Global Poker Leagues First Attempt Falls Flat

The Global Poker League has been one of the most anticipated events in poker in recent years. Its creator and founder – Global Poker Index owner, Alex Dreyfus has plans to “Sportify” poker by turning it into an actual like. Much like the NFL, NBA or BPL. Teams for the league are comprised of 6 players from all around the world. There locations picked to be the “Home Base” so to speak, such as New York, Las Vegas and Paris. The idea is to have matches between the teams and compete for points that will determine an eventual champion of the league. One of the biggest marketing tactics was the live streaming on Twitch.tv which has become a popular hangout for poker players and gamers alike. The first event finally kicked off this past week after months of anticipation to see how the league would come to shape. First, let me preface by saying that is the first event, so we can't be too critical. Having said that, it's clear the Global Poker League is not ready to make the big splash it had hoped. If you were lucky enough – or unlucky enough some may say, to have watched the live stream on Twitch, you will have undoubtedly noticed the many glitches, and poor commentating. First let's discuss the actual play. The format was 4 matches of 6 handed poker against a player from each team. Much like a sit n go where places awarded points. The play itself was not bad, it's how the audience go to view it that needs work. Webcams were placed at each competitor's place of play, being an online event this is the only option. This is also nothing new to Twitch and poker as many pros stream their play using this method all the time. But, being a so called professional league would lead us to believe more production value would be involved, not just another cheap webcam stream. Player interactions were almost non-existent which made for a very boring live stream. If you value solid poker play, over entertainment, then maybe you would have enjoyed it. But since the idea is to make poker a spectator's sport, more effort needs to put in to this aspect before we can begin to discuss this platform being a sport. Next was the commentating. If you have ever watched a sporting event with the sound off, you know it can be quite boring. A commentator is there to add spice, and entertainment to the game. As well as a professional who knows what they are talking about. The Global Poker League had little of either. While it may have appealed to a certain degree to someone who has never played poker, or seen it on the television, the majority of those who would be watching, surely were not impressed. We can't knock the efforts of Dreyfus and the Global Poker League as a whole, and don't want to completely tear them to shreds. The idea and efforts are noble, but clearly need improvement. If they get it right, there's no telling what type of impact this can have on poker.