Chris Ferguson Leads WSOP Player of Year Standings

The 2017 World Series of Poker concluded in Las Vegas late Saturday night following a marathon Main Event that stretched over two weeks after a Series that hosted 73 bracelet events. The implementation of a new Player of the Year points system, sponsored by King’s Casino, caused a huge debate among players and the WSOP. 

Ultimately, poker pariah and Full Tilt Poker co-founder Chris Ferguson cashed in 17 events to earn 898.46 points to win the US portion of the POY race and free entry into the WSOP Europe Main Event. Ferguson’s participation at the WSOP bothered many in the poker community and was further aggravated when he played the $10,000 Tag Team event with Full Tilt cohort Howard Lederer.

Ferguson had a huge social media anti-sweat in the $10,000 Seven Card Stud Championship after he finished runner-up to Mike Wattel in a marathon heads-up match. He had another final table finish in the Pot Limit Omaha HiLo Championship for fourth place.

Ferguson would be the first player to win the WSOP POY title without winning a bracelet should he brick WSOP Europe, is tied for the least amount of final tables in a winning year (2) and has the lowest earnings ($380,200) in a Series for a potential winner since 2004.

David Bach and Nipun Java each won two bracelets and finished 70th and outside of the top 100 respectively.

Ryan Hughes has the best chance of overtaking Ferguson. (Photo: PokerPhotoArchive.com)
Ryan Hughes logged 16 cashes on the Series, making three final tables and the Round of Eight in the $10,000 Heads Up Championship. John Racener also scored 17 cashes but won his first bracelet in the $10,000 Dealers Choice Championship.

John Monnette won his third career bracelet, cashed in 14 events with three final tables. Monnette and Ferguson were both at the Seven Card Stud Championship Final Table where a huge rail developed during Day 1B of the Main Event where POY considerations were in play as much as the prize money.

John Monnette was motivated to win POY and has weeks to decide to make the trip. (Photo: PokerPhotoArchive.com)
The WSOP Europe begins October 19 at Kings Casino in Rozvadov, Czech Republic and hosts 11 bracelet events with the final table of 10,350 Main Event on November 10th. The final POY leader following WSOP Europe earns the 2017 POY title and entry into the 2018 WSOP Main Event in Las Vegas.

Top 20 WSOP Player of the Year Standings (as of July 26)

1. Chris Ferguson – 898.46 (+1)
2. Ryan Hughes – 876.35 (+2)
3. John Monnette – 865.21 (+2)
4. John Racener – 853.16 (-3)
5. Ray Henson – 768.49 (-2)
6. Ben Yu – 766.49 (+5)
7. Alex Foxen – 754.36 (+7)
8. Daniel Negreanu – 717.76 (+2)
9. Dario Sammartino – 710.96 (+4)
10. Kenny Hallaert – 686.81 (NR)
11. James Obst – 667.48 (-4)
12. Taylor Black – 659.80 (NR)
13. Barry Greenstein – 658.25 (-7)
14. David ODB Baker – 652.19 (-2)
15. Mike Leah – 647.54 (-6)
16. Bernardo Da Silveria Dias – 628.95 (NR)
17. Bryce Yockey – 619.19 (NR)
18. Chris Moorman – 616.26 (-2)
19. Pablo Mariz – 613.00 (-1)
20. Andrew Kelsall – 612.52 (NR)

Dropped from Rankings: Aditya Agarwal (8th), Igor Sharaskin (15th), Brian Yoon (17th), Mikhail Semin (19th), Shaun Deeb (20th)

Take a look at the previous update’s standings.