Player of the Year races to be won down under

September is sort of done and with it the WCOOP. I went to Vienna to play the series with a friend, which was nice because I wasn't alone grinding the entire time.

Now I'm waiting for the arena Series of Poker Asia-Pacific, which gets going early in October and can last for two-and-a-half weeks. I've booked my flight to Melbourne, Australia, which after all may be an extended journey. I COULD have some jet lag once I first arrive, but I'LL attempt to adapt by changing my sleeping schedule before leaving.

I've never been to Australia before, although I always desired to visit the Aussie Millions previously. I probably shouldn't have gone to the WSOP APAC if not for the WSOP Player of the Year race, for which I'm sitting in second place not far behind Brandon Shack-Harris (who I DO KNOW may also be there).

George Danzer

I'm just a little lower than seven points behind Brandon for the POY. That amounts to a single min-cash, so first-place is actually still up for grabs. Player of the Year awards -- or Player of the Series awards like in WCOOP and SCOOP -- definitely provide extra motivation for players, especially for those who're near the highest because the last events are arriving.

I personally think the WSOP Player of the Year race should end with the WSOP Main Event and never necessarily involve the Europe or Asia-Pacific series. The various points are won in those events in Vegas, and it builds up nicely to that climax after which it's over. Adding the later series just complicates things, and naturally not everyone can visit Europe or Australia and continue to fight for the POY. I say that although it would has been bad for me this year, because I MIGHT have finished second!

The WSOP APAC will only encompass ten tournaments and EPT London is occurring on the same time, so I MIGHT have preferred to stick in Europe and played on the EPT as opposed to make a 20-hour trip (and back). But you can not win the WSOP Player of the Year too often, so while you get the danger you more or less must opt for it.

I've teamed up with a few buddies of mine and we are going to be renting an apartment in Melbourne, for the reason that location itself is rather expensive. You almost certainly couldn't win enough in those tournaments to pay for the hotel.

The events at the schedule are fine. There are a few mixed-game tournaments, a few pot-limit Omaha events, or even a $25K high roller. If there have been 20 tournaments it might be a bit nicer, given how long it takes to get there. Even so, I'm excited for the series and looking out forward to doing my best while there.

I don't plan to peer much of Melbourne while I'm there as I WILL BE playing poker daily. I'm really just going to be there to take a look at to win the WSOP POY -- that'll be the one goal.

I could be going back to that a part of the sector in January, however, to play the Aussie Millions and likewise to have a correct vacation with my girlfriend so we can include going over to New Zealand to boot. We'll perform a little hiking both in Australia and New Zealand, and that i won't be 100% all in favour of poker. It's good that I'VE that trip planed for later, because otherwise I'd be bummed about being in Melbourne without the risk to look anything other a large number of poker hands.

The break after the WSOP in Las Vegas was pretty long, and as I HAVE BEEN playing WCOOP I HAVE BEEN seeking to get refocused on my game and shake off a bit rust. The WCOOP didn't necessarily go too well for me results-wise this year, but it surely have been great for purchasing back within the swing previous to my upcoming trip.

Wish me luck down under!

George Danzer is a member of Team PokerStars Pro.

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