Let's Not Forget About Afriat and Cristos
With Mukul Pahuja recently locking up the World Poker Tour Season XII Player of the Year title, none of the remaining competitors have a shot at that added glory. Now, while Pahuja's overall performance on Season XII was amazing �� five cashes, three final tables, and $1,447,742 in earnings �� he failed to win an event, and that's something two players remaining in the field have a chance to do for a second time this season.
That's right, both Eric Afriat and Jordan Cristos previously won events in Season XII. Afriat's win was in the largest WPT field in history when he took down the WPT Seminole Hard Rock Showdown to the tune of $1,081,184, beating out a field of 1,795 entries. Cristos won the WPT Legends of Poker for $613,355 when he defeated a field of 716.
As it stands, both Afriat and Cristos have zero chance at winning the Season XII POY title because Pahuja already has that victory in the bag, but there's certainly something to be said about any player who wins not one, but two WPT titles in the same season. In the case for Cristos, he also has two other cashes this season, including one that resulted in a final table appearance when he took fifth in the WPT Jacksonville bestbet Open for $47,802.
Not taking anything away from Pahuja and his truly amazing performance this season, a strong argument could be made that Afriat or Cristos should've won the POY title if either goes on to win a second title this season. Both are still alive and well in this event, so debaters get ready.
(H/T Jess Welman)