Well-known venture capitalist Chamath Palihapitiya is considering launching a schedule of new high-limit poker tournaments in the US along with the help of some friends. He posted the idea to X, explaining that the prize pools would be in the millions, with buy-ins typically ranging between $50,000 and $1m+:
Palihapitiya, who is an avid poker player with $182,653 in live tournament earnings, is trying to address some issues that people have complained about regarding tournaments in their current form.
The use of stimulant drugs like Adderall and Ritalin is reportedly rife among players, allowing them to stay focused for extended periods of time. Palihapitiya is pretty adamant about not allowing any drugs of any kind, including mushrooms and edibles.
wants to bring back the old-school reading of players’ body language
He clearly wants to bring back the old-school reading of players’ body language by banning anything that covers a person’s face, such as sunglasses, masks, or hoodies. The only exception is if they have prescription glasses.
Then, he proposes more reasonable formats for the events to stop them from taking forever or becoming a “shove-fest.” The proposal came just a few hours after poker legend Phil Hellmuth revealed he won’t be playing in the WSOP Main Event this year as the format is more about endurance than skill.
Palihapitiya’s post got plenty of reaction from the poker community: