Europe’s Best Poker Players Recognized

In the midst of the Euro Finals of Poker held at the Aviation Club de France in Paris, the European Poker Awards were handed out Sunday. The deserving winners were as follows:

Rookie of the Year

Mats Iremark – this young Swede has started his career out with a bang (obviously, or he would not have won this award), winning almost €600,000 this year, including three tournament titles, the largest being the EPT French Open. He also cashed three times in U.S. tournaments, including once at the WSOP.

Most Notable Tournament Performance of the Year

Victoria Coren – the popular poker writer from London emerged victorious at the EPT European Poker Championships, taking home €500,000.

Casino Staff Person of the Year

Roy Houghton – for opening London’s “Loose Cannon and VC Players Lounge” which is a card and game room that charges a membership fee, rather than collecting rake.

Lifetime Achievement Award

John Duthie – won the Poker Million in 2000, made the final table of the European Poker Championships in 2002, and placed second in the European Heads-Up Championship in 2003.

Player of the Year

Roland de Wolfe – to say he has had a successful year would be an understatement. De Wolfe made $2.295 million in tournaments alone. His big scores included a win at EPT Dublin and a third place finish at the WPT Championship. Just within the last few weeks, he placed second in the made-for-TV FullTiltPoker.Net Championship and second in a preliminary event at the Five Diamond World Poker Classic.

Congratulations to all and best of luck at the tables!

Originally published December 14, 2006