You Wanted a Flatter Prize Pool?

You got it. The prize money for this year's World Series was spread out a bit more evenly than in the past, when the majority of the cash was concentrated in the final few places. This year's champion will take home $8,250,000, considerably less than the $12 million won last year by Jamie Gold (but still more than the $7.5 million Joe Hachem won in 2005).

As you look down the list, the change in how the prize money is allocated becomes more pronounced. The players who finish 36th to 28th will win $285,678, while those who finish between 27th and 19th earn $333,490. So if you make it down to the final three tables and get eliminated, you "only" make $47,812 more. Not that nearly fifty grand is anything to sneeze at, hence the quotation marks.

If you barely squeak into the money you'll double your buy in and win $20,320, which is a decent return after a long week of hard work. It's not as gaudy a number as $8.25 million, but it sure beats finishing in 622nd place. Otherwise known as the Bubble.