WPT Grand Prix de Paris aftermath

The WPT’s Grand Prix de Paris has been in the books for a while now, but we do need to take a look back at it, because the event carried special significance in more than one respect. First of all, it proved that not only did the WPT belong on the old continent, it definitely belonged in the Aviation Club de France. The venue marks a return to the roots of the game, conjuring times when one had to dress a certain way to be allowed into the club to play. This aspect may not be all that appealing to the new generation of online poker players, but then again, those same folks may want to experience too what it’s like to play the game the way it was meant to be played in ye olden days. Located in the very heart of Paris, the Aviation Club de France may not be suited for hosting truly massive-scale events, because of the lack of space. It should remain on the schedule nonetheless, as a speck of color, because its old-world charm is not something many of the modern venues can ever hope to deliver.

The WPT’s Grand Prix de Paris event drew attention to the number of registrants such an event can muster, in the wake of the EPT, just before the WSOP kicks off (and players take a little bit of time off to man up to the task ahead). The 247 players who coughed up the €10,000 buy-in may not look like an impressive number, but believe me, considering the above named circumstances and the fact that the event had only been announced a few weeks before kick-off, the starting field was more than decent. There’s been a lot of talk lately about how the vast number of various regional poker tours that are available has limited participant numbers in WPT events. I think the Grand Prix de Paris comes to show there’s little substance in such theories.
The bottom line is, WPT player numbers are just fine, and with a massive event announced in London this autumn, soon we’ll have solid proof to that.

What else did the GPDP teach us? Properly regulated poker works, that’s what. Not only does it work the way it’s supposed to, it’s good for the game in general. Now, I’m not saying that the French model is something the good old US of A should pick up too, but as imperfect as it is, it has managed to drive home the point that regulated poker is not only working for the government, but for the players as well. At the Grand Prix de Paris, there were numerous amateur players present, who pretty much altered the face of the game. The pros did prevail in the end, but the amateurs put up a great fight and generated a lot of extra value.

Sorel Mizzi was amongst the revelations of the tournament. This guy has unfolded into a true monster during the Grand Prix de Paris and even though he did not win the high rollers’ event, he finished 2nd, taking down a substantial prize, and scoring yet another mark in the W column of a series of live events in which he seemed like he cashed at will lately.
Not so long ago, Mizzi used to be known as an online player, but he seems to have happened upon some sort of revelation recently, as far as live poker is concerned. Whether or not he’s WSOP bracelet material will be revealed this summer, as he will certainly look to extend his excellent run, by taking part in as many WSOP events as possible.