Shaun Deeb is in the driver’s seat to repeat as WSOP Player of the Year. The four-time bracelet winner moved ahead of Robert Campbell for the lead with a pair of cashes in Rozvadov.
Daniel Negreanu is also right in the thick of things with about two weeks remaining in the WSOP Europe schedule. “Kid Poker” is seeking his first bracelet since 2013, and to also become the only three-time POY winner.
Deeb is the Favorite
Deeb won Player of the Year last summer by a landslide. He led heading into the European series last October, and then put the field away with four additional cashes at King’s Casino. This year, however, the competition is stiffer. But for the first time in 2019, he is the POY leader, and also the favorite.
A few weeks into the summer series in Las Vegas, cash game crusher Dan Zack held the POY lead. He was then overtaken by Robert Campbell, who won two bracelets in Sin City.
Throughout the summer, Deeb hung around despite not winning any bracelets. But he does have three final table appearances this year, and 19 cashes, including two at WSOP Europe this month.
Campbell also has two cashes at WSOP Europe, but his finishes – 50th and 48th place – are lesser than Deeb’s 13th and 18th place finishes in similar events. The slightly deeper runs have propelled Deeb into the lead, but only by a slim margin.
WSOP Player of the Year Up for Grabs
Deeb has the POY lead, but there are still three other players with a shot. All it would take is a final table appearance or a bracelet win, and one of four players could win the prestigious award.
Current WSOP Player of the Year Standings
- Shaun Deeb (United States) 3,621.53
- Robert Campbell (United States) 3,558.62
- Daniel Negreanu (Canada) 3,264.20
- Phillip Hui (United States) 3,186.17
- Dan Zack (United States) 3,126.13
Dan Zack bowed out of the race as he decided not to travel to the Czech Republic for WSOP Europe. Phillip Hui has a pair of cashes this month and remains in contention, but would likely need to win a bracelet to overtake Deeb.
Negreanu is currently the only two-time POY winner, having won the award in 2004 and 2013. He still hasn’t won a bracelet since 2013, when he shipped a €25,600 high roller for €725,000 in Europe. This year, he has 19 cashes, 17 of which took place in Las Vegas.
Neagranu came just short of his seventh career bracelet in $10,000 Seven Card Stud this summer. He lost a marathon heads-up match to John Hennigan, and finished in second place ($151,700).
