Main event now included!

The WSOP is full of surprises. This year, the poker tournament will change the way by which its Player of the Year will be crowned. Read all about it here.

The World Series of Poker (WSOP) has changed up the rules to one of its many award competitions. This year’s poker tournament will see the Player of the Year award include the results of the Main Event – a significant factor in the determining of the player’s rankings.

The $10,000 Main Event will come to a close in November, such that the battle for this esteemed title will take place only then. The WSOP Player of the Year is determined according to a points system, outlined as follows:
1st place winner of an event 100 points
2nd place winner in an event 75 points
3rd place winner in an event 60 points
4th place winner in an event 55 points
5th place winner in an event 50 points
Making the final 2 tables in an event 20 points
Making the final 3 tables in an event 10 points
Increasing one’s bankroll from an event 5 points

All open events throughout the WSOP poker tournament – this year including the Main Event – will be included in the tallying process towards this award. They include the $1000 Ladies and Seniors championships and also the $500 Casino Employees competition. The winner will receive the title at a special award ceremony along-side the Main Event itself.

According to Ty Stewart, the Vice President of the WSOP, the decision to include the Main Event in the Player of the Year competition is based on the expectation that it will add significantly more “drama and excitement to the conclusion of this year’s WSOP.” Similarly, the player awarded the title is also likely to become one of the industry’s most recognized and popular figures.

The winner in last year’s competition was Erick Lindgren, the first time bracelet winner, five time total cash winner and Full Tilt Poker expert. Two years ago, the winner was Tom Schneider, and in 2006 it was Jeff Madsen (the youngest WSOP competitor to have ever won a bracelet). The year prior Allen Cunningham was awarded the title, after Daniel Negreanu won it in 2004 on his way to becoming one of today’s most well known players.

Stay tuned until November 10th when the WSOP winner and the Player of the Year will be crowned!