Player of the Year Update -- Antonio Esfandiari Into Top 20

A number of major moves were made around the world this week in the 2012 Card Player Player of the Year race, sponsored by Lock Poker. Here’s a look at the players who made the biggest moves this week.

WSOP Europe

Antonio Esfandiari has won event no. 2 of the 2012 World Series of Poker Europe series, a €1,100 no-limit hold’em tournament. Esfandiari was awarded €126,207 and his third career gold bracelet after topping the 626-player field. This was the 33-year-old’s third final table of 2012, bringing his year-to-date earning to $18,661,648. In addition to the money, Esfandiari has also accumulated 2,280 POY points, moving him into 19th place in the standings.

Earlier in the week, Imed Ben Mahmoud won the opening event of the series, a €2,700 buy-in six-max no-limit hold’em event. The Tunisian earned €147,099 and 576 POY points for the win, topping a field of 227 players and a tough final table that also featured formal finalist of this event Matan Krakow and 2010 European Poker Tour Prague champion Roberto Romanello.

WPT Borgata Poker Open

Ben Hamnett emerged victorious in the 2012 World Poker Tour Borgata Poker Open main event, earning his first WPT title and $818,847 for the win. A total of 1,181 entries were made in this year’s WPT Borgata Poker Open, making it the second-largest event in WPT history in regards to field size. The fantastic turn out built a $3,897,300 prize pool.

In addition to the title and the money, Hamnett also scored 1,440 POY points, catapulting him into a tie for 76th place in the overall POY standings.

Runner-up Matthew Burnitz earned $488,850 and 1,200 points. Burnitz had previously finished runner-up in another large tournament at the Borgata earlier this summer, and as a result he has climbed all the way to 30th place in the POY race. Third-place finisher Tyler Patterson was awarded $298,950 and 960 points, and as a result he rose to 87th in the standings.

WPT Malta

Yorane Kerignard from France has won the €3,300 buy-in World Poker Tour Malta main event, topping a 169-player field to earn the $182,292 first-place prize and 468 POY points. This was his third final table of the year, including a fourth-place finish at the European Poker Tour Deauville main event for 341,939. As a result, Kerignard has moved into 68th place in the overall POY standings.

WSOP Circuit Horseshoe Bossier City

A total of 405 players put up the $1,675 buy-in for the World Series of Poker Circuit Horseshoe Bossier City main event, building a $607,500 prize pool. The last person standing was Jeff Gibralter, who was awarded $133,648 and 720 POY points for the win.

Fourth-place finisher Abraham Araya won the WSOP Circuit Choctaw main event for $270,380 earlier this year and also won a title in a $555 no-limit hold’em prelim at the WSOP Circuit Caesar’s Atlantic City series. As a result of his two titles and recent final table finish, Araya has risen to 71st place in the overall standings.

Here is a look at the top twenty of the 2012 POY race:

Related Articles

One Drop Charity Event Runs Friday At Resorts World

PGT Texas PLO Roundup Main Event Starts Thursday

Charity Series Of Poker Hosts Betting On Miracles On Dec. 4

Most Viewed Articles