Player of the Year

Getting Back to the Tournament Grind
By Julio Rodriguez

The dog days of summer are nearly over, and after a monthlong lull in action, the tournament-circuit schedule is ready to heat up once again. During this timeout period, the top 10 in the Player of the Year (POY) race stayed virtually the same, with Vitaly Lunkin still leading the way. However, as we go to press, the European Poker Tour and World Poker Tour are back in full swing, giving many players the opportunity to pick up the much-needed points to overtake him.

This is the time of the year when the front-runners begin to separate themselves from the rest of the pack. The homestretch is in sight, and while many are looking forward to the deep-stack, big buy-in tournament circuit, others in the top 10 who accumulated their POY points at the World Series of Poker will have to prove that they can win outside of that arena if they want to contend for tournament poker’s highest honor.

For those with million-dollar dreams on a tight budget, the Borgata in Atlantic City will host a televised championship event for $3,500. Tournament officials are expecting such a large turnout that they have confidently provided a $2 million guarantee for the WPT Borgata Poker Open. The 16-day tournament series will feature a variety of games and events for bankrolls of all sizes, and will run Sept. 9-24.

Next issue, we will know the identity of the Legends of Poker champion. If last year’s winner (John Phan) is any indication, this could be the tournament that plays a pivotal role in the POY race in the coming months. Be sure to check out all of the results, news, and live tournament coverage on CardPlayer.com.

Look Out: Jeremy Gaubert
‘The Chemist’ Stirs Up a World Poker Open Win
By Julio Rodriguez

It’s been four years since Jeremy Gaubert put down the beaker and picked up a deck of cards, and traded in his lab coat for a hoodie, and so far the decision to turn pro has proven to be a profitable one, thanks to his penchant for hard work and dedication to his craft.

When Card Playermagazine previously featured him, it was for his unheralded online accomplishments, playing as “thechemist83.” Gaubert has earned more than $1 million online, and can claim numerous marquee wins, such as the Sunday Mulligan, the Sunday Warm-Up, and just to round out Sundays, a $233,000 chop in the Sunday Million. But with nearly $350,000 in live-tournament earnings, Gaubert is making the case that he’s much more than just a click wizard and should not be ignored when on the felt.

Recently, the Thibodaux, Louisiana, resident took down the World Poker Open championship event in Tunica, Mississippi, besting the likes of Chris Moneymaker and Chad Brown in the process. Confident and poised, Gaubert battled back from the short stack several times and wasn’t afraid to play back at anyone, at any time. The win gave him an additional $192,953 to put in his bankroll, and even more so, respect as an up-and-coming player in the live-tournament arena.

Despite a very limited live playing schedule, Gaubert already has two six-figure paydays on his poker resume, including a deep run in the 2008 WSOP main event, where he cashed for $115,800. With more experience under his belt, don’t be surprised to see him at another final table in the near future, or possibly even making a run in the 2010 Player of the Year race.