Should the World Series of Poker (WSOP) continue to award its highly coveted gold bracelets to winners of online events?
That was the question posed by PokerOrg Player Advisory Board member Jeremy Ausmus, and it's a topic that has long divided the community.
"Online WSOP bracelets: should they exist? I've always thought a different bracelet system made a lot of sense," Ausmus wrote. "Why are we giving the same bracelet to someone who wins a $400, 300-person field that only five states can participate in, as we do to someone who takes down a $100k live high roller?"
It's a fair question, but what's the solution?
Instead of awarding the standard gold bracelet to WSOP online winners, Ausmus suggests the introduction of "silver bracelets" to distinguish between live and online victories.
You can't accuse Ausmus of wanting it all his own way – two of his six WSOP bracelets were won online.
In September 2022, he won the WSOP Online Bracelet #7: No-Limit Hold'em (NV/NJ) event – defeating a field of 571 entrants to claim the $51,807 first-place prize. The following year, during the WSOP Las Vegas summer series, Ausmus outlasted a field of 321 players to emerge victorious in WSOP Online Event #8: $3,200 No-Limit Hold'em High Roller for a $360,036 score.
'Most players would prefer it'
While Ausmus wants to see change enacted, he's not hopeful about the prospect.
"I don't think this will ever happen because it might hurt their bottom line," he said, "but I think most players would prefer it."
Tony Dunst, host and commentator for the World Poker Tour (WPT), gave his verdict on why the WSOP won't be rushing to establish a tier system for its bracelets.
"Like you said, if they make online a different tier of bracelet, then people stop playing and paying the extra rake that comes with them," Dunst wrote.
Phil Hellmuth got involved as well, making a bold claim that 9/10 tournament players would favor a tiered system.
Hellmuth, famously protective of his spot atop the all-time bracelet winners leaderboard, stands to benefit from a tiered system – a distinction between the two would make it even more difficult for someone to snatch his crown.
In some ways, a tiered system for WSOP bracelets already exists – it's just not an official one. The WSOP Main Event bracelet is widely regarded as the most prestigious, while the $50,000 Poker Players Championship stands as a close second. An online bracelet won in a small-field event pales in comparison to either of those.
However, one player made a point that even Ausmus had to concede.
Nick Palma said the tiering should be done on participation. He said, "[It] should be based on entrants.... a $250k with 60 people shouldn't be a bracelet event."
Ausmus replied, "Fair argument."
What do you think? Should we protect Hellmuth's legacy and make online bracelets silver? Let us know in the comments below.
