In the run-up to the 2015 Main Event, we asked several people from the world of poker for their thoughts and predictions ahead of this year’s tournament.
Will Shillibier – Editor of Backdoor Quads
Alec Pearce – Associate Writer for Backdoor Quads
Cillian Berragan – Winner of the 2015 UK Student Poker Championships
Felix ‘xflixx’ Schneiders – PokerStars Team Online Pro, playing in his first Main Event
How many people will enter the Main Event?
WS: 6,800
AP: 7,500-8,000 – the promise of 1,000 payouts will entice far more players than last year
CB: 6,756
FS: 9999 people
How deep will Martin Jacobson go?
WS: He has the experience of going deep so I fully expect him to cash. Further than that depends on flips and table draws!
AP: Top 200 cash – With 2 WSOP cashes already under his belt this series, I believe the defending champ will at least make a deep run in the money if not the final table
CB: 1456th place
FS: 99th place
Will Ronnie Bardah cash the Main Event for the sixth time in a row?
WS: It would be some feat wouldn’t it? No one will want it more than him, so I believe he has every chance of doing so
AP: Yes, Ronnie is a veteran of the Main Event and clearly knows how to play in a field of this size and calibre. Take into account his 3 WSOP cashes this season and I tip Ronnie to run deep in the ME as well
CB: I think he’ll miss out this time
FS: Yes, because he folds trips like a boss [Editor’s note: I’m assuming Felix is referring to this clip of Bardah in the Shark Cage]
Who will be the last woman standing?
WS: I’ve seen Leo Margets play a lot during this year’s EPT and it would be great to have such a smiley person go deep in the Main Event
AP: Vanessa Selbst – One of the best players in the world right now, if Vanessa doesn’t make a deep run it will probably be down to bad luck rather than the bad play
CB: Elizabeth Hille
FS: Former Miss Finland turned poker player Sara Chafak, because she can bluff pros like a boss!
Pick a player to keep an eye on during the Main Event?
WS: Mustapha Kanit. I just have a feeling that he can pull it off on the biggest stage of all
AP: Phil Ivey – Although there are a number of high profile and skilled players at the Main Event this year, many still consider him the best in the world right now. I would still put my money on Ivey to make a deep run in the tournament.
CB: Daniel Negreanu
FS: Fedor Holz
If you had to pick a final tablist, who would it be and why?
WS: Connor Drinan is quietly going about his business yet keeps on popping up at final tables on the EPT and the WSOP
AP: Daniel Negreanu. From an entertainment point of view who wouldn’t want him at the table? His reading ability and table talk makes him such a dangerous and interesting opponent to watch and, of course, play against
CB: Alex Spencer, because I have some percent.
FS: Jaime Staples. We need to be able to spread the Twitch hype together at the final table
Who will win the 2015 Main Event?
WS: Michael Watson. Since his second place finish in the Monte Carlo Super High Roller, he’s picked up seven cashes and three final tables in the WSOP. This man is really in the zone and I believe he can go all the way
AP: Jonathan Duhamel. After his victory in the One Drop he’s going to be on such a high going into the main event. He has the capacity mentally and physically to play such a marathon tournament
CB: Either Alex Spencer or James ‘bolly580’ Conway
FS: Myself! I’ve promised to the #grindingitup gang that I’m going to take this one down for them!
Backdoor Quads 