I don’t want to talk too much about Isildur1 but I can reveal to all it is Viktor and he crushed them on the iPoker network for some time. I actually played a few hands with him today and quite many on iPoker where my site TonyG Poker runs. I honestly respect this guy 100%. He has proved that he is the best player in the game right now; this is based on many, many hands on iPoker and Full Tilt Poker.
I have one tip for him – you are still young, the key to make it is zero tilt. You can never get upset about losing hands. Having the ability to play as you and Tom do, or anyone else, you have to have great self control and money management.
Anyway, LOL, I just wish I was half as good as Tom or Viktor but I am not in the same class. Plus I guess I am too old now to risk a few mill with no solid edge. I jumped in the 300/600 on Full Tilt and lost about 30k or so and did not feel good about playing so I am out of those games but I wanted to try it to see how it feels and have played a few hands over the last five days but it is of no value for me right now; maybe another time.
I want to explore where Full Tilt is going now with these very huge games. I think the money is not correct right now and that these players are not showing a good example as pros…I am talking about Gus and Durrrr here, for those two world top pros to be losing 15 Million on Full Tilt in six months is not the right example to the up and coming players. I think Full Tilt needs to kill the big games, with the biggest being 100-200. In the long run, I believe the limits being played right now will hurt the game. Sure, it’s nice to have so many fans watching but if you look at the chat, they are brutal to Durr. Most of the players like to see him lose his money because they can never play like him.
The great players understand how massive Durrrr is to be able to play such huge stakes and be back every day, but I just feel that the pressure can get to anyone when you swing millions and go broke, it’s a hard road back when you lose 7.5 Million, it’s not going to be easy.
The games look too big to me right now. They need to be realigned. Poker is meant to be a fun hobby and it’s fine to play against Andy Beal who can play the corporation as they are all matured gamblers but these are young kids on the internet.
Let’s explore Full Tilt further. I think what they are doing for poker is amazing and I estimate Full Tilt pays their pros close to 50 Million per year; this is money going back to the poker community. With some of their money, it’s in rake back, etc., for the Red Pro deal; but it’s still a huge deal to get the lowest deal with Full Tilt if you have some talent and self control, you are set for life. Kudos to Full Tilt for giving so much money out to the players, it feeds the live poker industry like the WSOP in a mega way.
If we look at PokerStars who give players a better deal in principal, once you sign with Stars, you are also set – they take care of you like family; I hear this all the time. PokerStars loves poker and also gives a huge amount of money back to the poker community. I estimate that PokerStars pays their players at least 2 Million per month, this is a big help to everyone. The other thing with PokerStars is that they are so responsible with their players that their support of everyone that might have a problem is really strong and they really care about supporting and stopping players who have issues. Also, PokerStars is much more about tournaments and having fun with poker.
I think for poker, PokerStars and Full Tilt are a great example of the good that can be done by poker for the positives.
Let’s look at Party Poker. The whole industry boom was due to the money that Party invested and the innovative ideas of Lipscomb and his WPT. These two companies are responsible for the boom in the early years when poker was fun and the Party founders made billions. Others that came after them also made out OK. Party Poker is waiting on the USA right now but I feel the company has turned around from the horrid management and the direction the company was going in before. The new team is a poker team. You can see they will be a strong force with them buying the WPT. It’s kind of good for poker as there can be some balance now for players. It’s important that there are several very strong companies and solid competition in the market place. It’s fair to say I always loved Party Poker. The fact that I did so well out of the founders being so clever is an important factor here. But when you look at Party Poker, how did they make it so big? Maybe it was Mike Sexton, a poker player that the key players in the USA could associate with - and that brought the poker players to Party Poker.
I think that the management later forgot about Mike and forgot about using money to sign good poker people like Mike and others like him who could add credibility, passion, and commitment to their brand. I talk to Mike all the time and I know how loyal he always has been to Party and I think we have to keep in mind that at the end of the day, if they did not have Mike and his connection with the WPT and TV, Party may have never made it so big. So maybe at the end, we all improve the value of having poker pros behind sites and that way if we can pay, say 250 Million per year to poker players around the world, the live circuit can get 3x bigger going forward.
Now things will be very interesting with the WSOP. They are launching in the UK, and are imminently powered by 888, which I think is one of the weakest platforms out there. And they are entering the UK, the most competitive and least profitable market in the world. I’m not sure it’s such a smart move. It’s a huge gamble if the true poker sites who love poker, and the players in the game, don’t back the WSOP going forward; they may see the WSOP as a competitor and it will not be easy, but if players can go to qualify to the WSOP, then it could be even better. The guy powering the WSOP online is the ex-Party guy and everyone has a position on what he did there. But the guy has talent and is a good family man and I am sure he is determined to really do well with the WSOP. It’s all going to be exciting and I wish that the WSOP would give some of the money they rake from their events to the poker community so it can get healthier.
If anyone has any questions, please do post here. I will answer, but anything silly will be deleted.
I have been watching some of these games for a few days now and agree with yoy concerning the derogatory comments but have you also noticed all the ridiculous begging going on. I enjoy watching these games but would be happier if they made chat available to players only.
Tony, why did you out Viktor, if he never really told the mass media he is Isildur1 ?
Jamie,
I think its fair for the game. Also anything I say in my blog is not fact its just what I think. I think Viktor is great for the game and he might be the best player ever FTP will have to think about signing him if he keeps going the way he does.
Deep words, deep thoughts ! My pleasure and respect to read it. Hope a lot of players, specially young players are able to read it. Poker have to be fun, a hobby and that a lot of players make money is absolutely ok. it’s a competition. But for the result to loose family, friends, healthy and at least the financial base it can’t be the right way. Ok, everybody is responsible for his own live but I hope a lot of them stay cool and have always a clear view to the cliffborder. Enjoy the blog Tony, hope to read more of your thoughts !
Dan : do like me, turn the “Obsever’s Chat” option off ;)… Funny, last time had it turned off and turned it back on to see reactions to a ridiculous play allin by Isildur1 & PA (draw vs draw). It froze FT and took 5mns to display it all ^^
Tony,
What prospects do you see for poker rooms on eastern European market. How big is the market?
When you mention Fulltilt give out $50million to their players, does this mean they pay out $50 million to each RED PRO? PokerStars give out $2 million to each of their pros?
Yeah, why did you that? I mean, he kept it a secret for a reason. In sweden, you have to pay taxes if you withdrawl money from a pokersite that’s not in sweden :/.
I think your concern for young players mental stability is unfounded. Durrrr and Isil just don’t care about money, they wouldn’t jump off a bridge over money loss.
they’re just very competitive and want to be the best.
And if they go busto they’ll just swallow their pride and grind 25-50 where there’s no doubt they’re at least 5ptbb/100 winners in the long run. Ppl would be queuing to stake them.
Having big games running is good for the show and good for poker
Multia:
Eastern Europe is a booming poker market. But people will not spend and don’t have as much to spend playing poker like in the west. It will just keep growing but it’s never going to be that huge in most countries as people are just finding out what poker is.
Darren:
That is a silly question please think about it and you will work it out.
Hey Tony, what makes you think that Isildur is the best player in the world? When you say that do you mean he’s better at NLHE than Ivey, better at PLO than PA, better in general at everything against everyone? Also could you make an educated guess about how big a downswing he could take before he’s forced to move down or back to ipoker?
Hi Tony,
I have to say that this is the ‘best blog’ I have ever read. You have opened up so many important factors about poker and I think your opinion with years of experience behind you is very correct. I am truly inspired by your words.
Where do you see Poker in 5-6 years and then 10-15 years? Do you see the game continuing growing or do you think poker will dry out?
Also, Is marketing guys like Victor and Tom bad for youth gambling and do you ever see it as a problem?
What up Big Tony,
I was just wondering your thoughts on why PS doesnt get near the high stakes that FTP does, thanks for your time
Tony i saw you play yesterday, and the table where you went all in was a good play, just unlucky. i’d like to see you give it a serious go, you were just playing around then. try a session with full stacks and play tight, I’ve seen you play that way and win well.
Cash,
I think PS does not want the big action as they are positioned differently in the market. They are much more focused on the smaller fun players.
Do you really think they are slowly going busto?
Their bankroll is probably much much larger than those 10 mil dwan almost had.
I know this is a publicity stunt ,but can you elaborate on why you’re sure he’s Bloom?
Thank you very much.
The way Isildur1 is playing is not sustainable. He and durrrr will both have relatively short poker lifespans. Look at what happened to Brian Townsend. At least he acknowledged his imminent doom and started playing smaller.
Brian T. is playing 200/400 - 300/600 as well nowadays and he is one of the biggest winners in 2009…
Yeah, but Brian T. only got back up to the nosebleeds because he took an extended break from them and played small to build back up. Durrrr won’t take a break from 500/1000, and that’s why he’ll suffer.
BT is playing plo300/600hu vs isi atm
how old is that swedish guy?
Jep,
Tony, why do u think Isildur is Blom? Pls…. tell us !
if I tell you, you would have to kill me, it’s just speculation at the end of the day. I am happy to say I think that is who he is. When I play with him, I always tell him Hi Viktor, he has never said, “Hey I am not Viktor.” LOL. But I do know it’s him. Who cares? Good luck to the guy. I hope he signs a huge contract soon and has a great life.
Tony,
Great blog. Fantastic insight on the major sites and their contribution to the overall state of the game. I look forward to reading more of your thoughts on future blogs. You have been and continue to be one of my favorites in the game. Good luck at the tables.
Tony,
I thought it was an ex paradisepoker guy putting things together for Harrahs?
no its Mitch from partygaming. He is a big guy and might make something big over there lots of preassure on him to show something as his time at partypoker was horrid.
Hey, i’m Anonymous, you answered only 1 of my questions, tony.
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tony you are so right my freind the way these players lose and win money is appaling its no good for the poker economy i have great respect for them to be able to play at the level that these pros play at and its good entertainment but wen there gambling the price off a 10 bed room mansion in one hand is not good .And is setting a bad example to up and comming players that aspire to be as good as them its all gettin a bit out of hand wen you got things goin on like wats happend to ISILDUR1 the pro players are setting even more ov a bad example sharing hand history is dissgusting and i hope ISILDUR1 gets all there money back and also wen will it all end wen the hands get that big people are losing 5 millloin in 1 or 2 hands i just hope for the online poker communite sake that blinds come down instead ov up because soon it may be possible that the blinds that these pros and and good players are playin at the minnute wont be enogh for them and want to step up and get bigger levels who nos anythings possible in poker after wats happend to ISILDUR this month
regards donstars 86
Viktor is 19 years old (20 this year).