WSOP Player of the Year Front Runner: Vladimir Shchemelev

We're about a quarter way through the 2010 World Series of the Poker and the current front runner for the Player of the Year is Vladimir Shchemelev? Who is this guy? It's a great question. He has already been to three final tables at this years World Series, including a 2nd place finish in the 50k Player's Championship.

Prior to this years WSOP Shchemelev only had two career cashes at the World Series, both in 2007. One of the impressive things about Shchemelev, who hails from Russia is his success in all the games. He had the runner-up finish in the Players Championship, which was all no-limit holdem at the final table, and two 7th place finishes coming in the 10k Seven Card Stud Championship, and the 10k 8 or Better Championship.

This run for the Player of the Year is eerily similar to Ville Wahlbeck's in last years WSOP. Wahlbeck made three final tables last year including a victory and six cashes. He finished second overall to Jeff Lisandro. With three final tables already to Shchemelev's credit he currently leads the Player of the Year race.

We may not know much about Shcheemelev now, but with over a month still left in the World Series we should be hearing much more from this high-stakes Russian.