EPT Deauville: Rossiter Makes His Picks

Sometime in the last few hours, Australian poker pro Jeffrey Rossiter (GPI #158), who now resides in Macau, DARED to challenge me on the GPI Fantasy Poker Manager Facebook App to a few friendly wagers. I was astounded that Rossiter would even dare to do such a thing! Who does he think he is? In order to exact revenge, I have decided to take it out on his team and dissect what will surely be an easy opponent to beat!

I’m kidding, of course! But, Rossiter did challenge me on the FPM Facebook App, one of the very fun features on FPM where you basically “prop bet” someone – if they chose to agree to the virtual stakes, obviously!

I have tremendous respect for Rossiter’s game.  I had the chance to interview Rossiter a few months ago following his sick run at the Asia Championship of Poker.  Here is Rossiter’s GPI FPM Team heading into EPT Deauville – a reminder that, like all of you, Rossiter still has until cards are in the air on Tuesday to adjust his lineup:

JASON KOON (USA) | GPI #39 | FPM 331,440
Best EPT Deauville Result: Never cashed
Career WSOP, WPT, EPT: 0 wins, 20 cashes,  $615,912

The lone American on Rossiter’s team.  Koon is a solid addition for sure despite the fact that he has yet to cash on the EPT.  Koon is in Deauville and is hoping to quickly get that EPT monkey off his back.  Look for Koon to shine once the WSOP comes around this summer, should he be a long-term investment for Team Scorpions (Rossiter’s FPM team name).

DAVID VAMPLEW (UK) | GPI #82 | FPM 208,130
Best EPT Deauville Result: Never cashed
Career WSOP, WPT, EPT: 1 win, 12 cashes,  $1,924,042

Three final table appearances in the past two months (including a 4th place finish at UKIPT Edinburgh a few weeks ago) mean that Vamplew is focused and ready.  Although he’s still very young, Vamplew has become a veteran on the live tournament circuit – it’s already been over two years since his breakthrough EPT London victory.

DOMINIK NITSCHE (GER) | GPI #124 | FPM 145,330
Best EPT Deauville Result: Never cashed
Career WSOP, WPT, EPT: 2 wins, 12 cashes,  $1,007,242

There is a very good chance that Nitsche has cashed in a country you have never heard of before.  Coming off his first full season on the live tournament circuit, Nitsche is one EPT title away from poker’s triple crown after collecting a WSOP bracelet in Vegas and a WPT title in South Africa in a matter of months.

Nitsche has no plans to reduce his crazy travel schedule (he literally plays everywhere in the world) so there is no reason to believe that his value will go anywhere but up in 2013.

ANTON WIGG (SWE) | GPI #163 | FPM 86,640
Best EPT Deauville Result: Never cashed
Career WSOP, WPT, EPT: 1 win, 8 cashes,  $838,006

Adding a former EPT Champ who’s already on fire in Deauville?  I like that plan!  Anton Wigg currently leads the France Poker Series Main Event with 18 players remaining at dinner.  Wigg holds (as of press time) a 2:1 chip lead on his second place opponent.

So, it’s a smart move by Rossiter to select Wigg.

JAKE CODY (UK) | GPI #230 | FPM 47,410
Best EPT Deauville Result: 2010, Champion, € 857,000
Career WSOP, WPT, EPT: 3 wins, 11 cashes,  $2,773,569

The secret is out.  This triple-crown winner offers tremendous value!  One out of four players have already added Cody to their FPM squads.  Cody won EPT Deauville in 2010 – he will certainly be looking for a repeat performance starting tomorrow.

JOHN EAMES (UK) | GPI #246 | FPM 35,290
Best EPT Deauville Result: Never cashed
Career WSOP, WPT, EPT: 0 wins, 16 cashes,  $522,251

Hope is what you get when you draft John Eames to your team … well, that and skill and a ton of results.  Still, Eames has yet to win a major title on tour … Rossiter surely hopes this will change in 2013.

NACHO BARBERO (ARG) | GPI #250 | FPM 33,800
Best EPT Deauville Result: Never cashed
Career WSOP, WPT, EPT: 0 wins, 15 cashes,  $615,912   54248  18362  178351

Just like Liv Boeree did earlier this week, Rossiter adds Nacho Barbero to his team.  A veteran of the tournament circuit, Barbero offers tremendous value since his affiliation with PokerStars guarantees that he will be travelling to a lot of big events again this season.

MATTHIAS DE MEULDER (BEL) | GPI #267 | FPM 30,930
Best EPT Deauville Result: Never cashed
Career WSOP, WPT, EPT: 0 wins, 10 cashes,  $228,670

A great addition at a very manageable market price, De Meulder won a 1500 NLH side event right here in Deauville at last year’s festival.

MICHAEL TURENIEC (SWE) | GPI #398 | FPM 11,500
Best EPT Deauville Result: Never cashed
Career WSOP, WPT, EPT: 1 win, 7 cashes,  $1,689,728

I just love this selection – love it!  The Swede won EPT Copenhagen in Season 7 and was runner-up to Michael Martin at EPT London in Season 5.  After a quiet 2012, there is no reason to believe that Tureniec won’t figure things out this season.

MATHEW FRANKLAND (UK) | GPI #535 | FPM 10,500
Best EPT Deauville Result: 2011, 20th, € 20,000
Career WSOP, WPT, EPT: 0 wins, 6 cashes,  $130,896

Tons of value with this pick.  Frankland may not be a household name on the live felt, but with over 1.7M USD in winnings online, there is no doubting the young Englishman’s ability.  Like Eames, Frankland is a team pro at IveyPoker.

A solid bunch for sure.  Rossiter seems to have set himself up for Deauville and beyond with his selections.  Although there may be a lack of players from the Americas (other than Koon, Barbero), many of the players he has selected do travel well so he should be covered for the season with his selections.

One interesting thing to point out about Rossiter’s squad is the fact that he himself is not a member of his own team.  But this is actually a smart move as Rossiter doesn’t play a ton of tournaments … but, something tells me we might see a move or two when the Asia Championship of Poker comes around next season.

Hope you enjoy playing the GPI Fantasy Poker Manager, Jeffrey!

Scout your players now and head on over to the GPI Fantasy Poker Manager you have until Tuesday (start of Day 2) to get your EPT Deauville picks in!

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