Profile
Name: Tilko (AKA Ray)
Age: 25
Playing PKR since: 21/08/2007
Tourney record: Games: 3,719 - Final tables: 397 - Cashes: 703 - Win: 56
Notable cashes: 'Big shot': $7.600 | '$4,000 Guaranteed' $2,160 | 'The Sunday Classic' $25,000 GTD
$1,297 | '$3,500 GTD Triple Chance' $1,140 | 'PKR Open' $12,500 GTD $1,125
Meet Tilko
Antoine: How did you start to play poker? How did you find out about PKR?
Tilko: I guess like a lot of people I started playing when I was a kid, using matches instead of chips. But I discovered hold' em in August'07 at a live game at a flat where Lordboulingthon and dreamfactory were living. They kind of forced me to join them on PKR and convinced me poker would be my new passion, and I’ve been on PKR pretty much every day since then ;)
A: How did you take the decision to become a pro?
T: I've always hated being dependant on someone else to make money and - even if after looking back on it now I think I went ‘pro’ too early - after a year playing intensively I quit my job and started living from poker. The truth is I'm incredibly lazy, and when I realized I could have a decent living without ever having to hear that damn alarm clock at 7am, or fight my way into the overloaded Paris metro-jungle I didn't need to think about it twice!
A: What do you think makes you a good player?
T: I can't consider myself a good player due to the short period of time I've been playing poker, but what makes me a decent constant winning player is patience, a strong will to win and being able to objectively look back on my mistakes.
A: What is the most important thing in poker?
T: I don't think any one thing is more important than another; there are too many factors to take into consideration when you sit at a table, and each one is variable and has its importance according to the context of the game. If I had to choose though, and as a MTT player, I would say the good old patience.
A: What is your best fold ever? Why?
T: I have a terrible memory regarding hands history so I can't remember one specific good fold. But in general I appreciate the folds when you have a perfect read on your opponent or those when you have to fight against your ego :)
A: What is your favorite tournament?
T: Omaha fullringed MTT's, so there aren't many choices (yet) except for the Omaha Showdown. It's just too bad people don't realize how great this game is, most of them won't even try. It is way more interesting and you get a lot more action from it! We want more Omaha players!
A: How do you deal with bad beats?
T: Ideally, I would have a PKR punching-ball and a special printer connected to PKR which would print a picture of the villain that I could paste to the punching bag and get my anger out! Seriously though, I just tell myself life is tough and so is poker, I accept the variance because I don't have the choice anyway and try to adapt to it, even if sometimes it can drive you crazy. Patience, self-control and a solid BRM are your best friends during those bad periods.
A: Do you prefer online or live poker?
T: Live poker of course :) The thing is when you start with almost nothing and start living from poker, you pretty much have to stick to online poker for a little while to build your bankroll. Also live poker in Paris is very restricted and very expensive, so that doesn't help either.
A: If you could improve one thing on PKR what would it be?
T: I would like to be able to create my own clothes and then somehow wear them on my avatar :) Also a Nation cup and/or a Team event would be much appreciated. And of course the PKR donk punching-ball I mentioned earlier. :)
A: You're French and on the forums you fight against people who assume French are just Fronks, do you think this will end? Where does this come from?
T: I think it's a human natural reflex to find a scapegoat when you are not able to understand your own mistakes. Most of the time, the player complaining about the way French players play is the same paranoid egocentric person who thinks online poker is rigged. I’m not sure it will end, we are the second biggest community on PKR so you get more chances to see bad moves from French!
A: What are the players you most respect/fear on PKR?
T: I have learnt not to fear any player with time, but I remember when I started playing on PKR I was scared of a few guys, I can only remember Dospairos. I respect any player who really wants to improve his game and manages to do it and good players who stay humble.
A: If you could play heads-up against the poker star of your choice, who would it be?
T: From the little I know I would say Patrick Antonius. We pretty much have the same stoic attitude at the tables (at the limit of autism), so it would be pretty intense to play :)
A: Why do all these fronks, sorry I mean French players, have all the same avatar, what is the secret? Who are you guys? Are you part of a sect?
T: It's an idea of mine on a French forum in order to bring a little funnier touch to PKR and it’s open to any French speaking player. I'm organizing a private tournament that runs every 3 weeks the winner gets to choose the clothes, hairstyle and the next private structure for everyone else participating for that period (we’ve got about 80 players at the moment - but we're on vacation until September).
A: Last but not least, Tilko, what does Tilko mean, where does it come from, tell us about this?
T: It comes from Teal'c ( Stargate SG-1 ), It's actually TilK but PKR doesn't allow less than 5 letters for the username ; ) A very serene and calm character which fits perfectly with my attitude at a poker table.
Looking forward to see you in PKR live 3… thanks for your time Ray, good luck!