Daniel Negreanu
iSeriesLIVE interview today with yours truly (6pm on
www.iserieslive.com)
What were your thoughts when you heard about the iSeriesLIVE concept?
I was originally an early consultant on the whole project and one of the things I loved was that it brings poker more in line with the sports betting you see on other sports, for example the NFL in the US. Viewers can have a financial interest in the game they are watching and adjust that through the game as variables change.
Will your own single table format TV experience be an advantage?
Well there are no weak spots in this field, and I think I am a "bridge" really between the older type of players, the household names who have been on our screens for a decade and the newer, younger players who perhaps have more of an online background. Does this give me an advantage? Well I don"t know but I will be as aware of anyone of the contrasting styles around the table. Everyone can play, that"s for sure. Maria Ho is at the bottom of the field at 10-1 and by no means is she the worst player out there
Can you talk about the Revenue share for players?
I like the purity and transparency of it. At the end of the first event there will be a bottom line figure and the players will get a split of that. Compare that, for the player, to where companies sponsor established poker tournaments and the players see no share of that revenue. It"s exciting, and if it works we might see these revenue shares free-rolling players into future events, and in the future a lot more players are going to have the opportunity to be involved in the Series, I hope
The payout format today is Winner takes all. What does this mean to your play?
That"s exciting too and will definitely be a strategy adjustment for everyone. No one will be laddering for the extra spot up the cash positions, as you sometimes see in the more regular payout structures, it"s winner takes all. First out is the same as finishing second in my eyes, so it will be aggressive that"s for sure. In fact (laughs) I could well be a decent bet to be first out!
What trends would you be looking out for as a viewer for betting in action?
Well the type of bets on offer are really no different from what we"ve been doing in our games for years. Side action on flop colours for example, and you"ll have seen us chatting about action in some of the televised formats. Now the viewer can participate too, interactively and I think that will be a lot of fun for everyone.
In terms of what to watch for once the action starts, the one thing I would look for is if a favourite of yours loses chips early. We start with 100 big blinds and say your player goes down to 60 big blinds early. The odds-setters adjust the price but there"s plenty of time for your player to recover. That may be the time to back your player. Again, will be fun for people to see if they disagree with the odds-setters as play develops.
The Hellmuth last longer, he is the favourite I see. Happy with that?
Oh he should be favourite! If I were betting this I would be on Phil. I could easily be first out as I will be aggressive and pushing whereas Phil is more careful and conservative. He is definitely the favourite, I am more of a boom-bust pick in this.
Aside from yourself who would you point us to as worth looking at?
Easy, Tobias Renkemeier. (laughs) I wouldn"t be backing me at the price, that"s for sure!
Looking ahead, are you playing Irish Open, what are your plans pre WSOP?
Yes I am playing the Irish Open starting tomorrow, I have never played it before so that will be great. Then I have a busy two months, tournaments in Los Angeles, Monte Carlo, a few things to do in Canada, playing all of the SCOOP events, WPT and then into the World Series.
Good luck today!
Thanks
