There is Mourning by Some Who Learn Chris Ferguson is Poker Player of Year

Chris Ferguson is a hated poker player due to his involvement in an elaborate ponzi scheme tied to once behemoth online poker room Full Tilt Poker back in 2011.

The “Jesus” nick is in reference to Ferguson’s appearance.  He’s an atheist and not exactly viewed as “Christ-like”. Following years of quietude and later a refusal to apologize for his role in the Full Tilt affair, let a lone any acknowledgement, Ferguson has become the 2017 Poker Player of the Year.

HighStakesDB.com explained how it all happened:

Theres' no denying Ferguson's play over the Summer and over these past couple of weeks at the Kings Casino in Rozvadov have certainly earned him the title. In Las Vegas he made a record (alongside Racener) 17 cashes, including two top four finishes in $10k Championship events, ending the series leading the POY race which earned him a free entry into the €10,350 Main Event (although he busted on day 1b, well short of the money). He continued his great form at the WSOPE, making another 6 cashes from the 11 events, including picking up his 6th career WSOP bracelet in Event #7: €1,650 Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better for €39,289.

“Evil, cruel or flawed, Ferguson is this year’s POY,” a headline on the CalvinAyre.com website reads.

Lee Davy, writing as if someone just killed his cat, put it this way:

Waking to the news that Chris ‘Jesus’ Ferguson has won the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Player of the Year (POY) race feels like someone has stepped on the back of my heel with a pair of Jimmy Choo shoes.

The skin looks roasted with a blow torch, and each passing draft causes a nuisance. I’m agitated and annoyed. Over time it will pass, the cells will bind, and I will have forgotten all about it.

But I can’t forget about Jesus because each year when I visit the annual WSOP, I will see his much-maligned mug staring down at me from the Rio rafters courtesy of his POY banner, like someone you dislike standing inches from your face, blowing a pernicious pink globe of bubble gum in your direction.

- Nagesh Rath, Gambling911.com