This week’s poker news round-up arrives a little earlier than scheduled thanks to a rather rude interruption from Santa, Rudolph and a hoard of Elves. PokerStars, World Series of Poker and Fedor Holz feature.

The World Series of Poker (WSOP) broke out an early Christmas present after announcing plans for the Colossus to return for the 47th iteration of the most celebrated poker festival in the world.

The $5m guarantee rises to $7m, there will be three starting flights, and the winner will walk away with a guaranteed first prize of $1m. The other significant change introduced is the certainty that players making it through Day 1 will be in the money. As it’s a re-entry event, this enables players to cash multiple times.

By introducing the new Day 1 cashing rule, the WSOP hope to reduce the horrendous lines they had at the cash desks earlier in the summer. It’s high time the Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB) moved out of the cave and into the light. They know 22k+ people will arrive. They know the current system doesn’t work. Automate it.