Sam Razavi Caps Off A Golden Year In Asia

Recently, UK pro Sam Razavi was awarded the 2012 Asian Poker Tour Player of the Year after a glorious 2012 in which he made 11 final tables and captured 2 titles, including the $4,700 ANZPT  Melbourne for $339,745. As Razavi explained after winning the award:
“I didn’t realise there was actually a POY title to be won on the APT until midway through the year but as soon as I noticed, it became one of my main targets. ..I really worked hard to attend as many events as possible.”
That is truly an understatement as throughout 2012 both in Asia and elsewhere Razavi cashed in an incredible 33 live tournaments to amass a total $598,866 in winnings. However, not content to rest on his laurels with just a week left before Christmas, Razavi has once more made another final table this time at the WPT National China where he eventually finished 3rd for $47,707.
The $1,500 buy-in three day event managed to attract a total of 542 competitors including such pros as Johnny Chan, David Chiu and Phil Hellmuth. Sam Razavi then made it all the way to the final table, which he entered as the chip leader. In the end, Razavi was eliminated in 3rd spot after shoving his remaining 14bb with A-4 into the A-Q of eventual winner Zheng Hua Lei.
Commenting later on his incredible success in Asia, Razavi said: “I was disappointed not to win as it would have been an unbelievable way to cap off the year, but I’ve had such a big share of the cake that I can’t really be too upset. The top three received a package to the WPT L.A. Poker Classic, so that was a real sweetener.”
Furthermore, with the APT POY title under his belt Razavi can now look forward to playing the whole of next season free of charge.