2005 Player of the Year Award

Card Player's Player of the Year award has become the yardstick used by the entire poker community to measure who has played the best tournament poker during the year. To further enhance it both within and outside of the poker community, it is my pleasure to announce the following in regard to the 2005 Player of the Year award:

• The winner will be given a buy-in (up to $10,000 maximum) to the 2006 World Series of Poker championship event.

• All players who receive 2005 POY points will be invited to play in a $100,000 freeroll in early 2006 at Bodog.com.

• The top 100 point-getters will be invited to attend a gala awards banquet in early 2006. We will make this a proper media event so that you stars will get the recognition that you so rightly deserve.

In addition, we would like to acknowledge that there are many new players who don't have either the funds or the opportunity to play in the major POY events.

Many Card Player readers know that we host monthly $1,500 freerolls at our play-money site www.CardPlayerPoker.com. They are great fun and a good learning tool, and it is always nice to have a chance to win something with no financial risk. The year's top 100 finishers will be eligible to play in a final championship tournament. Go to CardPlayer.com to learn about signing up.

Besides other prizes, the top 10 finishers will also be invited to "Play With the Pros" in the $100,000 freeroll and attend the 2005 POY awards banquet.

On behalf of the entire poker community, I would like to extend a very special thanks to Bodog.com, who will be the 2005 POY award sponsor. Without them, this would not be possible.