2009 WSOP Player of the Year Race

Poker News - July 1, 2009 - Written by Bruce

With only a few events left at this years World Series of Poker the race for Player of the Year is practically already over. Poker Professional Jeffrey Lisandro has a firm hold on the top spot for Player of the Year honors. He has already amassed 355 points in the POY race while the next closest competitor is Ville Wahlbeck who has earned 320 points. In the 3rd spot is poker heavyweight Phil Ivey who has 242 points. Ivey is widely regarded as the top overall poker player in the world due to beating the highest stakes cash games in the world and also his tournament success. It is rumored that he was won millions of dollars in sidebets this World Series for winning his 2 bracelets. Rounding out the top 5 for Player of the Year honors is Vitally Lunkin and Greg "FBT" Mueller with 240 points each.

Jeffrey Lisandro has had a very impressive 2009 World Series winning 3 events so far this year. He solidified himself as one of the top stud players in the world. Amazingly all 3 of his bracelets are in stud poker and he has won one in each discipline of stud. Lisandro has won a bracelet in stud high, stud 8 or better, and Razz. This is incredible achievement for Lisandro and he becomes the first player since Phil Ivey in 2002 to win 3 bracelets in one year. Lisandro has earned over $800,000 this world series and has solidified himself as one of the worlds top player. Along with Lisandro 3 other players have won multiple bracelets this year, Phil Ivey has won 2, Greg "FBT" Mueller has won 2, and Brock Parker has also won 2.

The only player with any hope to catch Lisandro in the Player of the Year standings is Ville Wahlbeck. It will be a heroic feat for him to do so as he must finish at least 8th in the Main Event. This would not clinch it for him either as Lisandro would have to not make the money for him to draw even with him in the standings. Barring that scenerio, which is highly unlucky to say the least, Jeffrey Lisandro will be the 2009 World Series of Poker Player of the Year.