite tournament to get their entry to the show game. All this activity has been good for poker as a game and has given it a steady group of new players. The next super stars will come from this group, and as a group, they do bring "game" to the tournaments. Watching Daniel Negreanu live up to his moniker of Kid Poker will generate the Kid Pokers of the future. The next Doyle Brunson may come from this group also, but then again maybe not. After all, there may never be another poker player like Brunson.
Related Articles
Five Big Gambling Mistakes
By: David Lowes | 09/09/2007 | Online Gambling
Today I'd like to share with you five of the biggest gambling mistakes made by the average gambler. Las Vegas casinos make an absolute fortune from people making these common mistakes year after year.
Why Are Slots So Popular?
By: Adel Awwad | 02/02/2008 | Sports and Fitness
If you took the revenue away from casinos that they get from slot players, the casinos would be considerably less profitable. Regular slots, progressive slots and video poker machines are the bread and butter of the casino industry. This is true in both land and Internet casinos. In a...
The Rise Of Online Casinos
By: Adel Awwad | 02/02/2008 | Sports and Fitness
Many gambling companies watched and waited as the Internet developed and slowly became a place where many people began to congregate and use the availability of computer information. The first true Internet casino was opened for business in 1996 by InterCasino, and the dam was broken. The rush to start...
A List Of What To Do And Not To Do When Playing Casino Games
By: Adel Awwad | 31/01/2008 | Sports and Fitness
The best rule of all concerning casino games is knowing the odds associated with the game. Knowing the odds will help the smart player limit his or her play to the games with the best odds for the player. Also within the game, like shooting dice, the player should know...
Is Poker A Game Of Skill Or Luck?
By: Adel Awwad | 31/01/2008 | Sports and Fitness
One of the ways to suggest an answer to the question of skill or luck is to watch the TV tournaments and notice how often some professional players seem to make the final table. Another clue to this question is taking stock of a local poker room and who seems...
Reviews Of Various Las Vegas Casinos
By: Adel Awwad | 31/01/2008 | Sports and Fitness
When person or couple visits Las Vegas, the problem or where to go and what to see becomes immediately apparent to the visitors. Gambling palaces are like mushrooms after a rain, they are everywhere in Las Vegas. There are some casinos that should definitely be on a short...
How To Be A Successful Poker Player
By: Adel Awwad | 31/01/2008 | Sports and Fitness
A successful poker player is an amalgam of several attributes and characteristics. The successful player has the following skills and abilities. Odds on hands are well known and they know them. They have the ability to figure pot odds in a split second and then react correctly. When a bad...
The Advantages And Disadvantages Of Online Gambling
By: Adel Awwad | 31/01/2008 | Sports and Fitness
Online casino advantages and disadvantages are numerous, subtle and at odds with one another. Advantages seem to combine with reason for the popularity of online casinos. A player on the right online casino can play at any time day or night without having to leave their home. A live casino...
Got a Question? Ask.
Ask the community a question about this article:
Frequently Asked Questions
Cheating in Poker.
By: teshtesh | 14-08-2007
I am looking for ways to cheat in a poker game? Any methods, tips will be more then welcome.
Poker on TV
By: stella41 | 18-06-2007
Why do people like to watch poker on television? (Apparently it's not just the World Series of Poker -- it's any poker game, whether with celebrities or ordinary folks.)
My boyfriend started playing real money poker on ...
By: surfer | 12-03-2007
My boyfriend started playing real money poker on the net. He plays 3 hours a day. should I worry?
Gambling websites
By: technophil | 12-02-2007
My understanding (as a non-lawyer) is that poker and other gambling websites are generally not legal for users in the United States. Are there any exceptions?
Poker tournaments
By: BigRedEd | 23-01-2007
Are there still big poker competitions in river bouts a long the missippi river , and if not where are the big poker games held ?
What was the biggest casino rubbery ever
By: ali_d | 20-01-2007
I have just seen ocean 11 and it made me wonder what was the biggest casino robbery ever ?
Q&A Powered by:
Latest Sports and Fitness Articles
The Best Flying Websites
By: Jonathan Money | 20/08/2008
The best flying websites on the internet today are not always the most commonly searched. Below are some great ways to find flying websites that have exactly what you're looking for.
Flying websites can be overwhelming. Aviation itself requires an incredible amount of information, compounded by the need for up-to-the-minute weather...
Tattoos and Health Concerns: What You Should Know
By: Jonathan Scott | 20/08/2008
In a world where a new disease is discovered almost weekly, sometimes it seems that health issues arise in almost everything we do. Unfortunately this includes getting tattoos.
Do You Want to Participate In Amateur Formula Drifting?
By: Uchenna Ani-Okoye | 20/08/2008
Formula D drifting is a popular sport. In fact, for being relatively new to the United States, on a professional level, the sport has a pretty good fan following. In addition to cheering on their favourite drifters, there are many fans who want more.
3 Types Of Ab Crunches - Work Your Way To A Nicer Abs
By: Jesse Miller | 20/08/2008
Getting your abs sculpted and fat-free takes more than just discipline with your food intake. Aside from cutting down on desserts, carbohydrate-rich food, soda and alcohol, you need to be overly hardworking in doing your abs routines.
Alaska Fly Fishing Trip: Planning a Great Fly Fishing Trip in Alaska
By: Trevor Price | 20/08/2008
Trying to plan an Alaska fly fishing trip? Wondering which lodge to book? Trying to decide when to go? Figuring out what to pack? For the answers to these questions and more, read on to learn how to plan a fantastic Alaskan fly fishing trip.
Obtaining a Fishing License
Typically, your charter...
6 Abs ExercisesTo Get A Six-Pack Tummy
By: Jesse Miller | 20/08/2008
Although there are quite a number of exercise routines that may quickly take those excess tummy fats out, a good diet is still a mere consideration to get the best results.
How to Get Six Pack Abs Fast
By: Scott Russell | 20/08/2008
Learn how to get six pack abs fast, without even spending a cent on gym memberships, expensive exercise equipment, or personal trainers.
Football Ornaments
By: Mitch Jelly | 20/08/2008
American Football:
The first person paid to play football was William Heffelfinger also called Pudge; he was paid 500 dollars in 1892 to play for Allegheny against Pittsburgh. Of course American Football started earlier than this. Football type games had been around for many years in Europe and in the Americas,...
More from Adel Awwad
The Rise Of Online Casinos
By: Adel Awwad | 02/02/2008 | Sports and Fitness
Many gambling companies watched and waited as the Internet developed and slowly became a place where many people began to congregate and use the availability of computer information. The first true Internet casino was opened for business in 1996 by InterCasino, and the dam was broken. The rush to start...
Why Are Slots So Popular?
By: Adel Awwad | 02/02/2008 | Sports and Fitness
If you took the revenue away from casinos that they get from slot players, the casinos would be considerably less profitable. Regular slots, progressive slots and video poker machines are the bread and butter of the casino industry. This is true in both land and Internet casinos. In a...
The Best Poker Players Of All Time
By: Adel Awwad | 01/02/2008 | Sports and Fitness
The best of anything is a matter of opinion and perspective, and this is absolutely true when trying to decide who are the best poker players. This also has to be broken into tournament play, cash game play, and the type of poker game. Some poker players are...
The Advantages And Disadvantages Of Online Gambling
By: Adel Awwad | 31/01/2008 | Sports and Fitness
Online casino advantages and disadvantages are numerous, subtle and at odds with one another. Advantages seem to combine with reason for the popularity of online casinos. A player on the right online casino can play at any time day or night without having to leave their home. A live casino...
How To Be A Successful Poker Player
By: Adel Awwad | 31/01/2008 | Sports and Fitness
A successful poker player is an amalgam of several attributes and characteristics. The successful player has the following skills and abilities. Odds on hands are well known and they know them. They have the ability to figure pot odds in a split second and then react correctly. When a bad...
Reviews Of Various Las Vegas Casinos
By: Adel Awwad | 31/01/2008 | Sports and Fitness
When person or couple visits Las Vegas, the problem or where to go and what to see becomes immediately apparent to the visitors. Gambling palaces are like mushrooms after a rain, they are everywhere in Las Vegas. There are some casinos that should definitely be on a short...
Is Poker A Game Of Skill Or Luck?
By: Adel Awwad | 31/01/2008 | Sports and Fitness
One of the ways to suggest an answer to the question of skill or luck is to watch the TV tournaments and notice how often some professional players seem to make the final table. Another clue to this question is taking stock of a local poker room and who seems...
A List Of What To Do And Not To Do When Playing Casino Games
By: Adel Awwad | 31/01/2008 | Sports and Fitness
The best rule of all concerning casino games is knowing the odds associated with the game. Knowing the odds will help the smart player limit his or her play to the games with the best odds for the player. Also within the game, like shooting dice, the player should know...
Sports and Fitness 
