Zinno, Somerville and ‘The Colossus’ highlight this year’s list of nominees
The final lists for each of the 11 voting-eligible categories for the 2nd Annual American Poker Awards have been released. Over 80 members of the poker community (executives, players, media members) submitted their ballots over the past few weeks in order to determine this year’s final list of nominees.
The 2nd Annual American Poker Awards will be presented on Thursday, February 25, 2016 at the famed SLS Hotel in Beverly Hills. A jury will meet on the day prior to the Awards in order to select a winner in each of the categories.
The American Poker Conference also returns this year. The Conference will take place on the morning of the Awards. This year’s panel topics will feature discussions on E-Sports, satta king chart, Women in Poker and Poker Media. The very popular Players’ Panel is also set to return this year.
The festivities will be broadcast live on Twitch.tv/GPL
Without any further ado, here are the very deserving nominees for the 2nd Annual American Poker Awards – congratulations to all!
TOURNAMENT PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR
Jonathan Duhamel, WSOP One Drop High Roller
Mike Gorodinsky, WSOP Poker Players’ Championship
Joseph McKeehen, WSOP Main Event
Anthony Zinno, WPT L.A. Poker Classic
MOMENT OF THE YEAR
Anthony Zinno goes back-to-back winning WPT Fallsview, WPT L.A. Poker Classic
Over 22,000 players enter WSOP Colossus for chance at a gold bracelet
Phil Hellmuth wins bracelet #14 – WSOP 10K Razz Championship
Daniel Negreanu busts 11th in the WSOP Main Event
BREAKOUT PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR
Joshua Beckley
Asher Conniff
Cate Hall
Kelly Minkin
EVENT OF THE YEAR (BUY-IN UP TO $2,000)
WSOP The Colossus, Rio All-Suites Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas
WPT500 at ARIA, Las Vegas
WSOP Millionaire Maker, Rio All-Suites Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas
WPTDeepStacks – DSPT Championship, Grey Eagle Resort & Casino, Calgary
EVENT OF THE YEAR (BUY-IN OVER $2,000)
Super High Roller Bowl, ARIA, Las Vegas
WSOP Main Event, Rio All-Suites Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas
WSOP One Drop High Roller, Rio All-Suites Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas
WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown, Hollywood, FL
INDUSTRY PERSON OF THE YEAR
Jack Effel, WSOP Vice President and Tournament Director
William Mason, Seminole Hard Rock Director of Poker
John Pappas, Poker Players Alliance Executive Director
Matt Savage, TDA Founder, WPT Executive Director
CHARITABLE INITIATIVE OF THE YEAR
Chad Brown Memorial Tournament (Maria Ho, Vanessa Rousso)
Charity Series of Poker (Matthew Stout)
Tiger’s Poker Night (hosted by Tiger Woods, WPT Foundation)
WSOP One Drop High Roller / Litte One for One Drop
MEDIA PERSON OF THE YEAR
Joey Ingram
Kevin Mathers
Donnie Peters
Jason Somerville
POKER PRESENTER OF THE YEAR
Sarah Herring
Kara Scott
Joseph Stapleton
David Tuchman
POKER INNOVATION OR INITIATIVE OF THE YEAR
Poker Central launches 24/7 television network
SHRPO (in conjunction with PNIA) livestreams four FT’s in same room/at same time
WSOP adds online bracelet event (with live final table)
WSOP introduces ‘The Colossus’
MEDIA CONTENT OF THE YEAR
BUST, an Insider’s Account of Greenville’s Underground Poker Scene (Brad Willis)
Faraz Jaka Homeless Poker Millionaire, CNN Money (Jaka, Gayles, Carson)
Jason Somerville’s record Twitch Broadcast during WCOOP in September 2015
Joe Giron shoots photo of Negreanu crumbled on the floor after ME elimination
Also honored that evening: Byron Kaverman who will be presented with the 2015 GPI Player of the Year Award and Kelly Minkin, who will receive trophy for 2015 GPI Female Player of the Year.
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If you have yet to register for the 2nd Annual American Poker Awards, the American Poker Conference or GPL Draft Day, please hurry as each event is filling up quickly.
It’s Awards Season in Los Angeles and we’ll be there … will you? See you in LA!