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What is the difference between FT giving them free entry into some touraments vs paying them? Fine, don't give them free entry, but pay them X dollars a month, which is equal to N number of tournament entries and *require* them to participate in N tourneys. Isn't that the same thing?

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The point is that these people shouldn't be paid at all. Do you like it when golf and/or tennis tournaments pay certain talented well-known golfers or tennis players to play the game ? I don't. If they're so good, why can't they pay their own way ?

And this doesn't even approach the level of professionality of golf or tennis. This is just Chris Ferguson and Perry Friedman saying "Yeah, he's a good guy, a good face for FTP ads, pay him to play." Or even worse it's just favors to their buddies, or just favors in general.

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You can't compare tennis and golf with poker because their prize pool is not created with entry fees, but rather sponsorship money. They don't buy-in to an event like poker players do. And it's not a matter of "well, if they're so good they should pay their own way." but more a matter of whether Full Tilt believes they are marketable and will benefit the site. It's just like saying, well, even though LeBron is sponsored by Nike he should have to pay for his shoes just like me. He shouldn't get them for free just because he's good enough.