From Card Player: "One that remained in play was David "Chino” Rheem and he had by far, the largest amount of professionals present to keep track of his progress. This had to do with the fact that many of them had traded for percentages with Rheem or bought a piece of him in the tournament to diversify their chances of making some money, but they were also there to cheer on one of their own".

This years WSOP pays approximately:

9th Place = $ 900,000.00
1st Place = $ 9,000,000.00

BIG DIFFERENCE IN PAY DAY! (especially in a coin flip situations - 2 overs versus pair as an example)

NOW, what happens if during the "down time" for the final table, from July to November (2 or more) players swap 10% "savers", or form a "partnership" of sorts, then don't play their hands as they should, to help keep each other "alive"?

What if a final table player decides to "sell" his action, locking up a certain minimum and piecing out their finish?

How is this prevented? Who plays sheriff?

For those of you not aware, "deals" at the final table are not uncommon.

Here is a quote from Russ Hamilton (verifying how deals work) from Sexton's Corner:

"I placed third in a no-limit event, and got down to four-handed with the chip lead in the $2,500 Buy-in Pot-Limit Omaha event just before the Main Event. I was so sick with the flu, as we went to the back to make a deal. I took the most money as the chip leader. Huck Seed took the next amount, Lindy Chambers, and then An Tran. I told the guys I'm so sick I can't stay any longer… I don't care about the bracelet. We've cut up the money and made a deal. When we go back out there I'm going all in on the first hand. If I win, I'm going all in on the next hand. I'm going home… I'm out of here… I'm done. Huck won the first hand and went on to win the tournament. I went home and didn't come back for two days."

Anybody gonna feel cheated at this years WSOP? Lots of money at stake!

What do ya think?

Making deals are perfectly fine imo.

Russ Hamilton of UB-fame?

It is, but I don't know what that has to do with the question being posed.

I think at this point it would be considered unethical for players to swap percentages of themselves with other players at the final table.

That's not the same thing as a deal. A deal would involve some kind of chop between all remaining participants.

Jeffrey Pollack has made several statements regarding collusion at the final table. He's made it clear that people will be watching the hole cards with an eye toward collusion and that said collusion could/would result in immediate expulsion from the tournament and a forfeiture of winnings.

While the final table delay certainly gives people more time to make unethical arrangements, I'm not sure it makes them any more likely. There IS a lot of money involved. There's always been a lot of money involved.

There ARE shady people in the poker world. That hasn't changed either.

I'm sure the WSOP would be unhappy if a chop were decided upon. It's my impression that it's unusual for chops to happen with nine left anyway. It's something that happens more with five or fewer players remaining, but I could be wrong.

I wonder if they have a stated policy like Stars where you have to leave X% out of the chop to play for HU?