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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.
1. JohnnyBax – Hardly disputable as the top online
tournament player this year, he can consistently be
found at the final tables of $100+ tournaments on all
the major sites. Won a WSOP bracelet in 7- card stud
as well.
2. TheBeat – Or Pete Giordano, has finished in
the top 5 of the PokerStars tournament leaderboard each
of the last 3 years. His consistency is rarely if ever
matched by other players. He also has a WPT final table
under his belt.
3. Sheets – Eric Haber, backer for “The
Crew” in the 2004 WSOP. A master of rebuy tournaments,
but he also gets his share of final tables in freezeouts.
One of the most aggressive and fearless players on the
net.
4. SamENole – Matt Smith, a recent college graduate
who has been consistently beating online poker for over
a year. Picks his spots as well as anyone, and rarely
gets his chips in without the best hand. Finished 2nd
in the $1000 NLHE at the 2005 WSOP.
5. Gator93 – Full time professional online player
who has won satellites to virtually every live event
he’s tried for in the last year. He has had two
cashes over $40k in 2005.
6. Gank – Brett Jungblut, former member of “The
Crew.” One of the best all-around players on the
net, regularly showing prowess in many different types
of tournaments, including hold em, omaha, and omaha
8/b. Won a WSOP bracelet in 2004 in the $5k Omaha 8/b
event.
7. P0ker H0 – Mark Kroon, a long time recreational
player who found his niche playing online. He has won
around 30 online satellites for major live events, as
well as numerous other tournaments. Well known as an
extremely hyper-aggressive player, who could be playing
any two cards at any time.
8. Legggggggggy – A real “old school”
player, who has been around the game since long before
its popularity surged. Plays a tight-aggressive style,
rarely making mistakes, and that style lands him at
several final tables every week.
9. Brsavage – Chris Savage, who started playing
within the last few years and quickly took a spot among
the elite. He won 12 Aruba packages on UltimateBet in
2004, and has had several online cashes of $25k or more.
Won a $1500 limit hold-em bracelet at the World Poker
Open in 2005.
10. NSXT2 – Todd Arnold, a master of the psychology
involved in the game. He is a professional player who
is now sponsored by Paradise Poker. He has won more
than 40 tournaments online in a little over a year,
and has started to cause a stir in the major live tournaments.
A Look at Legggggggggy
You may all know me as that crazy poker player Legggggggggy,
but in real life I’m an over the hill businessman
raised in the 60’s looking for fun. Taught to
bluff by my grandpa at age 4, I discovered online poker
a few years back. After realizing that this allowed
for all the spills and thrills one could ever imagine
I figured “this beats watching TV.” Luckily
I own a successful business, so when I go on a bad streak
I can wake-up the next day and try try again. I try
to play “right” and push with the best hand,
but after playing many hands on many sites, I’ve
discovered that nothing is more important than betting
hard, even without the best hand. Having position and
a feel for your opponents is very good. Separate the
great players from the good players and the awful players,
and take calculated risks when you need to. Waiting
for monsters will ensure that “when or if”
you get one, you will get a bad beat because it’ll
be so cheap to bust you! One time I was trying to fold,
but my puppy “Rockyboy” jumped on my lap
and “oops” pushed my hand on the mouse from
fold to raise only to suck out and win me a monster
pot with 2- 8…. Yesss! (I got him a stripper “poodle”
for the night for his “input”) Funny game
we play. Sometimes the smarter we play, the less we
win! So my advice is to be the bettor, never the caller!
And always have fun and don’t lose more than you
can afford!
Favorite Site: UltimateBet (sometimes)
Most hated site: Pokerstars (always)
Favorite Game: Pot limit Omaha
Worst Game: Pot limit Omaha
Favorite Online Player: Lil Knuckle
Best online player: WestTexasMan (sober
only)
Biggest Win: Party Poker Sunday $200
multi (twice in 1 month)
Best Week: Won $200 multi on UltimateBet,
three $150 tourneys on Paradise Poker, Legends of Poker
seat on Paradise, $30 rebuy on Paradise, $100 on Party
Poker and 2 WSOP main event seats Pokerstars (not bad
huh?)
Worst Week: Every week since
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