Top 1,000 WSOP Main Event Finishers Now Guaranteed A Payout

Swedish pro Martin Jacobson received $10 million for winning the 2014 WSOP Main Event, and the 2015 Main Event seemed to be heading in the same direction of guaranteeing an eight figure sum for the champion, until earlier this week when the organization suddenly changed its approach and guaranteed at least 1,000 money places would now be paid, instead.
This means that in 2015 the $10,000 Main Event winner is likely to receive around $8 million or so for a winning performance  depending on entry numbers, and while the amount may not be quite as high as the WSOP initially intended, the difference represents just a drop in the ocean in the grand scheme of things. At least, that’s the opinion of the majority of players and fans alike who voiced their disapproval of the WSOP’s original plan, leading to the organization asking them to take a short survey on what structure they would most like to see in the showcase event.
Leading the chorus for change via twitter was poker superstars Daniel Negreanu, who pointed out that a flatter payout structure would help attract new and repeat participation in the event, and after the recent changes were made, the 6-times WSOP bracelet holder, wrote:
“Hats off again to the @WSOP staff for always listening to feedback from players and being willing to make changes. Big part of it’s success.. Looking over 2015 @WSOP structures and players are going to be insanely happy with the changes. Especially the lower buy in grinders.”
Technically speaking the 1,000 payout positions are guaranteed only if the competition has more than 5,000 entries, but that figure is practically a certainty considering every Main Event since 2005 (5,619) has had at least that number of players competing. In addition, each member of the November Nine will also be guaranteed a minimum prize of $1 million a piece, thus helping to spread a bit more of the wealth around.