European Poker Awards

Peter Eastgate and Bertrand "Elky" Grospelier were two of the big winners at the Aviation Club in Paris. The 2008 European Poker Awards last week recognized their achievements.

World Series of Poker Main Event Champion Peter Eastgate won the most notable Tournament Achievement. All he did was win the Main Event. He also became the youngest champion ever, and gets the added thrill of supplanting Phil Hellmuth from that perch.

"Elky" won the European Player of the Year award beating the other nominees that included David Benyamine and Neil Channing. Elky had the golden touch this year and ran as well as just about anybody in the world including John Phan the receipent of several non-European awards.

Peter Eastgate wasn't the only member of the November Nine getting recognition as Ivan Demidov won the Rookie of the Year award. How Eastgate wasn't nominated for that award (he wasn't) is suprising. Still, Demidov was a deserving champion. He came in second in the World Series Main Event as well as third in the WSOP Europe Main Event.

Marcel Luske, the singing Dutchman, recieved a Lifetime Achievement Award that noted not only his winnings on the felt but also his contributions to the game.