With the Caesars Cup getting ready for its inaugural action in just over three weeks, both American captain Daniel Negreanu and European captain Annette “Annette_15” Obrestad have been busy filling out the remainder of their squads. Earlier this week, each named two additional members to their teams, bringing the total to six of the eight that they will need.
Captain Negreanu, who seems to have been leaning towards more experienced players, continued to choose veterans with the selections of Doyle Brunson and Jennifer Harman. They will join a stellar lineup that also includes 2009 “November Nine” combatant Phil Ivey, 11-time World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelet winner and former World Champion Phil Hellmuth, and reigning WSOP Europe champion John Juanda. If there is one drawback to Team Americas, it is that Negreanu seems to have chosen players with a wealth of cash game expertise, which could potentially override their tournament poker backgrounds.
Little needs to be said for Doyle Brunson’s inclusion. The grizzled veteran of the Texas road games was among those who brought poker to Las Vegas and brings the vast experience that his 50-plus years in the game has honed. He has captured ten WSOP bracelets in his career, with two from the Main Event. He continues today to be at the forefront of poker and has a nearly unequaled library of knowledge that will be critical for his teammates to tap into during the Caesars Cup competition.
If Negreanu was looking for a female to be a part of Team Americas, then Jennifer Harman had to be on the top of his wish list. The only woman who has multiple open tournament victories in the history of the WSOP, Harman has been one of the high-stakes poker staples for the past 25 years. Her steely determination and intuitive style of play will give opponents fits as they try to determine where they are in a hand.
Captain Obrestad has chosen a tactic almost directly the opposite of Negreanu by going for the younger, internet-seasoned players for Team Europe. Captain Obrestad has tapped two Finns, Patrik Antonius and Ilari Sahamies, to join her and defending WSOP champion Peter Eastgate of Denmark, Italy’s Dario Mineri, and France’s Bertrand “ElkY” Grospellier on Team Europe.
Antonius brings one of the strongest games, tournament or otherwise, of any of the players in the Caesars Cup. While he is, so far, the oldest member of Team Europe at 29, he has traveled the world in his profession of high-stakes poker. In tournaments, he has earned over $2.8 million, including a European Poker Tour (EPT) championship in 2005, and has made untold amounts as a cash game player. Currently, Antonius is also engaged in one of the epic battles of 2009, the Durrrr Challenge, with Tom Dwan.
While he may not have the list of titles of other players in this event, Sahamies has the chops to be included in the Caesars Cup. Known as “Zigmund” online, Sahamies has claimed over $300,000 in tournament winnings and is especially known for his skills in high-stakes Pot Limit Omaha. Sahamies will also bring some chatter to the felt as he uses his verbal skills to attempt to throw his opponents off their games. Sahamies is also the face behind Power Poker.
Both Negreanu and Obrestad have two more choices for their respective teams before the Caesars Cup can be contested. Obrestad has one of her choices removed from her discretion, as WSOP Europe sponsor Betfair is offering a place on the team for an online player yet to be determined. All in all, the field is coming together as one of the strongest player lineups for a made-for-television competition in years. Poker News Daily will have all the details on the final selections, as well as the format of the Caesars Cup, in the near future.
