GPI First Look: WPT Jacksonville bestbet Open

Enough of the California sun, the WPT’s US schedule takes players to the other coast this weekend as the WPT Jacksonville bestbet Open is on deck!

SECOND TRIP TO JACKSONVILLE

For the second straight season, the World Poker Tour has scheduled two visits to Jacksonville.

Back in November, Jared Jaffee (GPI#84) would pickup his first victory on the WPT. After twice qualifying for WPT final tables in the past, the third time was a charm for Jaffee, who earned the WPT Jacksonville bestbet Fall Poker Scramble title to end his 2013 season in style.

Jaffee would final table the WPT Borgata Winter Poker Open to start 2014. He finished fourth in what has been – to date – his only score this season.

The defending WPT Jacksonville bestbet Open Champion is Michael Linster (GPI#194). Linster would take his heater to Montreal where he would finish 32nd at the partypoker WPT Canadian Spring Championship and finish 32nd, just days after the biggest score of his career in Jacksonville.

Linster seems to enjoy spending time in Montreal. In October, he came back to the Playground Poker Club to win the Full Tilt Poker Montreal Festival, taking home $200,000 CAD.

BIG NAMES LURKING REDUX

In our GPI First Look of EPT Vienna earlier this week, we pointed out that with Daniel Negreanu (GPI#1) taking some well deserved time off, there was an opportunity for a few Top 10 players to gain some ground on the World #1 in Vienna.

Cue Jacksonville where two former World #1’s will also have that same opportunity. Marvin Rettenmaier (GPI#4), who was last ranked #1 in October, continues his journey through the US, playing at bestbet Jacksonville for the second time in Season XII.

Jason Mercier (GPI#5) is making the drive up from his Florida home to Jacksonville. Like Rettenmaier, Mercier, who last sat atop the GPI300 in September, will hope for a big win in order to – hopefully – dethrone Kid Poker.

Driving to Jacksonville for the 3500 reentry WPT… 326 miles, 5 hours. Should be real peaceful.

— Jason Mercier (@JasonMercier) March 21, 2014

DEFENDING CHAMPION

›› MICHAEL LINSTER  

Born ›› Levittown, NY, USA
Resides ›› Island Park, NY, USA

GPI# ›› 194  |  PoY# ›› 2206
GPI Score ›› 1733.79

Career ›› Wins: 5  | Cashes: 47  |   Top 10: 18
Earnings ›› 2014: $6,305  |  Career: $989,506

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