swordfish007 Wins a VIP Package for the PokerStrategy.com TV World Championship
German PokerStrategist swordfish007 has won one of the first packages for the PokerStrategy.com TV World Championship in the Poker Heaven Rake Race. In this interview you can find out more about what it takes to win a package yourself and why he won't be needing a plane ticket to England.
August saw the first of three Rake Races at Poker Heaven, which could guarantee you a place in the TV World Championship. There'll be more Rake Races from the 1st to 30th September and from the 1st to 31st October - so you could be generating rake now which ends up guaranteeing you a ticket to London!
We'll be able to tell you approximately how much rake you need at the end of the first Rake Race. For swordfish007, 6,417 Euro Rake was enough to win a package. In this interview, the 22 year old tells us how much he had to play to get there and why the event in London will be a home game for him.
You can find all the information about the Rake Races here.
Interview with swordfish007
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| Manig Löser aka swordfish007 |
PokerStrategy.com: Congratulations on your success in the Poker Heaven Rake Race! Let's have a quick introduction: describe your poker career in three sentences, please!
swordfish007: Hey, thanks a lot! My name is Manig Löser, I'm 22 years old and I kicked off my career about four years ago, although from the very start I spent more time in the casino than playing online poker.
During my last years at school and my civil service I could only play now and then, but afterwards I decided to do it professionally and moved to London with three other German poker players. I spent most of last year mainly doing that, travelling the world to play in live tournaments.
PokerStrategy.com: Most PokerStrategists know you more as an MTT player. What did you play at Poker Heaven to get a top position in the Rake Race?
swordfish007: Almost exclusively 5-max Turbo SnGs (up to €50) and at the same time generally two or three PLO tables (up to PLO200). I've also played the badbeat Jackpot tables and Heads-up when I couldn't be bothered with SnGs.
PokerStrategy.com: Did you take part in Rake Races at Poker Heaven before anyway, or was the PokerStrategy.com TV World Championship the main reason?
swordfish007: The PokerStrategy.com TV World Championship was definitely the main reason. Before I heard about it, I didn't even have a Poker Heaven account. At the start of the month I still played my normal schedule at other sites and only opened a couple of tables for the Race, until I realised that I had a good shot at a package if I just played more at Poker Heaven.
"The PLO tables were very soft, but it's like that everywhere up to PLO200 I guess"
PokerStrategy.com: You've played a few thousand hands at Poker Heaven now: what's your overall impression of the software now you've had time to get used to it? And how strong would you say your opponents were?
swordfish007: Unfortunately, I have to say I'm not a big fan of the software, but that's because of little things, such as the very short time bank, which is certainly not so critical at less tables. So I wouldn't say that the software is not to be recommended.
Because of all the Races there are a few regs at the SnGs of course, but as I only played up to €50 SnGs (above that there's very little traffic), there were enough bad players. I thought the PLO tables were very soft, but that's the way it is as at every site up to PLO200 I guess.
PokerStrategy.com: You've gathered a lot of live experience. Do you think that you've got an advantage against other players who might be at the tournament in London?
swordfish007: Without knowing the exact structure, I assume that it won't be deepstacked very long and that most PokerStrategists will be quite good in shoving spots, despite a lack of live experience and being excited about being in front of the cameras. Nonetheless, a player with live experience always has an advantage against pure online players.
"I won't have a problem playing in front of the cameras"
PokerStrategy.com: The tournament will be recorded for television. Is that something new for you or do you have TV experience?
swordfish007: I've already sat at TV tables at several tournaments, so it's not a problem for me to play poker in front of the cameras. However, it's my first show with this kind of format, so it will certainly be a very interesting experience.
PokerStrategy.com: Finally, can you give us your tourist tip for all those PokerStrategists who have never been to London?
swordfish007: My three favourite London restaurants are Nobu, Hakkasan and Gaucho Grill. If you want to party, Chinawhite, Boujis or Fabric are good and for 1-12 chilled out, post-grind drinks, go to the Zoobar. The best place for live poker is the Victoria Casino, without a doubt. Unfortunately, I can't tell you a lot about tourist attractions, but most people think Madame Tussauds is the best.
PokerStrategy.com: Thanks for your time and good luck in the event!
