Erik Ibsen, a 23-year-old Danish medical student and Everton fan, has achieved the improbable: winning the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) in his very first season, without using artificial intelligence.
Ibsen started playing only because his sister needed help with her work league. What began as sibling rivalry turned into a stunning global victory. "If you had told me at the start of the season I'd even be close I would have thought it's a joke," he told BBC Newsbeat. "I don't know how to put it into words."
FPL, the UK's most popular fantasy football game, boasts over 11 million players. Ibsen entered the final day with a 21-point lead and extended it to 38 points thanks to a 14-point haul from his captain, Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes.
Despite the rise of AI tools in fantasy sports, Ibsen deliberately avoided them. "I think people can look back at my first few weeks and see this guy didn't use AI," he said, noting unconventional captain choices like defenders James Tarkowski and Marc Guéhi, and goalkeeper David Raya.
Instead, Ibsen relied on intensive manual analysis. "You should see my Excel sheet," he joked. He spent four to five hours daily on the game, especially in the final week, consuming FPL content but trusting his own judgment. "AI didn't really take account for scenarios, like when City and Arsenal had nothing to play for but were still rated as top picks."
His prize includes a seven-night UK break with VIP hospitality at two Premier League matches next season. For Ibsen, an Evertonian who has never attended a Premier League game live, that's a dream come true. He's saving celebrations until after his exams next month.
His advice for future players? "For new people who want to win, just have patience. And for people who just want to start playing, just have fun. I had so many bad weeks and I still ended up winning... don't let the weak results define your whole season."