[Twan]

Considering the chances
a) to have a death match before most pretenders awaken (perhaps some before the imprisoned gods... but I doubt monoliths can win anyway)
b) to see someone risk his awake pretender, key of initial expansion, even for 1000gp, against 50+ potential other champions in an early death match
c) to see this succeed and the pretender still usable for anything with his dozens of afflictions

I tend to disagree with these objections.

Now it may be decided that the reward will be lower if DM happen before all pretenders are in play, or before turn x, or something like that.