Englishman Sam Trickett has seen off the challenges from Jake Cody, Bertrand ‘ElkY’ Grospellier, Pius Heinz, Eugene Katchalov and Andrey Pateychuk to be crowned Player of the Year at the 2012 European Poker Awards. Titan Poker-sponsored Sam Trickett , who is a high stakes cash games specialist from Nottinghamshire, couldn’t make the ceremony – which was hosted by former European Poker Players Association (EPPA) secretary Nic Szeremeta – at the Aviation Club de France in Paris last night, so sent friend and PokerStrategy blogger Barry Carter to collect his award