Meet Jeremy Sickel, Winner of Inaugural DFS Poker Open

After weeks of isolation, the DFS world came together in masses (online, of course) to compete in the inaugural DFS Poker Open on Global Poker. It was a ton of fun and a nice break from reality that many Grinders needed given the current state of affairs around the world.

In the end, it was Jeremy Sickel that outlasted 1,600+ other competitors to become the first DFS Poker Open champion!

Jeremy was kind enough to sit down and share a bit about his experience in that tournament, his personal life and more.

RotoGrinders: Tell us a bit about yourself. What do you do for a living? Where are you from?

I am a family man and a die-hard Kansas Citian. I work in sales for a couple of local companies and I also own a couple of small businesses. I love sports like most of your RG community, which makes times like this even tougher. And seeing both the Royals and Chiefs win championships in the last five years has been more incredible than I ever could have imagined.

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RotoGrinders: You won the inaugural RotoGrinders DFS Poker Open on Global Poker. Let’s talk about it a bit. I can see from your Twitter bio that you’re not new to the world of poker. Can you tell us a bit about your poker background?

I have been playing since 2003, mostly live cash games at the local casinos here in KC. I play in the occasional tournament, but they are not my preference. And my online experience is rather minuscule, as I enjoy the camaraderie and relationships you can build with the fellow players in live-action.

RotoGrinders: Tell us briefly how things went in that tournament for you. Were you quick out of the gates with a chip lead? Were you ever forced all-in early? Did you grab any of the fun bounties (and if so, who did you knock out)?

The tournament actually ran rather smoothly for me. The decisions to fold weren’t all that difficult, which minimized my hand-to-hand losses; and when I felt I was ahead I played it strongly and maximized my pots. I didn’t get the chip lead until the final table; actually entered the final table last in chips. I did not grab any of the bounties, which is kind of disappointing…but I think I can live with that.

RotoGrinders: Are you new to Global Poker or had you already tried it prior to the inaugural DFS Poker Open? Have you played since your tournament win? Is there anything, in particular, you enjoy most about the site?

True story: I saw a tweet pop up around 6 PM that night that there was a poker tournament going on over at Global Poker put on by RG for DFS players. Living that quarantine life — and with the start time being after the kids were in bed — I decided at the last minute to sign up at Global and enter. And the rest is history. I have parlayed some of my winnings and played in a few tourneys as well as cash games since. The site is easy enough to navigate and the action is solid. Not playing too much online, however, it would be unfair for me to nitpick too much, as I have virtually no point of reference. But I have certainly enjoyed playing.

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RotoGrinders: You obviously won plenty of large hands during the tournament. Does any single win stand out as the most memorable?

Actually, yes. At the final table, there were six of us left. I bluffed a hand that would have put the player directly to my left virtually all in. I had AK and found out later when he tweeted me (see the thread here) that I was behind. That was the move that catapulted me into the chip lead. I never looked back from that point.

RotoGrinders: Do you have any basic tips you can give poker newbies like myself that could help us advance a bit further in future DFS Poker tournaments?

It is tough to dictate what someone’s style is or what it should be, but regardless of where you fall, you must be able to adapt to your surroundings. Whether that is how your table is playing out, your stack, your position relative to the next payout, or because you think someone has caught onto you, the ability to switch things up is crucial to your success. Oh…and if you are ever in a hand with me, just fold ;).

RotoGrinders: You’ve been a RotoGrinders member for many years now. What sport is your favorite to play and why?

I prefer the NBA, as I feel the results are a bit more predictable. Though the daily grind can be tough at times, I really enjoy the late-night sweats during the West Coast action.

RotoGrinders: Many poker players transitioned to DFS years ago — do you find there to be overlapping skills that would lead to success in both areas? If so, what skills do you think are most critical to long-term success in both DFS and Poker?

There are certainly overlapping principles, of which patience sticks out the most to me. Trusting the process and understanding that, no matter how good you are or think that you are, there will be prolonged losing stretches. The ability to outlast those both mentally and financially will define just how truly successful one can be.

RotoGrinders: Coronavirus has obviously changed the DFS landscape entirely for the time being. Have you tried your hand at any of the eSports offerings yet?

I have not tried eSports yet, but the growing popularity might get me to dip my toe in the water soon.

We appreciate Jeremy for sharing some of his insight and Grinders everywhere are eager to get another crack at him in a DFS Poker Open and unseat him as the reigning champion. For those who haven’t signed up yet, click HERE to get your Global Poker account set up in minutes.

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