10 Poker Players to watch in 2013 Part 2

In this column I’ll make some predictions for the 2013 tournament season, selecting five fairly well-known players who I believe will have a breakout year, as well as selecting five “sleeper” picks; players who may come out of nowhere and set the poker world on fire.

In part 1 of this series I listed my sleeper picks for 2013, and now I’ll list the five better known players that I expect to tear it up in 2013:

Dee Dozier (US)

Dee Dozier has been really close to binking a WPT tournament for some time now, and the WPT has even taken notice, naming Dozier one of their “Ones to Watch” for Season XI. Dozier may only have about $50,000 in career tournament earnings, but she has been very consistent, making good runs in a number of events.

The only reason Dee made the established list instead f the Sleeper Picks, is because the WPT named her a “One to Watch”.

Vladimir Geshkenbein (Russia)

“Beyne” is one of two players who are making this list for the second year (Taylor Paur is the other) and the Team PKR Poker Pro is perhaps the most accomplished player on my list. Beyne has an EPT Championship on his resume (The 2011 EPT Snowfest), as well as a High-Roller victory in Macau (Besting Johnny Chan heads-up back in 2009).

Geshkenbein is fearless at the poker tables, and is a dominating force when he gets his hands on some chips.

La Sengphet (US)

One of the most consistent performers on the WSOP Circuit, La Sengphet has racked-up 25 cashes in 2011 and 2012, including 11 Top 10 finishes and two victories. While most of her work is done in tournaments with buy-ins measured in the hundreds of dollars, Sengphet has played in WSOP events and WSOPC Main Events, and it’s only a matter of time before he comes through with a big score.

Sam Grafton (UK)

Grafton was the other player named by Nicky Evans, and his pick seems somewhat prophetic after Grafton won the GUKPT Grand Final in London this past month. Grafton is well-known in the UK, and with a major victory under his belt (and the $160k in prize-money) it’s likely he’ll translate that success into even more victories in 2012.

Dominick Nitsche (Germany)

In the span of a couple months this year Nitsche went from a fairly unknown tournament pro to being an EPT victory away from winning Poker’s Triple Crown. Since 2009 the young German has racked-up over $2.2 million in tournament earnings, and is considered one of the best young talents in the game by his peers.