It was the wording. Like are you saying that you're in fact open to having a low/mid-stakes series that's independent of SCOOP and WCOOP. Or would it be more accurate to say that you're open to discussing having a low/mid-stakes series that's independent of SCOOP and WCOOP.

Like would it be possible to put in place a series for this November. Or by October after WCOOP's over, will we be finding that it's suddenly too late, so discussions will about considering a maybe possible at some point later on. It sounded like the latter was more like where your head was at. But if you're open to having a mid-stakes series then that must be wrong.

Folks, look... I'm not going to get into this at the moment, in this thread or any other. I've mentioned already that I'm open to the idea of a mid-stakes series, twice now, and I really have to leave it at that for now. There's absolutely nothing that I can promise at the moment, and beyond being open to the idea there's really nothing for me (or any of the rest of us) to discuss at the moment. I understand the impatience, the desire to want to know right now, but there really isn't anything to discuss right now, and especially not here in the WCOOP thread. If anything changes to the point that there's more to discuss, then it will be discussed, but for now the discussion is about the upcoming WCOOP.

There it is again, the assertion and then the backtracking. There probably wouldn't have been a derail in this thread, without the double-talk and equivocation; there'd have been no need for a protracted discussion in the face of sincere enthusiasm.

The one thing that seems clear is that you really don't want to talk about a low/mid series, at least not for the next month, and definitely not in this thread. So will leave it at that.

the minicoops are going to get like 30k runners and go for 30 hours, no thankyou,

i really think we should be helping persuade Luke to fix the LOW stakkes schedule first instead of worrying about a series as a priority, the low stakes schedule has been destroyed with the schedule changes.

So....why was it suuuuuuuch a high priority that busto micro players get an amazing wcoop type experience, when they JUST had micromillions last month? Why are they so entitled to massive prize pools and wcoop like structures when they're paying effectively no rake? Why do micro players all of a sudden deserve this amazing wccop experience for $1-$11 while midstakes players get nothing exciting at all?

I don't get how it's fair to all the people that play midstakes to get completely left out while micro player get two awesome high value series within two months.

Why wouldn't this conversation take place now?

There's clearly a huge demand for one and midstakes players are getting pretty shafted.

Man I wish I had the bankroll to play these events, i've always followed all wcoop events in the past and I love the whole event! Maybe I will play some of the $109s though, how's the structure this year? Slow and steady like past years?

Hi Bryan,

I have two matters that I'd like to ask in this thread, taking the occasion.
1) This is not strictly related with WCOOP Schedule, however with WCOOP itself. Don't you think (or in other word - is it possible), that during this series we will have (besides from standard marketing) some legit bonus offers related with the series? I mean it's been a while, since something took place like during 1st TCOOP I think - deposit $XXX and you will receive a ticket to $YY Tournament (it was $27 tournament I suppose). This it not dollars begging here, but I think it may help in accumulating more recreational players and moreover show that you still want to give some interesting promotions and gifts for players - I know that this was said/hated thousands of times, but e.g. leaderboard/promotions accompanying last Micromillions (basically together with all existing promotions) are just ridiculous and a slap in face to players.

2) Regarding Mini-WCOOP - as you actually made good points why it's better to keep 1/100 buy-in amount and it seems reasonable, I wonder about the structure. I can't imagine it being 1to1 with original WCOOP (as the tournaments would last for ages, considering anticipated fields) - so are you planning to:
- shorten blind levels?
- shorten starting stack?
- are the events also going to be multi-day tournaments? it's hard to expect players to intend to play 159 hours for each event
Anyway, question/suggestion here is, that maybe you should consider setting up some/most events as Turbo, Deep/UltraDeep stack turbo or whatever?
I can't imagine $1-11 buy-in event e.g. with 10k+ chips for start and 15min+ blind levels.

I'd appreciate your feedback.
Cheers

I can understand your frustrated in regards to wanting a mid-stakes series and feeling like your getting left out in the cold but, I think your above comments about micro players is uncalled for.

To me you make it sound like micro players aren't of any value, are bottom feeders in comparison and are far less worthy of receiving things than the mid-stakes players. It seems you feel you have a superior sense of entitlement to things simply based on the stakes or rake you pay and those beneath you shouldn't be getting things.

As a micro player myself (who does play the occasional low - mid stakes tournament, along with various cash game levels), I take offence to your above comments and your attitude towards those whom you seem to see as beneath you.

Everyone has to start somewhere. We have just as much right as anyone to experience an amazing WCOOP experience (as you put it) and for the record, my VIP level would no doubt show that I pay a lot more than 'effectively no rake' (again as you put it) so, you can count that one out too.

I'm in agreement that a mid-stakes series would be a great thing to get up and running (I think there should be series for all different buy-in levels) but, attacking micro players because you haven't gotten that series yet isn't fair or the way to go about things.

It's been made quite clear that a mid-stakes series will in fact be discussed at a later date but, for some reason your not able to accept this fact and let it go for the time being. Instead you want to attack people/players who have nothing to do with the decisions being made about what series are set-up and when.

Perhaps you should direct your frustrations in the right direction in future or at least word it better so, your not coming across as trying to achieve something at the expense of others you deem to be less worthy.

you're*

End of the week is today or Sunday? #weexcited

A couple of updates on this, by the way... and please, put away your torches and pitchforks.

1. The schedule announcement has been delayed until Monday, August 8th. It will appear on the PokerStars Blog on that date.

2. I will be away on August 8th and 9th, possibly also the 10th, celebrating my first wedding anniversary with my wife. I'll answer all of your questions about the schedule when I return.

A few nuggets about the final schedule now...

• The Marathon Event has been changed. It won't be played out on consecutive weekends, but instead will be played on consecutive days, Sunday through Wednesday, as the first Four-Day Event we've ever offered. It will be extraordinarily deep and will reward patience like no Event in the history of online poker.
  
• We've made quite a few changes which were requested here in this thread, including changing PL Omaha Hi/Lo away from 6-Max.
  
• The Players' Choice Events have been moved to weekend slots and their buy-ins have been lowered significantly, opening them up to a very wide array of players. In their final settings, they both should be quite huge, and I'm very excited to see how they will blossom.

How about the payout table on the wcoop events ?

Aug 9th two day event?

I don't play on stars and I'd bet that I never will again in my life (because it's so **** now, good job Amaya!), but it's always been like this, super high stakes wcoop + pretty high stakes scoop, then micro millions and small turbo takedowns etc. I don't know, it's a moot point now because stars has just decimated the schedule. I probably shouldn't have even posted to begin with. I'm just stuck in 2008 hoping for more 3/5/11rebuys/50fos paying 3,000bi to 1st.

I really love the idea of the mini-WCOOP and hope it succeeds. Well done, Bryan.

My only complaint - it's obligatory to have at least one on this thread - is that three of the four draw events are in the same timeslot (10:00). There could be sound commercial reasons for this decision, I don't know. But every timeslot is bad for some region and I think it would be better to mix things up. If there is still any flexibility in the schedule please consider swapping one of the 2-7s or NL Draw to, say, 14:00. I don't want to start all of my favourite tourneys at midnight!

omaha hi/lo is great as 6 max. I don't mind full ring but would prefer 8max over 9 max. It would be beneficial for all (players/stars) to send a survey to hi/lo players to get a feeling towards their format inclinations. just 'cause one or two people chirp and rant repetitively in this thread about wanting 9 max hi/lo does not in any way mean that that is the general consensus.

8-max would be fine. Realize that at the least the 5-card (Big O) and both NLO8 events will still be 6-max. I don't think my chirping amounted to a hill of beans, until I looked at the history of O8 events at WCOOP (because I was curious myself) and found & shared the substantial decreases in enrollment in PLO8 since they switched it to 6-max. Fortunately (and surprisingly), Bryan verified that data himself and suggested adjustments based on that.

Good note. Also both PLO8 tournaments are 6-max. 8-max or 9-max should be norm for reg / turbo speed for sure, 6-max is best used for hypers.

Terrible oversight. Possibly don't play any WCOOPs this year, but we'll see.

Bryan said that at least one of the two PLO8 events will not be 6-max in final schedule. I agree that both should be more than 6-max, but not certain whether both will be. If only one is changed to 8 or 9 max, I would guess it would (and should) be the $1k PLO8 Championship.

WCOOP 2016 Schedule Final Version here:

http://www.pokerstarsblog.com/en/blo...t-162669.shtml

thanks for sharing!

Thanks!

Great job, Bryan!

One question: How much detail for write-in nominations for Players' Choice? So should I just write or "Courchevel H/L" or "PL Courchevel H/L" or what?

"Also in 2016, we have decided to stop awarding WCOOP bracelets. As part of an extensive review, we have found that although some players have been highly appreciative and valued the bracelets as the prestigious trophies we intended them to be from the start, the vast majority of players have made it clear that going after a bracelet is not something which motivates them to play the series. Given the fact that the spending on the bracelets represents a significant cost which is devoted to a very small percentage of the WCOOP population each year, the decision to discontinue them was clearer than it might have seemed initially."


Thoughts?

From first glance feels like schedule misses a bunch of 700-2k no limit events, I don't think the super he's day/thrill really count as they are there every week. Regardless, should be fun.

Not a big deal at all imo, I agree that people aren't playing scoops and wcoops for the gifts you get. It's more of a "oh cool I get x too". It's just a trinket.

This kind of cost cutting was eventually going to happen, can't say I'm surprised.

This just feels like something I feel many will overreact too when in reality it's really not a big deal.

At least the WCOOP feedback has been good this year and the schedule looks promising. That's what we should really care about.