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The most prestigious title – “Player of the year” was won by Sam Trickett. The British Pro earned nearly $4.5 million on the tournament circuit in 2011, including victories at the Aussie Millions $100,000 Challenge and the Partouche Poker Tour Main Event. Quite predictably, Pius Heinz was honored with the "Best Tournament Performance" award after becoming the first German player to win the WSOP Main Event in November.

The Russian young gun – Andrey Pateychuk was named "Rookie of the Year" after winning two legs of the Triple Crown in less than two months. Pateychuk took down the PokerStars EPT San Remo Main Event in October for $875,470, and then won the World Poker Tour Prague Main Event in December for another $630,000. The 21-year-old also made a deep run in the 2011 WSOP Main Event, taking 15th place for $478,174. On his way to this title the Russian was ahead of Adrian Allen, Pius Heinz, Sam Holden and Alexei Kovalchuk. Note that Andrey is the fifth Russian, winning European Poker Awards. Earlier "Rookie of the Year" title was won by Kirill Gerasimov (2001), Alexander Kravchenko (2002) and Ivan Demidov (2008). Moreover, in 2007 Kravchenko was confessed Player of the year, and Vitaly Lunkin received the same honor in 2009.


But that's not all for Russia, as it got another nomination, after the WPT Diamond Championship Euro Poker Finals champion - Natalia Nikitina was named Europe’s Leading Lady. Among other winners were Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier (Poker Personality of 2011), Ilari Sahamies (Online Player of the Year), Warren Lush (Staff Person of the Year), Jesse May (Lifetime Achievement Award) and the WSOP Cannes (Event of the Year). Congratulations to all winners!