Solotrombone Wins 2020 Player of the Year Title

 

ALL OF YOUR HOMES, USA - For the second time in MPT history, a player came from behind in the last event of the season to win the Player of the Year race. After earning his second win of the season in late November Solotrombone trailed Syrorange3042 by seven points going into the Main Event, but a strong third place finish in the final event of the year catapulted Solotrombone to the top of the standings, holding off a surging RowanB, who finished the year with back to back second place finishes to fall just short of the top spot.

Both Solotrombone and RowanB eclipsed Bigfus' record for points in a single season, set in 2010, though RowanB played in two more tournaments than Bigfus did that year and Solotrombone benefited from larger fields throughout the 2020 season. Nonetheless, with two victories and two other cashes in seven events played en route to the third highest cash total in MPT history Solotrombone's season stands among the most successful in MPT history.

Here are the complete "Sealy Cup" point standings for the 2020 season.

1. Solotrombone (97.5)
2. RowanB (96)
3. Syrorange3042 (93)
4. Sionow (80)
5. Skiteacher (76)
6. dukegal76 (73)
7. Harv29 (71)
8. Sass (69.5)
9. JTinLV (57)
10. ru47suited (52)
11. Skyweb22 (44)
12. Bigfus (24)
13. Amazon (17)
14. Martin (12)
15. TSS777 (5)
16. Scurvydog (3)
17. Pehffff (2)

Sionow Wins 2019 Player of the Year Title

ATLANTIC CITY, NJ - With his first career win in this year's Las Vegas Spectacular followed by a second place finish in the Las Vegas Extravaganza, Sionow jumped off to a fast start to this season with cashes in the first two events. His lead was nearly insurmountable going into the Main Event, with only Bigfus within striking distance. RowanB closed the gap in the Player of the Year race with a win in the final event of the season, but that still left him five points behind Sionow, the largest Sealy Cup margin of victory since Harv29's eight point win in 2015.

Sionow is the ninth different person the win the MPT Player of the Year award, joining JTinLV as the second player living outside of the Eastern Time Zone to win the award. Sionow is also the fifth out of the last six Las Vegas Spectacular winners to finish the year winning the points title. He is also only the third person to win Player of the Year award despite not playing in the Main Event, joining TSS777 (2007) and JTinLV (2017) as the only other players to do so.

Here are the complete "Sealy Cup" point standings for the 2019 season.
1. Sionow (32)
2. RowanB (27)
3. Bigfus (26)
4. Philly Special (18)
5. Amazon (18)
6. Harv29 (15)
7. JTinLV (11)
8. Sass (8)
9. Martin (6)
10. Bob Ackerman (5)
11. Judykq (4)
12. Dorianmac (3)
13. Skiteacher (3)
14. Grumpy (1)
15. Solotrombone (1)

Skiteacher Wins 2014 Player of the Year Title

ATLANTIC CITY, NJ - Skiteacher completed a breakout sophomore season on the Mattress Poker Tour by becoming the sizth different MPT Player of the Year, joining TSS777, Harv29, Sass, Bigfus, and RowanB. His commanding victory in the Las Vegas Spectacular, the biggest event of the season, was enough to narrowly overcome two cashes by Amazon. Amazon entered the season having only once failed to win an event in which she cashed, but earned money from second and fourth place cashes this season. Ultimately, Skiteacher's margin of victory in the 2014 season proved to be a single point.


Here are the complete "Sealy Cup" point standings for the 2014 season.

1. Skiteacher (29)
2. Amazon (28)
3. Bigfus (23)
4. Sass (21)
5. RowanB (20)
6. Solotrombone (19)
7. Regi B (14)
8. Harv29 (12)
9. Sionow (11)
10. JTinLV (10)
11. Tss777 (4)
11. Karen B (4)
11. Betdponies (4)
14. Judykq (3)
15. Craig (2)
16. Sherlock (2)
17. Rover (1)
17. Cushla (1)

Harv29 Wins 2013 Player of the Year Title

ATLANTIC CITY, NJ - Harv29 earned his second cash of the 2013 MPT season during the Main Event, earning enough points to secure his second career Player of the Year title, joining Bigfus as the only players to win more than one Sealy Cup.

After bubbling in the first event of the season, Harv29 won his second Las Vegas Spectacular in the past three years, leaving him on top of the point standings going into the final event.  With the chip lead early in the last tournament of the season, Harv29 was poised to finish as the Player of the year and made no mistake in the lategoing as he watched his rivals drop out of the tournament.

Last year's Player of the Year, RowanB failed to cash for the first time this season in the Main Event, finishing as Sealy Cup runner-up for the second time in his career.  MPT all-time points leader, Bigfus, found herself in seventh place in the overall standings at the end of the season, her lowest career Sealy Cup finish.

Here are the complete "Sealy Cup" point standings for the 2013 season.

1. Harv29 (40)
2. RowanB (31)
3. Tss777 (28)
4. Solotrombone (20)
5. Sass (19)
5. Judykq (19)
7. Bigfus (17)
8. Amazon (14)
9. Skiteacher (8)
10. I don't care (6)
11. New Norman (5)
12. Sionow (4)
13. JTinLV (3)
14. Noahcat (1)

RowanB Wins 2012 Player of the Year Title

ATLANTIC CITY, NJ - RowanB earned his first career MPT Player of the Year trophy for the 2012 season.  He followed a strong runner-up finish in the annual Las Vegas Spectacular with his first Fall Classic win in Stone Harbor.  His consistent finishes in the other events and season lead in "kills" kept him ahead of Bigfus, who finished her third consecutive season with at least two MPT wins.  RowanB becomes the fifth different MPT Player of the Year, joining TSS777, Harv29, Sass, and Bigfus.



Here are the complete "Sealy Cup" point standings for the 2012 season.

1. RowanB (41)
2. Bigfus (38)
3. Amazon (29)
4. Harv29 (27)
5. Solotrombone (25)
6. Noahcat (18)
7. Sass (16)
8. Ghosthunter (12)
9. Sionow (9)
10. Patsy (6)
11. Tennis_bum (5)
11. Tss777 (5)
11. Mr. Lucky (5)
11. Judykq (5)
15. JTinLV (3)
16. Janek13 (2)
17. New Norman (1)

Bigfus Wins Back to Back Player of the Year Titles

ATLANTIC CITY, NJ - For the second consecutive year a player won three MPT tournaments in a single season, but this year the player walked away with the season title.  By winning the final event of the season, Bigfus equaled TSS777's season best for wins, which coupled with one other cash was enough to hold off a resurgent Harv29, who won the season's biggest event in Las Vegas and added three other cashes to his best MPT season in recent history.  However, at the end of the year, Harv29 was left to only present the Player of the Year trophy to its winner rather than hoist it himself.

Bigfus became the first player in MPT history to win more than one Player of the Year trophy and the first two-time winner of the prestigious "green chip" trophy.  She finished with the second highest point total in series history, trailing only her own record of 94 points during the previous season.  Bigfus has set a new standard of excellence for the series and the other MPT superstars will have a lot of work to catch up in the seasons to come.

Here are the complete "Sealy Cup" point standings for the 2011 season.

1. Bigfus (85.5)
2. Harv29 (64)
3. Betdponies (52)
4. Tss777 (48.5)
5. RowanB (41)
6. Mr. Lucky (29)
7. Ghosthunter (21)
8. Amazon (19)
9. Sass (18)
10. Tennis_bum (10)
11. Trouble (9)
12. Sionow (8)
13. JTinLV (6)
14. 2timeace (4)
14. Janek13 (4)
16. Bardolator (3)
16. Judykq (3)
18. Ging (2)
18. Dave (2)
20. Demon (1)
20. Noahcat (1)
20. Patsy (1)
20. Baccarat King (1)

Bigfus Wins MPT Player of the Year in Record Setting Season

ATLANTIC CITY, NJ - Bigfus rebounded from a disappointing 2009 season in a big way. After leading the money list and finishing second place in the player of the year standings two years ago, she fell to fifth in the Sealy Cup standings, failing to cash in the last six events of that season. Bigfus won the opening event of the 2010 season, repeating her feat from the year before, but this time backed that win up with five finishes in the money in the last six events. In October, Bigfus also became only the second player in MPT history to win two tournaments in a single season , joining TSS777.

TSS777 was the only other player with a chance at the Player of the Year prize going into the main event. The two players dueled throughout the season, winning the first three tournaments. TSS777 won the two most prestigious events of the season, the Main Event and Las Vegas Spectacular, but that was not enough to overcome missing two events. His three victories set a single season mark, but it was Bigfus who set a series of records, smashing her previous record for money won in a season and also topping Sass' record for points in season by a considerable margin. She did fall short of one record, however, cashing in one fewer event than in 2008, but she did not win a tournament during that season.

After 2010, we don't expect to see 2010 Mattress Poker Tour Player of the Year, Bigfus, fall short of much anymore.

Here are the complete "Sealy Cup" point standings for the 2010 season.

1. Bigfus (94)

2. TSS777 (75)

3. Sass (57)

4. Harv29 (55)

5. Betdponies (42)

6. RowanB (37)

7. Hammah (20)

7. 2timeace (20)

9. Amazon (17)

10. Pixie (15)

11. Demon (14)

12. Janek13 (11)

13. Civicmon (10)

14. Tennis_bum (9)

14. Judykq (9)

16. mghenry (8)

17. Syrorange3042 (7)

18. Sherlock (6)

19. Ghosthunter (5)

20. JTinLV (4)

20. Cushla (4)

22. Eileen (3)

22. Noahcat (3)

22. Stumerrian (3)

25. Cocktail Master (2)

26. Baccarat King (1)

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)

MPT All-Time Single Event Points Leaders

A complete list of players who have earned ten or more points in an individual MPT event, with the number of Sealy Cup points earned listed after each player's name.

Last Updated: January 11, 2022

TOP POINT TOTALS

1. TSS777, Las Vegas Hilton (8/1/2010), 31
2. Trojanrabbit, Rio Las Vegas (8/2/2009), 30
3. Sass, Memorial Day MPT (5/24/2020), 29
4. Sass, PokerStars Main Event (12/27/2020), 26.5
5. Harv29, Mirage Las Vegas (7/29/2013), 26
5. Sass, Virtual MPT (2/20/2021), 26

MORE DOUBLE DIGIT POINT TOTALS

25 Points
Sionow, Virtual MPT (8/16/2020)
Betdponies, Golden Gate Las Vegas (7/31/2021)

24 Points
Skiteacher, Mirage Las Vegas (7/28/2014)
JTinLV, South Point Las Vegas (7/30/2017)
Solotrombone, Start of Summer MPT (6/28/2020)

23 Points
Harv29, Palazzo Las Vegas (8/1/2011)
Sionow, Golden Gate Las Vegas (3/31/2019)
Skiteacher, Start of Summer MPT (6/28/2020)

22 Points
Stan, Rio Las Vegas (8/2/2009)
TSS777, Bally's AC Main Event (12/28/2010)
Betdponies, Palazzo Las Vegas (8/1/2011)
Noahcat, Borgata Main Event (12/27/2016)
Harv29, Virtual MPT I (5/9/2020)
Skiteacher, Memorial Day MPT (5/24/2020)
dukegal76, Virtual MPT (11/1/2020)
Skiteacher, Virtual MPT (4/18/2021)
Sionow, PokerStars Main Event (1/9/2022)

21 Points
RowanB, Borgata Main Event (12/28/2009)
Betdponies, Trump Taj Mahal (11/13/2010)
RowanB, Mirage Las Vegas (7/29/2013)
New Norman, South Point Las Vegas (7/31/2016)
RowanB, PokerStars Main Event (12/27/2020)
Syrorange3042, Virtual MPT (4/18/2021)

20 Points
Syrorange3042, Stone Harbor, NJ (9/26/2009)
Hammah, Las Vegas Hilton (8/1/2010)
Bigfus, Harrah's Atlantic City Main Event (12/29/2011)
Syrorange3042, Virtual MPT (9/20/2020)

19 Points
Amazon, Showboat HoB (7/6/2008)
Bigfus, Stone Harbor, NJ (10/8/2011)
Bigfus, Trump Taj Mahal (5/19/2012)
Sass, Borgata Water Club Main Event (12/28/2014)
Syrorange3042, Memorial Day MPT (5/24/2020)
Harv29, Virtual MPT (8/16/2020)
Solotrombone, Virtual MPT (11/29/2020)

18.5 Points
Solotrombone, PokerStars Main Event (12/27/2020)

18 Points
Harv29, Rio Las Vegas (8/2/2009)
Mr. Lucky, Stone Harbor, NJ (10/8/2011)
Noahcat, Trump Taj Mahal (5/19/2012)
Amazon, South Point Las Vegas (7/28/2012)
Amazon, Mirage Las Vegas (7/28/2014)
Harv29, Borgata Water Club Main Event (12/28/2015)
Philly Special, Golden Gate Las Vegas (3/31/2019)
Bigfus, Aria Las Vegas (9/29/2019)
dukegal76, Start of Summer MPT (6/28/2020)
Harv29, Golden Gate Las Vegas (7/31/2021)

17 Points
Betdponies, Borgata Main Event (12/28/2009)
Harv29, Las Vegas Hilton (8/1/2010)
RowanB, Stone Harbor, NJ (10/6/2012)
Judykq, Caesars Main Event (12/27/2013)
Bigfus, South Point Las Vegas (7/30/2017)
Sionow, Virtual MPT (11/1/2020)
Harv29, Virtual MPT (2/20/2021)
Bigfus, Virtual MPT (4/18/2021)
RowanB, Memorial Day MPT (5/30/2021)
Sass, PokerStars Main Event (1/9/2022)

16 Points
Bigfus, Showboat Orleans Tower (6/13/2009)
Janek13, Bally's AC (7/3/2009)
Ghosthunter, Caesars AC (11/21/2009)
Bigfus, Harrah's Waterfront Tower (4/17/2010)
TSS777, Bally's Claridge Tower (7/2/2010)
2timeace, Las Vegas Hilton (8/1/2010)
Sass, Stone Harbor, NJ (9/25/2010)
Bigfus, Trump Taj Mahal (11/13/2010)
Bigfus, Bally's AC Main Event (12/28/2010)
RowanB, Borgata Water Club (11/19/2011)
Ghosthunter, Harrah's Atlantic City Main Event (12/29/2011)
Solotrombone, Mirage Las Vegas (7/29/2013)
Bigfus, Borgata Water Club Main Event (12/28/2014)
Harv29, Red Rock Resort (7/29/2015)
JTinLV, South Point Las Vegas (7/31/2016)
RowanB, Virtual MPT (9/20/2020)
Skyweb22, Virtual MPT (11/1/2020)
Solotrombone, Virtual MPT (2/20/2021)

15 Points
Sionow, Rio Las Vegas (8/2/2009)
Sass, Stone Harbor, NJ (9/26/2009)
TSS777, Caesars AC (10/3/2009)
Amazon, Golden Gate Las Vegas (3/31/2019)
Solotrombone, Virtual MPT I (5/9/2020)
Skiteacher, PokerStars Main Event (12/27/2020)

14.5 Points
TSS777, Caesars AC (5/28/2011)

14 Points
Baccarat King, Showboat AC (10/20/2007)
"E", Showboat HoB, (7/6/2008)
Scurvydog, Main Street Station (8/9/2008)
Harv29, Caesars AC (11/22/2008)
Betdponies, , Showboat Main Event (12/28/2008)
RowanB, Rio Las Vegas (8/2/2009)
Betdponies, Stone Harbor, NJ (9/26/2009)
Bigfus, Resorts AC (10/23/2010)
Demon, Bally's AC Main Event (12/28/2010)
Bigfus, Bally's AC (7/2/2011)
RowanB, South Point Las Vegas (7/28/2012)
Bigfus, Borgata Main Event (12/27/2012)
Regi B, Mirage Las Vegas (7/28/2014)
Solotrombone, Borgata Water Club Main Event (12/28/2014)
Solotrombone, Stone Harbor, NJ (10/11/2015)
Solotrombone, Borgata Water Club Main Event (12/28/2015)
RowanB, Memorial Day MPT (5/24/2020)
Syrorange3042, Virtual MPT (8/16/2020)
Skyweb22, PokerStars Main Event (1/9/2022)

13 Points
RowanV, Stone Harbor, NJ (6/7/2008)
RowanB, Showboat HoB, (7/6/2008)
Bigfus, Stone Harbor, NJ (9/25/2010)
Bigfus, Palazzo Las Vegas (8/1/2011)
TSS777, Trump Taj Mahal (5/18/2013)
Bigfus, Mirage Las Vegas (7/29/2013)
TSS777, Mirage Las Vegas (7/29/2013)
Harv29, Borgata Main Event (12/26/2017)
Martin, South Point Las Vegas (7/30/2017)
JTinLV, Start of Summer MPT (6/28/2020)
ru47suited,, Virtual MPT (9/20/2020)
Sionow, PokerStars Main Event (12/27/2020)

12 Points
TSS777, Showboat HoB (7/5/2007)
Sass, Caesars AC (11/21/2009)
Bigfus, Bally's Claridge Tower (7/2/2010)
Sass, Resorts AC (10/23/2010)
Harv29, Caesars AC (5/28/2011)
Betdponies, Stone Harbor, NJ (10/8/2011)
Ghosthunter, Stone Harbor, NJ (10/6/2012)
Amazon, Red Rock Resort (7/29/2015)
RowanB, Borgata Main Event (12/27/2016)
RowanB, Golden Nugget Main Event (12/27/2019)
Sionow, Virtual MPT I (5/9/2020)
Martin, Memorial Day MPT (5/24/2020)
ru47suited, Start of Summer MPT (6/28/2020)
ru47suited, Virtual MPT (11/1/2020)
Amazon, Virtual MPT (2/20/2021)
Harv29, Memorial Day MPT (5/30/2021)
Viceroy, Golden Gate Las Vegas (7/31/2021)

11 Points
Civicmon, Showboat Main Event (12/28/2008)
Sass, Bally's AC (7/3/2009)
Tennis_bum, Rio Las Vegas (8/2/2009)
Sass, Rio Las Vegas (8/2/2009)
RowanB, Caesars AC (11/21/2009)
Judykq, Borgata Main Event (12/28/2009)
Sass, Las Vegas Hilton (8/1/2010)
Harv29, Stone Harbor, NJ (9/25/2010)
Harv29, Trump Taj Mahal (11/13/2010)
Mr. Lucky, Borgata Water Club (11/19/2011)
Harv29, Harrah's Atlantic City Main Event (12/29/2011)
TSS777, Harrah's Atlantic City Main Event (12/29/2011)
Solotrombone, Trump Taj Mahal (5/19/2012)
Amazon, Borgata Main Event (12/27/2012)
Sass, Caesars Main Event (12/27/2013)
RowanB, Golden Nugget Atlantic City (5/3/2014)
Sionow, Mirage Las Vegas (7/28/2014)
Bigfus, Stone Harbor, NJ (10/11/2015)
Harv29, South Point Las Vegas (7/31/2016)
Judykq, Borgata Main Event (12/27/2016)
Sionow, South Point Las Vegas (7/30/2017)
Judykq, South Point Las Vegas (7/30/2017)
RowanB, Golden Gate Las Vegas (3/31/2019)
RowanB, Virtual MPT (8/16/2020)
RowanB, Virtual MPT (11/29/2020)
Viceroy, Virtual MPT (2/20/2021)
Sass, Virtual MPT (4/18/2021)

10 Points
Sass, Showboat HoB, (7/6/2008)
Bigfus, Main Street Station (8/9/2008)
RowanB, Main Street Station (8/9/2008)
Amazon, Stone Harbor, NJ (9/27/2008)
Sass, Caesars AC (10/3/2009)
Janek13, Harrah's Waterfront Tower (4/17/2010)
Amazon, Las Vegas Hilton (8/1/2010)
Civicmon, Trump Taj Mahal (11/13/2010)
RowanB, Bally's AC Main Event (12/28/2010)
Tennis_bum, Palazzo Las Vegas (8/1/2011)
Bigfus, Harrah's AC Waterfront Tower (9/3/2011)
Betdponies, Harrah's AC Waterfront Tower (9/3/2011)
Solotrombone, Stone Harbor, NJ (10/6/2012)
JTinLV, Mirage Las Vegas (7/28/2014)
Amazon, Borgata Water Club Main Event (12/28/2014)
Solotrombone, Tropicana Atlantic City (12/27/2018)
Solotrombone, Memorial Day MPT (5/24/2020)
Syrorange3042, Start of Summer MPT (6/28/2020)
dukegal76, PokerStars Main Event (12/27/2020)
Skyweb22, PokerStars Main Event (12/27/2020)
Bigfus, PokerStars Main Event (1/9/2022)

NOTE: Starting in the 2009 season, the scoring system was changed to award bonus points to individuals who "cash" in an event.

MPT Career Points Per Event

A complete list of the all-time total Player of the Year points per event played by players in MPT events, with the number of Sealy Cup points per event and number of events played in parenthesis following each player's name. (Players must have played at least ten events to qualify)

Last Updated: January 11, 2022

1. Syrorange3042 (10.27, 15)

2. Sionow (9.68, 22)

3. Solotrombone (9.10, 26)

4. Skiteacher (9.05, 19)

5. Harv29 (7.93, 70)

6. TSS777 (7.75, 34)

7. Bigfus (7.58, 68)

8. Betdponies (7.45, 31)

9. RowanB (7.41, 69)

10. Sass (7.18, 58)

11. Amazon (6.86, 35)

12. JTinLV (6.73, 26)

13. Judykq (5.82, 17)

14. Janek13 (4.50, 10)

15. Baccarat King (2.70, 10)

NOTE: Starting in the 2009 season, the scoring system was changed to award bonus points to individuals who "cash" in an event.

MPT Career Points Leaders

A complete list of the all-time total Player of the Year point totals by players in MPT events, with the number of Sealy Cup points earned in parenthesis following each player's name.

Last Updated: January 11, 2022

1. Harv29 (555)

2. Bigfus (515.5)

3. RowanB (511)

4. Sass (416.5)

5. TSS777 (263.5)

6. Amazon (240)

7. Solotrombone (236.5)

8. Betdponies (231)

9. Sionow (213)

10. JTinLV (175)

11. Skiteacher (172)

12. Syrorange3042 (154)

13. Judykq (99)

14. dukegal76 (82)

15. Skyweb22 (58)

16. Ghosthunter (54)

17. ru47suited (53)

18. Noahcat (49)

19. Janek13 (45)

20. Civicmon (35)

20. Tennis_bum (35)

20. Viceroy (35)

23. Mr. Lucky (34)

24. New Norman (32)

25. Martin (31)

26. Trojanrabbit (30)

27. Ging (29)

28. Baccarat King (27)

29. 2timeace (24)

30. Stan (22)

31. RowanV (21)

31. Hammah (21)

33. Dave (19)

34. Philly Special (18)

35. Scurvydog (17)

36. Pixie (16)

37. "E" (15)

37. Demon (15)

37. Dorianmac (15)

40. Regi B (14)

41. Sweeney (12)

41. mghenry (12)

43. Whispering Eye (11)

44. Nmchop (9)

44. Trouble (9)

46. Eileen (8)

46. Sherlock (8)

48. Patsy (7)

48. Bowchislin (7)

50. I don't care (6)

50. The Maestro (6)

52. Cushla (5)

52. Bob Ackerman (5)

54. Meredith (4)

54. Neil (4)

54. Big Jer (4)

54. Karen B (4)

58. Just Jason (3)

58. Stumerrian (3)

58. Bardolator (3)

58. DickHowser (3)

62. Cocktail Master (2)

62. Craig (2)

62. Pehffff (2)

65. DJ Chuck Chillout (1)

65. Rover (1)

65. French Roulette (1)

65. Grumpy (1)

65. Doohnut (1)

NOTE: Starting in the 2009 season, the scoring system was changed to award bonus points to individuals who "cash" in an event.

Is the Sealy Cup Locked Up? Almost, But Not Quite

Sass will take a 19 point lead over RowanB into the final event. While that is not an insurmountable lead, Sass is pretty close to having locked up the season championship. Third and fourth place Harv29 and Bigfus are 30 and 31 points back, meaning that RowanB is the only other player who has a realistic chance to overtake Sass and win this year's Sealy Cup.

A number of things would have to go right for RowanB for this to happen, starting with a field of at least eight players for the Main Event. A field of seven would yield a maximum of 18 points to the winner (7 for outlasting six opponents, 5 bonus points for first place, and 6 "kills" for eliminating every player), which would leave RowanB just short even if he eliminated every player in the field while Sass finished in last place.

RowanB's chances improve as the field size grows. For example, consider this year's Las Vegas MPT, where Sass finished in sixth place out of a sixteen player field, but earned only 11 points while the winner, trojanrabbit, earned 30 points (16 for outlasting fifteen opponents, 7 bonus points for first, and 7 kills). The winner of that event at the Rio picked up 19 points on Sass, despite her respectable finish. If the "December Dozen" becomes a reality and twelve players start this year's Main Event, then there would be a maximum of 30 points available to the winner of that event, if that person can eliminate every opponent. An early exit by Sass, combined win and a lot of "kills" by RowanB could tighten up the Player of the Year race considerably.

On the other hand, the possibility a victory for RowanB becomes more remote when you consider a few other factors. Sass has only six kills in 18 career events, which opens the door slightly for a comeback for the season title, but RowanB has never eliminated more than three players in a single event. If he ties he personal best for kills, then RowanB would need to win the tournament and for Sass to finish in last place in a 10 player field, and even doing that would just earn him a tie in the season standings. However, Sass has not finished an event in last place since September 2008 and has not been more than two spots outside of the money since October 2008. She has also earned ten or more points in five consecutive tournaments, no fewer than six points in each of her last eight events, and fewer than six points only five times in 18 career tournaments. During that same time, RowanB has earned more than ten points in only four events, and never more than 14 points, while winning only one out of twenty career tournaments.

All that adds up to a slim chance for RowanB and virtually no chance for anyone else to unseat Sass as this season's Player of the Year.

Event 1 Cash and Sealy Point totals

Here are the standings after Event 1:

$100 - Bigfus
$45 - Whispering Eye
$30 - Sass

16 - Bigfus
9 - Whispering Eye
7 - Sass
4 - Big Jer
4 - Harv29
2 - Rowanb
1 - Betdponies

Harv29 Earns MPT 2008 Player of The Year

ATLANTIC CITY, NJ - In a ceremony immediately following this year's Mattress Poker Tour Main Event, series Tournament Director, Harv29, earned his second trophy of the season when former series champion TSS777 presented him with the Player of the Year award for MPT 2008. This comes on the heels of Harv29's first career victory during the November MPT event at Caesars Atlantic City. The Player of the Year honor followed a season in which Harv29 earned five cashes in eight events, breaking through after finishing on the "bubble" - one spot away from cashing - in five of the first seven MPT events.

Harv29 combined patience to outlast some of his more aggressive opponents with selective aggression to earn this year's title. Player of the Year runner-up Bigfus cashed in more events, but was only credited with three "kills" (for eliminating other players) this season, while Harv29 knocked twelve opponents out of tournaments. He led the MPT in "kills", which when combined with his consistent finishes this season made Harv29 a worthy successor to TSS777 as MPT Player of the Year.

Here are the complete "Sealy Cup" point standings for the 2008 season.

1. Harv29 (61)
2. Bigfus (56)
3. RowanB (54)
4. Mrs. Betdponies (42)
5. Amazon (35)
6. Betdponies (29)
7. RowanV (21)
8. Ging (20)
9. civicmon (20)
10. TSS777 (18)
11. Scurvydog (14)
12. "E" (14)
13. Dave (8)
14. Baccarat King (5)
15. Neil (4)
16. Sionow (4)
17. JustJason (3)
18. Janek13 (3)
19. Whispering Eye (2)
20. DJChuckChillout (1)
    Dorianmac (1)

MPT 2007 Player of The Year Crowned

STONE HARBOR, NJ - The Champion can finally wear his crown.

This past weekend, the Mattress Poker Tour (MPT) crowned it's first full-season champion, as New Jersey native tss777 was in attendance for the trophy presentation in his home state. Tss777 won two events in 2007, including the inaugural ECLVA Classic in Stone Harbor, while holding on to his season championship despite missing the Tournament of Champions in December. A veteran of online poker and regular contributor to the Kill Phil forums, tss777 was among the pre-season favorites for MPT Player of the Year and his performances in the series tournaments proved that he was worthy of these lofty expectations.

The series champ will now have his work cut out for him defending his title against the ever-growing legion of MPT Superstars as the second full-season promises more events, new locations, the introduction of mixed games, and stronger fields. Remember, with the MPT if you're not playing with us, then you're just playing with yourself.

Here are the complete "Sealy Cup" point standings for the 2007 season:

1. TSS777 (20)
2. Betdponies (19)
3. Harv29 (18)
4. Baccarat King (17)
5. RowanB (16)
6. Bigfus (15)
7. Mrs. Betdponies (14)
8. Sweeney (12)
9. Dave (9)
10. Meredith (4)
11. Janek13 (3)
12. "E" (1)