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Poker Superstars Invitational II is a Joke!!!

The Fox Sports Network had a wonderful idea with Poker Superstars Invitational tournament where some of the top 16 players in the world competed for a nice cash prize. It took twelve episodes with Gus Hansen emerging as the winner. The ratings were great so of course FSN is trying to capitalize with yet another season. But like most sequels Poker Superstars Invitational II is nothing but a joke.

First of all, the field has been expanded by another 16 players. Great lets keep expanding the category of the world’s greatest poker players by putting the likes of Chris Moneymaker, Todd Brunson, and Mimi Tran with the greats like Barry Greenstein, Doyle Brunson and Johnny Chan. I’m pretty sure 12 episodes was enough for season one. But now with these extra players the second season now jumps to an amazing 36 episodes. Which leads me to my next point?

Second, they want to drag the tournament for extra 24 weeks but won’t adjust the blind structure at all. This is the worst blind structure for tournaments since Empire Poker and Party Poker decided to only give you 800 in chips and accelerate the blinds every 10 hands. In fact, Empire and Party’s blind structure is even better. You don’t have to go all in with a 97 because you are short-stacked after losing an average pot like in the Poker Superstars. I’ve never seen so much all-in poker like PSI where luck is the only defining element to advancing. Expect for Chris Moneymaker where all his luck was used in the 2003 WSOP. I hope never to hear that name in a few years. Enjoy the money Chris but go back to accounting.

Third, where did some of the great players go for the second season? What happened to Phil Ivey, Howard Lederer, Gus Hansen, T.J. Cloutier, and Chip Reese? My theory is these players thought Poker Superstars Invitational II is a horrible idea and it’s not worth their $40000 buy-in with no real poker being played at any level. Plus, the interviews they must endure after getting knocked out are comical enough. Let’s hear an exact duplication of the hand verbally that we have just witnessed with our own two eyes on how Mike Sexton got rivered with a gut-shot and how he must try to capture some points so he can advance to the sweet sixteen.

Finally, I can’t wait to see who emerges as the winner of the PSI on October 30th. I thought that baseball season was long with its 162 game schedule but lets extend this as long as possible. I’m sure very few people will care when the final winner is crowned. Buy hey I’m sure all these 24 players are hoping to take the title of Poker Superstars Invitational II champion. If Johnny Chan or Doyle wins I’m sure they will put that title right next to their 10 WSOP bracelets. Henry Orenstein you had great ideas with the camera to see the player’s hold cards and the first Poker Superstars Invitational but I’m afraid to say that Poker Superstars II has gone very bad.

By Dustin Burkert