I don’t know about you, but I always assumed that the Main Event at the WSOP of poker determined the true poker and casino poker champion. After all, it was televised, it had publicity, and it was highly dramatic. Little did I know, however, that my thoughts were entirely misplaced due to playing poker online. While the main event may determine the world’s best poker player in the eyes of the general public, it does not serve the same function for people in the poker community.

In fact, the main event actually has no bearing whatsoever on determining the player of the year at the WSOP. The player of the year award is given based on an amount of points accumulated by a player throughout all the different rounds of the tournament. As an interesting comment on the role of the common man at the WSOP, only ‘open; events are eligible for points, That means if the general public cannot enter it, it doesn’t count towards a players points total.

As for my two cents on the matter, I think that an accumulation in points over a variety of different games is a much more accurate reflection of a well rounded player than a fantastic play in the Main Event. It shows that they are predictably good at a wide range of poker games, instead of just being a one trick pony with No Limit Holdem.