24 Jan 12
European Poker Awards Predictions
The 11th annual European Poker Awards will take place on January 25th at the Aviation Club in Paris. Today we make our predictions as to who will walk away with the top prizes.
Player of the year
 |
| Sam Trickett |
Bertrand 'ElkY' Grospellier
Pius Heinz
Eugene Katchalov
Andrey Pateychuk
Sam Trickett
Prediction: Sam Trickett.
This is a very tough category because of the sheer quality in it this year. Cody and ElkY both won bracelets and became triple crown winners, Pius Heinz obviously became the world champion, Pateychuk followed up a deep run in the main event by bagging both a WPT & EPT title, and Katchalov has had great success in high roller events and bagged a bracelet himself.
But we can't look beyond Sam Trickett in this category, who has had an amazing year. He had three separate seven-figure scores in 2011, including an Aussie Millions Super High Roller title, and the Partouche Poker Tour main event title.
He has also been crushing the cash games in Macau, and for sheer consistency throughout the year, we think he just edges this one.
Europe's leading lady
 |
| Natalya Nikitina |
Liv Boeree
Nesrine Kourdourli
Barbara Martinez
Natalya Nikitina
Cecilia Pescaglini
Prediction: Natalya Nikitina
In February, Natalya took down the WPT Diamond Championship in Paris for €243,830, at the same venue as the awards ceremony no less. This was the biggest single victory by any of the nominees, and by far the most prestigious, which makes her the big favourite in this category.
Poker staff person of the year
Nicolas FraioliWarren Lush
Edgar Stuchly
Simon Trumper
Kirsty Thompson
Prediction: Edgar Stuchly
This is possibly the toughest category of the awards, because it features poker staff from a variety of disciplines, and comparing a tournament director to a public relations officer is like comparing apples to oranges. It could go to anyone, but if we have to make a prediction, it would be the recently promoted EPT President Edgar Stuchly.
Best tournament performance
 |
| Pius Heinz |
Fabrice Soulier
Pius Heinz
Benny Spindler
Sam Trickett
Prediction: Pius Heinz.
To put it simply, how can you bet against the main event champion in a category that essentially rates them on one tournament? It was the biggest event of the year, and one of the biggest single achievements ever by a European player, so Pius Heinz should cruise this one.
Rookie of the year
Sam HoldenAdrien Allain
Pius Heinz
Oleksii Kovalchuk
Andrey Pateychuk
Prediction: Andrey Pateychuk
This is a tremendously tough category, and believe it or not we don't think Pius Heinz gets a look-in this year, as it tends to go to more consistent players. This one could be neck and neck between Pateychuk, whose accomplishments are mentioned above, and Kovalchuk, who won a bracelet, a Russian Poker Tour and Italian Poker Tour main event, and came third in the Partouche Poker Tour main event.
Pateychuk's achievements are in bigger events, which is why we think he is the man to back in this category.
Internet player of the year
 |
| Ilari Sahamies |
Viktor Blom
Rui Cao
Chris Moorman
Ilari Sahamies
Prediction: Ilari Sahamies
Another awkward to judge category as MTT and cash game players are both featured. Chris Moorman had a good year both online and live, and Viktor Blom will always be a fan favourite.
But usually dollars won and lost makes the difference, and with over $2 million profit on PokerStars last year, Ilari Sahamies could just get this one.
Best European Event of the year
EPT LondonInternational Poker Open, Dublin
Partouche Poker Tour Final
WPT Grand Prix de Paris
WSOPE Cannes
Prediction: WSOPE Cannes
We would really like to see the International Poker Open get it, because it is a lower stakes event for amateurs as well as pros, but we can't see past WSOPE Cannes. It was a big success for the French poker scene (And of course, the awards are in France) and numbers were up almost 50% on the London incarnation of the event.
Rob Gardner Memorial Award for the poker personality of the year
 |
| ElkY |
Barny Boatman
Tony Guoga
Bertrand 'ElkY' Grospellier
Jesse May
Prediction: ElkY
One way or another, ElkY got us talking in 2011. He has a great year at the felt with lots of final tables, two high roller victories, and winning a WSOP bracelet to capture the triple crown. He also released his first book, The Raiser's Edge.
But, most notably, he was seen getting his face kicked in by Lex Veldhuis in their kick boxing match. Not only was that fun to watch, he showed a lot of heart getting up off the canvas. 2011 was a much more entertaining year because ElkY was in it.
Lifetime Achievement Award
There is also a Lifetime Achievement Award every year at the event, however the nominations for this are never revealed ahead of time, which makes it very difficult to predict.PokerStrategy.com staff members
BarryCarter and 
psMike are both on the judging panel at this year's awards and Barry is planning on tweeting the results as they happen from his Twitter account on the night of the event. 