High Stakes and Bold Picks at the $25K Fantasy Draft

Summary:

• A total of 24 teams competed in the $25K Fantasy Draft, with Jeremy Ausmus fetching the top bid at $141.
• Team Splash Sports stood out with a balanced roster, while Team Negreanu took risks by spending $108 on Daniel Negreanu himself.
• Fans can enter PokerOrg’s Fantasy Freeroll until May 29 for a shot at a $10K WSOP Main Event package.

While cards were hitting the felt at Horseshoe and Paris for the start of the World Series of Poker, many of the game’s most recognizable faces were a few miles away, locked in bidding wars at the PokerGO Studio. 

It was time for the annual $25K Fantasy Draft, poker’s iconic version of a high-stakes fantasy league.

24 Teams Paid the $25K Fee

With 24 teams paying the hefty $25,000 entry fee, the room was buzzing as auctioneer Tim Duckworth shouted out names and prices. 

The draft’s results will now feed directly into PokerOrg’s free-to-enter Fantasy Freeroll, where fans can compete for a $10,000 WSOP Main Event package. 

The freeroll lets players build their own fantasy team of eight, staying under a $200 budget, and submit picks before the May 29 deadline.

Early Drama Kept Fans on Their Toes

For those watching live or following online, the drama started early. Nick Schulman was the first name on the board, going for $107.

However, Daniel Negreanu quickly topped that by spending $108 on himself. Jeremy Ausmus later drew the biggest price of the night at $141.

Phil Hellmuth made a dramatic entrance and confirmed he’ll play in the Main Event. That revelation triggered a frenzy, and “The Poker Brat” ultimately sold for $79, a questionable value given his unclear schedule.

Other heavy-hitters went for big bucks, too: Scott Seiver ($125), Yuri Dzivielevski ($119), Jesse Lonis ($103), and Phil Ivey ($95). 

On the value side, Shannon Shorr’s $35 price tag raised eyebrows, given his red-hot form this year. 

Cherish Andrews may have been the steal of the night, landing at just $3. She’ll join Brock Wilson ($5), Ivey, and Nacho Barbero ($59) on Team Glue Factory.

Some teams came out looking sharp, but none more so than Team Splash Sports, led by Jeff Platt and Brent Hanks. 

They picked up Schulman early and followed with a balanced lineup including Adrian Mateos, Jason Koon, and a $1 Andrew Moreno.

Others, like Team Negreanu, had more chaotic rosters. Drafting himself for $108 limited options, and the team filled out with cheaper players like Mike Matusow and Nick Palma.

As Negreanu admitted, “it was an opportunity to grab some value” but it remains to be seen if that gamble pays off.

Now, it’s the fans’ turn to draft, and possibly win big.