It's time for your weekly update on the 2017 World Series of Poker Kings Casino Rozvadov Player of the Year points chase, and with nearly two thirds of the WSOP's summer slate, the race is at tightest point since Event #1's first points were awarded. The current leader: Canada's Mike Leah. But don't stamp Leah's or anyone else's ticket to the Czech Republic just yet; at this juncture, every single cash, even for a minimal amount, can affect the very top of the chase.
Leah has been the model of consistency this WSOP, even though he's yet to land that huge financial score. Leah added two more cashes in the past six days to bump his series total to date to 11. That's tied for the lead in cashes with Ryan Hughes and Chris Ferguson, while John Racener and Alex Foxen are close behind with 10 each.
Leah's two cashes this week, in Event #47, $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em Monster Stack and Event #50, $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em Bounty, have moved his running POY points total to 542.99
However, there's not much room at the top. There's a cluster of players on Leah's heels, with five others already over 500 points as well. Those include last week's leader, James Obst, who slid to sixth after a cashless week at the Rio. However, Obst's 509.01 still has him in the top cluster of players.
Occupying spots two through five this week are Ray Henson, Ryan Hughes, John Racener, and John Monnette. Henson jumped from seventh this week on the back of his third final table of this year's WSOP. His third-place showing in Event #46, $1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better was worth $96,555 and 135.5 POY points. That moved Henson's total up to 531.22, less than 12 points behind Leah.
Hughes moved up three spots this week, from sixth to third, and he sits barely a point behind Henson at 530.13. Hughes' biggest score this week was a seventh-place showing in Event #44, $3,000 H.O.R.S.E.
Just behind Hughes is Racener, at 527.75. Racener held steady in the fourth spot as of this update, picking up cashes in the Monster Stack and Event #49, $3,000 Pot-Limit Omaha 6-Handed.
John Monnette jumped up to fifth this week, at 511.30, after being outside the top ten a week ago. Monnette cashed three times in recent days, with two of those three bringing significant POY points from deep runs in high-buy events. Monnette finished 17th in Event #48, $10,000 Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo 8 or Better Championship, then followed that up with a 16th-place run in the ongoing Event #51, $10,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better Championship.
The Kings Casino Rozvadov Player of the Year race offers over $20,000 worth of prizes. The player leading the POY chase after July's WSOP Main Event will receive a free buy-in into the €10,000 Main Event at 2017 WSOP Europe, to be held at King's Casino this fall. The overall 2017 POY winner, not to be determined until WSOP Europe's 11 bracelet events are in the books, then wins a $10,000 seat into the 2018 WSOP Main Event in Las Vegas.
All “open” WSOP events are included as part of the POY chase. Not part of the POY battle are this summer's Ladies, Casino Employees, Seniors, Super Seniors and Global Casino Championship events.
All POY point totals remain unofficial and are subject to change. Listed totals may not reflect the entirety of POY points awarded in any ongoing event.
Current Player of the Year Top 10:
1. Mike Leah 542.99
2. Raymond Henson 531.22
3. Ryan Hughes 530.13
4. John Racener 527.75
5. John Monnette 511.30
6. James Obst 509.01
8. Chris Ferguson 484.84
10. Alex Foxen 477.83