First off, everyone knows that casinos in Europe are not big. In fact, in these gaming establishments, their poker rooms are quaint, cozy alcoves where many gather for a good game. The rest of the establishment is given to the usual suspects in a casino…the slots, other table games, video games, etc. Thusly, when a tournament is to be played in one of these European establishments, field sizes must be restricted, lest they overrun the capabilities of the staff and the casino itself.

The size of the Casino at The Empire, however, has been a major drawing card for its events as it reaches its fourth installment. The field sizes are smaller, bringing a much higher quality of play to the felt. A look at those who have won bracelets during the run of the WSOPE events are the types whom ESPN has been waiting for with its WSOP Las Vegas coverage.

Of course, everyone knows the historic win by Annette Obrestad in the inaugural WSOPE Championship Event, but John Juanda and Barry Shulman, both excellent players in their own right, have captured the title as well. In this year’s WSOPE, Phil Laak won his first bracelet and Jeffrey Lisandro picked up his fifth in his storied career. Gus Hansen shed the title of “best player to never win a bracelet” by winning his first.is battling for his first.

Others who have reached the final table in WSOPE tournaments include Howard Lederer (multiple times), Daniel Negreanu (back to back Championship Event final tables in 2008 and 2009), Phil Ivey, Sorel Mizzi, Chris “Jesus” Ferguson and Neil Channing. Proving their success wasn’t a fluke, Ivan Demidov, James Akenhead and Antoine Saout all backed up their WSOP Las Vegas final table runs by making the final table of the WSOPE Championship Event.

These are the types of finishes that ESPN wants for every one of its final table broadcasts of poker. Over the past couple of years, the “Worldwide Leader in Sports” has trimmed back its coverage of preliminary events of the WSOP because they tired of viewership tuning out when there weren’t stellar names in the game. If they could be safely assured  that there would be some players of note at the final table, perhaps ESPN would once again pick up the coverage of some of the preliminary events.

And here’s where the WSOP Las Vegas may learn something from its WSOPE brethren. Although we cannot do it to the Main Event (the genie is definitely out of that bottle for that), limiting the field sizes for the preliminary events would up the quality of the game during the summer in Las Vegas and, perhaps, make for the type of television that ESPN wants to put on. While it is unrealistic to cap the players at 200 - as the first event of the 2010 WSOPE, the £2,500 Six Handed No Limit Hold’em tournament won by Laak, was before allowing alternates in to make the final field 244 players - it may be realistic to place the cap at 1000 or maybe 1500 players.

The WSOPE can also offer something else for the big daddy in Sin City to consider. With the current exchange rates, the cheapest event at the WSOPE is approximately $1600. Instead of offering more lower buy in tournaments (which create brutally large fields), establish more high end tournaments that keep the field sizes in check. Through the usage of capping field size and upping the buy ins, perhaps the WSOP Las Vegas can create the types of final tables that ESPN desires.

Now I know there are going to be howls of complaint over these suggestions. People will say, “The WSOP is open to anybody! It should remain that way!” Note I didn’t say that you had to qualify to get in these restricted size fields. If it comes down to the cutoff and you get in your money before, say, Phil Hellmuth, you play and he has to sit out the tournament because he dawdled. No one would have precedence to get in the field, it would be the first x players and no more, regardless of name.

Others will say, “Where are the next great poker stars going to come from?” We already have several minor poker leagues that provide players that ability to rise up the ranks. The Heartland Poker Tour, the Canadian Poker Tour and even the WSOP Circuit have created excellent players who have gone on to great success in both the WSOP and the World Poker Tour (look at the recent success of Dwyte Pilgrim, a WSOPC stalwart, at the WPT Borgata). Add into those tours the continuing birth of outstanding players through the online ranks and the poker world will be fine.

I do have to reiterate, we’re not keeping players out by an arbitrary standard; if everyone knows what the cutoff line for entries is, they will beat their asses to get to the Rio and become the next great poker superstar.

Finally, there will be those that complain, “Oh, we’re just doing this for television and so the pros can get more exposure.” Like the WSOP and Harrah’s hasn’t already done that? Last year’s Champions’ Invitational ring a bell? The rebirth this year of the Tournament of Champions? The “November Nine”? That ship sailed quite some time ago.

If Harrah’s was to take anything from the success of the WSOPE, it would be “less is more.” Although it wouldn’t show on the bottom line of Harrah‘s ledger sheet, it would show in every other aspect of the sport of poker and its play at the WSOP Las Vegas. People would be waiting in droves to play in a tournament, creating stronger fields, more fan interest and more attention from ESPN. And isn’t this what we want from the greatest poker tournament in the world?