Gray-haired poker TRs: Living the WSOP dream

So I guess the "Poker" Hall of Fame is really the WSOP Poker Hall of Fame. Maybe some other organization could create its own hall of fame and make it a superset of the WSOP PHoF, have multiple categories, multiple inductees per year, more voters, fan participation, etc.

The Ike Haxton WSOP controversy through the eyes of Daniel Negreanu and rpcolumnist
By rpcolumnist

Daniel Negreanu recently called out Ike Haxton regarding a money bubble tank.

Per poker.org:

High-stakes crusher Ike Haxton caused controversy at the WSOP Main Event on Friday after tanking for six minutes preflop with just one chip behind.

Facing an all-in for his tournament life, Haxton was tanking in the hope of laddering up — 99th place paid $70,000, while 98th would get $85,000.

Talking on his vlog on Saturday, Negreanu said, “I'd be embarrassed to do it, especially if I was a high-stakes pro playing high-stakes buy-ins in a $10k — to just sit there for six minutes. The floor should have stepped in. It’s not something I would ever do over my dead body.”

To his credit, Haxton told the table multiple times they could call the clock. Still, no one did — until he’d tanked for a full six minutes. And, as we caught on video, one player managed to eat his dinner while Haxton was in the tank.

Negreanu said it was a clear example of angle shooting.

“In this case there is no decision to be made,” Negreanu said. “There is no world where he's folding. So the only reason to take any time whatsoever is to stall/steal for a pay jump to shoot an angle.”

............

So what do I think about this? Let me take you back to my 2024 WSOP when I cashed Event #3 $500 freezeout. Less money involved but I was seeking my much desired first ever WSOP cash.

In post #356 of this thread I wrote:

2024 WSOP: May 29 (Event #3 $500 freezeout NLHE) (part 4 of 4)
The money bubble is so close and I’m on fumes … Do I make it? You have to read on …

Level 17:

The blinds and BB ante are 4,000/8,000/8,000. I have a mere 37,000 chips.

The number of players left keeps dwindling … 533 … 528 …

With 527 remaining (remember 523 cash) I am dealt A-10 offsuit in early position and I fold.

UTG I am dealt K-10 and I fold.

From the BB I am dealt 9-J and I fold.

There are 525 players left. I have 21,000 chips.

Play is paused and every table is told not to deal a new hand until existing hands are completed.

524 players left. The stone bubble. I am about to be in the small blind for 4,000 and I have 17,000 remaining after that.

While we wait for all of the other tables to finish their hands, the big stack (a confident young gun with a ton of confidence in a nice way) two to my left asks what I’ll do if I get dealt two aces. I smile and don’t answer, but in my head I know the answer is I should fold. I am so short that even if I double up I’m probably not going to last long after the money bubble bursts, whereas if I play A-A and get two callers it is definitely possible the aces don’t hold up and I bust on the bubble. Given my negligible stack size the EV is in limping into the money, not trying to double up a pittance into a slightly larger pittance.

There is a commotion at a table far away from where we are sitting. People are ringing the table to watch. Obviously, somebody who is covered is all-in. Eventually it sounds as if the bubble has burst, but there is no announcement. We wait long enough that I think maybe the bubble did not burst. Finally, an announcement is made where they bury the lead by saying that dealers can deal a new hand and (oh by the way) everyone who is left is in the money.

.........

So what does this have to do with the Haxton controversy? As I was running on fumes with the bubble in sight, at no time did I tank. I was getting unplayable cards (given the closeness of the money bubble) and I quickly folded. Was making quick but obvious decisions -ev? Probably. But I felt that megatanking with 2-7 off suit or even A-10 from early position was unfair to the rest of the table. I felt it was against the spirit of the game. At the time I would describe the table dynamic as the other players were openly rooting for me to crawl into the money. They would have knocked me out given the opportunity, but they were otherwise hoping I'd make it. If I tanked at length I am pretty sure they would have understood, but it wouldn't have felt right to me.

So I made the -ev decision to play at the normal pace.

Trust me, I wanted the min cash every bit as much as Haxton wanted the pay jump. But I think tanking in that situation for six minutes was wrong. Yes, he told the table they could call clock any time they wanted. But I still think the tank was contrary to what I feel should be the spirit of the game.

Where I disagree with Negreanu is I don't think it is an angle shoot. That term should be used to describe far more nefarious actions than what Haxton did.

Angle shoot? I think that is an overreaction.

Against the spirit of the game? Yes, I think it was.

Agree with the sentiment, if not the specific wording. Poker is an individual game; definitionally, then, the "spirit of the game," has to be (or at least include an element of) "what's best for me."

But still, a nice post, and something for us all to think about.

I wrote about "spirit of the game" much earlier in this thread. It stems from the fact that I played on the ultimate frisbee team of my high school, my college, and then after graduation I practiced with the defending world champions for a year+. "Spirit of the Game" is at the core of ultimate frisbee.

According to USA Ultimate, "A truly unique and defining element of ultimate, Spirit of the Game places the responsibility of fair play solely on the athletes themselves by requiring each player to know the rules and make their own calls, without the help of a neutral official. These underlying principles reinforce mutual respect and trust between opponents; communication and conflict resolution skills; and self confidence – both on and off the field of play. ... As a self-officiated sport, ultimate depends on personal responsibility. It places the obligation and expectation to play fairly on the players in order to maintain the integrity of the game."

I'll give an example. My senior year of college at the University of Michigan, we were playing in the Midwest regionals at Illinois State University, which fed in to the eventual national championships (we didn't make it). We were playing against rival and top-seeded Michigan State. There was a play where there was a very high pass made to me. I leapt up in the air, didn't make the catch and crash landed on the ground. It took me a minute or so to be OK. I looked up from my spot on the ground, and I was surrounded by players from both teams. First, they wanted to know if I was OK. Second, they wanted to know if I was calling a foul on the defender guarding me on the play.

I said, "All I know is I went up in the air, and the next thing I remember is I was in a heap on the ground. I have no idea whether I was fouled or not."

Everyone then turned to the player who was defending me, and he said, "Yeah, I fouled him."

That is spirit of the game. I try to live my life by this code. It applies to pretty much every aspect of my life, including when I am at the WSOP playing poker. Maybe that makes me naive in a poker setting, but that's my code and I'll abide by it until my dying day.

I invite you to visit my website:

againstbookmakers.com

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I have to wait how long?!!!!!

Hold on. You're telling me I have to wait almost 11 months before I get to play in the WSOP again? I'll never make it. I feel the magnetic pull of the Paris and Horseshoe Ballrooms. I even hear the hot dog cart calling my name.

Withdrawal symptoms are already kicking in. Hands shaking. What will I do? I need my WSOP fix. This is a cry for help.

Is there such a thing as WSOP rehab? I'm ready to check myself in.

by feel wrath m

https://www.pokernews.com/tours/wsope/world-series-of-poker-europe-wsope-2025-61365/

pokernews

World Series of Poker Europe - WSOPE 2025

Hmmmmm. So I've got to convince Mrs. rppoker that I have business in the Czech Republic and it just so happens that WSOP Europe is taking place there at the same time. What are the odds?

This is going to take some really creative thinking on my part.

No doubt there is a building or two for sale in Prague - you could investigate that market while there and maybe even expand your holdings 😆

Inside the mind of rppoker

I am imagining Will Kassouf heading back to England. In my vivid imagination it goes something like this ...

Kassouf goes to his flight's check-in desk at his gate and asks for an upgrade to first class. He is advised that first class is full. Kassouf complains. He is told again that first class is full. He complains some more. What part of "full" does he not understand? He complains some more. The line behind him grows long. Kassouf demands to see a supervisor. The line behind him grows longer. Everyone else is getting angry. The supervisor arrives. Kassouf demands to know why he can't sit in first class. Back and forth he and the supervisor go. Finally, the supervisor tells Kassouf, "If you want to be on the flight, you'll plant your butt in seat 9B, like a boss! I'm walking away now. If you follow me, you won't be allowed on the plane."

Everyone boards the plane. Everyone can hear Kassouf complaining. No one (NO ONE!) is enjoying the experience.

The plane takes off. The drink cart makes its way to Kassouf's row. The flight attendant asks Kassouf what he'd like to drink. Kassouf tanks for 10 minutes. Finally, a thirsty passenger a couple of rows away calls clock. Kassouf demands to see the pilot. He is told the pilot is busy flying the plane. The clock countdown begins, time runs out and Kassouf receives no drink. He wants to know why he is being picked on. Then, because he only has so many speeches in his speech play and tends to reuse them over and over, says, “I will not stop until I get what I want. And I won't rest until I've won. And God help anyone that gets in my way.” An air marshall who is on the flight steps up and guards the drink cart. Kassouf gets no drink.

The plane lands and medics board the plane to attend to the poor little old lady seated next to Kassouf who is in shock from listening to Kassouf rant the entire flight.

Kassouf deplanes and heads toward baggage claim, but before he gets to the baggage carousel, a WSOP Europe official stops him and advises Kassouf that he must serve another one orbit penalty before he can grab his suitcase.

Why? Because Jack Effel is still pissed.

The rest of the flight's passengers at baggage claim see this exchange and start singing, "Na na na na, na na na na ..."

I'm calling it a night with 15 players remaining in the Main.

The players I most want to make the final table are ...

-- Leo Margets because I am a dad of daughters.

-- Kenny Hallaert because he altruistically puts together and shares his excel sheet of all the summer poker series going on during and around the WSOP, which is a great help to the poker community.

-- Michael Mizrachi because the final table will be more interesting with a superstar of the game in the hunt.

That said, good luck to each of those who still have chips.

Normally, I'd be rooting for Margets. For those of us old enough to remember Janet Guthrie breaking the Indy 500 glass ceiling in the 1970s, Margets' achievement is giving off a similar vibe because it's 30 years since a woman made the final table.

Mizrach winning the Poker Players Championship and the Main Event in the same year, though (and probably locking up his place in the Hall of Fame next time around) that's just too immense not to hope for.

Rp,

There’s a number of series with tourneys over the year close to Chicago with buy ins from $300 and up to at least $1500. MSPT, WSOP circuit, maybe WPT(?). In Hammond, Elgin, Milwaukee, Michigan and even Iowa if you’re desperate. All within a 5 hour or less drive. Can get some live reps without a long time away from family or work.

Hi droopy, you and I are on the same wavelength. Late last night I searched pokeratlas.com and found the following possibilities:

Sizzlin' 750 Summer Series, August 9-17, Battle Creek, MI: The event that grabs my attention is the August 9 $300 Red Hot Double Stack where you get 40,000 chips and 30 minute levels. It's only a three hour drive, so maybe I do a hit-and-run where I drive up the night before, play the tournament and then head home. This has potential.

WSOP Circuit, Hammond, Indiana, Sept 10-21: On the plus side, this is very drivable. In ideal conditions it's a one hour drive for me. But I'll have to go through Chicago which has a massive construction project taking place on the highway I'd have to take. So let's call it two hours. Still very doable. The downside is this is during college football season when I go out of town a bunch for Michigan football games. Maybe there will be back-to-back tournaments I like on weekdays. I'll have to wait for the schedule to come out. (I think the WSOP Circuit returns in March 2026)

WSOP Circuit, Elgin, IL, Nov. 6-17: This is less than a one hour drive. Very geographically desirable. If there are tournaments on weekdays I like, I think this is very promising. I wouldn't even need a hotel room. (I think the WSOP Circuit returns in April 2026).

And just now your post prompted me to look up Potawatomi Casino in Milwaukee, WI and I read the following: "Weekly tournament announcements coming soon." OK, this has me excited. Milwaukee is like an hour drive for me with zero traffic.

Lastly, Mrs. rppoker has been mentioning that she'd like us to go to Aurora, IL where one of her best friends lives and I can play in the weekly Saturday NLHE tournament at the Hollywood Casino.

I just may get to spend some time at the poker tables the next 11 months leading into WSOP 2026. I'm a man with a plan.

Don't forget that you can further extract yourself from your business and have much more time for poker. There's a lot more to life than work.

The key is to find the delicate balance between 1) lessening what is on my plate for work while still being a responsible steward of my business/investments in a variety of sectors, 2) being a good and present husband and father, and 3) doing the things I love such as playing poker and going to Michigan football games. Each of these aspects of my life are important to me. Too much focus on any one of these aspects of my life runs the risk of harming the others.

As much as I love long sessions at tournament poker tables, I am not looking to "have much more time for poker." I am looking to have a little bit more time for poker.

Potawatomi has MSPT stops for sure and maybe WSOP circuit as well. That’s my local casino (5 minutes from my house). I’ve been a cash game player but have been bitten by the smaller/senior tourney bug. Will keep an eye out for the local series as well to get reps myself.

I need to pick the collective brain of LVL.

I am contemplating playing in some WSOP Circuit events between now and the 2026 WSOP.

My question has to do with Circuit events that do not having multi day starting flights. Do those events play start to finish until there is a winner, or do they play until a certain level, bag chips, and then you come back the next day?

The answer is not clear when I search the WSOP website.

Any guidance from more experienced hands will be appreciated.

At the Circuit events I played last year, the vast majority of the events without flights were single-day tournaments, but there were a very limited number of non-flight events that were scheduled to last two days. You used to be able to tell because the WSOP website had structure sheets, but it inexplicably doesn't have them since the redesign.

Really weird that they don't provide that info anymore. The events I've played in were one-day, but they were billed that way.

The ones that have played out in Calgary have been a bit of a mix. The more turbo-y they are the higher the likelihood of course.

They’ve had larger than expected numbers at times which forces Day 2s. Also operating hours of casinos plays a factor.

Not much of an answer I know. Sorry eh.

What is truly baffling to me is they did such a phenomenal job with WSOP+ in terms of making life so much easier for players, yet when it comes to posting structures they have completely dropped the ball. Structure sheets are very important information to players trying to decide their tournament schedule, so I don't understand why they have eliminated the info on their website.

Not that I am anyone important, but I am going to e-mail a suggestion to the WSOP about this.

GG seems to like to hide information now. It took weeks for the main WSOP to get structures back online after many people begging for it on twitter.

Don't expect to see them for the circuit. However, they're all mostly standardized.

1 day events are 20 or 30 min levels depending on start time.
Multiflight are 30 minutes extending to 40 later.
Main events are 40 min levels with 60 min later.

But yeah theres also info on how many levels in a day and to plan. But its the gg way to hide info now, it seems.

While on an after-dinner walk with our dog Astro, I told Mrs. rppoker about the WSOP Circuit and a couple of geographically desirable locations. I said I was thinking about playing a little bit in them. Mrs. rppoker turned up her nose at the downtrodden towns (safety concerns) but she did not express any unhappiness about me spending some additional time playing poker.

The seed has been planted.

I'm loving this thread, and totally enjoying how you've captured all aspects of your WSOP journey. It's taking me quite a while to get caught up with all of it, so if the matter I discuss below has already been addressed, my apologies for repetition.

I agree with your broad assessment and belief regarding fatigue and how it is rightfully part of the competition. People who have better endurance have an edge on people who don't, just like athletes who are bigger, faster, stronger generally have an edge on athletes who are smaller, slower, weaker in athletic endeavors. I'll take some exception to the part I've bolded above, in that the senior events are NOT more senior friendly, at least from the perspective of how amount of play each day, and play on consecutive days, affects endurance/fatigue. To reach the final table of the Senior event, it's four consecutive days of ten (or more) hours of play (unless you play Day 1A, in which you get one day off before Day 2). To reach the final table of the Super Senior event, it's three consecutive days of ten (or more) hours of play. So, in that regard, these are similar to any other WSOP 3- or 4-day event. Despite several self-deprecating jokes that make their way around the tables at these events, the WSOP does NOT give us a nap break during play. 😀