Tags:
Events/live poker, Player interview, Team PKR
Danski: Congratulations on being the first player to qualify for Team PKR’s visit to the Asian Poker Tour Macau in August. You were a member of the Team that travelled to Manila in January for the $2,500 Main Event, how did that trip go?
Waswini: Hi Danski - the APT Manila was my first live main event. It was a superb trip and I stayed in a great hotel. Despite my poor English, I managed to meet some players I really liked such as Bazultra, Pokerkate, kingkai84, Brasilianraise, along with SoooSick and pokey85, who I hadn't met at PKR’s tables. I think I finished 39th in the APT event, close to the bubble. But the fact that I was in Manila was already a victory, so I wasn’t disappointed at all.
D: Did the holiday make you want to play every APT event in future?! How does it compare to other poker events you have attended?
W: Yes of course! And not only the APT tournaments, but all the live tournaments that PKR offer tickets for. To be honest, except for my live games with friends, Manila and PKR Live I and II are my only live experiences so I can’t really compare with other major tournaments, but the organization was perfect.
D: Now you’re off to Macau in just two month’s time. How are you feeling about this next adventure? What are you goals & expectations this time round?
W: I have no plan. I’ll probably play cash games and a few side games before the main event to get ready (it helped me a lot in Manila). This time I will go there with more ambition, despite my poor experience live. I want to be in the money, but if I can play for the title, I will go for it…
D: Well, we wish you the very best of luck. Can we have some background on how you have become so successful? When did you start playing poker?
W: Thanks! I 've played poker for almost five years, two and a half on PKR. I was playing on other sites when a friend of mine (hello Shaman) told me about PKR and since then I have never looked back! As far as my recent winnings are concerned, well I can only think it is thanks to luck :D
D: Describe your journey from low stakes through to where you are today.
W: Frankly I started with nothing on PKR - a few freerolls - and I managed to get a bankroll in a year. Now I have a solid bankroll, so I am now playing full time “pro”, and get a correct salary every month for a year.
D: Is there something about tournaments that really appeals to you, or do you play cash games too?
W: I am a regular player on $2/4 and $1/2 on PKR. I am not interested in the higher stakes as they're full of regular players and the variance is too high. I earn my money off those limits and I am happy with that. I look at MTTs as bonuses; the adrenalin of a final table has no comparison. But I try not to expect too much from MTTs and I try to focus on cash games.
D: Apart from winning an APT event and a big pile of cash, what are your poker goals for the future?
W: PKR is my second home, so, as a lot of players, I would love to be part of Team PKR. It is a dream...by the way there are no French in Team PKR…! Also in the long term, an EPT victory or a WSOP bracelet…It’s not forbidden to dream.
D: Waswini, thanks for talking to us. Next time, we hope to be asking you how you won the tournament!
W: I hope so too! It was my pleasure, and thanks to Antoine as well for the translation…