Tight End for European Poker Tour Awards | IXGAMES

The European Poker Tour of PokerStars.com has only three events left for the rest of the sixth season, and with this, a tight end is to be expected for the EPT Awards this present year. Poker Tour Player of the Year For Season 6, three players are all vying for the European Poker Tour Player of the Year award, including Maxim Lykov, Martin Kabrhel, and Kevin MacPhee. All of them currently have 160 points after their stellar performances during the sixth season. Earlier this month, Kevin MacPhee was able to secure his position when he was able to beat 944 players at the EPT event at Berlin. He also won second place in a side event, while also winning in three important events. Maxim Lykov collected his points after winning during the first season event in Kyiv, including a PCA side event, which won him $1,000. As for Czechoslovakian Martin Kabrhel, he secured his points only from side events, and won up to three events, which include the Deauville High Roller for the European Poker Tour. Vying for the EPT award It’s difficult for the three top players to lie low and to be confident nonetheless. This is because it is possible for any of the players, which are currently in the top 21 slots, to secure the Player of the Year award should they win at least one of the three main events. Among the top 21 contenders include Peter Eastgate, Luca Pagano, and William Thorson who are all a part of Team PokerStars. However, one winner has set secure sights on the Award, which is Team PokerStars professional player William Thorson. Thorson is considered to be the Best Omaha Player. In Season 6, Thorson conquered Omaha and was able to clinch two events out of 11. Since there are no more Omaha events left for the event, this excellent Swede can begin celebrating right about now. Other contenders With seven players on 50 points vying for the EPT Mixed Games Player award, it is currently the tightest-participating award. Some of the contenders for the award include professionals for Team PokerStars, such as Benjamin Kang, Katja Thater, and Joe Hachem.  The winner is expected to be declared by next month, during the EPT Sanremo final Mixed Games side event. The Czech Republic still dominates the competition for the Best European Poker Tour Country due to the excellent performance of Martin Kabrhel, king of side events. Also included are Jan Skampa, EPT Prague winner, and Jiri Kulhanek, who bagged the PCA $1,000 PLO Six-Max affair. The closest contenders for Czech Republic for the Best EPT Country include both Portugal and Israel. The Best Online Qualifier is also a tight game, and the top contender is a 68-year old Pierre Neuville, who is Belgian. Neuville is previously a Hasbro Games director, who retired a couple of years ago. After retiring, he took up poker and played full time. Presently, his ranking for the award is at second, following online professional Carter Phillips, who won at European Poker Tour Barcelona.