WSOP Announces New Player of the Year Points System

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Chris Ferguson stirred a ton of controversy during the 2017 World Series of Poker because of his Player of the Year run. Many players, including Daniel Negreanu, lambasted WSOP officials over their POY model because Ferguson had a large number of min-cashes that helped him boost his overall points total.

WSOP officials listened to complaints and released a new POY points system for the 2018 WSOP. The new system will reward players who make deep runs and win bracelets and make it much tougher for players to min-cash their way to a title.

New System Based on WSOP Circuit Points System

According to a press release on WSOP.com, the new POY points system is based loosely on the system used by the WSOP Circuit for years. The main difference in this year’s system is the ratio of points awarded for bracelet winners vs. those awarded to min-cashers.

The range last year averaged from 3.25:1 to 8.16:1 depending on the event. This year, the event ratio is more of a 20:1 ratio. A chart was provided as an example comparing select events from last year to this years.

For example, last year a min-casher in the WSOP Main Event received 53.1 points versus 85 this year. However, the eventual winner will receive 1,694 points where Scott Blumstein only received 433.2 points. All other spots at the final table will receive nearly double the points compared to last year.

The new system will be in place for the entire 2018 WSOP in Las Vegas and the WSOP Europe at King’s Casino in Rozvadov from October 11 through November 2nd. Players in all but six events will be eligible to receive points based on money finishes.

The events excluded from the POY race are all the non-open field events (Seniors, Super Seniors, Ladies and Employee Events) as well as the $1,00 Tag Team and the $1 Million Big One for One Drop.

The number of points awarded will be based on finishing position, buy-in and the number of players int he field. There are a few exceptions to those rules. For example, players are only eligible to receive points once in multi-flight events. A full list of the exceptions is on the WSOP website.

Like last year, the 2018 Player of the Year Leaderboard will be updated each day (or as staffing permits) and a calculator will be available at the website for those wanting to calculate points on their own.

Chris Ferguson Would Have Still Won POY Under New System

While the new system will certainly resolve some complaints from last year, the one thing it won’t do is prevent someone like Chris Ferguson from winning POY again.

According to WSOP.com, Ferguson would have still won POY last year if the new points system was used. Ferguson had a total of 23 cashes in the 2017 WSOP, including three final tables, a runner-up finish and a bracelet win in the €1,650 PLO8 at the WSOP Europe.

Heading into the WSOP Europe, Ferguson has 17 cashes but had failed to win a bracelet. He continued his hot streak and cashed another six times, including his bracelet victory. The poker world was rooting hard for him to lose and some were hoping a new points system would give them some type of moral victory. However, his performance was just too strong and he would have still won the POY title regardless.

I will admit that I was one of those that was actively rooting for Ferguson to win POY last year, but I also recognized that there needed to be a change in the points system. The points system was too flat and did not reward players who played exceptionally. This new system will level the points system field, leaving little doubt that the eventual winner deserves to be POY.

The one caveat to this is if we have a situation where a player makes several deep final table runs but fails to win a bracelet. There will still be arguments that the Player of the Year should be a bracelet winner. However, until we reach that point, these new changes to the points system should be a good start in resolving many issues with the POY system.