The 2014 WSOP was a blast, but these were the things we really didn’t like…
1. Where were the Brits?
The Rio always looks forward to the rowdy Brit rails, shoe bombs and all, but were disappointed this year. A lot of the biggest UK players stayed away from Vegas and we only managed one bracelet win. Craig McCorkell nearly made it all better in the Main Event but was cruelly busted in 13th spot. Unlucky for us (and him!).
2. Blackouts
We’ve praised the WSOP live streams elsewhere but now it’s time to put the boot in. Where was the coverage of the Main Event and the Big One for One Drop? Live streams of these won’t affect viewing figures for TV. Sort it for next year or we won’t be best pleased!
3. End of an era
Doyle Brunson has been hinting at his retirement from tournaments for a few years and, although he played the $50k Poker Players Championship this summer, we fear we might have seen the last of him at the Main Event. We’d love one last deep run but if it’s not going to happen we’d just like to say this: Doyle, we salute you.
4. Jobsworth
No props to the over-zealous floorman who penalised Mike Matusow when he won a huge pot on Day 2 of the $2,500 Omaha/Seven-Card Stud event. It put him around the average stack mark with 22 left, but after his one-orbit penalty for excessive celebration The Mouth was muzzled and was knocked out in 19th.
5. Fight! fight! fight!
Brandon Cantu got into it on two separate occasions at the Rio. The first was an altercation with Jeff Lisandro over an unpaid debt (no punches thrown, but lots of shouting) and the second was a kerfuffle during the Dealer’s Choice event with Jesse Martin (possible punch thrown). Cantu: put your energy into playing cards.
