Fantasy Premier League – Jonas (20) shakes the top of the world

Just under eleven million people from all over the world have registered teams on the Fantasy Premier League.

The popular game involves recruiting players from teams such as Liverpool and Manchester United in the English top league. For example, if the player you have selected scores in the real world, you will receive points on the recognized game.

With a few laps left, a 20-year-old from Bærum is leading.

At the time of writing, Jonas Sand Låbakk is on course to win the Fantasy Premier League – also called FPL – this season.

– I am speechless in many ways. I have been playing for many years, but never dreamed of a position like this. It is surreal, says Låbakk to Dagbladet.

He studies at BI in Bergen, but grew up at Stabekk in Bærum.

Explains

We just have to get rid of the big question: What is the recipe behind the success?

– It is a website I use a lot, which is known to many – to some completely unknown. It’s called FPL Review, Låbakk replies.

The service uses algorithms to optimize FPL layers. On the website, the user registers his own team, and each round receives an answer as to which players should be replaced – and which should be replaced.

But:

– It’s not like I just use that side, because then the outcome wouldn’t end up as good as it has been. You have to play more sub-optimally to get to where I have been, says the 20-year-old.

– So you use your own head as much as algorithms?

– Correct. Sometimes I have no idea and trust the page, while other times I use it to confirm a theory I have – so that I know the thought I have is not completely insane. There are many people who use algorithms much more than I do.

Låbakk was, among other things, early on Chelsea star Cole Palmer. The attacker has delivered an incredible 20 goals and ten assists this season, despite a very low price tag.

Låbakk, who is a Liverpool supporter, has also hit on Diogo Dalot and Jarrod Bowen.

He also makes it clear that he has to put away his Liverpool heart in the FPL context.

– You must be cynical, he says.

Players he hasn’t had

– Are there any players you haven’t had – who have done well?

– Around Christmas time, Richarlison had a period where he went on a bit of rampage. I never got him.

Låbakk has to think about it. Perhaps not so strange – when he leads the Fantasy Premier League – in front of close to 11 million other players, he must have, strictly speaking, hit most of the points.

But after a few seconds of reflection, Låbakk lists a new name.

– Douglas Luiz had a period where some owned him. I wasn’t into him. Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno probably also had a period where he delivered well, where I wasn’t.

Advice

He also offers three simple tips for Norwegian players who want to succeed in the FPL.

• Plan
• Put emotions away
• Make your own decisions

– I have been very good at planning ahead. Especially towards the end of the season with double rounds and blanks. There are people on X like Ben Crellin, who post the match schedule he thinks is most likely.

– In addition, it is important to put feelings aside. If you are a Manchester United supporter, I understand that captaining Salah against United can hurt, but sometimes it just has to be done.

– The last thing is to follow information online, but still make your own decisions. It is an important balance, says Låbakk.

Revealing “secret”

This season, surprisingly, he has only twice had a round ranking below 100,000. The rest have been between 100,000 and just under seven million.

– I don’t have many weeks that are enormously good, but I have played consistently and well, concludes the BI student.

– Is there a little secret to doing it well?

– Yes, I would say that. What I tend to think is that I shouldn’t dither too much, but rather take the obvious choices. Then I’d rather let the others around me make mistakes.

Clear Haaland message

Since his arrival at Manchester City, Erling Braut Haaland has been an obvious choice in the FPL, but lately the Norwegian has struggled a bit with injuries.

– What do you think about Haaland at the end of the season?

– I have him, and have no plans to sell him anytime soon. To put it mildly, I think it will be awfully scary to go without him in round 37. So I would never have dared to do that, is the clear message from the BI student.

Big uproar

He concludes by saying that several people – both known and unknown – have realized that he is at the top of Fantasy.

– Many have contacted me on X. English and Norwegian podcasts, websites that want me to write tips for payment and YouTubers who want to make videos. A lot has come in, reveals Låbakk, who does not want to be involved in everything.

He has had to say no to most of it, because these days he is at home with the kissing bug. But despite his health condition, he is leading the FPL.

When Dagbladet talks to the 20-year-old, he seems surprisingly restrained.

– I spoke to my father earlier today, and he said that he also doesn’t understand how I manage to stay so calm, laughs Låbakk.

– Aren’t you stressed?

– I don’t think it has dawned on me yet. I’m kind of in shock. At the same time, I can’t stop thinking about it all the time.

– What do you do if you win?

– Then of course I will accept the prizes that come. Apart from that, there won’t be much else but living my relatively normal life, concludes the number one in the world at FPL.