European Poker Awards predictions
Barry Carter rounds-up the week ahead at PokerStrategy.com and gives his personal predictions for the European Poker Awards on Wednesday.
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| LOL - this is me accepting an award for Sam Trickett in 2012 |
This Wednesday the European Poker Awards take place as part of EPT Deauville. I have been on the panel of the awards for five years, but sadly could not attend this year.
A number of the awards will be decided by the player's GPI ranking, but most of them are decided by a panel of judges on the day.
As I am not on that panel this year, I thought it would be fun to make a few predictions. I have no idea who is on the panel, so I presume this won't in any way influence them:
Tournament Performance of the Year:
Nominees: Barny Boatman, Roger Hairabedian, Ole Schemion, Marvin Rettenmaier, Phillip Gruissem.
This award is for the best single performance, or string of results - it is not an overall award for all of 2013. My personal pick would be Phillip Gruissem for his back-to-back WPT Alpha wins, but I think this one will go to Barny Boatman.
Barny is very popular with everyone associated with the awards and his WSOP bracelet came after nearly two decades of trying. I think that will create a warm fuzzy feeling with everyone on the panel.
Rookie of the Year:
Nominees: Max Altergott, Martin Finger, Matthew Ashton, Andrian Mateos Diaz.
It is unusual to see an established player like Martin Finger classed as a rookie, but either way I think Matthew Ashton gets this. An amazing run at the WSOP culminating in the $50,000 Players Championship. As it is arguably the most prestigious tournament of the year, I think that will win it for him.
Poker Industry Person of the Year
Nominees: Marc Convey, Lee Davy, Neil Johnson, Edgar Stuchly.
It is hard to judge this award because we have two poker bloggers vs two live event organisers. This award is as much about awarding the people who have been enjoyable to work with as it is their achievements. If this were based on achievements, Edgar Stuchly would cruise to victory as he is the President of the EPT. However, I think Lee Davy will win it because he is very popular behind the scenes and is one of the hardest working bloggers in poker.
Internet player of the Year:
Nominees: Viktor Blom, Toby Lewis, Chris Moorman, Niklas Heinecker.
Once again we are comparing four very different players here, so it's tough to guess. I personally would have chosen Chris Moorman because his Triple Crown success last year was amazing, but it is hard to deny the biggest money winner of 2013 and I think Niklas Heinecker will get there.
Best European Event if the Year
Nominees: EPT Barcelona, Full Tilt Galway Festival, EPT Grand Final, Prague Poker Festival.
Amazingly the ISPT did not get enough prelim votes to even be nominated in this. This is one event I can't really call as I am not sure what criteria the panel will base this on. However, I think that because the Prague Poker Festival hosts so many (normally competing) tours and a mind sports festival, maybe its uniqueness will push it to victory.
Europe's Leading Lady
Live Player of the Year
Poker Personality of the Year
Lifetime Achievement
Have all already been decided by either the GPI rankings or a larger panel. These are usually more of a surprise and I don't want to make any spoilers.
I've always considered poker awards as just a bit of fun, and the most important part of them for me are the staff and industry based awards. Do you think they are important? Who do you think should win this year? Tell me in the comments box.
Thread of the week
It is not very often I suggest a thread that is a complete waste of time, but that is kinda the point of the "I don't care thread" set up last year by nijevaznokosam.
Last year he suggested that we posted our most boring thoughts, and amazingly this has compelled many of you to make it a regular thing.
It includes such classics as "I had a cheese sandwich today".
Basically the premise is you post something really boring, then about 20 people will troll you saying they don't care.
It really is the stupidest thread ever, but it is like an itch you have to scratch.
LOL of the week
In case you missed it, myself and mjperry reimagined the famous James Bond poker hand last week:
Running hot
What did you miss last week at PokerStrategy? Here are some of our best bits:
• Perhaps the big news of the week is we have relaunched the PokerStrategy.com Heads-Up Championship and you can play in it, but hurry as you have until January 29 to sign up.
• Grinders! You can enjoy double Gemstones and double prizes in the Top100 in February.
• Poker Heaven is now a three-network poker room after joining MicroGaming - we have exclusive freerolls and double StrategyPoints.
• I revealed why it was so damn hard getting interviews with high stakes players.
• Check out five of the most dangerous prop bets poker players have ever taken part in.
Coming up
The final week of January will include:
• At least two big interviews already in the bag, including a high stakes star from Finland.
• We'll have the live stream from EPT Deauville, which starts on day 2 tomorrow.
• Live coaching from 
pleno1TomSom87UnamUriPeleg
• Videos from BogdanPSSkodljivecCollinMoshman
• And later on today you can find out what I think of Google Glass at the poker tables.
by Barry Carter
