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The PocketFives.com player rankings are compiled based on a number of criteria, the most important of
which being that the top ranked players must be consistently playing and succeeding in the biggest online
tournaments. Top players’ opinions are regularly sought on who the best players are, but the main source of
information is the rigorous observation of tournaments on a daily basis by the PocketFives staff. Rankings
are updated weekly to reflect recent results, but the players at or near the top have all been proving their
abilities over a longer period of time.
Ozzy 87 recently moved into the
top ten in the PocketFives.com
online player tournament
rankings, and he responded by
making the final table in the
Bahamas! This guy is still just 18-
years old, but he is consistently
beating some of the toughest games anywhere,
including the $50-100 NL on UltimateBet. The
sky is the limit for Ozzy, and he is currently
one of the most exciting players to watch.
Two more players on the rise are
iMsoLucky0 and JJProdigy. Both of these guys
have been producing huge results, and both
have played on a fairly limited basis in the last
month or so.
Pete “TheBeat” Giordano disappeared for a
while, but he is back in full force now, making
final tables on a daily basis. TheBeat is still one
of the best examples out there of a true online
professional. He has the skills and the experience
to succeed in the live arena, but he stays
at home and plays online because of the leisure
it affords him. He can spend time with his
family in Liverpool, NY, while still making
money and being able to operate on his
schedule of choice.
One new player to watch is PearlJammed/
PearlJammer. This guy only recently started
playing online, although he’s been playing in
Vegas for years. After only a couple months of
online play, he won the PocketFives.com Triple
Crown, which required that he finish in the top
five of three different tournaments in a
24-hour period, all on different sites, and all
with at least a $10k prize pool. After he’d
already won the triple crown, he went on to
win the $150 tournament on Paradise later
that night, which was worth about $10k….not a
bad day!
One last newly-ranked player that must be
mentioned is none other than BluffMag, the
owner of the magazine you’re reading! When
he’s not been busy behind the scenes here at
Bluff, he’s really been dominant online, making
several final tables in huge tournaments on
PartyPoker and other sites.
Check back next month for the latest in the
online poker scene!
ONLINE PLAYERS TO WATCH
JOHNNYBAX – Cliff Josephy, who won
a WSOP bracelet in 7-card Stud in 2005. Finished 2005
in first place on the PokerStars yearly Tournament Leaderboard,
one of the most prestigious accomplishments in online
poker. Respected as one of the best, if not the best
of the regular NLHE tournament players on several major
sites.
SAMENOLE – Matt Smith, the second
place finisher in the $1000 NLHE at the 2005 WSOP. One
of the best satellite players on the net, winning his
entries into several major tournaments in 2005. Had
numerous five-figure wins in the past year.
IMSOLUCKY0 – Jordan Morgan, a 21-year-old
phenom who has truly taken over the online tournament
scene. Won $200 tournaments with over 700 participants
on two different sites in 2005. Amazingly, neither of
those wins qualified as his biggest online win of the
year.
THEBEAT – Pete Giordano, who finished
in the top five of the PokerStars tournament leaderboard
in 2002, 2003, and 2004. Few online players have come
close to his consistently excellent play over the last
four years.
LEGGGGGGGGGGY – Plays pretty much
all of the big tournaments on every major site, and
has won the biggest weekly tournament on both UltimateBet
and Full Tilt in the past year. One of the top $100+
tournament players on UltimateBet for the year 2005.
SHEETS – Eric Haber, who narrowly
missed the final table of the 2005 Foxwoods WPT. One
of the most well-known and influential online players,
he has had a great deal of success playing multi-table
tournaments on several sites.
JJPRODIGY – Winner of the August 2005
PokerStars Tournament Leaderboard, which was likely
the most hotly contended monthly TLB race of all time,
due to several hundred thousand dollars in wagers that
were placed on the race. Has since picked up many impressive
wins, including a $54k score on Empire Poker.
GANK – Brett Jungblut, who won a WSOP
bracelet in the $5k Omaha 8/B event in 2004. Plays tournaments
at all levels on several different sites, and is one
of the most feared players on the net, because of his
aggressive and unpredictable style.
OZZY 87 – Many consider
him to be the best all-around player on the net, between
his tournament success and his consistently strong play
in cash games. Won numerous major online tournaments
in 2005, though much of the year he was known as bigslick789.
Finished 6th in the 2006 WPT Bahamas $8k event.
DOUBLELUCKY – One of the most consistent
players online, playing fewer tournaments than others
in the top 10, but still producing strong results on
a regular basis. Won the PokerRoom “Grand” $1,000 tournament
in July 2005, which was worth $121k. One of the top
performers in 2005 in the $100+ tournaments on UltimateBet.
A LOOK AT…
brsavage
A.K.A CHRIS SAVAGE
Quick Glance
My journey as a poker player is probably one
that many have dreamed of, yet few get to complete.
When I first started becoming successful online, it seemed
like every night I was waging war with guys like Scotty
Fischman and Josh Arieh. Their aggression was legendary,
and I styled my play to be similar. When it gets late in a tournament,
I definitely become more aggressive, as first is the
only good result. In 2004, I gained a lot of notoriety by winning 12 Aruba
seats at Ultimate Bet, as well as scoring several big wins in the Party Poker
Super tournaments, each for over 25k. I actually had a one week period in
which I won two Aruba seats, the Sunday 500 at UB, a first and a second on
consecutive nights in the Paradise 30 rebuy, and final tabled the huge Stars
Sunday $215, only to finish fourth, in a tournament ultimately won by
Carlos Mortenson.
Scotty Fischman recommended me to the same guy that had bankrolled
him and “The Crew,” and before I knew it, I was playing live for two
gentlemen well known in the online poker world as “Sheets” and “Bax,” two
exceptional players themselves. As luck would have it, I won a World
Championship in the very first event I played in for them, the $1,500 WPO
Limit hold’em event at Tunica. Winning a bracelet is the highlight of any
poker player’s career, and for me it will always be cherished.
I had some minor cashes in other events, but I decided in June to rededicate
myself to online poker, and only play in live events when I satellite into
them cheaply. In June, my wife Amy and I were blessed with two beautiful
babies, our little girl Baylee, and our little boy Brayden. Brayden had severe
complications and was in intensive care for several months. I really just now
have gotten back to where I can play on a regular basis, but not with the same
volume I used to... trust me, twins are a handful!
If I were to rate the poker sites, I would definitely concur with most that
Poker Stars has the best customer service, and they really understand how to
develop and retain loyal customers. My favorite site, however, is far and away
Paradise Poker. I love the tournaments there, as well as the great feeder
system they have in place for all of their major events. I have a strong
background in sales, and I clearly see Paradise making all the right decisions
to gain market share.
You can basically label me as the guy who got the opportunity to turn a
dream into reality. I can tell the many that haven’t gotten that chance this one
thing: Playing on tour isn’t all fun and games. It’s tough, it can be lonely, and
it can be frustrating. I have been there and chose to return to playing online,
and only play live when I win my seat online. It’s a good recipe for success;
so be patient, and don’t let the allure get to you... the tour is a nice place to
visit, but a tough place to live.
GL all,
Chris Savage (brsavage)
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