I am not a psychiatrist. I am not a psychologist. I have no medical training whatsoever outside of a class in infant CPR which scared me away from children for several months. That is a long way of saying, I cannot, with any degree of medical certainty, diagnose PokerStars Team Online’s George Lind III with any sort of attention deficit disorder. But, if there was ever a time to offer a lay opinion, this is it.

George Lind recently won his first Spring Championship of Online Poker title. He did it in a Stud-8 event (as chronicled in this Exile on Main Street-themed recap from Paul McGuire). It was the sixth time he played a SCOOP Stud-8 tournament in his life. In the five previous runnings, he had a runner-up and third place finish.

So you’d think Lind would be really, really focused on the title. Instead?

“I was 6-12 tabling hypers throughout the final table,” he said.

For the uninitiated, the hypers of which he speaks are hyper-turbo sit & go tourneys. They are SNG crack, and in some jurisdictions considered a Schedule-1 amphetamine. Lind eats them or breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Seriously, if McGuire was looking for a Stones tune in a Lind recap, he might have picked “Mother’s Little Helper.”

George Lind, crazy like a fox

Keep in mind, Lind did this while playing a Stud-8 final table–the kind of tournament where paying attention is sort of a big deal. I’ve played my fair share of Stud-8, and for people like me (read: sort of slow on the uptake), if I’m not watching every card that comes off the stub, you might as well just take my chips and call me a cab. And then ask the cab driver to run me over.

Lind? While he was freaking winning a SCOOP event, he was playing up to a dozen hyper turbo SNGs at a time.

The logical question is this: how much could Lind legitimately be expected to win in the hypers if he’s actually winning the SCOOP event?

The unexpected answer: Lind profited $80,000 in the hypers and 76,000 VIP player points that day.

As I said, I’m no doctor.

Two years ago, Lind took third in the very same event. He’s a man who has a brain that can flip switches faster than most people can find the switches to flip.

“It’s nice to have a chance to improve on that in such a big field tournament,” he said. “I’m really happy to finally get a SCOOP title after winning Player of the Year in 2010, but not actually winning an event that year. It’s definitely nice to get a watch to go along with my 2010 POTY trophy.”

As of this morning, Lind held the top spot on the low buy-in leaderboard. If he can manage to keep his head in the game, the payoff could offer a little more than pride.

“I’m hoping to win that PCA package with a consistent final few days,” he said.

Consistency? How much consistency can Lind possibly have if he’s dozen-tabling hyper tourneys?

Well, a lot apparently.

*Consult your physician before beginning any sort of Lind regimen. Side effects include trouble sleeping, motion sickness, and not having enough places in your house to hide all your money.

Tags: australia | belgian poker series | elky | micromillions | news | pokerstars | SCOOP | world cup of poker

Multiple wins seem to be the story in this year’s Spring Championship of Online Poker. It’s happened a few times already that a SCOOP superstar has picked up two watches in one festival. Saša “Krumpir” Zorc is not one of those people, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t a two-time winner.

Zorc comes from Zagreb, Croatia, a place where he almost didn’t make it to adulthood. He discovered he had cancer at age 16. And he beat it.

“I don’t really like talking about it, but I guess its kinda important since it really helps to put things in perspective,” Zorc said. “Losing sessions are nothing horrible really.”

After a fight like that, you might imagine Zorc would be too tired to fight for anything else in life. Perhaps he would have just enough left in him to enjoy the little things the universe provides. Maybe that would be just enough.

Not so much. Instead, Zorc attacked life, learned everything he could, and has done more than three people could reasonably be expected to do in one lifetime. He got an advanced degree in math specializing in decision theory. During his college years, he spent a good deal of time, in his words “geeking out” in high level gaming. It was around that time he also started playing poker.

“(I was) winning a lot more than I could possibly make with any starting salary in east Europe,” he said.

Saša Zorc

Meanwhile, he started an IT company that focused on payment solutions, got into management consulting, and worked 70-hour weeks. Oh, and he also got his MBA during that time.

He’s since taken a break…to pursue his PhD, of course.

“It’s left me a lot more time to spend on poker,” he said. “I am a HU PLO specialist, and spend most of my time on those tables, where I am, as far as I know, one of the bigger winners.”

He’s not exaggerating about his speciality. Last year, he finished runner up in the PLO HU high buy-in SCOOP event. This year, he won the medium buy-in of the same event.

“Just another day at work,” he said with a wink. “But, seriously, the win is nice, but it’s within the normal monthly variance of the stakes I play, so doesn’t really affect my life nor my bankroll in a significant manner.”

That, folks, is the outlook of a man who has already won the biggest fight of his life. He may go on to win a lot more watches, WCOOP bracelets, or whatever he wants. It will all be just another day at work. Once you’ve won your life, it seems, SCOOP wins may not seem all that monumental. That said, when you’re looking to keep track of the extra life you’ve earned, the hands of a SCOOP championship watch will do the job just fine.

Tags: 2011 | belgian poker series | eureka poker tour | european | European Poker Tour | france | outlook | pca | planets | pokerstars macau

When Rodrigo Caprioi graduated from university, he had degrees in statistics and history, which even he admits is sort of weird.

“That´s very unusual as those are two completely different areas,” he said.

But that’s what Caprioli is like. He likes it unusual.

“I don´t like normality and routine, I always need differente things to see and do,” he said.

If you don’t know Rodrigo Caprioli–the man they call Zidane in Brazil–you probably don’t know much about the PokerStars Spring Championship of Online Poker.

As of this moment (and frankly, these stats could change at any time) Caprioli has made six SCOOP final tables (tied for third among all players). He’s won two SCOOP championships. He’s cashed 31 times for $249,588. He’s one of eleven players worldwide with more than one SCOOP title. In short, the 31-year old man from São Paulo, Brazil is statistically and historically one of the best SCOOP players in the world.

All of that should help explain why, as much Caprioli likes to be surprised, the fact that he added a second SCOOP title to his resume this week isn’t that big a shock. Caprioli won Event #4-H, $2,100 Badugi for $39,000.

“I’m very dedicated. I study and play a lot, so I know I´ll have much more results like this one,” he said.

Rodrigo Caprioli, two-time SCOOP champion

After a 2011 that he considered fairly unremarkable, 2012 started badly. Very badly.

At one point, Caprioli co-owned a language school in São Paulo where he worked for five years before turning pro. Up until 2012, his life as a pro and PokerStars Supernova Elite was going swimmingly. Then came this year.

“I started this year running really cold in live cash games here in São Paulo. I always win playing online, but It´s always hard when things go wrong for a long time,” he said.

That all became irrelevant when Caprioli showed up in Monaco a few weeks ago for the EPT Grand Final, made the final table, and won €315,000 for his fifth place finish.

He followed that up with another SCOOP title this week. Now, he has his eyes set on bigger goals.

“I´m playing to be the Player of the Series in at least one of the levels or overall,” he said. “I´m reaching Supernova Elite again this year, and I hope to get a final table in next WSOP and to win a bracelet in the WCOOP.”

Those would be some impressive stats to rack up. Historic, even.

But, if there is a guy looking for historic statistics, Rodrigo Caprioli is probably him.

Tags: events | flash | micromillions | pokerstars macau | SCOOP | tournaments | world cup of poker

4:45pm: Ten-minute break

4:40pm: Strang soars

Errolyn Strang won the Ladies Event earlier this week to add another trophy to a cabinet which also includes the 2011 Sydney Poker Championships Main Event title. Now she’s chip leader at the second break of the ANZPT Perth Main Event, proving that she is the real deal and the boys had better watch out!

Recently she sent a player to the rail when the two committed their chips on a monotone [7c][tc][8c] flop. Her opponent held [5c][3c] for a flush but Strang tabled [kc][qc] for a bigger flush! The [6d] turn and [8h] river completed the board to see Strang soar to 70,000.

4:35pm: King John

John Corr must wish the ANZPT came to Perth every week. Last year’s runner up is off to a great start again this year after the recent elimination of Craig Blight.

The chips were in preflop with Blight pushing his [4h][4d] into Corr’s [kd][ks].

The board ran out [qc][9h][7h][7c][8d] to see Blight sent to the rail as Corr climbs to 58,000 to be one of our chip leaders.

John Corr is climbing up the chip count leaderboard

4:25pm: Raj catches Cale

PokerStars qualifier Cale Callaway is next to join the growing rail as he tried to sneak a steal through holding [tc][8c] but he couldn’t get past Raj Ramakrishnan who called with [9h][9d].

The board fell [kd][4s][as][ks][4h] to leave Ramakrishnan’s pair in front and eliminate Callaway from the tournament. Ramakrishnan is up to 24,000.

4:10pm: An unwanted lady

Martyn Ward has been a victim of bad luck as his tournament has come to an abrupt end. Ward was all in preflop for his last chips with [ah][kd] as Ben Hon made the call, only to discover that his [as][qs] was dominated.

The flop was an interesting [ts][4h][2s] as Hon flopped a flush draw. The [ac] on the turn paired both and changed nothing, but it was the [qh] that found its way onto the river that left Ward making a disappointed exit.

4:00pm: The chill factor

While the action has been pretty hot so far today, and it’s a toasty 27 degrees Celsius outside, it is a little chilly here in the Burswood Poker Room. In particular, the table nearest to our blogging desk is currently suffering from the air conditioner which is blowing down directly onto them. It’s a common occurrence that you see in casinos all around the world, and a good tip for anyone playing in their first poker tournament is to make sure you always bring a jumper or jacket along with you…just in case. There’s nothing worse that struggling through the day and letting it affect your enjoyment or your play.

The good news for that table is that they are the next to break!

3:50pm: Healy out

Patrick Healy has been spotted on the rail doing an interview with PokerNews hostess Nicky Pickering. That can only mean one thing – there will be no final table this time around.

Apparently his ace-jack ran into the pocket aces of Goce Simonoski. The board ran out Q-J-2-3-5 to bundle Healy out of the ANZPT Perth Main Event.

Patrick Healy has been bundled out of the ANZPT Perth Main Event

3:45pm: Level up, blinds 150-300, ante 25

3:35pm: The king and the deuce

The action is coming thick and fast here in Perth, with players will to get their stacks in the middle. Despite the average stack of about 130 big blinds, we’ve already lost 21 players today.

One who is sticking around a little longer is Peter Zaknic. He was all in on the turn on a board of [2d][ks][as][4h]. Joe Darcy made the call with [ac][jc] for top pair, but he trailed as Zaknic tabled a creative [kc][2c] for two pair. The river was the [8s] to see Zaknic double up to around 40,000. Darcy is still in good shape with about 34,000.

3:25pm: Taylor flushes a double up

Lea-Anne Taylor has landed a big double up on a cooler flop of [jd][3d][9d]. Taylor held [kd][td] for a flopped flush as Patrick Connolly showed [3h][3s] for a set of threes. Connolly would need to pair the board but couldn’t do it as the [kc] turn and [th] river completed the board.

Taylor doubles to 35,000.

3:15pm: Slip for Pagana

Sebastian Pagana has taken a hit, but it could’ve been worse if the board didn’t get scary.

Pagana called bets of 1,300 on the flop and 1,500 on the turn on the [8c][jh][9h][7s] board, before both players checked the [7d] river. Pagana showed [qd][jd] for top pair but his opponent had flopped the straight with his [qs][ts]. Pagana slips to 25,000.

3:10pm: Healy hangs on

Patrick Healy has found a triple up to stay alive in the ANZPT Perth Main Event. He was all in preflop for just 2,150 and found two callers to see a flop of [3d][th][4c]. There was action in the side pot as one player led out with a bet to force a fold from the third player. He showed [5c][5s] as Healy would need help with his [kd][qd].

That help came when the [qs] arrived on the turn before the [8h] completed the board. Healy is back up to 7,600.

3:00pm: Anderson out

Mike Anderson has been sent to the rail. He shoved his short stack with [kc][js] and was called by an opponent holding [ah][qc].

The board ran out [9d][qh][ad][4h][4s] to pair his opponent twice and leave Anderson heading for the nearest exit.

2:50pm: Welcome back Raj

It’s great to see Raj Ramakrishnan back on the tables after a bit of a break away from the game, and during the break, he swung by our desk to let us know about a hand from earlier in the day.

Ramakrishnan raised preflop with jack-ten and found one caller, who called a continuation bet on the 9-7-2 flop. Ramakrishnan spiked gin on the 8 turn card and the chips found their way into the middle. Ramakrishnan tabled his straight as his opponent held ace-ten and was drawing to just a jack to chop it. Wouldn’t you know it, the jack appeared on the river and the two players chopped it up, much to the frustration of Ramakrishnan.

Raj Ramakrishnan makes an appearance here in Perth

2:45pm: Play resumes

It was a frantic start to the day with already over a dozen eliminations within the first two hours of play. We plan to play seven levels today, but at this rate, there won’t be too many players left!

Tags: 2011 | australia | gambling | pokerstars | season 4 | Super Tuesday | TOC | tournaments | twitter | UKIPT

I adore Berlin. It has such an edge of coolness about it I was so excited to return there for the penultimate EPT of the season. Having a good friend living there also helped me to enjoy the experience much more. Before the Main Event kicked off, I went out to celebrate my German friend’s birthday and get to know the Berlin way of life a little better than I had done before. It was a Sunday night and apparently the best night of the week to go out (that was a statement from a Berliner, so it’s pretty concrete.) We started in a Swiss restaurant called ‘Helvetia’ in Kreuzberg where we ate a cheese fondue. It was insanely tasty and cheap. In fact, I wasn’t really looking forward to it so much, I mean, how can a bit of bread and cheese be that great? But trust me, it was. I couldn’t stop dunking my bread into the hot runny cheese sauce. Just thinking about it now is making my mouth salivate, so really, if you come to Berlin, you must try and find Helvetia of you like cheese. The address is Mariannenstrasse 50, 10997 Berlin. Go. Go. Go!

After stuffing ourselves silly, we went out for a few more drinks and the others carried on to a club a little later, but having Day 1a the next day, I thought I better go with the sensible option and opt for an early night, well 2 a.m.

The day before we had also gone out to explore the city and all its history. There was of course a lot of history and I always loved coming to look at some of the old pieces of the Berlin wall that were still visible for the world to see. We had never visited the TV tower before, so felt we should take in the whole experience and see Berlin from up in the clouds and from a 360-degree view. There’s no need for you to do the same though, as it’s all here for you to take a look in the welcome video!

We knew Berlin was going to be a huge field right before the Grand Final and we weren’t wrong. We played 10 levels on both Day 1a and 1b, which was pretty unheard of. Yet, it meant the total field of 750 players had been reduced to 102 by the end of Day 2, so ultimately it was a good thing.

A number of Team PokerStars Pros had gathered at the felt to try and conquer EPT Berlin, but it was not to be. German Team Pro Jan Heitmann made it the furthest by coming 29th and taking home €17,500. It was such a pleasure to see Jan as well because he was such a great person and didn’t frequent all the tour stops. In fact, I think it had been a whole year since I had seen him at last EPT Berlin. He was willing to get involved and make my videos fun, including making a rather silly video, which showed off his piano talents a lot more than mine. I should have, however, received the EPT Oscar after making this video with him

As we got closer to the final table, although no Team Pros remained, we did have the chance of a double crown champion as former EPT Berlin Champion Kevin MacPhee, EPT Copenhagen Champion Anton Wigg and EPT Snowfest Champion Vladimir Geshkenbein all remained in the final 19 players. However this hope was also short-lived, as MacPhee busted in 19th, Wigg in 14th and Geshkenbein in 10th, even though the Russian did have his lucky monkey looking after his chips and his token alcoholic beverage next to him.

However, the final table was still an exciting one, with Canadian Andrew Chen and Belgian Davidi Kitai being the two players with most notable performance history and indeed making it to heads-up. Kitai held the chip lead for most of the day though it did pass to Chen a few times once the players had reduced. It was not a particularly long heads-up battle either, which was great seeing as our video team had to leave Berlin at 5 a.m. to get to Monaco (with a 4 hour stopover in Dusseldorf – its not all glamour!!) Davidi Kitai had become the first ever Belgian EPT Champion and the Belgians were having a great run recently for sure. He spoke to me after play and here is his interview:

So onward bound to Monaco, with no break in between Berlin and The Grand Final. I had my bags packed full of food as I had heard it was a little pricey in this glamorous principality. I just hoped it didn’t all fall out on the flight and smother my dresses! I leave you with some of the outtakes from EPT Berlin (which went out the video before the winner interview). Yes, we are a silly bunch! Until next time. Auf Wiedersen!

Tags: deg | dresses | entertainment | food | italian poker tour | planets | portugal poker series | twitter

For anyone thinking that Monaco is too expensive a place to enjoy, too exclusive for your regular poker player, too far away for your regular traveller or two uninteresting for the enthusiastic tourist, you might have a point. But you can find yourself easily be swayed to the contrary by a walk along the seafront, into Monte Carlo, for dinner in the open air.

The jokes are routine now about the “luxury” element of Monaco; you can’t pretend this is a place that belongs to anyone short of a few million Euros. For a start the walk to the restaurant alone (on sidewalks you can see your reflection in) takes you past a Bentley dealership, a McLaren dealership, a Ferrari dealership and the type of shops that require an invitation to enter.

Casino Square (there’s a Morelli’s Ice Cream parlor just off to the left)

But you set out to find something new because back at Le Sporting a toasted cheese sandwich from the bar will set you back €19, washed down by a €9 Coke, served to you by waiting staff who look like they were told a joke a few minutes earlier.

But there exist places within 20 minutes of Le Sporting where you can eat hot food for around €20 and buy a beer for less than ten (Have you lost your mind? — Ed). There’s nothing wrong with a breeze when it’s 22 degrees outside, and if you spend long enough drinking coffee in the open on a street corner you see all sorts of sights, like rich drunk people staggering up towards Casino Square and even a rare bottle-green 1988 Honda Accord with a dented left wing, dropping into second to take Mirabeau.

But perhaps our reluctance to embrace this place’s ludicrous wealth is misplaced, even with our pockets turned out and emptied by our Evian habit.

The richest poker tour in the world should come to the richest playground in the world. The EPT is about more than poker, it’s about glamour, talent, effort and a dash of aspiration. What’s not to like about a place that harnesses those virtues and packages them up in tax-free gilded wrapping and calls it real life?

If you’re still not sure the EPT will be back here again in a year from now, with a revised schedule and even more opportunities to win your trip for free (a word with no direct translation in Monegasque). Come find out for yourself.

Click here for live updates from The PokerStars and Monte-Carlo® Casino EPT Grand Final

Tags: archives | australia | delicious | estrellas poker tour | events | food | italian poker tour | lapt | monaco | russian | tcoop | UKIPT

It’s another glorious day here in Cebu. A picture postcard 31 degrees Celsius with stunning sunshine and blue skies. It’s a wonderful day for the beach or pool, which I’m sure is what many of our eliminated players will be doing today. Suddenly the pain of being eliminated from a major poker tournament doesn’t feel quite so bad.

But for the 128 survivors it’s time to put away the beach towels and knuckle down to business. There’s a PHP21,953,040 prize pool to play for, and today is where things start to get serious.

We’re expecting to play another six or seven levels today, which should get us pretty close to the money stage for the top 28 players. We may not quite burst the bubble today, which will no doubt make for some tense moments this time tomorrow.

One player who shouldn’t be feeling too tense is Macau’s Antonio Martins. Our Day 1b chip leader bagged up 119,000 which is now good for the biggest stack in the room entering Day 2.

Lee Sang Yong from Korea and Kua Wei Zhong from the Singapore are the next best. While players from Asia are out in the lead at the moment, it’s worth noting that 42 different countries were represented at the APPT Cebu which is a very international field. Australia (13%), Japan (8%) and Korea (6%) had the largest numbers of players in attendance.

We also have three members of Team PokerStars still alive with Raymond Wu, Celina Lin and the defending champion Vivian Im, but each of them will need an early double up or two to get back into contention. We’ll be keeping a close eye on them in the early stages of play today.

The action recommences at 12:15pm local time, which is only a few minutes away. I can almost smell the suckling pig already…

Tags: Asia Pacific Poker Tour | belgian poker series | pca | planets | poker | season 5 | Super Tuesday | wbcoop | wcoop

At the furthest table from the entrance to the Salle des Etolies sit three women; Team PokerStars Pros Sandra Naujoks and Liv Boeree, and Gaelle Baumann. All are were in relatively good shape with Boeree on 75,000, Buamann on 120,000 and Naujoks on 125,000. It’s not unusual for a number of women to make a run at the money in these big buy-in events but to have three at the same table at this stage certainly is.

We’ve had a number of female champions on the EPT circuit – Naujoks and Boeree among them – but none have yet cracked the Grand Final, the final table is yet to be breached by womankind. Annette Obrestad came close in Season 5 with a 13th place finish and Victoria Coren also had a good crack the following season bowing out in 26th, but it was Isabelle Mercier that just missed out way back in Season 1 all but bubbling in tenth place.

Sandra Naujoks: look at this, pal

When you’re covering a table you look at the action, the stacks, the cards (community only, never ever the hole cards) and the players. This can occasionally mean that you catch the eye of a player. My policy is that if I know the player I pull a quick, pained smile and look back towards the action, we don’t want any accusations of unfair treatment, and if it’s a player I don’t know I’ll just look away, you don’t want to freak someone out by blankly gazing into their eyes.

I know it shouldn’t matter, but when this happens with a female player it can make one feel like a bit of stalker, a poker blogger lech of the second degree. This is what happened with Naujoks so I quickly threw my glance a few seats round to the right, past the dealer only to this time catch Baumann’s eye. In a mild fit of panic my eyeline reversed back round the table settling back on Naujoks, who just so happened to look up again, for all I know wondering if that blogger chap was still looking at her. I obviously was. These are the (usually) unspoken quandaries of the reporting world.

In the meantime Jason Wheeler had swapped 2% of his action with Christopher Hunichen (assuming his card number is correct) before punting a small chunk of his stack off to Hamad Almannai with top pair against a rivered top two. Wheeler shook his head but the min-raise on the river into his 10,000 lead was too small for him not to call. Boeree has since busted and with the clock stopped the final hands of the hand are now playing out. Team PokerStars Pro Max Martinez appears to have made a late break for the chip lead, impressive from a day start of 63,400.

Liv Boeree: what you looking at?

Tournament snapshot
Level 14: blinds 1,200-2,400, ante 300
Players: 130 of 665
Average stack: 153,500
Click here for live coverage and more features from The PokerStars and Monte-Carlo®Casino European Poker Tour Grand Final.

Tags: Baltic Poker Festival | dealer | delicious | ept | pca | pokerstars | SCOOP | TOC | twitter | wcoop

The dream, when you register for a big buy-in poker tournament like the APPT Cebu Main Event, is to take the thing down for a major score. Fly halfway around the world, play like a beast, and fly home a few hundred thousand dollars richer. That’s the dream.

The reality of the dream is that only one player can manage that feat and only 9 can make the final day of the tournament. For everyone else who enters the tournament, disappointment is going to strike somewhere on Days 1, 2 or 3. Assuming that jet lag doesn’t do you in first, of course.

It was my dream to eat as much of the suckling pig as I could stand.

When the dream dies, Cebu offers up its welcoming embrace. Try some of the ripest, freshest mangoes you’ve ever had in your life. Go for a swim. Do some diving. Head into town and down a few San Miguels with the locals.

If you’re really fortunate, you’ll know a local who will take you to the 38th floor of a building in the center of town and let you hang off the side of it, overlooking a 400-foot drop at a 55-degree angle. Though I would recommend that if you’re at all fearful of heights, you skip that bit of sightseeing. Your palms will grow clammy the moment the machine starts to lift you over the edge of the building.

But if you’re in Cebu for the Cebu Main Event (or at any of the PokerStars live tours), chances are you like to play a little bit of poker. As was the case in Seoul, as is the case at every major PokerStars tour stop, there is side action to feed to your inner poker action junkie.

The side action is modest here, to be sure. There are daily tournaments ranging in buy-in from 10,000 pesos (about US$250) to 50,000 pesos (US$1,250). When players are called for cash game seats, it sounds like they’ve been knighted. “Sir Dave, Sir Heath, Sir Sam, your seats are available in our new game on Table 2.” Eight tables are reserved for those cash games, although here on the first day of the Main Event only three are in use and all are small stakes: 50-100 NLHE, 100-200 NLHE, and even a 25-50 NLHE table.

You might turn your nose up at those stakes, especially the 25-50 game, which in US Dollar terms would be about $0.60-$1.20. But aren’t those games some of the most fun? People splash around and just generally have a good time, without being too concerned about the win-or-lose outcome. This is Cebu, after all. Even for professionals who make their living at this game of cards, when you’re in this town you just can’t be that serious all the time. The sun is shining, the people are friendly, and it’s really just a place to take a load off and not worry about anything for a while.

The dream can live on some other day. For today, have some fun. Whether it’s mangoes and beer or playing like a braying jackass in a 25-50 peso NLHE game – forget the dream.

Tags: 2011 | deg | estrellas poker tour | events | featured-video | festival | france | pokerstars | wcoop | world cup of poker

When you live in Cornwall, England, a county of rugged coastlines, surfing types and Londoners with second homes, it can be hard to find a poker game. In fact, if you live there, like chip leader Marc Wright does, you’re left with the only game in town, at the casino in Plymouth.

“The game (at the Casino) runs every night,” said Wright. “At the weekends it runs pretty big and its’ a good game. But there’s not a ton of action.”

Beyond the walls of the local casino, or in the home games that take place (often exceeding the casino in size), your next best option is the EPT, which Wright decided to play after a deep run in the Irish Poker Open last week, selling a percentage for his first experience on the tour. Considering this is his first EPT, Wright seems to be adapting well, taking the lead earlier today.

“I’ve had pretty good table draws,” said Wright. “I got in a couple of nice spots. Everything’s gone right. Every value bet I’ve made has been called. I’ve called a couple of people as well. I ran a really big bluff second hand of the day which got through. So I feel pretty comfortable.”

Marc Wright

Wright comes across as a thoughtful and humble player, putting his success this week down to good fortune rather than what is an obvious degree of talent.

“I lost a big pot yesterday against JP Kelly, queens into kings which at the time was huge. I’d been really active so it was a bit of a cooler. I felt like things were just going to go wrong from there. I took a 20 minute break and came back and everything went okay after that.”

Cornwall, in the extreme south west of England, is not traditionally a hotbed of poker, suited more to affluent vacationers looking for some sea, sun and rugged countryside, to do the kind of adrenaline activities that require a certificate from the coast guard. It is, however, the perfect place to relax.

“I live there with my girlfriend and step daughter,” said Wright. “It’s a nice way of life.”

But while his surroundings may be one of comfort, Wright, who has been playing for a living for more than four years (“two years before that I was a big loser!) is looking to redirect his game onto a more serious course, perhaps trying to overcome demons that can make someone unsure of their talents reticent to jump in head first.

“I’ve been pretty lazy but I’m trying to get back into it again now,” said Wright, speaking frankly. “When you play poker for a living its super easy to get lazy; it’s my own fault but I’m going to start playing all EPTs and playing online tournaments properly. I’ve worked really hard on my game in the last couple of years. I haven’t had any live results but I haven’t played any live.”

That changed at the Irish Open a little more than a week ago. A deep run reminded him that he could perform well against the best. Or at least his girlfriend realised it.

“I felt like I just crushed it; every table,” said Wright. “Then I lost four hands in one orbit and it just obliterated me. I was like ‘I’m never going to play poker again,’ But my girlfriend suggested I play this.

“I’ve found the field pretty good. Maybe I’ve just been lucky with table draws but everything’s gone well so far. I haven’t felt under pressure. I hope it continues.”

All signs suggest that it is.

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