MTT Wizards

Stars of the Future

Over the last few years, the biggest offline tournament winners have become 'A' list stars. The likes of Daniel Negreanu, Gus Hansen and Chris Ferguson can barely make it to the end of the corridor without being stopped for an autograph or a photo.

Whilst you can read about Brunson, Ivey and Co in our Legends section, our main focus is on a different breed of champion player - the online tournament kings and queens or "MTT Wizards" (MTT: Multi-Table Tournament) as Poker Verdict calls them.

These largely unknown stars are achieving incredible feats - regularly making final table in fields with over 1,000 players. winning six-figure sums. Many of them are whizzkids in their late teens and early twenties.

I have played against (and sometimes even managed to beat) most of these rising stars and have had the privelege to witness their skills first hand. Here is my guide to some of the players I predict will be the stars of the future.

The list is in alphabetical order and is by no means exhaustive. If you have any suggested additions please let us know by emailing feedback@pokerverdict.com.

Ari - Also plays as "BodogAri". Ari is a prolific "casher" meaning that he regularly finishes in the money in the tournaments he plays. He has a good strike rate of converting cash finishes into final table appearances and he has had several five-figure pay-outs in the last 12 months, particularly in tournaments with $100 to $150 buy-ins on PokerStars and Paradise. Read Ari's blog.

B_O_K_E - 29 year old Dan Bokesh, aks B_O_K_E", is a regular MTT winner. His successes in the last 12 months have included an outright victory in the Big Sunday night tourney on Paradise - good for $38k, and a third place finish in the weekly PartyPoker million (also on Sunday night) - good for $53k.

brsavage - Chris Savage goes by the nickname of brsavage. Savage by name and, when it comes to MTTs, savage by nature too. He is a big early mover frequently getting to the top of the leaderboard in the early to mid stages and then converting it into a major cash. In 2006, his triumphs have included a first-place finish for $37k in the big Sunday night tournament on UltimateBet. He proved he can be a force in the offline world as well when he beat a high quality field to take down the limit hold'em event at the 2005 World Poker Open ($78k).

Colson10 - Still in his early 20's, Carl Olson is an up and coming star. He has had some major online and offline cashes in the last 12 months. His offline prize money exceeds $400k already and includes some major finishes on both the WPT and the WSOP (including a 2006 final table and $130k pay day). His offline success has mainly been in no limit holdem events. However, online he is a renowned Omaha guru. His successes in this discipline include a second place finish and $50k cash at the PokerStars 2005 World Championship of Online Poker ("WCOOP"). Read Colson's blog.

GBMantis - GBMantis regularly goes deep in the biggest MTTs particularly on PokerStars and Paradise - 2005 and 2006 have seen him enjoy several five-figure cashes

Gigabet - Like Johnny Bax, Darrell Dickin is one of internet poker's prodigal sons and a pacesetter in moving from online success to offline tournament fame. Previous a big online winner in all forms of the game including MTTs, he is now a feared offline competitor having cashed and final tabled at both WPT and WSOP tour events. In the first nine months of 2006 alone he has cashed in 20 big offline events, winning two of them for total earnings of $950k. Still referred to in offline poker circles as "Gigabet" he is a model for the future rising stars of the online game.

iMsoLucky0 - Another young phenom, Jordan Morgan recently added to a huge series of cashes by coming second in the big Sunday night tournament on Paradise - good for $17k. He put in an impressive show at the 2006 WSOP cashing four times for a total of $130k including one final table appearance.

MarvinGarden - 31-year-old Chris Birchby is a regular deep finisher in MTTs accross a range of sites. He has made a stack of online final tables in 2006 including a sixth place in the PartyPoker Million. He proved his skills could translate to offline poker as well with a 4th place finish in a preliminary event in the 2006 WSOP earning him $145k.

JohnnyBax - 33-year-old Cliff Josephy made his bones cutting up the internet poker world. In 2005, he made a ton of cash in all forms of the game including some big MTT wins. He is one of the first big online stars to make the full transition to a big offline star. Now a recognised face in the offline world, where he is still universally referred to as "Johnny Bax", his successes include a WSOP seven-card stud bracelet in 2005 ($192k) as well as a further $300k in big time cashes on the WPT and WSOP.

phat_cat - 33-year-old Shawn Luman is a consistent, serial casher in online MTTs. His total cashes in 2006 exceed $300k already and include a $38k pay-day for a 3rd place finish on Paradise.

Premier - Premier is a big Sit 'n' Go winner on PokerStars. He has also shown his MTT prowess by final tabling in the big Sunday night competitions more than once including a $64k pay-day in the PokerStars Sunday million.

Rizen - 27-year-old Eric Lynch is the current darling of online poker. He has enjoyed some huge cashes most notably $156k for an outright victory in the PokerStars Sunday million in May 2006 despite starting the heads-up battle with a huge chip deficit. That same night he final-tabled in the big tournament on UltimateBet and the week before he had finished second in another Sunday night biggy for a $17k pay-day. Wherever he plays online he is followed by a swarm on railbirds anxious to follow his rising star. Mild-mannered and universally liked, he is an obvious star of the future. He recently highlighted his intent with a 3rd place finish in a preliminary WSOP event ($105k) followed by a strong run at the main event crown ending with a 12th place finish and a $495k payday. Read Rizen's popular poker blog.

Roothlus - 25-year-old Adam Levy is a regular Sunday night MTT demon. A serial casher and an always dangerous opponent, his deep finishes in 2006 have included two final table appearances in the big Sunday night tourney on PokerStars ending in 3rd and 4th placed finishes. Read Roothlus blog.

SamENole - 24-year-old Matt Smith is renowned for his Sit 'n' Go ("SNG") prowess where he makes an impressive income. He is also a top MTT player with 2006 highlights including a $25k pay-day for 2nd place in the Friday night $200k event on PartyPoker. Another player to prove himself offline with a second placed finish at a WSOP event in 2005, good for $100k.

Shaniac - A regular big time casher and final table merchant on a wide variety of sites. Has enjoyed five-figure pay-days at both Paradise and PartyPoker in 2006. On some sites, he plays under the name "Hate it or Love it". Read Shaniac's blog.

Spawng - Canadian player "Spawng" created history by becoming the first double winner at the of the PokerStars WCOOP.- He showed great versatility by winning an Omaha title in 2005 ($67k) and a Heads-Up No Limit Holdem Knock-out in 2006 ($69k).

Strassa2 - Young New Yorker Jason Strasser has got to rate high on any list of rising stars. A profilic cash game winner, he only plays in the biggest MTTs. He regularly threatens the PokerStars Sunday Million and has final-tabled at least once in both 2005 and 2006. He cemented his online reputation by winning event 10 of the PokerStars 2006 WCOOP taking down one of the biggest ever online prizes ($442k). He is an aggressive and fearless player and his unorthodox style has already translated successfully to offline poker where he cashed four times at the 2006 WSOP. These cashes included a final table appearance and a deep finish at the main event that was halted only by a couple of terrible beats. Read Strassa2's blog.

TheDonator - 27-year-old Stuart Paterson aka "TheDonator" or "Dick Holdem" is a great online player. He also features in my guide to top Heads-Up players such is my respect for his game. In 2006, he has already final-tabled twice in the big Sunday night $200k guaranteed on UltimateBet, once finishing second and the other time sealing the deal, a $38k pay-day. He has also proved himself offline with some top cashes in 2006 including a final table at the Borgata Poker Open ($110K).