100 fifty-two gamers had been auctioned off into 19 groups of eight throughout the 25K Fantasy Draft for the 2024 World Collection of Poker, held on the illustrious PokerGO Studio.
With a complete prize pool of $475,000, the stakes are extremely excessive for the members. The payouts are structured to reward the highest 4 groups considerably, with the first-place workforce taking residence $225,000, adopted by $125,000 for second place, $75,000 for third, and $50,000 for fourth.
The draft adopted an public sale format, the place groups with a $200 allowance bid on gamers to type their final rosters. The occasion was marked by intense bidding wars, with a number of gamers commanding excessive costs.
Negreanu, Deeb and Livingston Most Costly Picks
Daniel Negreanu was the highest-priced participant of the evening. Reigning champions Group DPMC, made up of Donnie Peters & Matthew Clark, secured Negreanu for a staggering $132, making him the costliest participant in 25K Fantasy Draft historical past.
“I swear to God, I used to be choosing myself this yr,” stated a surprised Negreanu, who’s the second-highest level earner within the historical past of the league.
“My complete technique was to get myself, Josh Arieh (TheCoffeeBreakers.com – $73), and Jeremy Becker (Group NGNF – $3) to fill it out.” Negreanu advised PokerNews after the Draft. “I had to return to old style, Nick Schulman ($66), Chino Rheem ($40), Nacho Barbero ($53). We purchased Erick Lindgren ($1) and David Williams ($3).”
Alex Livingston claimed the second-highest bid, becoming a member of Group Lang for $110. Shaun Deeb adopted because the third-most costly participant, falling two locations from final yr. Ren Lin‘s Group Girl Gaga paid $104, greater than half their funds, for the perennial WSOP Participant of the Yr (POY) contender on the very first sale of the evening.
2024 $25K Fantasy Draft Ten Most Costly Picks
All-Time Bracelet winner Phil Hellmuth additionally got here with a hefty charge, costing $72, whereas poker icon Phil Ivey went to Dan Sepiol‘s Group for simply $16.
2023 WSOP PoY Ian Matakis‘ value rallied to $22 and was Group Lang’s second choose of the evening. Final summer season’s Primary Occasion winner and Group Fortunate member Daniel Weinman practically went for $2, however the bids ultimately got here flying in. Weinman remained in residence colours after companions Deeb and Arieh spent $31 to maintain his providers.
Tice Will get Bragging Rights Over Becker
Alongside sweating the draft, many members of the poker group have a vested curiosity in a looming poker match-up between Landon Tice and the aforementioned Becker.
The duo have agreed to a 100% crossbook wager in at the very least 25 mutually performed occasions over the summer season the place gamers comparable to Negreanu have motion on the aspect.
A crossbook is a wager between gamers in the identical event or money sport the place “the participant who loses owes the winner a share of that participant’s web winnings (vs. the dropping participant’s web winnings) within the occasion,” in accordance with Upswing Poker.
If the Draft indicated how the duel would play out, it might see Tice enter the ring as the favourite. Tice was nominated by Group Wilson for $10, which acquired the job carried out. A number of picks later, Becker’s identify was put ahead for $1. Solely two extra bids adopted, as Group NGNF (Jeff Platt, Brent Hanks, Ben Ludlow) snagged the funds purchase for $3.
All 25K Fantasy Draft Picks
That is a wrap for PokerNews’ time on the 25K Fantasy Draft, nevertheless it does not mark the top of our 25K Fantasy Draft protection.
We’ll be available all through all the 2024 WSOP, preserving tabs on all of the drafted gamers. Every participant is highlighted with a singular 25K Fantasy badge in our stay updates and there are particular filters which let you solely see arms that function 25K Fantasy gamers.
Within the meantime familiarize your self with the rosters from the 19 taking part groups.
Editor & Reside Reporter
Calum has been part of the PokerNews workforce since September 2021 after working within the UK power sector. He performed his first hand of poker in 2017 and instantly fell in love with the sport. Calum’s proudest poker achievement is profitable the one event he has ever performed in Las Vegas, the distinguished $60 Flamingo night occasion.