GPI Year in Review: Kid Poker Hits the Ground Running in April

The World Series of Poker made its way to Melbourne to present WSOP Asia-Pacific for the very first time and Kid Poker came out the big winner …

KID POKER DOMINATES DOWN UNDER

Daniel Negreanu was all the rage as the World Poker Poker made its first trek to Australia. Kid Poker won the Main Event at WSOP APAC, collecting what was, at the time, the fifth gold bracelet of his poker career. The win was just the tip of the iceberg for Negreanu, who’s career would get back into overdrive in the months to come. The poker legend would also finish fourth in the Mixed Event at WSOP APAC.

I won!!!!!!!!!!!! YES! Very happy right now. Thanks to all my friends and family for giving me the confidence I needed! So happy!!!!

— Daniel Negreanu (@RealKidPoker) April 15, 2013

Speaking of the Mixed Event, Negreanu’s good friend Phil Ivey would pickup the win in that bracelet event, defeating 80 other players for the ninth bracelet of his poker career. Other APAC bracelet winner included Bryan Piccioli, James Collopy and Aaron Lim. German superstar Philipp Gruissem would win the non-bracelet 50K High Roller event, defeating Joseph Cheong heads-up.

EPT/WPT ACTION FROM GER, ESP AND FLA

The European Poker Tour would take its travelling poker show to Berlin where Daniel-Gai Pidun would survive the charge of over 900 opponents to pickup the EPT Berlin title.

Pieter de Korver, Micah Raskin and Maxi Lehmanski were other winners in Berlin, but it would be High Roller Champion Griffin Benger who would steal all the headlines. Benger, who had been one of the top online players in the world, would become the most famous winner of the elusive Shamballa bracelet – you can read all about Benger’s love for the Shamballa in our GPInterview with the entertaining Canadian.

Meanwhile, the World Poker Tour had a very busy April, hosting events in both in the US and in Europe.

Online star Kevin Eyster would pickup the title at the WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown in Hollywood, Florida, besting over 500 others to earn the biggest score of his live tournament career … fellow American Michael Linster would complete the WPT’s Florida swing with a win at the WPT beset Open in Jacksonville. Matt Salsberg would finish 13th at the Seminole Hard Rock and 10th in Jacksonville.

In Barcelona, another Canadian, Chanracy Khun, would become the next Canuck from the Province of Québec to win on the live tournament circuit, following in the footstep of Duhamel, Lefrançois, Lavallee, Roy, Ladouceur et al. Khun would earn the biggest payday of his career, €181,400, for the W.

APRIL IN A FLASH

Daniel Boender won the Estrellas Poker Tour Valencia Main Event … Kevin Saul won the WSOP Circuit Main Event at Foxwoods while Blair Hinkle would win the Circuit Council Bluffs Main … Roger Campbell won the Heartland St. Louis Main and Jeremy Ausmus the Venetian Deep Stack Extravaganza Main Event.

A pair of superstars would also win big in April as Joseph Cheong, who was runner-up to Philipp Gruissem in the 50K High Roller event at WSOP APAC, won the Manilla Millions for over 10M HKD. Meanwhile, in Cyprus, Ole Schemion would collect the Main Event victory on the Lebanese Poker Tour, for the first win of his 2013 campaign.

NEGREANU’S RISE TO GPI#1:

Now that’s what we’re talking about! A big win at WSOP APAC and Daniel Negreanu would be right back in the mix! Starting the season at a season-low #103, Kid Poker would move all the way up to #37 to end the month … and things would only get better from here.

Marvin Rettenmaier would end April atop the GPI300 for the tenth straight week and would take his lead into the month of May.

SCHEMION’S ROAD TO GPI PLAYER OF THE YEAR:

Ole Schemion’s April would turn his season around. His win on the Lebanese Poker Tour would send him all the way back to the #4 spot mid-month, after starting April ranked #12 on the Player of the Year charts. Schemion would finally end April ranked #6.

His win on the Lebanese Tour was only a preamble of what was to come in May.

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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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