The tussle continues to be too close to comfort for all the players competing for the 2007 Player of the Year. Hitherto, all eyes were on J.C. Tran, who was a strong contender for the “Player of the Year Award” since February. But of late, he hasn’t cashed out on any event since the Five Star tournaments back in April. His lead now has eroded nearly about 700 points.
Another strong contender for the player of the year is double winner of the Five Star tournaments in April, Jared Hamby. He added another cap to his feather with his triumph during the Mirage Poker Showdown preliminary tournaments, and later finished as the runner-up in the recent $10K World Poker Tour and at Mandalay Bay Poker Championships. These two finishes earned him 2nd place from 10th place last month, and if his juggernaut continues, then he could well walk away with the coveted title
Jonathan Little too is in the race for this player of the year award with his victory at WPT's Mirage Poker Showdown. He made a promising start at the WPT PokerStars Caribbean Adventure, but later looked lackluster. Jonathan was, however, a relieved man after this victory. Further, he finished at the final table in 2 other preliminary events. This young lad is another new comer who has cruised into the poker scene. He and Hamby would likely be battling for the unofficial title of the year’s best newcomer.
David ‘The Dragon’ Pham jumps from 10th to 4th sport. This means that the top 10 positions are filled with new blood. David Pham was able to make his move with the help of WPT events and the World Series Circuit events, and his posing a great for the title. James Van Alstyne who was No.5 and Ted Lawson at No.6 slipped from their early year performance. Both these players have reached to the final tables within the last month, but these events haven't earned them enough points.
Cory Carroll is also very much in the race. He cruised into the Top 10 with his historic May by emerging victorious at WSOP-C Championship Event at Caesars. And that’s not all, as he also came close to being the first man to win both a WSOP-C event and a WPT tournament in the same year, when he ended up at No.2 in the Mirage Poker Showdown.
At No.8 is Randy Holland, who already had an excellent 12 final tables in 2007. He is followed by Paul Lee at No.9 and WPT Champion Juan Carlos Mortensen at No.10. EPT Champion Gavin Griffin is at No.11, veteran Kirk Morrison at No 13 and Internet star Darrell 'Gigabet Dicken at No 15, Bill Edler at No.17 and Ted Forrest in 19th.
With incredible prize pools and large Player of the Year points at stake, any of these players could walk out with the award at the end of July. Events like Bellagio Cup III, , the Venetian Deep Stack event, the inaugural Binion's Poker Classic run, all simultaneously running with WSOP, the race for Player of the Year could well go down to the wire.
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