The World Series of Poker is little over three months away from become the center of the gambling Universe for the 55th time, and as the workers at Paris and Horseshoe casino sin Las Vegas enter the “are we going to make it in time” status, this observer is offering a suggestion nobody asked for: The WSOP should consider honoring players besides the grinders who earn enough points to win its Player of the Year prizes.
But first, some kudos, which go to WSOP organizers, particularly CEO Ty Stewart, Vice President Jack Effel and their teams who have done a fantastic job with the Series, especially the Main Event. These two men ensured a smooth transition took place after NSUS, the owners of GGPoker, bought the WSOP from Caesars in 2024.
I also thought they handled the trials and tribulations that came along with dealing with losing basically a whole year because of the Pandemic well. The hybrid solution to the Main Event may not have been ideal and definitely deserves the dreaded asterisk next to the results, but it’s in the books.
On top of this, they had to coordinate a move from the Rio to the Paris and Horseshoe Las Vegas on the Strip.
And while the WSOP introduced a new leaderboard with $1 million in prizes going to the top 100 players for this season, there might be room to give flowers for some of the players who earned it playing in Las Vegas this summer. The following categories may be a good start:
Best Young Player, Best Senior, Best Super Senior, Best Woman, most final tables, most cashes, and the Treetop prize, given to the player who mounted the biggest comeback.
These performance-based accolades would come with a trophy and maybe a silk jacket, and, ideally, a ticket to an upcoming WSOP event. These awards would give the WSOP a simple PR win and the media an easy story to generate more eyes on the brand.
Sponsors could be lined-up to put their name on the things, which would generate more publicity as, say, Red Bull honors the player who managed to come back with a chip and a chair.
These awards would put the focus on the summer series in Las Vegas, which the new Player of the Year leaderboard moves to change.
New leaderboard for 2026
The new Player of the Year leaderboard reflects changes to what the WSOP defines as a season –Players will start earning points when new season starts March 31, at WSOP Europe.
They’ll then continue the quest for WSOP Player of the Year at the Summer series of 100 events that runs May 26 to July 15. The final series that counts toward the Player of the Year race takes place Dec. 1-18 during WSOP Paradise in the Bahamas.
The top 100 players will earn at least a $2,500 WSOP Circuit ticket.
The player who winds-up with the most points wins the title of WSOP Player of the Year and a $100,000 Paradise Package. Second and third place finishers also get that buy-in package. Players who finish fourth through 15th win a $30,000 Super Main Event package; 16th through 50th gets a $5,000 Circuit package, with the rest winning a $2,500 package.
WSOP Circuit events do not count towards the race, and neither does online bracelet events.
This is a wonderful way to award the regulars and grinders who populate the fields at WSOP events around the world. Still, there’s room to celebrate those who make the WSOP so great: The competitors.
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