Online Report
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)
