Jamie Pigott has Liverpool duo Sadio Mane and Joel Matip to thank after he became the first-ever US manager to win Fantasy Premier League.
The Tottenham Hotspur fan was only one point ahead of his nearest rival Suvansh Singh heading into Gameweek 38.
🏆 @Futbolislifefpl 🏆
— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) May 23, 2022
Congratulations Jamie Pigott, your 2021/22 #FPL Champion! 👏 pic.twitter.com/wMHd6BD5Cn
Both named seven identical players in their starting XIs on Sunday.
They each captained Son Heung-min, while also owning Kasper Schmeichel, Joao Cancelo, Ryan Sessegnon, Kevin De Bruyne, Luis Diaz and Eddie Nketiah.
But it was Pigott's differentials who gave him the edge.
Mane and Matip produced a goal and assist respectively in Liverpool's 3-1 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers, combining for 16 points at Anfield.
Chelsea's Reece James also matched Matip's seven-point haul, helping Pigott to 72 points in Gameweek 38.
While Singh's decision to take a hit for Harry Kane was successful, with a 10-point return against Norwich City, he ultimately finished 12 points behind in second place.
Record points total
Pigott claimed the crown in record-breaking style, his total of 2,844 points smashing the previous high of 2,680 points set by Michael Coone in 2020/21.
The new champion's remarkable use of his chips in the final Gameweeks proved decisive.
A Bench Boost chip in Double Gameweek 36 earned Pigott 201 points and took him from 393rd place to 10th, the first time all season he had been in the top 10.
He then soared into first place in Double Gameweek 37 thanks to a 110-point Free Hit chip.
Pigott took 10 hits over the course of the campaign, spending 40 points on transfers, with all but one of those coming between Gameweek 17 and Gameweek 31.
Singh, his closest challenger, set the record for the best-ever debut by an FPL manager, his 2,832 points just ahead of Australian manager Brett Taylor in third.
Final standings
| Team name | Country | Points | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Futbol is life :) | USA | 2,844 |
| 2 | Concrete Boys | India | 2,832 |
| 3 | I Love Lamp!tey | Australia | 2,830 |
What the FPL Champion wins
- A seven-night break in the UK including VIP hospitality at two 2022/23 Premier League matches
- A week's worth of experiences at popular tourist attractions courtesy of Visit Britain
- Includes travel and seven nights' accommodation
- Hublot connected watch
- Copy of FIFA 22 and a games console
- Nike manager jacket
- FPL goody bag consisting of a rucksack, t-shirt, mug, water bottle, stress ball, pen, pad and key ring