How Does The WSOP Player Of The Year Points System Work?

The World Series of Poker (WSOP) Player of the Year (POY) award is one of the most prestigious honors a player can achieve during the tournament series. The POY is determined by a points system that rewards consistent performances across multiple events, rather than just winning a single event. Here’s how the WSOP POY points system works:

1. Points for Cashing in Events

Players earn points based on their finishing positions in the various bracelet events throughout the WSOP. The deeper a player finishes in a tournament, the more points they earn. However, to earn points, the player must “cash” in an event, which means finishing high enough to receive a payout.

• Example: A player finishing in the top 10 in a large event will earn more points than someone finishing in the lower half of the field. The points system is designed to reward players who consistently perform well across multiple events.

2. Points Allocation Based on Field Size

The number of points awarded is also determined by the size of the field in a particular event. Events with larger fields offer more points, as they are considered harder to win.

• Example: If an event has 1,000 players and you win it, you’ll earn more points than if you win an event with only 100 players. The points scale is dynamic, with more players translating to higher rewards for top finishes.

3. Event Type and Buy-In

The type of event and the buy-in level can affect the number of points a player receives. Generally, high-stakes events or prestigious tournaments with higher buy-ins, like the $50,000 Poker Players Championship, award more points than smaller buy-in events. However, this is not a hard and fast rule—field size and player performance are significant factors as well.

• Example: Winning a $10,000 buy-in tournament is usually worth more points than winning a $1,500 buy-in event, but the number of players in each tournament plays a role as well.

4. Final Table Finishes

Finishing in the final table (top 9) of any WSOP event is highly valuable for the Player of the Year race. Deep runs consistently help accumulate points throughout the series, and multiple final table appearances give a player a significant boost in the standings.

• Example: A player finishing 3rd in a major event might earn more points than a player finishing 1st in a smaller tournament, due to the larger field and higher level of competition.

5. Bonus Points for Wins

While consistently cashing and finishing deep in events is key to accumulating points, winning a bracelet is highly rewarding. A win in any event not only comes with a trophy and the corresponding prize money but also a significant point boost.

• Example: Winning the WSOP Main Event is a massive point gain, but so is taking down a bracelet in any of the other prestigious events like the $50,000 Poker Players Championship or the $10,000 No-Limit Hold’em.

6. The Points Leaderboard

The WSOP maintains a POY leaderboard, where players are ranked based on the points they’ve accumulated throughout the series. The leaderboard is updated regularly, and players can track their progress and see where they stand in relation to others.

• Example: As players accumulate points, the leaderboard reflects who is performing the best across all events. The player with the most points at the end of the WSOP series wins the Player of the Year title.

7. Tiebreakers

In the case of a tie in points between two or more players at the end of the series, the WSOP uses tiebreakers to determine the winner. The first tiebreaker is typically the number of wins. If there’s still a tie, the number of final tables reached and then the number of cashes are used as additional tiebreakers.

• Example: If two players finish with the same amount of points, the player with more wins (bracelets) will be crowned the POY. If both players have the same number of wins, then their performance across final tables and cashes is considered.

8. Impact of the Online WSOP Events

With the rise of online poker, the WSOP has expanded its events to include online tournaments in certain regions, which contribute to the POY points system as well. This inclusion means players can accumulate points from both live and online events, increasing the number of opportunities to earn points.

9. How Points Are Calculated:

Here’s an overview of how the points are generally distributed:

• Points for 1st place: Varies based on the field size and buy-in.
• Points for 2nd place: Slightly fewer than 1st place, but still substantial.
• Points for 3rd to 9th place: Gradually decreasing points, with the top 9 finishers usually receiving substantial rewards.
• Additional points: Given for making deep runs or final table finishes.