GPI American Awards: So many quality events to consider in +2K category

Things do not get any easier trying to fit only six events in my article looking at possible candidates in the Event of the Year +2K category for the GPI American Poker Awards, proving that the quality of events being presented in Canada and the United States are second to none.

Note: These are not official nominees for the category. Members of the Nomination Panel have until February 1st, 2015 to place their votes. This is simply a compiled list of events that may merit consideration when the Nomination Panel members make their selections.

Although there are a few of my suggestions, there are plenty of other events all over Canada and the United States that do deserve this honor, so I urge all members of the Nomination Panel to do their homework before making their selections!

WPT LA POKER CLASSIC

Commerce Casino, Los Angeles CA | March 2014 | $10,000 buy-in | 534 players | $5,126,400 prize pool

Quick, other than the Main Event, name me other tournament series that continue to host, and successfully might I add, a $10K Main Event? The glory days of multiple $10K events on the World Poker Tour schedule may be over, but the WPT LA Poker Classic continues to buck the trend. To this day, it remains one of the most celebrated events on the live tournament circuit and it’s been around since Day 1 on the WPT!

What made the 2014 edition of the LAPC even more special was the star power at the final table. Online poker legend Chris Moorman (GPI#360), winner of so many PocketFives Triple Crowns – which acknowledges a player winning three tournaments on three different online sites in a period of 7 days – that we’ve stopped counting, would secure his very first win on the live tournament circuit, earning a second seven-figure score of his career on the live felt.

Moorman would defeat East Coast native Glenn Lafaye (GPI#793) and phenom Michael Rocco (GPI#851) on his way to the title. He also had to fend off a former WSOP bracelet winner who just happens to be a worldwide star.

Fourth place finisher Patrick Bruel (GPI#1213) might not be a household name in the US, but in many other parts in the world, Bruel cannot even step foot inside a supermarket or a mall without being mauled by thousands. When he’s not releasing another #1 hit or acting in another movie, the Winamax-sponsored pro can be found playing poker. Bruel’s bracelet victory came in the $5K Limit Hold’em event in 1998.

WSOP MAIN EVENT

Rio All-Suites Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas NV | Jul/Nov 2014 | $10,000 buy-in | 6,683 players | $62,820,200 prize pool

The WSOP Main Event just continues to deliver the goods and the 45th edition was no different. Over 6,600 players, a prize pool north of $62M and a $10M first prize – which was met with mixed reviews – had the Main Event in the news once again this year. But organizers, once again, did a fine job in presenting another enormous event.

Amazingly, Mark Newhouse (GPI#1482) was making a second straight appearance at the November Nine final table … and shockingly, he would be eliminated in 9th position yet again, despite heading into the Nov 9 with a bigger chip stack than in 2013.

Martin Jacobson (GPI#32) would pick a fine time to take that monkey off of his back. Known as one the best players on the live tournament circuit without a major victory, the Swedish star certainly picked a right time to win that first major, taking home the $10,000,000 top prize.

The WSOP Big One for One Drop could have easily taken the Main Event’s spot here, in fact, many will see a Daniel Colman (GPI#9) vs. Daniel Negreanu (GPI#8) heads-up battle as the deciding factor in adding the second edition of the One Drop on their nomination ballots.

BELLAGIO SUPER HIGH ROLLER

Bellagio, Las Vegas NV | June 2014 | $100,000 buy-in | 66 + 21 players | $8,613,000 prize pool

Staying in Las Vegas for a moment … while the 45th WSOP was in full swing at the Rio, a few casinos on the Strip were hosting events as well, including the world-famous Bellagio. Amongst the events presented at Bellagio over the summer was a $100,000 buy-in Super High Roller event, which drew 66 unique entries, creating a +$8M prize pool.

Want star power? Take a look at the 11 players who cashed in the event, a who’s who of top US poker pros including a pair of former GPI World #1’s in Dan Smith (GPI#4) and Jason Mercier (GPI#11), who would each earn seven-figure scores for their 1st and 2nd place finishes.

Thomas Marchese (GPI#162) would earn the first of a trio of seven-figure scores in 2014 in this event. Jason Somerville (GPI#888), Doug Polk (GPI#143), Gabe Kaplan (GPI#7549) and Pratyush Buddiga (GPI#2), who’s currently ranked #2 on the GPI World Poker Rankings, would also cash in the event.

WPT MONTREAL

Playground Poker Club, Kahnawake QC | November 2014 | $4,000 CAD buy-in | 732 players | $2,192,893 prize pool

Ask any player who’s had the chance to play poker at Montreal’s famed Playground Poker Club which play he or she prefers to play the game, chances are it’s going to be Playground. Players simply love the venue and WPT Montreal continues to be one of the most successful events on the WPT calendar … something tells me the city has a little to do with players loving live in MTL so much – despite having to brave some pretty cold conditions the past few Novembers.

For the second straight year, the event saw a player make back-to-back final tables. After Sylvain Siebert (GPI#1485) pulled it off in 2012 and 2013, it was reigning WPT Player of the Year Mukul Pahuja’s (GPI#13) turn to pull it off. Pahuja would be unable to better his runner-up finish from 2013 finishing in 3rd position.

In the end it was Jonathan Jaffe’s (GPI#552) time to shine, taking home the $464,252 CAD first place prize. Former EPT winner Kevin MacPhee (GPI#67) finished 4th in the event while local legends Samuel Chartier (GPI#273) and Marc-Andre Ladouceur (GPI#88) each earned Top 10 finishes in the event.

BORGATA FALL POKER OPEN

Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, Atlantic City NJ | November 2014 | $2,700 buy-in | 548 players | $1,370,000 prize pool

To Atlantic City we go as the Borgata certainly hosted plenty of events in 2014 worthy of mention, including the WPT World Championship which drew a heads-up match between two of the top Americans on the circuit … but I decided to include the Borgata Fall Poker Open Championship in this spot.

A big $1,370,000 was awaiting those of the 548 players who would cash in the Championship. 2014 WSOP bracelet winner Steven Wolansky (GPI#496) would win the event, defeating WPT Champions Club member Taylor von Kriegenbergh (GPI#567) heads-up for the title. Another 2014 WSOP winner, Paul Volpe (GPI#12), would place 4th while GPI National Colombia Player of the Year Farid Jattin (GPI#129) finished 17th.

SEMINOLE ROCK ‘N’ ROLL POKER OPEN

Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Hollywood FL | November 2014 | $3,500 buy-in | 601 players | $2,000,000 prize pool

If 2013 was the first edition of the GPI American Poker Awards, the Seminole Hard Rock would have more than likely collected the trophy for their presentation of the $10M guaranteed Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open, which was an amazing success. This year’s event did meet a few hurdles, including having to top up in order to meet the guarantee, although it did feature another fantastic performance by 2014 GPI Player of the Year Daniel Colman (GPI#9). But it’s the Rock ‘N’ Roll Open that makes this list.

Christopher Bolek (GPI#83) capped off a very successful 2014 campaign, winning the Seminole Hard Rock Rock ‘N’ Roll Poker Open Main Event, defeating Sean Winter (GPI#100), another American who enjoyed plenty of success on the circuit in 2014, heads-up for the win.

Former WPT Player of the Year Faraz Jaka (GPI#73) and outspoken East Coast poker star Michael Dentale (GPI#278) each earned Top 10 finishes in the event.

GPI AMERICAN POKER AWARDS

The 2014 GPI American Poker Awards will take place on February 27th, 2015 at the SLS Hotel in Beverly Hills.

Over 130 poker industry members have received their ballots and will have until February 1st to submit their votes for all categories for the inaugural GPI American Poker Awards. If you are a poker industry member and have not received your voting instructions via e-mail – or should you have any questions – please reach out to us at [email protected].

*Cover photo courtesy of World Poker Tour