The winners of the 11th Annual European Poker Awards were named at a ceremony in Paris yesterday, and amongst those players receiving honours were two members of PokerStars Team Pro; Bertrand Grospellier and Pius Heinz.
French number one Bertrand “ElkY” Grospellier was awarded the title Poker Personality of 2011. As well as another spectacular year in which he won $2,296,620 from live tournaments, including capturing a WSOP bracelet to complete a triple crown, “ElkY” did plenty more to make European poker more enjoyable. These include publishing his first book ‘The Raiser’s Edge’ as well taking part in a kick boxing match against pal Lex Veldhuis.
As widely predicted, PokerStars Team Pro Pius Heinz walked away with the ‘Best Tournament Performance’ award after flying the European flag by becoming the first German player to take down the WSOP Main Event for a massive $8,715,638 payday.
Russian Andrey Pateychuk, who cashed-in at his first live tournament in 2010, was named the ‘Rookie of the Year’ after amassing $2,085,014 in live winnings throughout 2011. His achievements include victory in the EPT San Remo for $937,530, victory in the WPT Prague for $599,720, as well as a 15th place finish in the WSOP Main Event for $478,174.
Finnish player Ilari Sahamies was given the ‘Online Player of the Year’ award, following a year in which he finished top of the PokerStars cash game leader board with $2,183,832 in winnings.
UK pro Sam Trickett won ‘Player of the Year’ after earning $4,598,038 from live tournament, including winning the Aussie Millions $100k Championship for $1,508,258, finishing 2nd in the Aussie Millions $250k Super High Roller for $1,384,631, and winning the Partouche Poker Tour €8,500 Main Event for $1,364,666. Trickett also crushed the Big Game in Macau for several million dollars.
Other players receiving awards included Russian Natalia Nikitina (Europe’s Leading Lady), Jesse May (Lifetime Achievement Award), Warren Lush (Staff Person of the Year), and WSOP Cannes for the ‘Event of the Year.’
