3-barrels of pure value from PokerStars towers including their decision to limit Heads-Up action to Zoom tables; a Russian wins a million in four-hands, and Sunday Million 10th anniversary special to guarantee $10m in prize money.
Choice.
That seems to be the main word bandied around poker forums after PokerStars announced they would be shutting down No Limit Hold’em, Fixed Limit Hold’em and Pot Limit Omaha Heads-Up ring games on Friday 12 February.
If you like heads-up poker, the only option you will have after that date will to get a little dizzy playing Heads-Up Zoom. From a poker purist point of view it signifies the end of one of the most interesting and exciting forms of poker we have ever seen.
No longer will we see the likes of Tom “Durrr” Dwan taking on Daniel “Jungleman” Cates in epic heads-up contests. These huge mega-matches, many believe were instrumental in attracting a lot of eyeballs to both PokerStars and Full Tilt will cease to exist.
And why?
The official word is the reduction of ‘predatory behaviour’. Here is a quote from Eric Hollreiser on the matter.
“These changes are part of PokerStars’ ongoing strategic plan to improve the poker ecosystem and enhance the player experience. In this case, we aim to reduce the widespread predatory behaviour at heads-up games. We expect these changes to incentivize more players to be focused on playing poker and less focused on selecting opponents. Ultimately we believe this will raise the competitive bar and help increase a fun and fair playing experience for everyone.”
It seems players who have played these forms of heads-up poker within the past 3-months are currently receiving e-mail from PokerStars to advise them of the changes. Other players, much like myself, who don’t play heads-up will not be advised.
The death of HU poker has been on the cards for a while. Sister site Full Tilt dropped them in the summer, and the recent decision to introduce a King of the Hill (Koth) type system to reduce bum hunting doesn’t do anything that adds to PokerStars bottom line.
The decision to remove HU tables is a financial one, made by a company that’s sole objective is to make a profit.
Choice?
I think such priviliges are dying out.
PokerStars Makes a Millionaire in Just Four Hands
PokerStars Heads-Up table may be heading the way of the Dodo, but the same cannot be said for the burgeoning Spin & Go tables.
PokerStars player, Rainman731, may not have enough money to join Baazov and co in their official bid for the company, but he does have a lot more cash than he did a few days ago, courtesy of an amazing win on the Spin & Go tables.
The Russian became the site’s swiftest millionaire after turning a $100 Spin & GO seat into $1m after playing just four hands. The tournament lasted less than two minutes beating the previous record of 9 minutes and 38 seconds set by Koovoon back in November.
Canadian based player Kman_AP2 was the runner-up; and the Mexican based player pablotenisis finished third. Both players received $100,000 consolation prizes.
Rainman731 becomes the ninth player to win a million dollars at the Spin & Go tables since Oct 2015.
$10 Million Guaranteed in Sunday Million 10th Anniversary
Sunday, March 20 2016.
Stick it in your diary.
It’s the one day of the year you are allowed to say, ‘screw you’ to your usually tight lipped bankroll management style and take 100% of yourself in the $215 PokerStars Sunday Million.
It’s the annual anniversay special.
Each year, the prize gets higher, and this year the guarantee has reached $10 million to celebrate 10-years of the greatest Sunday Major in online poker history.
The winner will walk away with at least $1m.
It will take a lot longer than four hands.
