Million sterling bonanza for WSOPE winner

Betfair.com, the presenting sponsor of the inaugural World Series of Poker Europe, added GBP 57 000 to the GBP 3 626 000 Main Event prize pool this week to ensure a GBP 1 million first-place payday.

"Top prize in our European Main Event is now a cool GBP 1 million" said WSOP Commissioner Jeffrey Pollack. "We have Betfair to thank for that."

Earlier this year the WSOP payout structure was flattened to ensure that more players who finish in the money receive a higher percentage of the prize pool. That structure would have resulted in a top prize of GBP 943 010 for this week's GBP 10 000 buy-in No-Limit Hold'Em Championship - had Betfair not added nearly GBP 57 000 to the prize pool.

"Nearly all of the world's top poker players entered the World Series of Poker Europe, making it one of the most competitive poker tournaments in European history," said Pollack. "Anyone who plays well enough to make it to the top 10 percent of the field deserves - and will get - an excellent return on their investment."

"We are in this for the long-term and this is the most prestigious poker event in Europe. I think a GBP 1 millon first prize sets a good benchmark to build upon in the years to come," said Betfair's Head of Poker Ben Fried.

In addition to the top prize, second place in the WSOP Europe Main Event is worth GBNP 570 150, third GBP 381 910, fourth GBP 257 020, fifth GBP 191 860 sixth GBP 152 040, seventh GBP 114 030, eighth GBP 85 070 and ninth GBP 61 540.

The remaining 27 finishers will receive from GBP 41 630 to GBP 27 150, depending on their final position.

The final table of the WSOP Europe Main Event begins at 2 p.m. GMT September 16 at The Casino at the Empire on Leicester Square.