blonde poker

Boylepoker.com sponsored pro Marty Smyth has been nominated for two awards at the European Poker Awards 2008. The prestigious awards ceremony, held at the plush Aviation Club in Paris in January 2009, sees Smyth up for Best Tournament Performance and Player of the Year.

Smyth has had a remarkable year winning lifted the pot limit Omaha world championship event at the World Series of Poker for which he collected $859,549, the World Open for $250,000 and, the Poker Million for $1 million. In all, he earned over $2.6 million from tournament poker in 2008.

“I’m very flattered to be nominated,” said Smyth. “It’s a great honour but I’m up against some very tough and worthy competition. Winning one of the awards would really be the icing on the cake of for what was a very special year for me.”

Paul Spillane, head of poker at Boylepoker.com, said, “We’re thrilled Marty has gotten the recognition he so thoroughly deserves. Even to be nominated is a great achievement. Now we hope he can go on for one more remarkable victory.”

The nominees in full are:

 Rookie of the Year:
 
Stephen Chidwick (England)
Ivan Demidov (Russia)
Davidi Kitai (Belgium)
Jesper Hougard (Denmark)
Stefan Ruthenberg (Germany)
Alexander Kostritsyn (Russia)
Peter Eastgate

Best Tournament Performance:
 
Neil Channing (England)
Bertrand 'Elky' Grospelier (France)
David Benyamine (France)
Marty Smyth (Ireland)
Jesper Hougard (Denmark)
Sebastian Ruthenberg (Germany)
Peter Eastgate (Denmark)

Player of the Year:
 
Bertrand 'Elky' Grospelier (France)
David Benyamine (France)
Andreas Krause (Germany)
Marty Smyth (Northern Ireland)
Neil Channing (England)

Europe’s Leading Lady:
 
Sandra Naujoks (Germany)
Isabelle Mercier (France)
Kara Scott (England)
Annette Obrestad (Norway)
Svetlana Gromenkova (Russia)

Casino Staff Person of the Year:
 
Thomas Kremser (Austria)
Sylvie Berlanger (Spain)
Jonathan Raab (England)
Simon Trumper (England)
Madeleine Harper (England)

Rob Gardner Award for Innovation:

Rob Yong (England)
Poker Stars Team: Francine Watson/Conrad Brunner/Mad Harper (England)
Gene Gioia (USA)