The ANZ Changes Up the Player of the Year Rankings

The Australian New Zealand Poker Tour took to the record books this year as it continues to track the best of the best in the Oceania region of poker.

After the ANZPT in Perth, three modifications came around affecting the Player of the Year leader board’s layout. The ANZPT took to the felt at the start of 2009 ranking the most consistent players in the region. The ANZ winner gets bragging rights plus a massive bonus on top where up to $40,000 is tendered to the top 2 places on the board and this season, yet another follow up to this prestigious prize is already being thrashed out for 2013.

Michael Guzzardi has been perched on top so far and still hasn’t been budged, with the likes of Jie Gao and Ashley Warner rushing up behind him. This has been the case for a while now, but they are starting to take a more serious look over their shoulder as David Evans is making a bid to get to the top of the stairs. He has entered the top 10 tally after making a 5th place cash after a solid performance in the ANZPT Perth.

His $27,300 take down boosted him up with 49.6 points on the ANZ Player of the Year leader board. As season 5 continues to roll on, Evans has only managed to pull in this one result so far sending him into good position meaning another couple of solid performances could start to sway the boat at the top as nerves kick in. To be exact, Evans single cash has put him in 6th place and with 10 points out of the 49.6 points being appearance scores, a few more attendances could see him rise from his current standing of 69.60 and get closer to the top place where Guzzardi is sitting with 115.85 points.

Other movers at the top include new entrees from Patrick Healy who has pulled up into 10th and none other than Graeme Putt who launched himself into 8th position boasting 66.30 points up there.

Guzzardi is still way out in front and the top 4 look like they have a fairly clean cut lead with Warner and Hockin battling it out on even terms, nonetheless with the quick changes at the bottom, a short spell of bad form could easily see the top places begin to move.

The prize is still in waiting with $40,000 open to anyone and 4 entries into 8 of the APPT season 8 events including the cost of getting there! We can expect the challenges to hot up as season 7 comes closer to its final verdict.

How the ANZ Player of the Year’s Top Ten Stands

1st Michael Guzzardi of Australia 115.85 points

2nd Jie Gao of Australia 98.70 points

3rd Ashley Warner of Australia 89.45 points

4th Paul Hockin of New Zealand 89.45 points

5th Anthony Aston of Australia 72.90 points

6th David Evans of Australia 69.60 points

7th Bryan Huang of Singapore 67.70 points

8th Graeme Putt of New Zealand 66.30 points

9th Igal Augarten of Singapore 65.50 points

10th Patrick Healy of Australia 65.20 points