GPI National PoY Races Boil Over in Europe

We take a look at the tremendous Global Poker Index National Player of the Year races still ongoing with only days left to the 2013 poker season …

GERMAN DOMINATION

It seems like a broken record, doesn’t it? German pros players dominating the poker landscape? Not only are Ole Schemion, Philipp Gruissem and Marvin Rettenmaier all involved in a thrilling GPI National Germany PoY race, all three are still within arms reach of Daniel Negreanu in the overall Player of the Year race.

Schemion is currently running deep at EPT Prague and could very well surpass Kid Poker in the coming days … Rettenmaier is at WPT Prague and is in contention on Day 1B … Gruissem? Well, we’re not sure where Philbort is, one can only assume playing nosebleed-stakes cash games in Macau? The way things are going, it certainly looks like Gruissem will lose his spot on top of the German standings.

1. Ole Schemion 1026.40
2. Philipp Gruissem 962.57
3. Marvin Rettenmaier 918.52

THE FRENCH ARE FIGHTING

Things are about to get real in France. Although Benjamin Pollak leads the race for GPI France National Player of the Year, some of his fellow countrymen are putting the pressure on Pollak, looking to steal away the title from the Betclic pro.

Currently sitting second in the race, Roger Hairabedian is in contention at WPT Prague, holding a lot of chips … Erwann Pecheux is still alive at EPT Prague and could very well be the man to beat by the end of the week … Former EPT Sanremo Champion Ludovic Lacay missed a huge opportunity to join the lead group earlier today. Lacay, who held the chip lead late, was eliminated from EPT Prague, his 33rd place finish won’t be enough to dethrone Pollak.

1. Benjamin Pollak 621.82
2. Roger Hairabedian 572.47
3. Erwann Pecheux 548.52
8. Ludovic Lacay 407.06

SPANISH STARS

It’s down to three players in Spain in the National Player of the Year race as Adrian Mateos Diaz, Sergio Aido and GPI Player of the Month for February 2013 Ana Marquez all have a shot to be country’s best for 2013.

Marquez’s 35th place finish at EPT Prague will certainly make things even more interesting once those GPI points are awarded to her. Has Marquez, who is the top ranked Spanish player on the GPI300, done enough to top the Spanish National PoY charts for 2013? We’ll have to wait and find out!

1. Adrian Mateos Diaz 612.54
2. Sergio Aido 594.22
3. Ana Marquez 522.59

THE UK BELONGS TO CHIDWICK

It certainly looks like the UK’s GPI National Player of the Year race belongs to Stephen Chidwick. Chidwick, who already holds the #1 rank atop the National PoY standings, has taken Prague by storm!

“stevie444” started off his great run at the EPT Prague Festival with a final table performance in massive the Eureka Poker Tour Main Event, finishing third. Those points have yet to come into effect. Chidwick is now running deep in the EPT Prague Main Event with a huge chip stack as the final as the final 30 do battle.

1. Stephen Chidwick 674.31
2. Matthew Ashton 636.20
3. Toby Lewis 585.26

“FINNISHED” IN FINLAND

It will take a Christmas miracle for Finnish superstar Joni Jouhkimainen not to take home the title of Finland’s best for 2013.

Despite Lauri Pesonen’s best efforts – winning a side event during the EPT Prague Festival – Pesonen would need a few more big scores in order to take the title away from Jouhkimainen.

1. Joni Jouhkimainen 821.23
2. Lauri Pesonen 487.41
3. Kimmo Kurko 398.28

FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE

Igor Kurganov is currently the front-runner in Russia but he has certainly not wrapped things up just yet. Meanwhile, the race for second is currently in a dead heat as Yury Gulyy holds a minuscule 0.01 point lead on Vladimir Troyanovski.

However, Gulyy, who has just cashed at EPT Prague, looks to be gaining ground on Kurganov and could very well have just left Troyanovski in the dust. Unofficially, Gulyy looks to have moved past Kurganov in the race although final results from EPT Prague have yet to be determined since the event is still ongoing.

1. Igor Kurganov 663.10
2. Yury Gulyy 604.54
3. Vladimir Troyanovski 604.53

ITALIAN STALLIONS

The race in Italy is down to two men in Italy as Dario Sammartino holds a slight lead on WPT Champions Club member Giacomo Fundaro.

Sammartino was able to secure a 70th place finish at EPT Prague, which will undoubtedly allow him to further his lead atop the National PoY ranks … meanwhile, Fundaro is expected to buy into the bwin WPT Prague Main Event so this race should go down to the wire!

1. Dario Sammartino 665.10
2. Giacomo Fundaro 644.61
3. Rocco Palumbo 380.05

OTHER EUROPEAN RACES

Belgium: It is all but over in Belgium as Davidi Kitai, who’s 2013 season included another WSOP bracelet victory, leads the way. Although it’s still mathematically possible for Kitai to lose out, we wouldn’t bet on it. ›› 1. Kitai 649.41, 2. Kevin Vandersmissen 456.44, 3. Kenny Hallaert 456.36

Denmark: The same can be said of the Danish race as PokerStars Online Pro Mickey Petersen holds a sizeable lead on fellow pro Rasmus Agerskov. Petersen looks to be very well seated in the driver’s seat in Denmark. ›› 1. Petersen 549.61, 2. Agerskov 389.31, 3. Lasse Frost 313.82

Ireland: Full Tilt Poker Pro Dermot Blain is in great shape, holding a 156-point lead on countryman John O’Shea. A late charge from Sean Prendiville won’t be enough for him to take the title in Ireland. ›› 1. Blain 391.04, 2. O’Shea 234.95, 3. Prendiville 226.61

Ukraine: He enjoyed a deep run in the WSOP Main Event, amongst other impressive WSOP results this summer, and holds a stranglehold on the PoY title in the Ukraine. Former WPT World Championship winner Yevgeniy Timoshenko looks to be the man to beat in the Ukraine.  ›› 1. Timoshenko 581.34, 2. Alexander Dovzhenko 423.30, 3. Oleksii Kovalchuk 268.68

GPI EUROPEAN POKER AWARDS

The 13th edition of the GPI European Poker Awards will take place, in Deauville, France, on January 29th, 2014. Some of these winners are scheduled to be part of the festivities. This year’s edition of the GPI European Awards will be presented in conjunction with EPT Deauville. PokerStars and Lucien Barriere Hotel et Casinos will serve as event sponsors.