The winners of the 2011 European Poker Awards have been announced and they include two big names in poker, and members of PokerStars team of poker pros, Pius Heinz and Bertrand Grospellier (aka ElkY). They also included fellow poker celebrity Sam Trickett.
The awards ceremony was held in Paris, France on Wednesday, January 25, 2012. The award for Poker Personality of 2011 went to France’s own ElkY. This award is for more than just success in poker (he earned $2,296,620 over the year, including a WSOP bracelet); it’s for improving the experience of European poker with such acts as publishing “The Raiser’s Edge” Grospellier’s first book, and participating with buddy Lex Veldhius in a kick-boxing match.
Pius Heinz was the favorite for Best Tournament Performance for being the first German player ever to win the WSOP Main Event (claiming $8,715,638 for his accomplishment), and sure enough he took home the predicted award.
In other awards, Rookie of the Year was Andrey Pateychuk who, after cashing in his first live tournament in 2010, went on to earn $2,085,014 in 2011. Online Player of the Year was Ilari Sahamies after best the PokerStars Cash Game leaderboard after winning $2,183,832 over the year.
Player of the Year for 2011 went to the U.K.’s Sam Trickett, who earned $4,598,038 over the year, including first place in the Aussie Millions $100k Championship and second place in the Aussie Millions $250k Super High Roller event as well as winning the Big Game in Macau and the Partouche Poker Tour €8,500 Main Event.