Stoyan Madanzhiev Blames WSOP for 2021 Online Main Event's $20M Guarantee Miss

Stoyan Madanzhiev, the winner of the 2020 WSOP Online Main Event, has publicly criticized the World Series of Poker (WSOP) for missing its $20 million guarantee in the 2021 Online Main Event. Madanzhiev, a Bulgarian poker player, expressed his dissatisfaction on social media, blaming the WSOP for the significant drop in player participation.

The 2021 WSOP Online Main Event faced a substantial challenge, with only 4,092 players registering, resulting in a $563,000 overlay. This stark contrast to the previous year, where the event attracted 5,802 entries and easily surpassed the $25 million guarantee, highlights the impact of the WSOP's decision to hold a live main event in 2020 despite the pandemic.

Madanzhiev's criticism stems from the confusion caused by the WSOP's unexpected live main event in 2020. Many players who participated in the online event were led to believe they could be considered champions, only to have a live event announced later. This miscommunication likely contributed to the lower turnout in 2021, as players were wary of potential changes in championship status.