My Fantasy WSOP ME team


I challenged Nick to a friendly blog-brag bet for the WSOP ME

My old friend Nick posted today on the World Series of Poker Main Event (the WSOP ME for the uninitiated in internet abbreviations), which kicks off today. It is THE poker tournament - some 7-10 thousand hopefuls each kick in a $10k buyin and vie for the coveted title and bracelet. On top of the prestige of the event, the prize money is simply astounding with all of those who made the final table last year becoming millionaires.

Now neither Nick nor I will be seeing that anytime soon, so we have to settle for a fan's duel - and that means putting together a fantasy team. I suggested in his comments on his first post that he throw out his top 5 picks and I'll throw out mine and we'll see who's picks manage to cash the most. Nick has taken the challenge, so here's my response.

Here's my top 5:

1. Phil Ivey - This is a guy who most pros will tell you is the best player they face. He has great instincts, is incredibly aggressive and nearly impossible to read. Plus, he has these really scary eyes that make him look like he's always nervous.

2. Dan Harrington - Action Dan has not only won the ME, he also made the final table in back to back years (03 and 04), which is an amazing feat in the poker boom. He wrote by far my three most favorite poker books (Harrington on Hold'Em) and knows the game, particularly NLHE tournaments, exceptionally well.

3. Paul Wasicka - DOH! Nick stole him before I posted....

3. Phil Hellmuth - Sure his book sucked and he acts like an idiot most of the time and yeah, his cash game is widely regarded as dead money to most pros, but he's also a vastly underrated in NLHE tournaments. He's the only person ever with 11 WSOP bracelets and he just keeps cashing in these events (he holds the records for most cashes as well).

4. Allen Cunnigham - Scary smart and very skilled, he went very deep in last year's ME (in fact, I thought he'd win it, but luck box Jamie Gold was just unstoppable). I'm hoping he can pull a Harrington and at least make the final table again.

5. Nath Pizzolatto / Mike O'Malley - my dark horse candidate(s). I don't know if Nath is playing, but he's a guy who posts a bunch on 2+2 and Paul Phillips' blog. He had a pretty big 2nd place cash at last year's series (not the ME) and from his comments on his blog and others he knows what he's doing. He also has a great sense of humor - using Will Ferrel as Goulet for his avatar... how can I not root for that? If he's not playing in this year's ME, then my backup choice is Mike O'Malley. He's been in poker forever and writes for Cardplayer - plus, judging from his blog, he's taken some awful beats this series and outta be due for some payback.

So there you have it. I'll post some updates later as things get rolling.

Posted: Fri - July 6, 2007 at 12:06 AM | | | | | | |

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