Eugene Katchalov Wins 2011 Bluff Player Of The Year

The 2011 BLUFF Player of the Year race is finally over and the winner has been named as the Ukrainian born Eugene Katchalov.
The Team PokerStars Pro enjoyed a particularly profitable year, even by his own high standards, and earned an impressive $2,572,726 throughout 2011, taking his live career earnings to a massive $7,001,893. The 32 year-old  pro also now stands 36th on Poker’s All Time Money List.
Commenting on what winning the Aria Resort and Casino sponsored award meant to him, Eugene Katchalov said:
“It’s really an incredible feeling to win the Bluff Magazine POY, because I feel that all the hard work that I’ve put into poker is really paying off. It is a title that I will always be proud of and something that will stay with me for the rest of my life….I really went out of my way to play as much as I can to try and lock it up.”
In January, 2011, Katchalov got off to the best possible start after defeating fellow Team Pokerstars Pro Daniel Negreanu heads-up, to win the PCA $100k Super High Roller Event for $1.5 million. Just over a week later, he then followed-up  his victory by coming 2nd at the PCA $10k High Roller 6 Max event for $131,920.
In total, Katchalov then went on to cash 13 times throughout the year, including 7 final tables, and 2 first place finishes. His highlights in 2011 include winning a career first WSOP bracelet in the $1,500 Seven Card Stud event for $122,909, and a 3rd place finish at the €5,000 EPT Barcelona Main Event for €315,000 ($453,812).
Despite his incredible success, Katchalov still faced stiff competition from French legend Bertrand “ElkY” Grospellier, who missed out narrowly on the title with 1,071.67 points compared to Katchalov’s 1089.28 points. Grospellier also picked-up a career first WSOP bracelet to go with his $2,296,620 in yearly earnings.
Commenting on the exciting conclusion of the 2011 Bluff Player of the Year race,  Bluff’s Editor-in-Chief Lance Bradely said:
“I think we can call it a success that Eugene Katchalov and Bertrand Grospellier were both battling right down to the end of the year in the closest race we’ve ever had. We congratulate Eugene on reaching the pinnacle of success that every poker player is striving for — Player of the Year.”