GPI Year in Review: Four Win on WPT, Mizzi’s Premier W, Riess the Beast in November

Brits, Jaffee, Dunst and Rosenbarger win WPT events, Gruissem wins Alpha8, Mizzi wins Premier League and Boeken wins the Master Classics…

TONS OF ACTION ON THE WORLD POKER TOUR

Four different players had the opportunity to add their names to the WPT Champions Cup in November as the World Poker Tour presented events in Johannesburg, Jacksonville, St. Maarten and Montreal during the month with Daniel Brits kicking things off with a win at the WPT Emperors Palace Classic in South Africa. The win was especially impressive given the fact that defending Champion, Dominik Nitsche, was also at the final table, trying to make history in becoming the first ever player to win the same WPT event in consecutive seasons.

After two final table appearances, American poker pro Jared Jaffee would not be denied a third time and would finally join the WPT Champions Club with his victory at the WPT bestbet Jacksonville Fall Poker Scramble, surviving the charge from 357 opponents, picking up the lion’s share of the $1,145,800 USD prize pool.

Moving over to the Caribbean, WPT Raw Deal TV segment host Tony Dunst would earn the big win in what will be an unbelievable setting for television at the WPT Caribbean event in St. Maarten. Dunst had to fight off a game bunch at the final table, including former WPT Champs Giacomo Fundaro and former World #1 Marvin Rettenmaier.

Finally, the WPT left the warmth of the Caribbean for the unusually ice-cold conditions that were awaiting the players at bwin WPT Montreal. The Playground Poker Club would make sure that the players would stay warm as some of the game’s biggest names were in attendance in hopes of capturing the +500K USD top prize. In the end, US Armed Forces pilot Derrick Rosenbarger would upset the pro-heavy field, winning the tournament.

PREMIER LEAGUE VICTORY FOR MIZZI

Sorel Mizzi was certainly not bothered by the cold Montreal weather, the Canadian picked up over 450K USD winning the partypoker Premier League as the event was presented in North America for the very first time. Mizzi defeated 11 of his peers, some of the biggest names in the game, on way to one of the biggest victories of his career.

Mizzi would finish third after each player had played in four preliminary heats. Jeff Gross, who lost to Mizzi heads-up at the Final Table, would enter FT play as the player to beat. Gross and online star Dan Colman each had accumulated the most points, 37, in preliminary action.

RIESS THE NOVEMBER NINE BEAST

Young pro Ryan Riess was the talk of the poker world to start November. Entering the WSOP November Nine, not many people knew who “Riess the Beast” was … 24-hours after the final table started, everyone would know the name Ryan Riess. It was a thrilling and exciting first day as seasoned veterans David Benefield and Mark Newhouse would need to turn small stacks into heaps in order to contend – neither would be able to do so. J.C. Tran, who entered the November Nine as the chip leader and overwhelming favourite to win would not be able to survive either.

Second day action would play down to Riess vs. Jay Farber, a Las Vegas host who, despite not having a ton of poker experience, had quite the all-star rail helping him along. Riess would end up with the crown and the quote of the year “I just think I’m the best player in the world.” Time will tell if Riess can stick around with the big boys; he will have his first shot at following up his bold statement at the PCA in just a few days time.

NOVEMBER IN A FLASH

Make it two for two for German superstar Philipp Gruissem who would win his second straight WPT Alpha8 title at Alpha8 St. Kitts. The event, which was hosted by high stakes player Bill Perkins, drew 28 entries, the largest so far on the 100K buy-in tour.

The Asia Championship of Poker wrapped up in Macau with wins from Team PokerStars Pro Celina Lin, Senh Man Ung and Jan Schwippert.

Over in Amsterdam, native son Noah Boeken would win the Master Classics of Poker, outlasting 297 opponents on way to his first major title in quite some time. Bryn Kenney (High Roller), Mateusz Moolhuizen (Bounty) and Florens Feenstra (NLH event) would also score titles in Amsterdam.

Other October winners would include: Will Failla (Foxwoods World Poker Finals), Ilan Boujenah (WPT National Gruissan), Ari Engel (HPT Missouri), Guillermo Acuna (Punta Cana Classic), Carter Gill (LAPT Grand Final), Thomas Creel (WSOPC Louisiana), Richard Lyndaker (HPT Las Vegas), Rodolphe Dethiere (FPS Paris), Charles Sylvestre (WSOPC Quebec), David Lim (ANZPT Perth), Kevin Allen (GUKPT London), Mark Ketteringham (WPT Regional LA Poker Open), Jia Liu (DSPT World Championship), Ronald Bell (HPT Michigan), James Van Alstyne (Venetian DSE), Russell Crane (Borgata Fall Open), Davidi Kitai (Belgian Challenge HR) and Matt Waxman (SHR Rock N’ Roll Open).

NEGREANU’S RISE TO GPI#1:

Daniel Negreanu would take November off choosing to skip tournaments in Jacksonville and Montreal – which he played in 2012 – in order to recharge the batteries in the hopes of making one final run for the year at the WPT Five Diamond in Las Vegas and EPT Prague in the Czech Republic.

Despite not playing in any events, Kid Poker would still enter the final month of 2013 sitting atop the GPI300 as well as in the lead in the GPI Player of the Year race.

SCHEMION’S ROAD TO GPI PLAYER OF THE YEAR:

A 20th place finish at the Master Classic of Poker – an event which he won in 2012 – would allowed Ole Schemion to move up one spot to #2 overall in the 2013 GPI Player of the Year race. Schemion would enter December trailing only Negreanu for the #1 spot on the Player of the Year Leaderboard.

A showdown would be set for EPT Prague in December, although Schemion would need one hell of a performance in order to surpass Kid Poker.

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GPI YEAR IN REVIEW:

January ››  PCA, Aussie Millions Kickoff January
February ››  Welcome to February, Where Fantasy Met Reality
March ››  EPT Victory for Visser, Rocco Rocks Venice in March
April ››  Kid Poker Hits the Ground Running in April
May ››  Mercier Shines in Monte Carlo in May
June ›› WSOP Dominates June Headlines
July ››  Elezra, Harwood, Alaei Win, November Nine Set in July
August ›› Hinkle, Sivler Win Big in Florida, Rybin, Cristos Win WPTs in August
September ›› Big October Wins for Middleton, Zinno, Marvin Moves to #1
October ›› Negreanu Makes His Move as October Offers Tons of Action
November ›› Four Win on WPT, Mizzi Wins Premier League in November
December ›› Smith, Pair of Julians Win, Schemion Steals PoY

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