WPT to delay nine TV final tables

All future World Poker Tour televised final tables will be delayed and played at the Esports Arena Las Vegas.

While many in the industry assumed the final table delay was a tired concept after being retired last year by the World Series of Poker Main Event, the World Poker Tour have gone in the opposite direction. 

In Season 16 there will be nine televised final tables, all of which will be stopped at the event destination when down to six players and played at a future, undetermined date, at the Esports Arena Las Vegas (a $25 million venue at the Luxor).

The nine events have not been named yet and the delay between reaching the final table and playing it is unspecified but estimated to be three to six weeks. Unlike the November Nine concept, the six finalists will have to wait to be paid at least sixth place money. While this may not be ideal, Nevada tax laws are likely to be more favourable than in some of the other States where the nine events are played. 

The upside of this endeavour appears to be a much more impressive televised product as well as increased revenue from sponsors. This is also following an industry trend of trying to make televised poker more like Esports (the WSOP will have an Esports stage and be televised on Twitch, and this looks very similar to what the Global Poker League were trying). 

However, this is quite a big ask of the players, especially recreational players, to ask them to play in an event with an undisclosed end date that requires them to travel again prior to being paid. 

What are your thoughts on this idea? Let us know in the comments: