王中之王
Championofchampions
I started to feel like the racewas lost before it had
begun. But [Japanese player] Iori Yogo became
themain threat as the year progressed –both Iori
and I started rackingup the resultsandaswe took
overthetoptwospots itreallywasabackand forth
struggle.
It’sreally importanttobeabletotakethe lead
in thePOY race.That’s thepsychologyof thegame
just like inanyothersport Isuppose.Themindsetof
going intoaserieswith thegoalofmaintaining the
numberonespotasopposedtoreaching it,coupled
with the fact that youknoweveryonegunning for
POYhastotryandcatchyou insteadofavoidingyou
– it’sagreatboost to theconfidenceandcan really
helpwith thewayyouperform.
BB:
Themostmemorablestopduring lastyear’sAPT
was the secondvisit toCebuwhere youmanaged
towin four separate side events. I’mnot awareof
anyplayer havingwon four sideevents anywhere
before.What are yourmemories of thatweek as it
progressed?
SR:
After winning the Charity Event, I ended up
3-handed in the Pot Limit Omaha Event withmy
thenfiancée,nowmywife,Menchuandaguywho
has sincegoneon tobecomeagood friend, Jason
Powers. I back-doored the nut flush into Jason’s
secondnutflushand that leftmewithahugechip
advantageoverMenchu. PLO is her game though
and Ididn’twanttodoubleherup,soheads-uptook
quitesome timebeforewemanaged toget itall in
pre-flop.
Once I won that and slept on the couch that
evening, I was well aware that I hadn’t cashed in
another event that week so on
Hendon Mob
(a
database showing tournament results of all poker
players) I wouldbe showing two straight wins. So
I knew if Imade it to themoney inanother event I
reallyhad towin tomake it three ina row!The third
winwas kindof fortunategiven itwas a turboand
anything can happen, but I managed to flop top
pair vs toppair, as I do,withadominatingkicker to
make it three trophies ina row.After that Iobviously
wanted tomake ita fourthbefore theweekwasout
and Imanaged it in the last event of the series. The
lasthandwasreallylucky,Irememberbarelycovering
myopponent andwemanaged toget all inon the
flop. I hada straight and10-highflushdrawon the
flopwithnopair andwasupagainst adominating
Queen-highflushdraw. I hit a10on the turnwhich
held.Sometimes it’sbettertobe luckythangood!
BB:
Did itall feelabitsurrealorwas itsimplyacase
ofbeing in thezone?
SR:
I’mused to runningdeepmultiple times in a
stop these days so it wasn’t as surreal as itmight
haveotherwisebeen. But itwasdefinitelyexciting
forme as it playedout because I reallywanted to
seehow long I could keep the streakgoing. I also
knew Lester Edoc hadwon three titles inCebu at
theopening stop so Iwas aware that four ina row
wouldbeanother record, so therewas someextra
motivation there. Ialso just ran reallypure!
BB:
You skipped theMainEvent at theAPT Finale
inManilawhich allowed you toplay a number of
side events and therefore maximize your points
potential. Howmuch thought goes intoplanning
your schedule as the season progresses and
particularlyas the last feweventsapproach?
SR:
I think it’s really a testament not only to the
abilitiesbutthecharacterof IoriYogothat Idecided
to skip theMain Event. Not once in all four races
have Iadjustedmyschedulebasedonmyperceived
threatof aplayer. I knewgiven thegreat structures
that theAPT nowhave inplace that should I run
deep in theMainEvent Iwouldbemissingout on
a load of side events – and should Iori choose to
focus on the sides or indeedbust theMain Event
early itwouldbeopen season for him if I was still
stuckplaying theMain.
At that point, once you have fought a
whole year to win the race, the number one
spot is the ultimate goal at the finale – even if
theMain Event payout is worth five times the
prize forwinningPOY.
BB:
Did you feel anypressureor put anypressure
onyourselfasthefinal fewstopsoftheseasonwere
approaching?
SR:
Idon’tusuallyfeelpressured intheseraces,more
anxiousness I think. When I go into an APT stop
ahead inthepointsrace I justtrytofocusonstaying
ahead, andwhen Igo inbehind I trymybest toget
in front. Iwillkeepacloseeyeonhowtheothertop
five spotsaregettingon throughout theweekbut
there’s nothing I cando to affect those results. It’s
thebreaks inbetweenwhen I’mgearingup for the
nextstop that Iponderandgetanxiousabouthow
thingsmight turnout!
BB:
Your recordnowover the four years stands at
19 titles from77cashes inAPTevents.Howdoyou
explainyour incrediblesuccesswhenplayingunder
theAPTbanner?
SR:
Ithinktherearetwomainfactorsinvolved.Firstly
andmost importantly, I’ve come to know all the
regularsonthetour. Ithelpsthatvirtuallyeverytable
I sitandplayat thereareat leastoneor twoplayers
I have played against and already have notes on.
Secondly, I really feelathomeplayingontheAPT. It’s
not liketheWSOPorsimilarwhere Ireallyfeel like I’m
going forworkandhavetobereallyseriousabout it.
Ofcourse, I stillworkhardbut it feelsmore like
afamilyaffairthangoingtoaneventwithabunchof
strangersI’veneverplayedwithbefore.IfI’menjoying
myself I definitelyplaybetter. I get reallygrumpy if
I findmyself playingagainst people that arehighly
antisocial and take the game far too seriously,
although that hashappened tomea few timeson
theAPT.
There’saquote Iheardatschoolwhen Iwas13
or 14and ithas stuckwithmeallmy life:“Choosea
jobyouenjoyandyouwon’tworkaday inyour life.”
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WGM#43 2016年9月/10月 |
WGM#43Sep/oct2016
