Betfair.com, the presenting sponsor of the World Series of Poker Europe, yesterday added £57,000 to the £3,626,000 main-event prize pool to ensure a £1 million first-place payday.
"Top prize in our European main event is now a cool £1 million" said WSOP Commissioner Jeffrey Pollack.
Earlier this year, the WSOP payout structure was flattened to ensure that more players who finish in the money receive a higher percentage of the prize pool. That structure would have resulted in a top prize of £943,010 for this week's £10,000 buy-in no-limit hold'em championship – had Betfair not added nearly £57,000 to the prize pool.
"Nearly all of the world's top poker players entered the World Series of Poker Europe, making it one of the most competitive poker tournaments in European history," said Pollack. "Anyone who plays well enough to make it to the top 10 percent of the field deserves – and will get – an excellent return on his investment."
"We are in this for the long-term, and this is the most prestigious poker event in Europe. I think a £1 million first prize sets a good benchmark to build upon in the years to come," said Betfair Head of Poker Ben Fried.
In addition to the £1 million top prize, second place in the WSOP Europe main event is worth £570,150, third £381,910, fourth £257,020, fifth £191,860, sixth £152,040, seventh £114,030, eighth £85,070, and ninth £61,540.
The remaining 27 finishers will receive from £41,630 to £27,150, depending on their final position.
Day two (A) yesterday saw 111 players whittled down to 40, including chip leader Gus Hansen, Annette Obrestad, Annie Duke, Erick Lindgren, Dave Colclough, Philip Hilm, Marco Traniello, Jennifer Harman, Vicky Coren, Jeff Lisandro, Phil Hellmuth, and Jani Sointula.
Day two (B) begins today, while the final table of the WSOP Europe main event begins Sept. 16 at 2 p.m. GMT at The Casino at The Empire on Leicester Square.
