The World Series of Poker (WSOP) has issued a statement via email to players affected by the cancellation of Online Bracelet Event #7, clarifying both its decision to cancel the event and its plan for compensation.
With speculation building in the days since the cancellation, the WSOP has taken time to outline its response. In the statement, the WSOP cites connectivity issues as the underlying cause behind the tournament's termination on Day 2.
No bracelet for Event #7
With "around 60%" of the field unable to log in to play the event, the WSOP has made the decision to not award an online bracelet for Event #7.
The 1,100 players who reached Day 2 will be offered the following compensation:
- All player investments in Event #7 will be refunded to their accounts
- All players who won bounties or cashed Event #7 will keep those prizes
The WSOP will also distribute the remaining prize money in "a way we believe upholds the integrity of the game and is the fairest and most respectful to the spirit of the competition."
An additional $550,000 in compensation will be awarded through $500 WSOP Online tournament tickets – one for each of the 1,100 players affected. The email states that players can expect to see the funds in their account in the next 48 hours.
The community reacts
Some players in the poker world have not taken kindly to the decision from the WSOP. Shaun Deeb, six-time bracelet winner and WSOP regular, leads the unimpressed crowd and argues that the WSOP is giving "so little compensation for so many."
On the other side, David Baker gives the WSOP credit for making the best out of a no-win situation, saying that the WSOP has nothing to gain from a cancelled event and the resolution "seems overly fair."
Many players have already received their entries back with the additional prize pool compensation. Others report that they are still waiting for their $500 tournament ticket. No announcement has been made for other non-bracelet events that have been affected by glitches this summer.
