Hellmuth, Negreanu Head Nominees for American Poker Awards

A panel of over 80 poker professionals was asked to vote for this year's nominees and the panel narrowed each category to four selections.

The winners will be awarded on February 25, 2016 at the SLS Hotel in Beverly Hills. A final jury panel will meet the day before to determine the winners in every category.

Hellmuth, Duhamel and Negreanu Among Finalists

The APA awards players, industry professionals and select media members for outstanding achievements in 2015.

Several major stars were among those named as finalists on Wednesday.

Phil Hellmuth is up for Moment of the Year for winning his 14th career bracelet in the $10k Razz Championship. Daniel Negreanu is nominated for his 11th-place finish in the WSOP Main Event.

Twitch superstar Jason Somerville is up for Media Person of the Year and Media Content of the Year. The final jury panel will vote on 11 awards to be presented on February 25.

In addition, the GPI Player of the Year and Female Player of the Year Awards will be presented. Byron Kaverman won the GPI Player of the Year while Kelly Minkin finished as the 2015 GPI Female Player of the year.

Below is a selected list of categories and the nominees:

TOURNAMENT PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR

Jonathan Duhamel, WSOP One Drop High Roller
Mike Gorodinsky, WSOP $50.000 Poker Players’ Championship
Joseph McKeehen, WSOP Main Event
Anthony Zinno, WPT L.A. Poker Classic

MOMENT OF THE YEAR

Anthony Zinno wins back-to-back WPT titles after winning WPT Fallsview, WPT L.A. Poker Classic
WSOP Colossus sets record as over 22,000 players enter for chance at a gold bracelet
Phil Hellmuth wins 14th bracelet in 10K Razz Championship
Daniel Negreanu finishes 11th in the WSOP Main Event

BREAKOUT PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR

Joshua Beckley
Asher Conniff
Cate Hall
Kelly Minkin

EVENT OF THE YEAR (BUY-IN UP TO $2,000)

The Colossus - World Series of Poker - Rio All-Suites Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas
WPT500 at ARIA, Las Vegas
World Series of Poker Millionaire Maker, Rio All-Suites Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas
WPT DeepStacks – DSPT Championship, Grey Eagle Resort & Casino, Calgary

EVENT OF THE YEAR (BUY-IN OVER $2,000)

Inaugural Super High Roller Bowl, ARIA, Las Vegas
WSOP Main Event, Rio All-Suites Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas
WSOP One Drop High Roller, Rio All-Suites Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas
WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown, Hollywood, FL

INDUSTRY PERSON OF THE YEAR

Jack Effel, WSOP Vice President and Tournament Director
William Mason, Seminole Hard Rock Director of Poker
John Pappas, Poker Players Alliance Executive Director
Matt Savage, TDA Founder, WPT Executive Director

CHARITABLE INITIATIVE OF THE YEAR

Chad Brown Memorial Tournament (Maria Ho, Vanessa Rousso)
Charity Series of Poker (Matthew Stout)
Tiger’s Poker Night (hosted by Tiger Woods, WPT Foundation)
WSOP One Drop High Roller / Little One for One Drop

POKER INNOVATION OR INITIATIVE OF THE YEAR

Poker Central launches 24/7 television network
SHRPO (in conjunction with PNIA) livestreams four FT’s in same room/at same time
WSOP adds online bracelet event (with live final table)
WSOP introduces ‘The Colossus’