The WSOP ME actually gets coverage on my local news channels while NOTHING else related does, there was one small 30s segment on Black Friday, so imagine all these countries that suddenly get a player on the WSOP FT, should get coverage everywhere and more players in the game
+ it's funner to sweat a diversified FT than a american heavy one no matter what you're rooting for.

Are the people that are saying the final table will be boring also Hellmuth haters? Big contradiction there.

exactly..we're all poker players and we all live on planet earth..I'm enjoying it even without JRB..lulz

The original point was that it would "suck for TV," not that it would be bad for ratings. I agree that it would probably be bad for ESPN's ratings. However, I disagree that it would make for a bad viewing experience.

CAESARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

And if they don't even mumble, it's a mute point. /grammar geekery

qft!

Some of the biggest villians in poker history are foreign-born with minimal English-speaking abilities. Like drunk Scotty a few years ago.

wat

I agree that personality is fun and makes for good TV. But you can't limit it to Americans. Under your theory, wouldn't the most entertaining guy from last year's FT be Filipo? Most of the other guys were quiet - Mizrachi, Racener and Senti were the only other guys I remember doing any sort of substantial talking, and only Mizrachi came anywhere close to Candio in terms of banter, and that I think is only because ESPN focused on Mizrachi more than others because he was the only substantial "name" prior to the tournament.

who cares if the ratings are bad...I'll be enjoying it..

id bet that shes pretty loud in the sack

Stupid America with all their commercials makes us miss so many beginnings of hands.

I did not mean USA vs China would get higher ratings than USA vs Finland in the entire world. I thought it was obvious I was talking about ratings in this country.

Now, let's assume that you have 9 Americans at the final table with no personality OR that you have 9 Russians at the final table with no personality. Which table is going to get higher ratings in this country? Obviously the one with 9 Americans. Human nature is such that we are generally more interested in people who are like us than those who are different. So if you've got some random guy from Texas at a final table then you've got a whole bunch of viewers in Texas saying "Hey this guy is from here, that could be me." You aren't going to get that with a player from Russia.

Beat: Watching this at my parents place
Brag: The computer was switched to this massive TV (biggest one i've seen), so i can watch it from a comfy sofa
Brag: Plenty of food in here
Brag: My little brother just served me some quality weed

hardcore

same here. the fact that they are showing this now without hole cards is proof that there is a huge audience for the game and not just the theatrics

USA players cannot even into online poker, why would ppl want US and A ppl into FT

chipleader looks a little like a soft version of Vanessa Selbst..softer than Roseannes son..lol..and gonna be alot richer..

"Over nine million dollars" guys! Must have learned that from Hellmuth.

C'mon dude, you're up against a dude named "Heinz" you can show your face.

dollars? noooo antonio not u too !

"Its unlikely that either is drawing to a flush,.."

WTF????