Poker Superstars Invitational (PSI) is a television show that has been trying to make waves in the world of poker. The show has undergone two seasons, with each season featuring a unique format and rules. In this article, we will review the second and third seasons of PSI.
Season Two: A Quarter-Finals Format
The quarter-finals of Season Two consisted of two groups of four players each, with each group playing two single-table tournaments. The winner of the first match moved on to the semi-finals, while the winner of the second match also advanced, but did not play in the next round.
The semi-finals and finals were best-of-three heads-up contests. Scotty Nguyen, Juan Carlos Mortensen, Todd Brunson, and Johnny Chan made it to the "final four," with Chan ultimately defeating Brunson to win $515,000.
Season Three: A New Format
Season Three was structured similarly to Season Two, but with a few changes. The buy-in increased to $50,000, and the Elimination Rounds consisted of five matches per person. The finals were best three out of five heads-up contests.
In the "Super 16" round, instead of using a points system, the winner of each match moved on to the next round, with the winner of the first match starting with more chips in the next round.
Todd Brunson defeated Antonio Esfandiari in the final, winning $400,000.
Thoughts and Criticism
While PSI has an intriguing concept, the show has not been able to deliver a compelling viewing experience. One of the major issues is the scoring system used in the "Super 16" round. As Mike Sexton pointed out, this format can lead to improper poker strategy, where players are forced to make decisions that are counter-intuitive.
Another problem with the show is the difficulty in following the standings. With so many elimination matches and combinations of players, it's hard to put each episode into perspective.
The biggest issue with PSI is the blind structure. The blinds are too large compared to the chip stacks, making every match an all-in fest from the start. This format makes the show a complete waste of time.
Production Values
Despite its flaws, the production values of PSI are fine. The show looks simple but decent, and the commentary provided by Chris Rose and Howard Lederer is good. Mary Strong's backstage interviews are largely pointless, however.
PSI has a creative concept, but it has not been able to deliver a good show. The confusing format, poor scoring system, and terrible blind structure make for a poor exhibition of poker. While there is potential for the show to be great, its current state makes it difficult to watch.