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Poker Pro Jesse Martin Wins DraftKings Fantasy Football World Championship For $2 Million

Two-time WSOP Bracelet Winner Defeated 180-Entry Field For Title

by Steve Schult  |  Published: Dec 17, 2019

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Two-time World Series of Poker bracelet winner Jesse Martin earned the first seven-figure score of his career Sunday.

It just wasn’t in a poker tournament.

The high-stakes mixed games regular took down the DraftKings Fantasy Football World Championship in Miami for $2 million, defeating a 180-entry field. It’s the second time a high-stakes poker player won the event. In 2016, online pro Aaron Jones bested the field to earn $5 million.

The event was only open to qualifiers. Martin earned a seat back in November in a qualifier for just shy of $600, which secured his spot in Miami. Everybody in the event was guaranteed at least $15,000.

Playing under the name “180DegreesMiami,” Martin scored 220.9 points and drafted a lineup that was centered around Saquon Barkley and Christian McCaffrey. The two stud running backs combined to put up 70.8 points but were both heavily owned. He also drafted wide receiver Chris Conley and tight end Tyler Higbee, who were 25.6 percent and 34 percent owned, respectively.

Quarterback Patrick Maholmes, wide receiver Tyreek Hill, wide receiver Greg Ward, running back Boston Scott, who was started at the flex position and the New England Patriots defense rounded out Martin’s championship roster.

Even with the win, Martin experienced some pushback from those in the daily fantasy sports community for his lineup choices, possibly because of his choice of Maholmes and Hill, who were playing in the snow in Kansas City.

Maholmes was only 4.4 percent owned and Hill came in at 6.1 percent. The duo combined for 50.5 points, despite the conditions.

Over the course of his poker career, Martin has earned $3.258 million in live poker tournaments, aside from playing high-stakes cash games. His biggest live cash was his third-place finish in the 2014 $50,000 Poker Players Championship for $594,570.

He cashed eight times at the 2019 WSOP with his best result coming in the $10,000 seven-card stud hi-lo championship. The Massachusetts native finished 10th for $29,000. He won his first bracelet in 2013 in the $10,000 no-limit 2-7 event. He scored his second four years later in the $2,500 mixed triple draw for $130,948.

Martin offered up some advice for anyone looking at playing this event in the future. Make sure you get some of David ‘ODB’ Baker’s lucky money.

 
 
Tags: Daily Fantasy Sports,   Jesse Martin,   Poker,   DraftKings,   Aaron Jones,   Fantasy Football World Championship
 
 
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