blonde poker forum

I'm just wrapping up a magazine feature on the forthcoming EPT season, and jotted down 10 players who I think will make an impact. Here's my list, who would be on yours......

1 Johnny Lodden, Norway: One of the world’s most prolific online players, he has yet to spike a big live tournament win. But he is getting closer, with cash finishes in no fewer than four of the Season 3 EPT events (Barcelona, Dublin, Dortmund, Monte Carlo).

2 Patric Martensson, Sweden: A consistent performer, he has made it to three EPT final tables already – Barcelona and Dublin in Season 2, and Poland in Season 3. Still young, there is nothing to suggest he can not take a title this year.

3 Praz Bansi, UK: One of just two WSOP bracelet winners from Europe in 2006 (with John Gale), he enjoyed further success on the circuit (in the UK and in the US) but was not able to cash in an EPT event. Has what it takes to change that in Season 4.

4 Katja Thater, Germany: A member of Team PokerStars, Katja final tabled in Poland in Season 3. And she showed at this summer’s WSOP that she has what it takes on the world stage, winning a bracelet in the $1,500 Razz event and final tabling in the Ladies Event (at time of writing).

5 Gavin Griffen, US: After winning April’s EPT Grand Final in Monte Carlo, in what was only his first European tournament, Griffen pledged to come back and play more events this season. That’s bad news for everyone else, as before his EPT title, he had also become the youngest ever player to win a WSOP bracelet.

6 Ramzi Jelassi, Sweden: Burst on to the EPT scene last season with cashes in Baden and Warsaw. Typifies the aggression of young Scandinavian players and has a great chance of consistent results this coming season.

7 Andy Black, Ireland: Two cashes in the EPT last season, in Baden and a superb final table in the Grand Final where he finished seventh behind Griffen. Huge list of poker successes, including fifth in the 2005 WSOP Main Event, but still waiting for his first EPT title. What price on taking the crown in Dublin?

8 William Thorsson, Sweden: Yet another fearsome Scandinavian. Unpredictable, but with pedigree. Came 13th in the 2006 WSOP Main Event, and 3rd in the EPT Dublin last season after a great battle with Roland de Wolfe.

9 Stuart Fox, UK: Only one EPT cash to his name (11th in Deauville, Season 2) but knocking on the door of a big title. Finished superb second in this summer’s $5,000 no limit event at the WSOP to go with two final tables there in 2006.

10 Jan Sjavic, Norway: A quiet and consistent player who always seems to be there or thereabouts. Cashed twice in the EPT last season, third in London and tenth in Copenhagen, as well as coming third in the Master Classics of Poker in Amsterdam.

I wanted to put Tikay in, but ran out of space.

No Flushy  ?   

He's banned for seven seasons

thats a bit ****ing harsh

discriminationament

Good picks Simon (my absence notwithstanding, oh for the Sponsor Fairy to come-a-knocking....), and I particularly like the inclusion of young Ramzi Jelassi.

Ramzi has everything - good tempo, the ability to place players on holdings, bravery, & temprement. Not bad for one so young, & a lovely lad, too, no hooting & hollering with this fella.

I also like Thorsson, Lodden, &, of course, Foxy. Lodden is such fun to play with, unless he's on your table, that is. Thorsson has particularly menacing table-image. And wears a white belt. Intimidating, that.

Add one, & I'll be happy. Thewy has several EPT Cashes to his credit, but he's had a quiet year in bigger buy-in jobbies. Ignore him at your peril.

take a flyer, pick some unknowns...

Fingers crossed for Dan Carter. I know he's playing three of them for sure, Barcelona, London and obv Bahamas lol - wonder why he chose that one - for the golf? O rly?*

And for a non biased choice I hope Ben Grundy has a big score.  He always seems to go deep before taking a beat that you usually only find online, kinda ironic really.

*waits for someone to post a pic of the O rly owl*

I don't know any unknowns.....

my ten unknowns

would make a good article, you might not get paid, but a good article


1. Ivan Mihajlovic (Switzerland). Fled war-torn Serbia to take up Swiss nationality. Raises with A5 UTG and never passes to re-raises. After all what is there to be frightend of when you've played in war torn Balkan towns, laptop on knee, fleeing mortars?


2. D Nemirovsky (Russia). So unknown the databases don't know his first name yet. David probably. Possibly Daniel.

3. Fabien Zanzauri ( France) Destined to be last ever alphabetical entry on blondepedia. Going to send this snippet to Colin Murray

4. Igoris Kuklis (Lithuania). Baltic states a rising poker force, plays at Olympic casino in Vilnius.

5. Jan Maarten Cobben (Holland). Only top pro named after a bread roll

6. Nikolay Losev (Russia) Has to overcome pyschological impact of his surname on his poker game. Usually fears he is lost before he sits down

7. Mehmet Cinar (Sweden) Fish. Really

8. Silvio Walter...no one knows what country he comes from

9. Lindeberg (Sweden) No first name in poker databases. Can't be that bad Shirley?

10 Russell Cawley (Up North) just to take a real flyer


9 of these 10 are in the current top 125 of the rankings

unknowns to the poker magazine reading masses

Zlotan Zzzxzawe...........even lastier than your pick

Krusti Bap...................another pro named after bread roll

understatment, really.

you forgot to tip me

ok i wont be playing many but i am hoping to make it to the bahamas one way or another i have never gone on holiday to somewhere warm in my life and i think this will be a start
just waiting for stars to start tehre sats

Best of luck, mate!

i am going to need more than luck

A plane ticket?

EPT picks .. weighted toward these fair isles...
Lodden defo..
Andy Black
Roland de Wolfe
Thomas Walrhoos - Scandie
Karl Marenholz - UK
Dan Carter - UK
Roberto Romanello
Dave Colclough - he got his Mojo back
Ram Vaswani
Ian Nelson - he will land a biggie I am sure.

thats just a start i will need 2 plane tickets as i will need to be accompanied by someone that will in effect stop me from killing myself by making sure i take food and insulin more often than i do when in casinos in the uk

i will need a hotel room and the buy in

in effect i think i will need about £8k or £9k if i go (i have priced the flights)

as my online roll has never been over $8k then i need to get extremmely lucky and find a little skill which sadly i am void of at present

Good luck Ironside.If I FT the Main Event I will be happy to go with you. Bahamas sounds good in January.
I'm stuck in Budapest at the moment in 35 degree heat. Hope aircon on plane is working. Keep us upated on your qualification.

Daniel Negreanu - as he has now joined PS - I guess he will be dragged over the Atlantic to play some of the EPT.

Only one place to go to in Buda when its hot !!!

Cafe Rio !!

If Kenny Wongs missus let him play, he'd win one with chips to spare.

Rob Romanello or his brother are a good bet to cash, if not win one.

Johnny Lodden was unlucky in London (because of me), otherwise he'd have been right up there.

As always, Ram is the best British tournament player around at the moment, with Praz and Karl.