AMERICAS: Exciting races shaping up in Brazil, Canada, USA

As the second part of the 2015 poker season starts up, we’re spending the week taking a look at the various Player of the Year races from across the globe … we take a look at the Americas next …

LUCA RUNNING AWAY WITH IT IN ARGENTINA

While some races are just heating up, the National PoY race in Argentina may very well already be over as Ivan Luca (GPI#103) has been putting on a clinic so far this season with a breakout performance that has seen him collect a pair of victories – including a WSOP gold bracelet victory – and seven Top 10 finishes.

Luca holds a huge 1,960 point lead on Argentinian star Jose “Nacho” Barbero (GPI#192) in the GPI National Argentina PoY race. 2015 PCA 5th place finisher Juan Martin Pastor (GPI#686) sits third in the race.

2015 NATIONAL ARGENTINA PoY TOP 5

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AKKARI LEADS BRAZIL THANKS TO SOLID WSOP

Staying in South America where veteran pro Andre Akkari (GPI#169) has taken over the Brazilian National race thanks to a series of results this summer at the World Series of Poker. His WSOP included an 8th place finish in NLH Event #47.

BSOP Sao Paulo High Roller winner Ariel Celestino (GPI#106) sits second in the race. Celestino has collected 10 results so far this season.

2015 NATIONAL BRAZIL PoY TOP 5

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MIZZI, DUHAMEL, OTHERS BATTLE IN CANADA

A pair of Team Canada teammates who participated in the inaugural GPI Poker World Cup earlier this year lead the way in Canada as Sorel Mizzi (GPI#11) and Jonathan Duhamel (GPI#14), each ranked inside the Top 15 in the GPI World Poker Rankings, are 1 and 2 in the National Canada PoY race heading into the final months of the season.

Former World #2 Mike Watson (GPI#55) and a pair of WSOP bracelet winners – Sam Greenwood (GPI#69) and Mike Leah (GPI#24) – round-out the PoY Top 5 in Canada.

2015 NATIONAL CANADA PoY TOP 5

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USA RACE SEES ZINNO PULLING AHEAD

A tremendous run which includes a trio of major tournament victories sees reigning WPT Player of the Year Anthony Zinno (GPI#2) taking over the American and Global Player of the Year races at this point of the season. Zinno followed up back-to-back WPT tour victories with his first ever bracelet win at the WSOP, winning the inaugural 25K PLO High Roller event.

The race in America is far from over however as Connor Drinan (GPI#20), former World #1 Scott Seiver (GPI#4) and GPI Top 10 ranked player Byron Kaverman (GPI#7) are very much in the hunt.

2015 NATIONAL USA PoY TOP 5

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Here’s a look at several other races from the Americas, including a duel in Chile where Oscar Alache Orrego (GPI#294) and Amos Ben Haim (GPI#594) find themselves less than 10 points apart…

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