The 2024 WSOP is only five days in, but already there have been some moves and shakers in the $25K Fantasy League.
As of this writing, David Coleman is the top point earner with 42 points thanks to a sixth-place finish in Event #1: $5,000 Champions Reunion NLH Freezeout for $69,231. That’s great value for Team The Dinkers (Josh Kay & the Florida crew) as they bought him for just $3 in the draft, meaning Coleman is putting up 14 points per dollar (Pts/$).
Not far behind with 39 points is league commissioner Daniel Negreanu, though his points per dollar is a paltry 0.3 Pts/$. Negreanu, who belongs to Team DPMC (defending champs Donnie Peters and Matt Clark) finished 50th in Event #1: $5,000 Champions Reunion for $9,141 and the following day placed 16th out of 3,485 players in Event #3: $500 WSOP Kickoff NLH Freezeout for $8,541.
The best value of the draft so far is Team Lady Gaga’s (Ren Lin) Qiang Xu, who they bought for a dollar. Xu, who won a bracelet at the 2023 WSOP, has 35 points (35 pts/$.) thanks to 37th-place finish in Event #3 for $4,596.
$25K Fantasy Points Leaders (as of 6/1/24)
Rank
Player
Team
Score
Salary
Cashes
Pts/$
1.
David Coleman
Team The Dinkers
42
3.00
1
14
2.
Daniel Negreanu
Team DPMC
39
132.00
2
0.3
3.
Qiang Xu
Team Lady Gaga
35
1.00
1
35
4.
Shaun Deeb
Team Lady Gaga
21
104.00
2
0.2
5.
Ben Yu
Team Baker
14
67.00
1
0.21
6.
Brian Rast
Team The Dinkers
12
37.00
1
0.32
6.
Aram Zobian
Team Wilson
12
7.00
1
1.71
6.
Chris Hunichen
Team Kalas
12
15.00
1
0.8
9.
Jeff Madsen
Team AJ's Eagles
10
1.00
1
10
10.
Yingui Li
Team Lady Gaga
4
1.00
3
4
Team Lady Gaga is out to an early lead in the league with 61 points, though Team The Dinkers are close behind with 58 points. Team DPMC sits with a respectable 39 points, while Team Baker (David “ODB” Baker) is next closest with 17 points. On the other end of the spectrum, a trio of teams sit with a single point, though Team Sepiol (Dan Sepiol) is in dead last with zero points.
Erick Lindgren limped the hijack, followed by Brian Rast on the button and Najeem Ajez in the small blind before Benoit Galland checked his option.
The dealer spread a flop of A♦A♣J♠, and once checked to, Lindgren dropped a bet of 25,000 across the line. All three of his opponents made the call.
The action froze as they all checked on the 5♠ turn, and 10♠ river where Ajez announced a flush, tabling A♠K♠9♠6♦ which was good as all three of the other hands flung into the muck.
Anthony Zinno opened up the action to 40,000 in middle position. Julien Sitbon called from the cutoff and Sterling Savill completed from the big blind.
The flop came down K♣J♠J♥ and action checked to Sitbon who fired 35,000. Zinno came along for a turn card.
The 10♦ rolled off and Sitbon bet 85,000 this time. Zinno called once more.
The river 8♥ resulted in action going check-check and Zinno scooped the pot with A♠J♣8♦7♠.
Robert Cowen had 60,000 in front of him and a single 5K chip behind. Najeem Ajez raised it and Cowen, aware of the upcoming payjump, took his time before committing his final chip as well.
Robert Cowen: Q♠Q♣4♦3♠
Najeem Ajez: A♦K♣K♠J♠
The dealer fanned out 9♥6♦6♣3♣7♣ and Ajez' kings remained best. "Good game, brother," he said as Cowen made his way out in 48th place.
There was 295,000 in the middle on the J♠8♣5♠8♥ turn, and Joao Vieira had a bet 185,000 in front of him while facing an all-in jam from Kyle Montgomery for 550,000.
