World Series of Poker
The biggest poker tournament in the world, the World Series of Poker, kicked off at the Rio in Las Vegas on Monday. The World Series is over a month of 39 poker events that have many different buy ins and poker games. It wraps up with the big $10,000 buy in tourney where 8000+ are expected to enter and the first prize to the winner could reach 10 million dollars.
Since I consider poker a sport, then I will try and post some updates for the poker fans out there. I am getting all my up to the minute info here.
For right now, you all can debate this: “Is poker a sport?”
The Comments
Mr. Wilson June 29, 2006 at 10:17am
If you can drink beer, smoke, and eat pork rinds while participating, it ain’t a sport. Fun game, though.
Dave K June 29, 2006 at 11:53am
Poker? :Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz:
Mr. T June 29, 2006 at 4:42pm
I think there may be an argument to make that it could indeed be considered a “sport” - but only if certain conditions can be met. What is your explanation for defining tournament poker as a sport?
D.M.B. June 29, 2006 at 10:10pm
well...I guess maybe it’s a loose definition of a sport.
Tournament poker requires stamina almost like no other competition out there. Some sessions will last hours on end. Take for instance last years WSOP final table. It lasted 6 mins short of 11 hours. Meaning a player was eliminated about every hour and a half. And for most of those 11 hours you have to be sharp and make the right decisions. The difference between making the right decision and the wrong decision would have been in the millions of dollars.
What I’m saying is that it’s not all luck, there is a very large level of skill involved and not everybody is cut out for it.
Mr. T June 30, 2006 at 6:43am
I would agree with the stamina and skill part, and poker does require a hefty amount of savvy personal interaction. However, I am still undecided whether or not tournament poker could be considered a sport. It is arguable. Would playing, say, World of Warcraft or Halo for 12 hours straight (which many people do) also be a sport? If not, what would be the difference between the two (besides money)?
Mr. Wilson June 30, 2006 at 7:11am
In my mind, “sport” requires a physical motor skill. So for me, stamina doesn’t cut it. Thus, chess, poker, and video games are all out as sports, while billiards, bowling, and horse shoes are all in.
Mr. T June 30, 2006 at 7:37am
I would argue that SOME types of competitive video gaming would qualify as a sport. Physical stamina aside (ever played Guild Wars for 12 hours straight with Doritos and soda being your only nourishment?) - besides skill, gaming can require a high degree of hand-eye coordination, mental and physical alertness and speed. If anything, that would make video gaming “more of a sport” than say poker or chess.
Mr. Wilson June 30, 2006 at 7:54am
Yeah, it would depend on the game. Competitive DDR, for example, could definitely be considered a sport.
huskerpilot June 30, 2006 at 10:49am
12 hours straight on thinking, making the right move and interacting with humans… This is more like work than a sport.