7/01/2009 4:20:22 AM
Season 9 Format Changes - Important!
There's some exciting new changes coming to the next WA Poker League Season. In response to suggestions from and discussions with our members, we have put together some changes which should make your league even more fun to be a part of!
As always, we really appreciate feedback and encourage our members to give us their opinions as to what changes they think would better the league as a whole, and we'd like to thank those who have already helped us think through these changes. Of course, more input is welcome, and we look forward to adjusting or adding more changes to the league format in the future to make it even better!
Pro League Season Adjustments -
Many suggestions have been made regarding the Season and Grand Final Prize Payouts, the buy-in amounts and the lack of incentive for players to strive to achieve a higher Season ranking. We've taken all of these on board and have decided to make some Pro Season adjustments to qualifications and prizes to give everyone more incentive, more fun, and more chances to win!
Pro Season Top 5 Payouts!
We are adjusting the Top Ranked Player Payouts from Top 3 to Top 5, and significantly increasing the prize amounts! Previously, we paid out $1000 to 1st, $600 to 2nd, and $400 to 3rd place at the end of Season. This prize was small compared to the skill and dedication required to do so well in the WA Poker League Season. The new payouts will be Top 5, with the overall Season Champion winning $3000, $2000 for 2nd, $1000 for 3rd, $600 for 4th and $400 for 5th place. Now there's more reason to aim for the top spots!
As usual, the Top 10 overall and Top of Venues at the end of Season also win their Grand Final buy-in for Free as a prize for doing so well!
Pro Grand Final Qualifier Buy-Ins - Tiered System
There will be an adjustment to the buy-in structure for the Grand Final to $200, with a reward to those players who do better overall in the Season rankings. The buy-in will be $100 (50% discount) for players ranked 11th to 100th overall at the end of Season (the Top 10 still get their buy-in for free). For those players ranked 101st to 240th, the Grand Final buy-in will be $200. Not only does this add incentive and value to doing better in the Season rankings, it will also add more funds to the Seasonal Grand Final Prize Pool, allowing for more prize payouts to the member base! Even at a $200 buy-in, the Grand Final is well worth the buy-in, so we don't see this as a huge negative for the membership! We all know it isn't difficult for a regular player to make the top 100, but this will add some more excitement and incentive towards making a top 100 position!
Pro Grand Final Payouts
As mentioned last Grand Final, we will be aiming to share the Grand Final Prize Pool a further down the payout places, allowing bigger prizes to those making the money at the Grand Final. Obviously this always depends on the number of players throughout the season, as well as the buy-ins on the day of the Grand Final. Some of the changes made this Season will adjust the available pool, and as the League progresses and the prize pools increase, so will the winnings!
Pro League Grand Final Direct Buy-In
This has been an idea that's been thrown around and discussed for quite some time. That is, for a direct, non qualified buy-in to the Grand Final. This is NOT aimed towards our regular members, who find it very easy to qualify for the Final through their usual play. This is a chance for non qualifiers, travelers or newcomers to WA to play in this huge payout Poker Tournament for a large buy-in amount, which then adds a lot to the Grand Final Prize Pool, therefore adding more value to those qualifying members playing in the Final. The proposal is for a $2500 direct seat buy-in to the Grand Final. After the standard $10 fundraising for the Non Profit Club we are fundraising for at the Final, the remaining $2490 would be added to the Prize Pool, helping swell the Prizes substantially. We've deemed that the $2500 buy-in would be large enough to discourage those able to qualify through the season from doing it, and also large enough to add such a boost to the Prize Pool that it becomes a significant advantage to the Grand Final to have it as an option.
Free League Passport Re-entry and Bonus Points
As most of you would be aware, the reentry draw has been a great success in the Free League, however there needs to be a little more incentive to "stay in" past the 1st break. The Passport change we are implementing will mean that, if you get out before the 1st break and have you Passport stamps completed, you may choose to use that passport for the reentry draw, OR you may use it for your bonus points (+100) and not enter the redraw. This will add a little more incentive to stay in past the 1st break and get your bonus points, and perhaps a little strategy to the Passport system in Free League as players will have to decide whether they are likely to get more points if they go for a reentry compared to getting their bonus points. One important note, however, is that as you ARE permitted to fill multiple passports, you MAY complete 2 passports, use one for the reentry draw, and use the other for your bonus 100 points.
We want your feedback!
Obviously we can never perfectly guess how different changes will affect the Tournaments, Season and Prize Pools. We take on board suggestions from our members all the time, and strive to evolve the League into an even more fun, entertaining, and rewarding experience for all involved. Please give us your ideas, suggestions, and other feedback regarding these changes or anything in particular you think we could do to better the League in general. Always feel free to E-Mail info@wapokerleague.com.au with your comments, and we will endeavour to get back to you as soon as possible. Your thoughts and feedback is important to us, please let us hear them.
Wishing you an awesome Season 9, best of luck, and see you at the Finals!
Your WA Poker League Team.