David Baker returns to the ODB Fantasy battlefield! The two-time champion captain shares his draft strategy and championship defense experience.

ODB Fantasy once again becomes a hot topic at the WSOP.

During the World Series of Poker (WSOP) each year, besides the bracelet events themselves, one of the most watched events by professional poker players is the ODB Fantasy Poker League.

This fantasy talent show, founded by the late Poker Hall of Famer "Oriental Danny" Daniel O'Brien, has become an indispensable part of the WSOP summer tradition.

Recently, David Baker, captain of the two-time Fantasy League champions, gave an exclusive interview to PokerNews, sharing his views on the 2026 Fantasy League and the secrets to his many years of success.

Two-time champion captain embarks on another campaign

David Baker is not only a renowned mixed-game expert, but also one of the most successful captains in the history of the Fantasy League.

In the past few years, his team has won the championship twice in the ODB Fantasy competition, so his draft strategy every year is highly anticipated.

When discussing this year's draft, Baker stated that he still adheres to a core principle:

"I value the ability to consistently gain points more than simply chasing after star players."

He believes the key to the Fantasy League lies in selecting players who can consistently advance deep and make it into the money multiple times, rather than relying solely on a few major championship achievements.

Hybrid gamers remain a core asset.

As a representative figure in the field of hybrid games, Baker has always preferred to choose all-rounder players.

He pointed out that the WSOP schedule includes a large number of mixed game championships. Although these events have fewer participants, the skill gap between top players is relatively stable.

Therefore, like:

• Calvin Anderson
• Shaun Deeb
• Scott Seiver
• Benny Glaser

Experts in hybrid games are often able to steadily accumulate Fantasy Points.

As it turns out, these players have maintained a very high level of competitiveness so far in this year's WSOP.

Calvin Anderson, in particular, won several awards within a single week:

• $10,000 Razz Championship
• $10,000 HORSE Championship

Two gold bracelets make for a great value option within the Fantasy Alliance.

Shaun Deeb remains a popular choice for POY (Polymerization in Taiwan).

When discussing the 2026 WSOP Player of the Year competition, Baker specifically mentioned Shaun Deeb.

Although Deeb lost to Joey Couden in the Nine Game Mix finals, missing out on his ninth gold bracelet, his consistent ability to advance deep into the competition keeps him in the POY race.

Baker believes that:

"If I had to choose the player most likely to have a breakout performance in the second half, I would still choose Shaun."

He pointed out that Deeb's biggest advantage is his ability to participate in almost all mixed games and high-stakes events, making him extremely efficient at accumulating points.

Fantasy League has become an annual highlight in the poker world.

In recent years, the influence of ODB Fantasy Poker League has continued to grow.

Nowadays, not only professional poker players are actively participating, but many poker media outlets and fans are also paying attention to the draft results and leaderboard changes.

Each team typically has a fixed budget and must bid for players through an auction.

The final points are calculated based on the prize money and performance earned by the players during the WSOP.

This combination of strategy, prediction, and poker expertise has allowed the Fantasy League to gradually develop into an important part of the WSOP culture.

The spirit of Daniel O'Brien continues.

The "ODB" in the Fantasy alliance's name is a tribute to the late poker player Daniel O'Brien.

O'Brien was a highly influential figure in the poker world and a key figure in promoting the Fantasy draft system.

Since his passing, the league has continued to operate under his name.

David Baker stated:

"What Danny most wants to see is everyone coming together because of this event."

Every summer, the Fantasy League still attracts many professional poker players, serving as the best tribute to O'Brien.

Baker is still chasing his third title.

Despite having won the title twice, David Baker admits that his passion for Fantasy has not diminished in the slightest.

Compared to his individual tournament results, he even believes that the Fantasy League brings more fun.

The reason is:

• Need to predict performance throughout the summer
• Test of talent selection and resource allocation capabilities
• You can track your points changes every day.
• Increase interaction with other players

This multi-week-long competitive format makes the WSOP even more interesting.

Fantasy has become another competition in the WSOP.

For many professional poker players, the WSOP is more than just a battle for gold bracelets.

The Fantasy League is also an important competition.

From the draft auction to the changes in points for each match, and finally to the winner, the entire summer was full of talking points.

David Baker, a two-time champion captain, clearly still hopes to extend his legendary record.

As the 2026 WSOP enters its second half, this competition without visible poker tables will continue to attract the attention of the entire poker world.

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