A new poker series set to begin next month could be the next evolution of televised poker, offering not only the players but also the viewers of the events innovative ways to be involved with the proceedings.
Poker Royalty, LLC – the preeminent international agency that represents some of the biggest names in poker today – announced on Tuesday a new poker program called the “iSeriesLIVE.” The proposed tournament series will kick off at 6PM (Western European Time, 2PM U. S. Eastern Time) on April 5 in Dublin, Ireland with a $10,000 buy-in/winner take all match that features players such as Daniel Negreanu, Phil Hellmuth, Carlos Mortensen and David “Devilfish” Ulliott squaring off against each other in a ten person Sit and Go. What will make the iSeriesLive event unique are some of the enhancements that are promised by Poker Royalty.
The players will be sequestered while playing the tournament, with no smartphones or other outside influences to offer them information. The reason for this is that the tournament will be shown live, complete with hole cards, which will be displayed for viewers to see in real time. The reason for this innovation is the second unique feature of iSeriesLIVE event.
Those watching from their computers (the tournament will be broadcast on iSeriesLive.com) will be able to participate in the action by putting bets down on different outcomes of the ongoing tournament. Odds to win the table (which will change based on evolving chip stacks), the next player to be eliminated, who will ‘last longer’ and the texture of the flop (whether it is red or black) will be just a few of the wagers that can be placed. This live betting for fans will be offered via PaddyPower.
The players actually on the felt will also be the beneficiaries of the action behind the scenes. Each player will actually receive a financial split of all revenues that are bet on or against them during the live events, which could make this the first time in poker history that all participating players have the opportunity to make money while playing in a poker tournament.
“We’re all about finding new ways to help players make money,” says Brian Balsbaugh, the founder of Poker Royalty, stated during the announcement of the tournament series. “With iSeriesLIVE, participating players have the opportunity to share in the profits of the event while fans of the game get to live vicariously through their favorite pros as they bet on the action. It’s an exciting step in the overall growth of the game.”
Hellmuth himself sees the iSeriesLIVE events as a way to further involve fans in the game of poker. “For poker to continue to grow, the game needs to become more immediate to our fans,” the 1989 World Champion and 11-time World Series of Poker bracelet winner commented. “By allowing fans to view a poker event as it actually happens, with hole cards exposed, and bet on the action just as they would on football or horse racing, iSeriesLIVE can help take our game to the next level.”
Future events for the iSeriesLIVE – providing the success of the inaugural venture – promise to bring even more interest. Such tournaments as a 36 player Six Max event, a heads up tournament, and other intriguing disciplines should offer something beyond the normal poker tournament format. Wagering on these tournaments will also be offered, but no firm dates for future events have been announced as of yet.
The current favorite for the April 5 tournament is Negreanu, who is listed as an 11/2 favorite. Right behind him, however, is Hellmuth, with his odds set at 13/2. Mortensen and 2011 WSOP final tablist Eoghan O’Dea hold down the third slot at 7/1, and the long shot in the tournament, noted female pro Maria Ho, sits at 10/1.
Although viewers in the United States won’t be able to bet on the action, it will be interesting to see if the “rest of the world” picks up the betting slack and makes the iSeriesLIVE poker event successful. Regardless of that angle, the innovative thinking behind the iSeriesLIVE tournaments offer something new for poker fans.