TOC Prize Details

Over two weeks ago, I won the FTOPS Tournament of Champions, the prize for which was a seat in the WSOP Main Event. I never received the money or any further information, so eventually I wrote them to ask about it. It sounds like the only incentive they are offering me to play is three nights’ hotel accommodations and dinner with an unspecified several of their red pros. My understanding was that the FTP incentives package also included a seat in the 2011 WSOP for any of their people who cash this year and also $10M if you win the whole thing.

I’m not sure if they just neglected to mention those or if I for some reason just don’t qualify for them, but it doesn’t really matter. The package with Poker Stars, from whom I’ve also won a seat, includes $1000 or 8 nights’ accommodations plus a PCA package worth about $16K to anyone who cashes. Their incentive for winning the whole thing is a lot smaller, but that’s obviously a remote consideration and offset by the opportunity to negotiate a lucrative arrangement with a variety of companies. So basically it seems like there’s no reason to go with FTP over Stars if you have the opportunity to do either, unless you realllllllly want to have dinner with Roy Winston and Eunjong Byun.

Here’s the full e-mail from FTP:
Congratulations on winning the FTOPS TOC, you have won a $10,000 prize
package to the 2010 Main Event. To redeem your prize package, please
select one of the following options:

a.) Approximately four (4) weeks prior to the start of the main event, we
will deposit the remaining $10,000 into your player account to be used for
your Main Event buy-in. Please note you are responsible for your own
tournament registration as well as getting to and from the event. Your
package will also include three (3) days accommodation at the Rio
All-Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. This period of accommodation
begins on or about your first day of play in the 2010 Main Event. Should
you still be involved in Main Event play following the initial
accommodation period, continued accommodation for your Main Event play
will be provided on an individual basis. If you choose to not accept
accommodation at the Rio All-Suite Hotel, you will NOT receive any cash
reimbursement. You are also invited to join several of our Red Pros in a
pre-tournament dinner. We will send you more information regarding the
dinner as we get closer to the main event.

As part of option (a), you will receive an assortment Full Tilt Poker
gear, the gear will be issued at the event. Remember that you must wear
this gear while playing in the Main Event and you cannot wear any
competitor’s logo.

b.) Do not play in the 2010 Main Event. If you choose not to play in the
Main Event, we will credit your Full Tilt Poker account in the amount of
10,000T$ to use at your discretion on our site.

Please reply to this e-mail as soon as possible with your selection, if
you are selecting option (a), please include your shirt size and your
preferred Main Event start date:

Day 1A
Day 1B
Day 1C
Day 1D

Your hotel accommodation will be reserved based on the preferred start
date you provide above.

We look forward to seeing you in Las Vegas!

Regards,
Full Tilt Poker