[Michaelson]

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a) There is a huuuge gap between the first two players and the rest of the field. They got so many chips, that a big part of them are "useless" because they cant double up with them right? This must mean that they are losing some $EV, which will go over to the short and average stacks.

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That has to be wrong. The chip leader can take at least as many chips from any player in the field as any other player in the field. It doesn't matter how that stacks as a proportion of his stack (i.e. he can't double up). He has more earning potential than any other player.

For what it's worth I don't bet sports, or play tournament poker.