To calculate an online poker player of the year is an idea that’s still in early development. The idea of having an accurate database on all online play does not exist yet, in my opinion. Up until recently the player of the year designation would go to one player for each site. Top earners from each site could be compared, but the action is different depending on the site you’re using.

There are some current attempts at claiming some players as the overall online player of the year, but even these are only semi-accurate. Card Player Magazine has begun to report on online action and has player of the year standings posted. The problem is that it only includes certain rooms, and not all of them. Marketing is still playing a controlling role in this list, and until all the online action is included the results are not completely accurate.

The sites included in the Online Player of the Year are the five that allow American action. So in that way these standings would be more accurate than any other because the Americans are included.

Points are given for money finishes in minimum $100 buy-in tourneys with 100 entrants or more. The amount of points a player gets is proportionate to size of tourney, number of entrants, and place finished.

The fact that there is a media body that’s making the effort to publish these rankings means it will improve over time. Eventually all the sites will be included and the ranking will be accurate. If interest in the online players continues to grow, more media will pick up it.

The current leader is Matt “ch0ppy” Kay, and he has 3,124 points, which is a 234-point lead to this stage in the year. He earned those points by finishing in the money in nine tournaments since January, three of which he won. His biggest cash was over $200,000 when he won the PokerStars Sunday Million back in January.