Instead of rewarding the top, why not make it like temple? You have to qualify with x amout of something, etc. kill 50 bugs, then you enter the poll and x random people split the pot, depending on how big the pool is. It could get increased like global event, more contesters, higher price perhaps?
I agree with many others that EOC is superior if you have to do something more than others, then its just gonna be another "im EOC i got nothing to do, oh i can win this" thing.