“The number one variable in determining the toughest tournaments are the strength of field,” he wrote. “The second variable of importance is tournament structure, and finally a third important factor, but to a much lesser degree, is field size. Generally speaking, the larger the field, the more likely that the level of skill drops.”


The WPT LAPC, the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure, the WSOP Main Event and the $10,000 WSOP Heads-Up Championship all made showings in his list but the top three places were reserved for some monstrous events.
The World Series of Poker Europe Main Event came in at third place, with Negreanu saying: “Virtually no qualifiers, it's overseas which means only the best players travel for it, and a high buy in, equals a very tough No-Limit Hold ‘em field.”


The top two spots were booked for special events – in second place was the $25,000 6-handed NLHE event at the WSOP, which Negreanu said would be filled with “top notch online players and 6 handed cash game specialists.” The event will make its inaugural showing at the 2010 WSOP but Negreanu predicts the field will be “tough as nails”.


The $50,000 WSOP Players’ Championship took the top spot. “This event won't have many, if any qualifiers in it, so you are left with sponsored pros and those with bankrolls big enough to pay the $50,000 entry fee. The event WILL be back on ESPN after a one year hiatus, and the format has reverted back to it's original form with a bit of a tweak, adding 2-7 triple draw, NLH, and PLO to the mix,” Negreanu wrote. TAGS: Poker News, Daniel, Negreanu, names, top, ten, hardest, tournaments