Min-Cash Gives Benjamin Zamani a Big Cushion in the Hublot WPT Player of the Year Race

Photo:  Season XV Hublot WPT Player of the Year Points Leader Benjamin Zamani

Benjamin Zamani has been leading the Hublot WPT Player of the Year race for most of the season, ever since he final tabled three of the first six events, finishing second, second, and fifth. But he hadn’t cashed in a WPT event since then, allowing a handful of other players to close the gap to get within striking distance.

Coming into this event, Zamani was just a min-cash ahead of Samuel Panzica, who has won two WPT titles this season.

However, the momentum has shifted with nothing more than min-cash. Zamani cashed, finishing 101st, and Panzica didn’t.

A min-cash is only worth 50 POY points, but it puts a lot more distance between Zamani and Panzica — metaphorically it’s the difference between a 3-point lead in football (requiring a field goal) and a 4-point lead (requiring a touchdown).

There is only one event left that qualifies for POY points, the $10,000 WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Finale which starts tomorrow, and instead of a min-cash, Panzica will now need at least an 18th-place finish to pass Zamani.

There is only one player remaining in this field who can catch Zamani in this event — Daniel Strelitz. But Strelitz will need to win this event to take the lead, and there are still 72 players remaining.

With one POY-eligible event remaining after this one (the Monster WPT Tournament of Champions doesn’t award POY points), the Season XV Hublot WPT Player of the Year will be one of the following nine contenders:

1.  Benjamin Zamani  –  2,550 pts
2.  Sam Panzica  –  2,450 pts
3.  Mike Sexton  –  2,100 pts
4.  Darren Elias  –  1,650 pts
5.  Daniel Strelitz  –  1,500 pts*
6.  Igor Yaroshevskyy  –  1,450 pts
7.  James Romero  –  1,400 pts
8.  Daniel Weinman  –  1,400 pts
9.  Pat Lyons  –  1,400 pts

Note:  Ties are broken by total WPT earnings this season.

* If Strelitz finishes 18th or higher, he will earn additional POY points, increasing his total to somewhere between 1,550 and 2,650 points.