Competition was tough in all fields at the 2008 European Poker Awards. Peter Eastgate took the best tournament performance after battling that bracelet off Demidov's hands but Demidov was honoured as well as he took the Rookie of the Year award for his outstanding performance at the Main Events of the WSOP and the WSOPE. Marcel 'The Flying Dutchman' Lüske, founder of International Poker Federation, got a well deserved Lifetime Achievement Award. Sandra Naujoks was not many's favourite for European Leading Lady, but she earned it with her leading and remarkable performance at both the EPT and CAPT that was not as broadly publicized as the accomplishments of other nominees in the same category.

The 2008 European Poker Awards were handed out on January 15th at the Aviation Club in Paris. Here is a list of the nominees and winners.

Rookie of the Year:
Stephen Chidwick
Ivan Demidov
Davidi Kitai
Jesper Hougard
Stefan Ruthenberg
Alexander Kostritsyn
Peter Eastgate

Winner: Ivan Demidov ( Russia)

Best Tournament Performance:
Neil Channing
Bertrand Grospellier
David Benyamine
MartySmyth
Jesper Hougard
Sebastian Ruthenberg
Peter Eastgate

Winner: Peter Eastgate (Denmark)

Player of the Year:
Bertrand Grospellier
David Benyamine
Andreas Krause
Marty Smyth
Neil Channing

Winner: Bertrand “Elky” Grospelier (France)

Europe’s Leading Lady:
Kara Scott
Isabelle Mercier
Annette Oberstrad
Svetlana Gromenkova
Sandra Naujoks

Winner: Sandra Naujoks (Germany)

Casino Staff Person of the Year:
Jonathan Raab
Madeleine Harper
Thomas Kremser
Simon Trumper
Sylvie Belanger

Winner: Jonathan Raab (Scotland)

Award for Innovation:
Rob Yong
PokerStars Team: Francine Watson/Conrad Brunner/Mad Harper
Gene Gioia
Jonathan Raab

Winner: Rob Yong

Lifetime achievement award:
Winner: Marcel Lüske

Another great year is gone for European Poker, let's see what this one will bring to the board.