WSOP Europe Top Prize Hits $1 Million

The £10,000 no-limit hold’em Main Event at the 2007 World Series of Poker Europe is underway, and to everyone’s surprise, the haul for the winner will be a cool £1 million.

362 players registered for the tournament, which created a £3.62 million prize pool.  With the flattening of the payout structure this year, designed to reward those who squeak into the money, the first prize was actually set at £943,010.  But Betfair.com, the headline sponsor of the WSOP Europe, generously added £57,000 to the prize pool, all of which will go to the winner’s take.  Thus, the last person remaining in the Main Event will earn £1 million.

This is a nice gesture by Betfair.  While the company surely paid a hefty sum to get its name placed next to “World Series of Poker,” it is also probably more than making up for that in new customers.  Many people have complained in the past that the World Series has become too commercial, with none of the benefits going to the players.  Now, a sponsor has actually contributed something to the players (well, one player), while at the same time, giving the event a first prize that comes with a bit of cachet.

After day 2B, Gus Hansen leads the field with 349,400 chips.  He is followed by Patrik Antonius with 283,200 and Janne Lamsa with 253,800.