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The WSOP Super Circuit Canada Main Event at Playground Poker in Montreal was already well into the money on Day 3 when tournament officials controversially altered the published payout structure. The top prize was drastically reduced from $2,000,000 to $1,500,000, redistributing the difference across other finishing positions.
The $5,000 CAD Super Circuit Main Event smashed its $10,000,000 guarantee, attracting 2,844 entries and producing $12,689,928 CAD in prize money.
After a pair of Day 2s saw 428 players reach Day 3 and guarantee themselves a $10,000 min-cash, players arrived surprised to play for an incredibly top-heavy payout structure. Roughly an hour into Day 3, after numerous players were eliminated and had been paid out, WSOP announced that they would be flattening out the payouts. Players who received the min-cash were not affected in any way.
WSOP’s Jeff Platt told Blaise Bourgeois that the original figures were based on an outdated payout model.
“Initially, the wrong payout structure/incorrect payout percentages were used, from an older model that was too top-heavy and that we no longer use. We fixed it about an hour into Day 3.”
The original payout schedule had guaranteed an incredible $2,000,000 for first place, over 15% of the prize pool, with nearly 50% of the prize pool going to the final tablists.
However, first place was reduced to $1,500,000 after the change, and the prizes were flattened considerably. The difference was substantial, as closer to 40% of the prize pool was allocated for the final table and first place was reduced by 25%.
The timing of the change drew plenty of criticism from some players, as tournament payout structures can drastically change strategic decisions. The original, top-heavy payout structure incentivized super-aggressive play from the first hand, while the flatter structure allowed players to be a lot more patient.
A player who was eliminated early on Day 3 told Blaise Bourgeois that, while his specific decisions on Day 3 weren’t personally affected, changing the payouts after the tournament had already restarted was unacceptable. He cited how the change in prize distribution has affected decision-making.
“The event was great in general, and Playground does a good job, but changing the payout structure after we are in the money is unacceptable. It changes strategic decisions, and with the millions of dollars on the line, players need more respect than that.
“Hopefully it’s a mistake that won’t happen again. WSOP needs to respect its players.”
Professional poker player and author Dara O’Kearney described the decision to change the payout structure mid-tournament as “insane.”
“As someone who gets unduly agitated when organizers don’t post the payout structure as soon as possible after reg closes (because it dictates strategy and the degree to which we should be prioritizing the opposing incentives of trying to cash versus trying to win the tournament), the idea of actually changing the initially announced structure in running is truly horrifying.
“Organizers may not understand how much it affects the strategy, but they should be taking advice on this from players who do understand. Imagine a golf tournament where they changed the rules after the third round.”
With poker players being more nuanced than ever when it comes to ICM, the consensus online amongst players was that organizers need to be aware of how small changes massively affect strategy.
With poker players being more nuanced than ever when it comes to ICM, the consensus online amongst players, whether they frequent live tables or an online casino in Canada, was that organizers need to be aware of how small changes massively affect strategy.
This wasn’t the only time players were thrown off during the WSOP Super Circuit Canada Main Event. British poker player Stuart Taylor had to completely change his strategy toward the end of Day 2A after organizers made a late structure change.
Players originally expected to play through the money bubble on Day 2, cash, and attempt to build a massive stack for Day 3 with a smaller Day 3 field. They also expected to have another go in Day 2B, just in case they didn’t get through. However, near the money, they were told all players would bag immediately after reaching the money.
Taylor said it meant: “… a very late change to chip accumulation strategy.”
Despite organizers directly having changed the tournament’s competitive environment on multiple occasions, the event was considered a massive success. The event was won by Mayukh Chakraborty, a player with just $3,260 in previous career live tournament earnings.
Chakraborty beat the likes of Jack Salter and Chance Kornuth on the final table to win $1,500,000, his first WSOP Circuit ring, and the largest prize in Canadian poker history.
