EUROPE: National PoY races heating up in France, Greece, Russia

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 … first up, Europe …

POLLAK LEADS THE FRENCH CHARGE

It’s already been a good year for Benjamin Pollak (GPI#38). Not only has the Paris pro led his country’s 2015 National PoY race for the better part of the season, he also was able to move ahead of the pack as is now the top ranked French pro on the GPI World Poker Rankings.

Back to France’s National PoY race where Pollak leads a very tight race with defending EPT Malta Champion Jean Montury (GPI#191) and 2014 GPI National France PoY Erwann Pecheux (GPI#116). Less than 140 points separates the trio at the moment.

2015 NATIONAL FRANCE PoY TOP 5

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DOMINIK DOMINATES GERMANY (FOR NOW)

One of the most consistent players on the live tournament circuit for years now, Dominik Nitsche (GPI#13) is showing absolutely zero sign of slowing down. The WSOP and WPT title holder’s 2nd place finish at the Bellagio Cup to end his summer in Las Vegas a +500-point lead in the GPI National Germany PoY race, however, the title is still far from being wrapped-up …

Nitsche’s lead will shrink quite a bit once Fedor Holz’s (GPI#41) double-score from the Poker EM Velden Festival, including an 18th place finish in the Main Event, are added to this Wednesday’s rankings update. Those will be Holtz’s 12th and 13th scores of the season.

2015 NATIONAL GERMANY PoY TOP 5

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TWO MAN RACE IN GREECE

A pair of men named Georgios lead the charge in the GPI National Greece Player of the Year race as IPT Malta Main Event winner Georgios Zisimopoulos (GPI#167) leads 2013 EPT Prague runner-up Georgios Sotiropoulos (GPI#129) by a little over 120 points in the Greek standings.

At this point, it’s a two-horse race in Greece as another Georgios, Kapalas, sits just under 1,000 points behind Sotiropoulos.

2015 NATIONAL GREECE PoY TOP 5

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DENISOV’S TIME IN RUSSIA

A trio of Russians all find themselves within the Top 50 of the 2015 GPI Global Player of the Year race. Headed by Alexander Denisov (GPI#84), who’s nine Top 10 finishes this season included a pair of 4th place finishes in 10K Championship Events at the World Series of Poker, all three players have collected over 2,000 so far this season.

WPT L.A. Poker Classic 7th place finisher Vladimir Dobrovolskiy (GPI#124) sits a little over 400 points behind Denisov.

2015 NATIONAL RUSSIA PoY TOP 5

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THE MATADOR TAKES LEAD IN SPAIN

As the WSOP Main Event final table participants are gearing up for an exciting November Nine later this year, a former Main Event Champion is leading the charge in the Spanish PoY race. 2001 Champion Carlos Mortensen (GPI#206), who turned 43 just a few months ago, is being chased by 21-year-old Adrian Mateos (GPI#27), who was able to play his very first Las Vegas WSOP Main Event of his career earlier this month.

WSOP Millionaire Maker runner-up Javier Zarco (GPI#624) and Spanish veteran Sergio Aido (GPI#82) are also very much still in the race in Spain.

2015 NATIONAL SPAIN PoY TOP 5

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THE CHAMP HAS COMPANY IN SWEDISH RACE

Sticking with Main Event Champs, Martin Jacobson (GPI#74), the reigning and defending Main Event winner, won’t be able to collect another National PoY title without a fight.

Jacobson holds a very small lead over 2011 EPT Copenhagen winner Michael Tureniec (GPI#285), who’s 2015 season includes four WSOP scores, all in events with well over 1,000 participants.

Former EPT London Champion Robin Ylitalo (GPI#266) finds himself third in the race. Ylitalo is just a few hundred points behind the lead group and there is still plenty of time for him to catch up.

2015 NATIONAL SWEDEN PoY TOP 5

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We leave you with 15 other intriguing National PoY races in Europe, including in Ireland, where it looks like Dermot Blain (GPI#347) will be hard-pressed to pickup his fourth straight GPI Irish PoY title. Blain currently sits 5th in the Irish race, although he is less than 200 points from 1st in the Nation.

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