It was never a given though, as it’s actually been a bit of a quiet year for the champ. He’s kept a sparse tournament schedule (preferring the high-stakes thrills of the Big Game at the Bellagio), and hasn’t chased the kind of publicity afforded some other poker pros. And yet, such is the reputation of this obscenely talented player that you made no hesitation in naming him Poker Player of the Year.

Of course, when we say he had a quiet one, Ivey still managed to win his fifth bracelet at the WSOP, place a respectable 20th in the Main Event and reach two WPT and two WSOP final tables.

Then, towards the end of 2005, he stamped his authority firmly back on the tournament circuit by scoring back-to-back wins in Monaco, taking down both the Monte Carlo Millions and the starstudded FullTiltPoker.Net Invitational (earning $1.6m for his trouble in a little over 24 hours).

Performances such as this leave little doubt as to Ivey’s exceptional talents, and clearly this is a tribute well deserved.