The 25k WSOP Fantasy Draft takes place Might 25 in Las Vegas, simply earlier than the beginning of the 2026 World Collection of Poker.
Poker followers all around the globe will use the bids from that draft to type their very own fantasy rosters. There are another inexpensive buy-in WSOP drafts for gamers who cannot fork over $25,000, together with the annual $500 ODBFantasy, run by David “ODB” Baker.
As soon as the bids are in from the 25k Fantasy Draft, ODB gamers and different leagues will then begin forming eight-player rosters. It’s essential for groups to draft properly and to maximise worth out of every choose, as they solely have $200 to spend on a roster based mostly on the 25k league bids. There are at all times a dozen or so gamers who present distinctive worth, some who go for simply $1 and others who dissipate greater than half a workforce’s bidding funds.
One potential steal this yr is an all-time legend. His title is Phil Ivey. Sure, 26 years after the G.O.A.T. gained his first of 11 WSOP bracelets, he is nonetheless among the many finest within the recreation.
Ivey went for $95 final yr within the 2025 Fantasy Draft, and he’ll seemingly go for the same bid this yr. So, you will not get him on a budget. However he is been well worth the funding the previous few years and has been on the verge of a Participant of the Yr kind summer time.
Who’re the Different Potential High WSOP Fantasy Draft Gamers?
Lots of the normal suspects will command a excessive bid and carry out nicely this summer time. That features gamers reminiscent of Shaun Deeb, Daniel Negreanu, Benny Glaser, and Jeremy Ausmus.
Deeb’s already off to a powerful begin in his WSOP Participant of the Yr title protection with two runner-up finishes at WSOP Europe, though these will not issue into the 25k Fantasy Draft outcomes. He’ll be taking part in his normal packed summer time, getting into nearly each bracelet occasion he can swing. The identical goes for Negreanu, Phil Hellmuth, and a few others.
However successful a fantasy league is not at all times about being the highest bidder on the most effective gamers on the earth. It is extra about discovering the undervalued gamers. Final yr’s 25k Fantasy winner, Group BTG, did not have a single participant on the roster who went for greater than $38. They as an alternative obtained worth out of gamers reminiscent of Dylan Linde (36), Isaac Haxton ($6), and Nick Guagenti ($38).
The roster had only one participant — Owais Ahmed — who supplied the workforce with only a few factors. In 2024, Group The Dinkers, gained it in a similar way, avoiding the gamers who go for the very best bids and discovering undervalued gamers, reminiscent of John Racener and Robert Mizrachi.
There are a variety of gamers who’re performing nicely getting into the 2026 WSOP and will turn out to be this yr’s fantasy draft steal, together with Nicky Palma, Brock Wilson, and Chino Rheem.
Dniel Negreanu Provides Fantasy Draft Recommendation
Negreanu, who will once more promote a few of his WSOP motion on PokerStake and vlog every day on the 2026 WSOP, posted a video on his YouTube channel to share his WSOP Fantasy Draft “finest bets.” He ranked the gamers in tiers based mostly on final yr’s bidding. Alex Foxen, who went for $66 final yr, is a Tier 5 participant “DNegs” singled out as undervalued.
“Alex Foxen, I don’t see as a Tier 5 participant,” Negreanu mentioned. “He performs PLO now, he performs no-limit. He is good. He is a hard-nosed grinder.”
Negreanu advises fantasy league gamers who’re looking for worth from the cheap picks to achieve out to these gamers earlier than drafting them simply to make certain they’re going to really play sufficient occasions. He drafted two gamers for $3 or much less final yr — David Williams and Erick Lindgren — however did not get many factors out of both. As such, the GGPoker ambassador completed sixteenth out of 19 groups within the 25k Fantasy Draft. Who does he assume will probably be a powerful choose this yr from final yr’s dollar-bin gamers?
“, I ought to shut my mouth on this one. But when Huck Seed’s coming again, he is a fantastic razz participant, nice stud participant, nice stud-8-or-better participant. So, if Huck performs, he is a 70 or 80-dollar participant.”
