For the 4th time in less than a decade Men "The Master" Nguyen became CardPlayer's Player of the Year after the final player of the year points for 2005 were counted. Second place was for John Phan and Allen Cunningham took third. Men Nguyen also won CardPlayer's Player of the Year award in 1997, 2001 and 2003.
Men Nguyen, who lives in Bell Gardens, California, accumulated $973,620 in tournament winnings this year at various Player of the Year events. He made 16 final tables and won four of them, including the Trump Classic, the WSoP circuit event at Paris/Bally's and the one at Harrah's (Vegas).
In the end it was a close match between Men Nguyen and runner up John Pan, which was eventually decided in favor of Nguyen at the Trump Classic in Atlantic City. Phan could win the much coveted award if he would finish first or second and Nguyen failed to cash. Both players made it to the final table. Phan finished in third place, but Nguyen won the tournament, and thus CardPlayer's Player of the Year award.
The awards will be presented during a special player of the year gala scheduled for February 15, 2006 at the Music Box theatre in downtown Hollywood. Master of Ceremonies will be actor Brad Garrett, one of the stars from the “Everybody Loves Raymond” comedy, and a household name in the celebrity poker circuit. The player of the year gala will be officially sponsored by BoDog Poker.