WCOOP 2007 - Planning - Your feedback requested!

BryanSPokerStars · #1 06-30-2007, 01:28 PM

Hello, 2+2...

We are beginning 2007 WCOOP preparations in earnest. For those who aren't aware, WCOOP is the World Championship of Online Poker, the premier event series in all of online poker which is held each year on PokerStars in late summer/early fall.

This year's WCOOP will begin on September 14th and conclude on September 30th. As always, the final event will be the big NLHE Championship, and once again we're putting something new right at the front. This year, TWO new events are at the front of the schedule.

WCOOP 2007 Schedule<ul type="square">[*]Event 1.....14-Sep...15:00...$ 215.....PL 5-Card Draw [$100,000 guaranteed!] [*]Event 2.....15-Sep...15:00...$ 215.....FL 2-7 Triple Draw [$100,000 guaranteed!] [*]Event 3.....15-Sep...16:30...$ 215.....FL Razz [$100,000 guaranteed!] [*]Event 4.....16-Sep...16:30...$ 530.....NL Hold'em [$2,000,000 guaranteed!] [*]Event 5.....17-Sep...15:00...$ 320.....PL Omaha w/Rebuys [$500,000 guaranteed!] [*]Event 6.....18-Sep...15:00...$ 215.....FL Hold'em [$300,000 guaranteed!] [*]Event 7.....19-Sep...15:00...$ 530.....FL Omaha H/L [$300,000 guaranteed!] [*]Event 8.....20-Sep...15:00...$ 215.....NL Hold'em w/Rebuys [$1,000,000 guaranteed!][*]Event 9.....21-Sep...15:00...$ 320.....NL Hold'em Match Play [$600,000 guaranteed!][*]Event 10...22-Sep...15:00...$ 215.....FL HORSE [$200,000 guaranteed!] [*]Event 11...22-Sep...16:30...$ 530.....PL Hold'em [$400,000 guaranteed!][*]Event 12...23-Sep...16:30...$1,050...NL Hold'em [$2,000,000 guaranteed!][*]Event 13...24-Sep...15:00...$ 320.....FL Stud [$100,000 guaranteed!] [*]Event 14...25-Sep...15:00...$ 320.....PL Omaha H/L [$300,000 guaranteed!] [*]Event 15...26-Sep...15:00...$ 320.....NL Hold'em [6-max] [$500,000 guaranteed!] [*]Event 16...27-Sep...15:00...$ 530.....FL Stud H/L [$200,000 guaranteed!] [*]Event 17...28-Sep...15:00...$ 530.....PL Omaha [$300,000 guaranteed!] [*]Event 18...29-Sep...15:00...$5,200...FL HORSE [$500,000 guaranteed!] [*]Event 19...29-Sep...16:30...$1,050...FL Hold'em [$500,000 guaranteed!] [*]Event 20...30-Sep...16:30...$2,600...NL Hold'em Main Event [$5,000,000 guaranteed!] [/list]Total guaranteed prize pool for WCOOP 2007: $15,000,000

As you can see, we're well into the planning stages for this year's events. Some things are already set (like the schedule), but many things are not... and while we've still got some options open, we want to hear from you!

What have you liked or disliked about previous WCOOPs? What do you think we could do better, whether you liked previous events or not?

We pride ourselves on the fact that we not only listen to feedback from our players, but that we absolutely depend upon it. Please reply to this thread with your thoughts, suggestions, comments, etc. For those who wish to provide direct feedback without posting to this thread, we welcome your thoughts at wcoop@pokerstars.com.

The floor is yours....

Bryan S.
Tournaments Administrator
PokerStars Poker Room Management Team

JSchnett · #2 06-30-2007, 01:42 PM

Use a good structure like the one used for the sunday million but with slower levels. (big antes)

I would like to see at least 1 more 6max NLHE event.

The first 3 events are pretty lame. If a game will only attract enough for a 100k guarantee it should be left out IMO. The WCOOP is too rare to waste events on games that very few people play or care about.

A_Junglen · #3 06-30-2007, 01:44 PM

1k turbo NLH ftw

edit: Also, in the HU matches, are stacks going to reset?

How come no more 6max PLH or shootout?

BryanSPokerStars · #4 06-30-2007, 09:55 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Use a good structure like the one used for the sunday million but with slower levels. (big antes)

I would like to see at least 1 more 6max NLHE event.

The first 3 events are pretty lame. If a game will only attract enough for a 100k guarantee it should be left out IMO. The WCOOP is too rare to waste events on games that very few people play or care about.

[/ QUOTE ]

Heya JSchnett,

Rest assured, the structures will be worthy of such an event as WCOOP. It's about those topics, in fact, that we're seeking out a great deal of feedback... level times, breaks, etc. The schedule of events, in terms of what games will be held in which order, is set.

I happen to love 6-max, myself... it's by far my favorite form of poker. For an event series like WCOOP, though, we put out a variety of most of the tournaments you'll find on PokerStars. Try as we might, we can't put out everything that everyone wants - we'd have to run two events every day for a month to do that - but we do manage to put out a great variety, I think.

Thanks for taking the time to respond, to you and all who have done so to this point. Keep the discussion going... we're listening!

As a jumping-off point for further discussion... some questions:

- did you think that WCOOP events last year ran too long, too short, or just about right?
- did you think that WCOOP structures last year were too steep, too slow, or just about right?
- did you think that the time per level last year was too long, too short, or just about right?

All the best,

Bryan S.
Tournaments Administrator
PokerStars Poker Room Management Team

jafeather · #5 07-01-2007, 12:48 AM

[ QUOTE ]
WCOOP 2007 - Planning - Your feedback requested!

[/ QUOTE ]

[ QUOTE ]
The schedule of events, in terms of what games will be held in which order, is set.

[/ QUOTE ]

This sounds like no help planning is needed, as they are already set. It seems like the only thing we can even help you with here is structure.

Truthfully, it doesn't make much difference to me. I probably won't play any WCOOP events. I have read your initial question, the responses received, and your clarification of what you are looking for and only have one piece of advice.

Next year, when you want some advice on the WCOOP, ask for it before you have ANYTHING set in stone.

Zimmer4141 · #6 07-01-2007, 01:16 AM

I think the main event should have a slower structure than the prelim tourneys. Having it stretched over 2 days might be a good idea because it should be a very long marathon, especially with likely over 1k runners. Having it start at 3PM and end at 7AM wouldn't be good. I don't know if this would be possible, but maybe you could start the ME on a Saturday, play from around 3 until midnight or so, then finish starting on Sunday at the regular 4:30 time.

I think the current Sunday Million structure with longer levels should be fine for the prelim events. The problem is that it's tough to find a medium here. 20 minutes seems a bit too short especially for the bigger prelim events, but 30 would make the tourney drag on forever. It sounds very weird, but 25 minutes levels might work.

Bill Ivey · #7 07-01-2007, 01:39 AM

Please please please add a heads up nlhe event.

woodguy · #8 07-01-2007, 05:38 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Try as we might, we can't put out everything that everyone wants

[/ QUOTE ]

Why, can't get dealers to work overtime?

You're a freaking online poker room, you can do anything you want.

That response is uber-weak.

Regards,
Woodguy

woodguy · #9 07-01-2007, 05:41 PM

[ QUOTE ]
we'd have to run two events every day for a month to do that

[/ QUOTE ]

That's a gross over-simplification and wrong.

Double Ice · #10 07-01-2007, 04:05 AM

$1000+50 "NL Hold'em w/ Huge Antes"

might be really cool to have a format with really big (1/4th BB?) antes that kick in at the beginning of the tourney.