888PL Update - player thoughts and feedback required

[Garth Kay]

I thought it might be time to update everyone with some of my plans and thoughts for 888PL in 2011.

First off there has been quite a few changes to the comp structure in SA and VIC and I have some questions for you:

1.) Dream Team Final now consists of 200 qualifiers (all derived from scoreboards) and only 3 will walk away with the right to represent 888PL as the Dream Team and in Australasian events. Is this cool with everyone? With Southport RSL canning poker for this year we may see some equalization of the DT scroeboard and the results.

2.) Quarter finals have been introduced and we will have three bands of GTD prize pools; $1,000, $2,000 and $3,000 GTD respectivelly. They will have anywhere from the top 4 through to the final table receiveing prizes. The 2K and 3K Gtd events will have at least $500 cash and a Grand Final seat paid out to the winner with the top 4 or 5 also receiving a $50 finals ticket along with their cash prize.

South Australia Riverland $3,000.00
South Australia Mid North $2,000.00
South Australia Gawler/BAROSSA VALLEY (COMBO) $2,000.00
South Australia Yorke Peninsula $2,000.00
South Australia South East/Fleurieu Peninsula/Hills (COMBO) $1,000.00

Victoria BENDIGO/WEST (COMBO) $3,000.00
Victoria NORTH EAST /NORTH (COMBO) $3,000.00
Victoria Gippsland $3,000.00
Victoria North West $3,000.00
Victoria Geelong $3,000.00
Victoria Mornington $2,000.00
Victoria South West $2,000.00

3.) Semi Finals will be $15K Gtd but I think this will blow out to at least a $20K prize pool each season (at least). I would like to see the top 10% receive prizes and at least 2% of the prize pool will be Grand Final seats. Really the Quarter and Semi Finals should be shifting as many people as possible through to the Grand Final right? For our finals should we focus on driving the Grand Final or focus on cash prizes?

4.) In saying the above we are really trying to get the GF hosted at Crown Casino every time, so we could organise travel and accom packages at Crown and build that into our Final prizes as well?

5.) Prize Packs have proven to be a disappointment again and again and I really want to change this up. Are trophies really sought after highly; can we change to a card protector instead of trophies? I am also thinking about scrapping second and third prizes and just issuing final table chips, winner trophy and a scratchie to the winner. This scratchie will then entitle players to win one of 30 offered prizes. Some of my ideas for prizes are: Poker tables, chips sets, limited edition card protectors, rubber chickens, bonus chips coupons, finals tickets, shot glasses, stress balls, sunglasses, t shirts, etc.... So you can win a booby prize or something fairly decent, I think it will be limited to a max of 2 poker tables per region per season!

6.) Saturday Home Games have some massive GTD prize pools, who has played the new structure and is enjoying it? There is some massive overlay up for grabs right now!

7.) Please add any other points/feedback/grumbles/compliments you wish to here.

[15GIZMO]

I just want to ask what the deal is with ONLY 3 qualifiers for the Dream Team. In the past it has been the top 5 on the Dream Team Score Board and the winner of each State Final and the Grand Final - as I understand it.

I feel that 200 players playing off in one tournament for this illusive prize may not be a fair way of determining the best players. Everyone has a good day and a bad day. I would suggest a 3 tournament series and the top players after this series be awarded Dream Team Status. This would give a fairer indication of players' capabilities and worthiness.

PS. Southport closing for the season will not make much of a difference to dream team qualifiers if this new structure is introduced. It would have made a big difference in the last season which saw 10 of the top 12 dream team members being from Qld and being able to play at such large venues.

Otherwise, all looks like it will be an improvement with regional finals back and making it fairer for these people to be able to compete with us city folk.

Can you tell me if there are any prizes for State Leader Boards being contemplated?

[gundog]

1.)DREAM TEAM.

Whilst I dissagree with the qualification process I can live with it.

2.) Quarter finals.

Great

3.) Semi Finals.

Seams ok

4.) GF hosted at Crown Casino.

Would like to see other states have the opportunity to host a GF but if a deal is struck with crown that extends the overall poker experiance then its a great step forward. In saying that I suggest that the GF becomes an annual event with 1 or more support events.

5.) Prize Packs ..

Are trophies really sought after highly; Not by me.

can we change to a card protector instead of trophies?

yes but I'd like to see card protectors like the ones from pre 888pl (make the a collectable series ie. AA KK QQ JJ 10 10 etc)

I am also thinking about scrapping second and third prizes

ok by me I rarely keep them.

just issuing final table chips,

I can live without them

winner trophy and a scratchie to the winner. This scratchie will then entitle players to win one of 30 offered prizes. Some of my ideas for prizes are: Poker tables, chips sets, limited edition card protectors, rubber chickens, bonus chips coupons, finals tickets, shot glasses, stress balls, sunglasses, t shirts, etc.... So you can win a booby prize or something fairly decent, I think it will be limited to a max of 2 poker tables per region per season!

thats cool

6.) Saturday Home Games.

. In principle I dissagree no major online events against venues

7.) Please add any other points/feedback/grumbles/compliments you wish to here.

none at this stage

[Garth Kay]

I just want to ask what the deal is with ONLY 3 qualifiers for the Dream Team. In the past it has been the top 5 on the Dream Team Score Board and the winner of each State Final and the Grand Final - as I understand it.

It is much easier to put three players in the spotlight and have them play in Major events, than it is to have 16 players. The Dream Team concept is so under utilised and I really want to grow this brand in 2011, this can only be done by concentrating on some individuals and spotlighting their achievements.

I might meet you halfway and say the top 20 of the Qualifier play off in a best of three series?

Can you tell me if there are any prizes for State Leader Boards being contemplated?

State Leader boards in VIC and SA still carry a fiscal reward.

[15GIZMO]

This sounds fair if I understand what you mean.

If you are saying that the leaderboard qualifiers and the dream team top 100 play a tourney to decide the top 20 and then these top 20 play a series of 3 tourneys to see who is the top 3, then this sounds great. It will give a lot fairer and truer result.

Thanks for the quick response.

[Hodgo96]

As a player who plays at different venues and not one specific one now due to work and family commitments I am wondering why you have taken the focus off of the state leader board to qualify for semi finals, this makes it hard for people like myself who do ok but dont go to the same venue all the time. What then is the point of the state leader board? May as well knock it back to the top ten who you pay monetary prizes to.
Also arent venue leaders taken on total points not averages which the state leader board goes by, this then makes it harder for people who play less to qualify over the die hards who play every waking moment.

[madali]

1.) Dream Team Final

Like this idea and the fact that players will be able to qualify for this final in a big variety of ways ensuring fairness for all.


2.) Quarter finals

Again like the idea of these although for me have always preferred to play semi's due to the wider range of opponents who can push me to learn more. From memory the majority of these were not supported well in my region but I could be wrong

3.) Semi Finals

Love the semi's and am really disappointed that I don't think I have qualified this year. They are always well run and a huge learning experience for someone like me. I like part of the prize being grand final ticket and part cash but only if the value of the cash you receive on the day is worth more than the ticket.

4) Crown accommodation packages

great for me living 2 hours away and for interstate people but if you live close not sure how excited you would be by this. Having said this crown towers is my happy place so even if you live close being able to leave the tables and wander straight to bed after a big one would be great no matter where you live.


5.) Prize Packs

I like the trophies. They are great for new players as it gives them showoff when they get there first win, for old players something to show off when they get there first win and for good players something that they can show off and pretend they don't care about. Like the card protectors but the old style ones not the newer ones. Always loosing my card protectors when I try to quietly leave when I am out


6.) Saturday Home Games

Played it, failed miserably but will be there again next week which I think says something.

[Chris Trudgeon]

1.)DREAM TEAM.

DT Qualifier Final will consist of
Top 100 on the DT scoreboard
Top 5 on each State Away Scoreboard
Top 5 on the Home Scoreboard
Winner of each Regional Scoreboard
There will be Ten Wild Card Promotions!

Top 5 from online scoreboard is completely an even playing field, and would possibly be my best/only way to qualify again which is actually one more opportunity than we've had under the last couple season's structure...... so sweet with QLD/other states dominating venue numbers and me being from Tassie's North, with limited venues and work/family/life commitments i can't expect 888 to cater it's business for me/a handful of people or that one bloke from out past the black stump) although we did manage one or two to scrape into S4 top 100) .

2.) Quarter finals.

n/a? (TAS).

3.) Semi Finals.

prizes (imho) should be as many GF tickets/packages as prizepool allows for. This should be the players ultimate goal.

4.) GF hosted at Crown Casino.

epic win, it's funny that i can get to the Crown Poker room from my house (TAS) quicker than i can get to my own state finals (40min flight, 20 min shuttle/taxi V's a 3 hour drive )

5.) Prize Packs ..

chips coupons, sunglasses, t-shirts, etc...... cool, to walk away with a rubber chicken....lol.......not so cool.

can we change to a card protector instead of trophies?

trophies? not in TAS, here it's a card protector for the winner, haven't had trophies for quite a few seasons. Personally i liked the trophies (and the zippo's).

I am also thinking about scrapping second and third prizes and
just issuing final table chips,

.Not too sure about this?

6.) Saturday Home Games.

. epic win .

[gmatical]

1,Dream Team - Is of no concern to me so I have no opinion or POV.
2,Quarter Finals - You should offer an option of either a GF ticket, or a lesser amount of $ - say $400, or even $300. Scrap the $50 ticket IMO.
3,Semi Finals - GF Tickets & Cash. Drop the 'package' element - it will drive greater tickets AND/OR higher cash rewards - people can sort their own accomodation.
4,Again, ditch the packages - give people 1 season's grace to sort themselves out and then void the ticket - if you cant organise an airfare n motel tough luck.
5,Trophies are not sought after, but are appreciated. Make 1st a kick ass card protector, but give 2nd something, money clip etc...
6, Haven't played these, can't comment
7, Raise the PLO entry to $5.50

[Grant Pepper]

5.) Prize Packs have proven to be a disappointment again and again and I really want to change this up. Are trophies really sought after highly; can we change to a card protector instead of trophies? I am also thinking about scrapping second and third prizes and just issuing final table chips, winner trophy and a scratchie to the winner. This scratchie will then entitle players to win one of 30 offered prizes. Some of my ideas for prizes are: Poker tables, chips sets, limited edition card protectors, rubber chickens, bonus chips coupons, finals tickets, shot glasses, stress balls, sunglasses, t shirts, etc.... So you can win a booby prize or something fairly decent, I think it will be limited to a max of 2 poker tables per region per season!

I really like that idea.