Sean Hanlon & Russ Anno Win 2025 NFBC Diamond Challenge Titles

[Greg Ambrosius]

Sean Hanlon of Rothesay, New Brunswick won the 2025 NFBC Diamond Challenge Roto Championship and the $30,000 grand prize, but he did even better than that. He had three teams that won league titles and teams that also finished 11th and 16th overall. This is Nick's first Diamond Challenge overall title as this contest goes all the way back to 1993.

Sean, 56, had seven Diamond Challenge Roto entries and he won three league titles at $1,700 each and he had one second place finish ($800). His three league championship teams finished with 138.0 points, 130.5 points and 126.5 points. His Molton Pale Ale team won the overall title with 4,177.5 points, or 89.84 percent of all available points. The 2025 Diamond Challenge Roto Championship finished with 465 teams. Great job Sean and congrats.

Bob Catsiroumpas finished second with 3,983.5 points to earn $6,000. Rounding out the Top 5 were Carl Comstock ($5,000), Brianna Hovey ($4,500) and Jeff Caywood ($4,000).

We paid the Top 3 teams in each 15-team league and we paid the Top 14 overall. Here's the final 2025 NFBC Diamond Challenge Roto standings:

2025 NFBC Diamond Challenge Roto Top 100 Teams:
1 @Molten Molten Pale Ale 4,177.50
2 @raptorman CDM roto4 3,983.50
3 Carl Comstock Triple C 3,965.50
4 BRIANNA HOVEY COMATOSE 3,926.50
5 Jeff Caywood K-wood's Krushers 3,903.50
6 Patrick Gagne Down 3,899.50
7 Carl Comstock CMmmcb 3,878.00
8 Patrick Gagne Down with a plan 3,870.00
9 Carl Comstock CCC 3,839.50
10 @raptorman CDM roto3 3,829.50
11 @Molten Molten Chuck Chuck 3,798.50
12 Patrick Gagne Game over! 3,793.00
13 Jeff Caywood K-wood's Krushers II 3,784.00
14 Nick Cole Cole R1 3,774.00
15 Stephen Coleman Coleman 3,765.00
16 @Molten Molten Time 3,763.50
17 Duane Miller MYC 3,759.50
18 Bryan Wachter Soggy Bottom Boys 3,755.50
19 Nick Cole Cole R2 3,751.00
20 Hassan Khalil Khalil 3,712.50
21 Patrick Gagne Down the line 3,712.00
22 Howard Baum Baum 3,696.50
23 @Meers Junk Wax Gems DIA 3,695.50
24 @BrewerGold The Mighty Bombjacks 3,692.50
25 Patrick Gagne Bringing it all Down 3,684.00
26 Kenneth Gavron Americas Team 3,676.00
27 Anthony Inman BBS dukie 3,670.00
28 @raptorman CDM roto1 3,650.50
29 Bob Saxton Migrating Coconuts 3,648.50
30 @Molten Molten Mirkalo 3,646.50
31 Shawn Gidley Vipers 3,623.00
32 Patrick Gagne Down but never out 3,622.50
33 @Molten Molten Maple 3,622.00
34 @Earthquakes Earthquakes 3,605.50
35 John Shaw Rainbow Mountain Rockets 3,599.50
36 Duane Miller MYC 4 3,567.50
37 Mike Regan The Team 3,564.50
38 Thomas Bamford Bamford 3,547.00
39 Adam Balbach ANB-BEB 3,543.50
40 francois demers Bikini is Deflected 3,535.00
41 @raptorman CDM roto2 3,520.50
42 Bob Andrews For The Birds 3,504.00
43 @fread123 Phillie Connection 3,501.00
43 @fread123 Phillie Connection 2 3,501.00
43 @fread123 Phillie Connection 3 3,501.00
46 Duane Miller MYC 3 3,499.00
47 Chris Metz Team Name Unknown 3,492.00
48 Patrick Gagne Hangman coming Down on you! 3,485.00
49 Dean Little 0 - DL - Los Angeles Dodgers 3,482.00
50 Dave Taylor Taylor 3,461.50
51 Steven McKinney Dodger Blues 3,461.00
52 Bill Andrews 2GOATS 3,446.00
53 Dave Petroziello Petro DC2 3,436.50
54 @BrewerGold Tribute to 2nd Chinnock 3,423.00
55 Kevin Weis Legend of Anthony Seratelli 3,400.00
56 @geeves Hanshin Tigers 3,393.50
57 Mark Crippen Crippen 3,376.00
58 Jason Bossaer Bossaer 3,369.00
59 Brett Beck Beck 3,360.50
60 Andrew Moody Stupid Is As Petro Does 3,349.50
61 Kirk Barry Ted Lasso Barbecue Sauce 3,346.50
62 @BJS79 Wake The Demons 3,332.00
63 Steven Leal The Diamond Dynasty 3,325.00
64 Dexter Pernell Diamond Rats 3,322.50
65 Dean Little 0 - DL - Atlanta Braves 3,307.50
66 Derrick Landrus Marty and Bobby L 3,301.50
67 Andres Busse Bad As I Wanna Be 3,301.00
68 Dave Petroziello Petro DC1 3,298.00
69 Chris Metz Team Name Unknown 3,292.50
70 Rick Post MAGA YANKEES 2025 3,286.00
71 RICHARD LOPPNOW BigRichieRotoBaseball 3,281.50
72 Joe Forkner Forkner 3,273.50
73 Dave Petroziello Petro DC3 3,272.50
74 Shawn Vansell Vansell 3,267.50
75 Douglas Gruber Dougs Dawgs 1 3,254.50
75 Douglas Gruber Dougs Dawgs 2 3,254.50
77 Patrick Gagne Stand Down 3,252.00
78 Robert Denofrio dragons 3,245.50
79 Carlos Lopez Mambo King 3,242.00
80 Daniel Kobold Bleacher Bums 2 3,237.00
80 Daniel Kobold Bleacher Bums 3,237.00
82 Douglas Gruber Dougs Dawgs 3 3,235.50
83 Christopher Keel BTK Roto Method 3,231.50
84 Matthew V I See Blue...He Looks Glorious 3,224.00
85 Matthew V Blue 3,222.50
86 Bob Stone SHISKA BOBS 3,221.50
87 Craig Alme Dakotaboys 3,209.00
87 Craig Alme Dakotaboys 2 3,209.00
89 Dean Little 0 - DL - Philadelphia Phillies 3,194.50
90 Scott Jenstad Oaktown 3,193.00
91 George Ausman Ruth-less People 3,184.00
92 @sockafar1 Vitamin S 3,182.50
93 Stephen Coleman Coleman 3,151.00
94 Gary Itzkowitz Wilbur350A 3,148.00
95 Bill Sagar S 3,147.00
96 Keith Wilk Wilk 3,145.00
97 Matthew Gordon Steal My Sunshine 3,143.00
98 Jeff Jurney Jurney 3,137.50
99 bryan waxman waxman 3,136.50
100 Louis Pisani The Florida Chikihuts 3,131.00

[Greg Ambrosius]

Here were the prizes in the 2025 NFBC Diamond Challenge Roto Championship:

2025 NFBC Diamond Challenge Roto Championship
Overall Prizes:
1 - $30,000
2 - $6,000
3 - $5,000
4 - $4,500
5 - $4,000
6 - $3,500
7 - $3,000
8 - $2,500
9 - $2,250
10 - $2,000
11 - $1,750
12 - $1,500
13 - $1,250
14 - $1,000

League Prizes:
1 - $1,700
2 - $800
3 - $400

[Greg Ambrosius]

The Diamond Challenge goes all the way back to 1993 when CDM Fantasy Sports started this national championship. It has a great history as one of the premiere contests in the industry and Sean Hanlon now joins a select list of Roto champions. Dave Petroziello and Larry Schechter are the only two-time Roto national champions. Here's the complete list:

NFBC (CDM) Diamond Challenge Roto National Champions:

Diamond Challenge Roto Winners List:
2025: Sean Hanlon, $35,900 (including league prizes)
2024: Nick Cole, $33,400 (including league prizes)
2023: Doug Gruber, $40,900 (including league prizes)
2022: Russ Anno $39,000
2021: Craig Alme $41,800
2020: Dean Little $21,200
2019: Shawn Gidley $28,000
2018: Jeremy Miller $26,500
2017: Donzelle Endres $26,500
2016: Erik Larson
2015: Bob Catsiroumpas
2014: Brian Booth
2013: Dave Petroziello
2012: Michael Smith
2011: Dave Petroziello
2010: Brian Schmidt
2009: Robert Papaccio
2008: Greg Swayzie
2007: Ray Ewing
2006: Jaime Baird
2005: Larry Schechter
2004: Eric Peden
2003: Andrew Moody
2002: Larry Schechter
2001: Miodrag Stanoev
2000: Joshua Paley
1999: Keith Mann
1998: Michael Blenner/Alan Kennedy
1997: Greg Heyman
1996: Robin Merryman
1995: Steve Kochin
1994: Jeff Schwartz
1993: Barry Packer

[Greg Ambrosius]

Russ Anno of Foothill Ranch, California won the 2025 NFBC Diamond Challenge Points Championship and the $15,000 grand prize, his second Diamond Challenge Points overall title and his third Diamond Challenge overall title. Anno, 67, is a veteran of the Diamond Challenge contests who first won the Diamond Challenge Points overall title in 2017 and he won the Diamond Challenge Roto overall title in 2022. Well done Russ.

Russ had a historic season as he had only four Diamond Challenge Points teams, but all four won their league titles and the $1,100 league prizes. Wait, it gets better. He also finished 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 5th overall, winning a total of $23,000 in the overall competition. That's a season for the record books. He did have two Diamond Challenge Roto teams that didn't finish in the money, if that makes anyone feel better!!

Russ finished with 16,138 points to win the title, with his runner-up team 15 points behind. His third place team was a mere 69 points out of first place. Bob Catsiroumpas finished fourth to win $2,000.

We had a total of 345 teams in the Diamond Challenge Points Championship this year -- down one league from 2024 -- and will return in 2026 with the Roto and Points Championships. Here's a look at the final Points standings from 2025:

2025 NFBC Diamond Challenge Points Championship Top 100 Teams:
1 Russ Anno Mighty Casey 16,138
2 Russ Anno Life of Riley 16,123
3 Russ Anno Life of Riley 16,069
4 @raptorman pts CDM4 16,033
5 Russ Anno Julie's Nightmare 16,015
6 Jeffrey Borg SD Sublime 16,001
7 Merlin Gietz Canadian Crushers 15,988
7 Merlin Gietz Canadian Crushers 15,988
7 Merlin Gietz Canadian Crushers 15,988
7 Merlin Gietz Canadian Crushers 15,988
7 Merlin Gietz Canadian Crushers 15,988
7 Merlin Gietz Canadian Crushers 15,988
7 Merlin Gietz Canadian Crushers 15,988
7 Merlin Gietz Canadian Crushers 15,988
7 Merlin Gietz Canadian Crushers 15,988
7 Merlin Gietz Canadian Crushers 15,988
17 Todd Matthes Sebastian the Ibis 15,970
18 Jody Boyd Boyd 15,920
19 Bruce Landman Lily's Best 15,895
19 Bruce Landman It Can Core A Apple 15,895
21 Duane Miller Ride The River 15,893
22 Jeff Caywood K-wood's Krushers 15,892
23 Bruce Landman Kiki Mantle 15,882
24 @raptorman pts CDM1 15,881
25 Aaron Jones Jones 15,879
26 DANIEL KEELEY KEELEY 15,853
27 Alex Hoff Pandamonium 15,829
28 Duane Miller Kilkenny 15,815
29 Nash Brambilla Brambilla 15,815
30 @raptorman pts CDM3 15,804
31 Jeff Caywood K-wood's Krushers II 15,783
32 Josh Hahn The BT Master 15,745
33 @raptorman pts CDM2 15,742
34 Quintan Kocher Qs Superstars 5 15,727
35 Alan Kuzell Team Kuz 15,717
35 Alan Kuzell Katie's Team 15,717
37 Fred Boehler Boehler 15,683
38 Bill Pfaff Pfaff 15,678
39 Quintan Kocher Qs Superstars 4 15,673
40 Stephen Riley FLSOX 15,651
41 Christopher Keel BTK MAX POINTS 15,646
42 Alfred Theroux GODISGOOD 15,646
43 Greg Kane Kane 15,640
44 Duane Miller Matagorda 15,639
45 Alex Hoff Boston Teabaggers 15,635
45 Howard Baum Baum 15,635
47 Jody Boyd Boyd 15,625
48 Lynn Bostelman Bostelman 15,589
48 Chuck Mumford M&M Logistics 15,589
50 Matthew V I See Blue...He Looks Glorious 15,586
51 Alex Shaw Mustang Grays 15,557
52 Dean Little 0 - DL - Cleveland Guardians 15,532
53 Dean Little 0 - DL - Seattle Mariners 15,530
54 Nick Cole Cole P1 15,516
54 Nick Cole Cole P2 15,516
56 Alex Hoff Dad's Army V 15,509
57 Aaron Cale Sacks of the Century 15,507
58 Larry Rigler Charlie Hustle 15,499
59 KURT MAIER Geeks and Goobers II 15,487
60 Brian Paschen Little Thrashers 15,486
61 Brian Detwiler bd111 15,479
62 Quintan Kocher Qs Superstars 1 15,476
63 Christopher Keel BTK Even KEEL 15,475
64 Dean Little 0 - DL - Boston Red Sox 15,474
65 Doug Keadey Kardiac Kids3 15,466
66 Richard Coy dobymen 15,454
67 Brian Paschen Brown Thrashers 15,453
68 Alec Toillion Tuco's Revenge 15,448
69 Kelly Martin The Velvet Hammer 15,447
69 Kelly Martin The Painkiller 15,447
71 Dean Little 0 - DL - Baltimore Orioles 15,444
72 Dean Little 0 - DL - Texas Rangers 15,441
73 Jerrod Haberman Heinzelmannchen 15,439
74 Aaron Cale Hodgepodge One 15,423
75 Alfred Theroux GODISGOOD 1 15,417
76 Jody Boyd Boyd 15,414
77 Chris Williams Honoring Mr Will Granddaught10 15,413
78 Robert R Luise Bob Sox 15,399
79 Frank Fortini jr Public Cubs Announcement PCA 15,393
80 Doug Keadey Kardiac Kids 15,370
81 Mike Schiavo ms cardinals 15,340
82 Ed Redding Monsters Inc 15,331
83 Dean Little 0 - DL - Toronto Blue Jays 15,330
84 @Supwidat Tariff Ball 15,329
85 Mark Noonkester Fresno Angels 15,327
86 Jerrod Haberman Navigators 15,324
87 Quintan Kocher Qs Superstars 3 15,313
88 patrick Sylvester Sylvester 15,311
89 Gary Lehnhart Dead Poets DiCh 1 15,289
90 Paul Socha Socha 15,288
91 Brian Paschen Brown Thrashers II 15,279
92 Jody Boyd Boyd 15,269
93 Aaron Cale Jed One 15,258
94 Tim Coy DarkTan 15,253
95 KURT MAIER Geeks and Goobers I 15,244
96 Jerrod Haberman Regulators 15,235
97 Dean Little 0 - DL - Houston Astros 15,235
98 Aaron Cale Jed Two 15,233
99 Quintan Kocher Qs Superstars 6 15,232
100 Jeff Jurney Jurney 15,232

[Greg Ambrosius]

Here's the payouts for the 2025 NFBC Diamond Challenge Points Championship:

Overall Prizes:
1 - $15,000
2 - $4,000
3 - $2,500
4 - $2,000
5 - $1,500
6 - $1,300
7 - $1,200
8 - $1,000
9 - $750
10 - $500

League Prizes:
1 - $1,100
2 - $500
3 - $250

[Greg Ambrosius]

The NFBC (CDM) Diamond Challenge Points Championship was started in 1997 and has an impressive list of past overall champions. Russ Anno is now a 2-time Diamond Challenge Points winner, having won the overall title previously in 2017. Dean Little has also won this overall title twice. Congrats Russ.

Here's the past Diamond Challenge Points overall champions (including league prizes):

2025: Russ Anno $27,400
2024: Jody Boyd $19,400
2023: Dean Little $20,500
2022: Howard Baum $16,200
2021: Quintan Kocher $16,200
2020: JD Canada $5,750
2019: Dean Little $16,320
2018: Merlin Gietz $16,380
2017: Russ Anno $16,380
2016: Duane Miller
2015: Tony Dolgoff
2014: Jeff Jurney
2013: Bob Catsiroumpas
2012: Mike Wiltrout
2011: Dave Petroziello
2010: Brian Schmidt
2009: Robert Papaccio
2008: Greg Swayzie
2007: Bruce Landman
2006: David Mason
2005: Merlin Gietz
2004: Ken Harris
2003: Todd Matthes
2002: Dan Gallagher
2001: Jerry Guardiano
2000: Steve Sutton
1999: Mike Schrieber
1998: Sal Defillipo
1997: Chad Schroeder

[Greg Ambrosius]

Carl Comstock of Williamson, New York won the 2025 NFBC Diamond Challenge Roto 2nd Season Championship and that $5,000 grand prize. Carl had only one entry and he turned that into the $1,100 league prize and the $5,000 grand prize. Carl also had three Diamond Challenge Roto teams this year and he won two league titles and finished second in the other league, finishing 3rd, 7th and 9th overall. Well done.

Carl, 58, finished 10 points ahead of Bob Catsiroumpas ($2,000) for the title with Nicholas Andretta ($1,500) finishing third overall. Rounding out the Top 5 were Brianna Hovey ($1,250) and Kenneth Gavron ($1,000).

We finished with 11 leagues and 165 teams for this contest -- same as last year -- and paid the Top 10 overall and the Top 3 in each league. Here's the final standings:

2025 NFBC Diamond Challenge Roto 2nd Chance Championship Final Standings:
1 Carl Comstock CMmmcb 1,438.50
2 @raptorman 2nd season roto 1,428.50
3 Nicholas Andretta 1994 World Series Champions 1,385.00
4 Brianna Hovey COMATOSE 1,353.00
5 Kenneth Gavron Americas Team 1,343.50
6 Steven Leal STX Squad 1,319.50
7 @Molten Molten Maple 2 1,303.00
8 Christopher Keel BTK Summer Heat 1,290.50
9 Chris Maugeri Hells Angels 1,285.00
10 Patrick Gagne Down and Dirty 1,282.00
11 Patrick Gagne Going Down with a bang! 1,280.50
12 Alan Kuzell sandtown 1,269.50
12 Quintan Kocher Fuck Injuries 1,269.50
14 Jonathon Smith Smith 1,265.50
15 Tim Stephens Diamond Studs 1,264.50
16 Charles Cholewczynski Polish Warriors 1,259.50
17 Patrick Gagne Down and Furious 1,251.00
18 @funnelbros Ex Cons 1,247.50
19 @BJS79 Wake The Demons 1,239.50
20 Daniel Warner Warner 1,237.00
21 Carlos Lopez Cuban Comet 1,236.00
22 Robert Manning MASTER of DISASTER 1,228.00
23 @Molten Molten Pale Ale 2 1,226.50
24 @bluebern East Shore Strays 1,216.00
25 Karl Miller Dixieland Dominance 1,207.50
26 Chris Metz Team Name Unknown 1,204.00
26 Chris Metz Team Name Unknown 1,204.00
28 Hassan Khalil Khalil 1,203.50
29 Stephen Riley FLSOX 1,194.50
30 Jeff Jurney Jurney 1,193.50
30 Jeff Jurney Jurney 1,193.50
30 Brian Wilson Wilson 1,193.50
33 @ChasinSaves ChasinSavesDC2 1,193.00
34 Karl Miller Stonewall Brigade 1,190.00
35 Brian Wilson Wilson 1,183.50
36 Ken Hays DADDYBALL 1,168.00
37 Dennis Massa Kylie Wyote VIII 1,157.00
38 Brian Schmidt Schmidt Happens 1,152.00
39 Fernando Santiago Chavez 4 1,150.50
40 Patrick Gagne Down for a title run 1,148.50
41 Charles Cholewczynski Jacob-Mikey-Teagan-Ella 1,139.50
41 Larry Rigler Rigler 1,139.50
43 @19crowbar69 Caramel Latte 1,117.50
44 Jeff Schwartz MOO'S BASEGLOMMERS 1,104.00
45 Karl Miller Johnny Rebs 1,100.50
46 Karl Miller Savannah Banana Ballers 1,075.50
47 Justin Stroud Stroud 1,070.00
48 Stephen Savino Quack Attack 1,060.00
49 Jim Christie Christie 1,056.00
50 Dave Petroziello Petro DC 2nd season 1,050.00
51 Tim Remley Dodgers & Phillies 1,045.50
52 Larry Deluca GrandSlam 1,026.00
53 Lynn Bostelman Bostelman 1,019.50
54 Corey Gillum CTE 992
55 Michael Mcgrath Buffy Mulreed 988.5
56 @BADASSES THE GOOD THE BAD & THE UGLY 980
57 Brad Taylor Taylor 967
58 John Gueli THE NAUGHTY QUESADILLA 959
59 Richard Pelesky Pelesky II 957.5
60 @saburne Bernies Boys 956.5
61 Kevin Campbell Campbell 953
62 Abu Parvez YANKEES 944
63 Robert Beckman 2nd chance 943.5
64 Sean Rox DJ Bull 924
65 Brian Paschen Brown Thrasher 921.5
66 Jason Perkins Perkins 905.5
67 Robert Heinz GOBREWCRUE2 897.5
68 Daniel Kobold Bleacher Bums 896
68 Daniel Kobold Bleacher Bums 2 896
70 Christopher Selvaggi Selvaggi 893.5
71 Jeffrey Moore Below Mendoza 879.5
72 John Phillips NoSox 873
73 Harry Dodd fan2cfan 872
74 Scott Kinsbursky Kinsbursky 869.5
75 Gary Myas Zach and dalton bombers 866.5
76 Patrick Mccartney 8647 862.5
77 Duane Miller MYC MS 2 842.5
78 Kevin Ketcherside Kside 832
79 Douglas Keilholz KEYSTONE SLUGGERS 830
80 Sam Nuzzo CLE Rocks! 825
81 @robertw477 Second Chances 821
82 @ICKEY WARNING TRACK POWER 817
83 Aaron Cale Jed 816
84 Russell Plank Plank 810.5
85 Tom Bledsoe Chattahoochee Duck Hunters 808
86 Matthew Hearn Hearn 802
86 Justin S S 802
88 Lance Kopenhagen In Patty We Trust 792.5
89 Brian Paschen Brown Thrashers II 781.5
90 Karen Cunico Cunico 775
91 Pat Charley LO Cubs 774.5
92 Martin Koch Stephen's 2nd Season Sluggers 772.5
92 Charlie Schramm Schramm 772.5
94 David Cook Strike out Swinging 771.5
95 Bob Harris Harris 763
96 Vinnie Scala Stugotz 758
97 Martin Koch M&M's-Sea 2 748
98 @ICKEY WARNING TRACK POWER 2 745
99 Kevin Campbell Campbell 743.5
100 Robert Wilson Wilson 738.5

2025 Diamond Challenge 2nd Chance Championship Prizes
Overall Prizes:
1 - $5,000
2 - $2,000
3 - $1,500
4 - $1,250
5 - $1,000
6 - $750
7 - $500
8 - $250
9 - $200
10 - $150

League Prizes:
1 - $1,100
2 - $500
3 - $250