Sass Wins MPT Player of The Year in Surprisingly Close Race

ATLANTIC CITY, NJ – When the 2009 Mattress Poker Tour (MPT) Main Event began most players figured finalizing the Player of the Year race was a mere formality. Following a remarkably consistent season, which included five cashes in the first six events of the season, Sass held a commanding nineteen point lead when the first hand was dealt. Only one player, RowanB, was close enough to even have a chance to catch her in the season standings, and he had not won a MPT tournament since April, 2008. The MPT’s web site reported on the slim chances for the Sealy Cup to fall from Sass’ grasp, noting that Sass earned double-digit point totals in the last five events of the season, while RowanB only earned ten or more points four times in his entire MPT career. Trouble is, sometimes things never turn out to be as easy as they look. In the early stages of the Main Event RowanB thought his chances were over after he failed to eliminate either of the first two players, which prevented him from earning the valuable “kill” points to move up in the standings. However, things got much more interesting when Sass was the third player to bust in the tournament and RowanB was the player to knock her out. This was the first time since October, 2008 that Sass failed to make a deep run in a MPT tournament. As the tournament went on and RowanB busted more players and built a big stack few in the crowd realized just how close he came to winning his first Sealy Cup. Ultimately, it may have been Sass’ husband, Betdponies, who locked up the Player of the Year for her, when he eliminated Judykq in third place in the Main Event. One more kill point would have earned RowanB a tie, as when the final point totals were added up he had 68 Player of the Year points. Sass earned 69. Despite the anxious moments at the end, Sass earned her first Sealy Cup with cash after cash after cash. Her third place in the season’s first event at the Showboat in June got her rolling. She then began a string of four second place finishes in five events, interrupted only by a sixth place finish in Las Vegas, where she was busted by Trojanrabbit’s pocket aces late at the final table. While Sass is still seeking her first MPT title, she accomplished something neither of the two previous Main Event Champions have ever done in becoming Player of the Year. She joins TSS777 and Harv29 as the third recipient of the Sealy Cup. The MPT congratulates Sass, 2009 Mattress Poker Tour Player of the Year. Here are the complete "Sealy Cup" point standings for the 2009 season. 1. Sass (69) 2. RowanB (68) 3. Betdponies (51) 4. Harv29 (45) 5. Bigfus (36) 6. TSS777 (33) 7. Trojanrabbit (30) 8. Syrorange3042 (26) 9. Stan (22) 9. Janek13 (22) 11. Judykq (18) 12. Ghosthunter (16) 13. Sionow (15) 14. Tennis_bum (11) 15. Whispering Eye (9) 15. NMchop (9) 17. Dorianmac (8) 18. Ging (7) 18. Amazon (7) 20. Eileen (5) 20. Civicmon (5) 22. Big Jer (4) 22. JTinLV (4) 24. Baccarat King (3) 25. Noahcat (2) 26. Mrs. TSS777 (1) 26. Hammah (1)