StarsAbove: A Pro In Every Pond

Published on 04 Sep 08 17:06 by tiva

Our BlackMember is not only present at the poker tables, he is also at home in every ocean as a professional swimmer. Nonetheless, StarsAbove has not forgotten his friends and always takes time for the community.

 

This interview was conducted by funmaker

PokerStrategy: Hello StarsAbove! Please introduce yourself briefly!

StarsAbove: Yeah, my name is Sebastian, I am 23 years old and live in Leverkusen in beautiful Rhineland.

PokerStrategy: On which limit and at which platform are you active?

StarsAbove: Actually, I play all over on several sites: PokerStars, Full Tilt Poker, PartyPoker and Titan Poker, mostly Fixed Limit 10/20 to 20/40. Currently, I'm trying my luck a bit with the $109 SnG's and MTT's. So far everything's going just fine.

PokerStrategy: How long have you been a BlackMember, and how has your career developed up till now?

StarsAbove: Hm, yes that's a good question. I have no idea since when I became a BM; I think since the status has been introduced... I was, I think, at times rather inactive. When I logged back in on your homepage at some point, I discovered that I was a BlackMember.

Back then, I started - like so many others - with $5. I did a lot of grinding until I got to 10/20 relatively quickly where I then had my first problems. In my second attempt things worked out quite well, and it went straight up to 50/100. All of it took about one to one and a half years. Afterwards came a big down, and I played a bit of NL 200-400. It was neither really good nor really bad. Then I practically didn't play at all for a year, and now I've only been active again since March 2008.

PokerStrategy: What victories did you score so far, and which of them was the most important for you?

StarsAbove: As I have only played cash games in at least 99.5% of the cases, I don't really have many successes to show. The biggest success is simply that I am a long-term winning player.

PokerStrategy: What does the BlackMember status mean to you? Do you feel "special"?

StarsAbove: The good thing about the status is that I am able to access all of the content, even if I don't play that much. Unfortunately, the parties only take place when I don't have time. ;-) I am nothing special as a BlackMember. I'm not better than a Bronze- or Silver member simply because I am a BM.

PokerStrategy: Your preferred forums are clearly those in which it's all about sample hands and game analysis. Is this the most important step towards success?

StarsAbove: Sure, I am far from playing perfectly, and I am thankful for every bit of input, which is why I mostly surf in these forums.

PokerStrategy: You post in the (German) Sorgenhotline (Ed. Note: "Help Lines") and help newcomers with the evaluation of their hands. This willingness to help regardless of the status of the members is exemplary. Does this go without saying for you?

StarsAbove: Yes, of course! Back when I still played on the micros, I was also happy when somebody looked at my hands, or when someone helped me to analyze my downswing, if it was simply variance, or if I was playing badly.

PokerStrategy: You once mentioned in the forum that you could definitely get along without poker for a considerable time. How long could this time be?

StarsAbove: Phew, well in 2007 I practically didn't play at all, simply because I didn't have time for it due to swimming training, my girlfriend and my job. In hindsight, I wish I had played a bit more... if only for the money. ;-)

PokerStrategy: Many members here probably rather tend towards "playing a lot". Do you have any advice from when on it does more harm than good?

StarsAbove: I think, especially on the low limits, many should rather spend their time on improving their game with the content, in order to rise up quickly. When you then have reached a good level, playing a lot is a good thing, as long as your concentration doesn't suffer... Whoever can play a lot with a constant level of concentration will make a lot of money on the higher limits.

PokerStrategy: You have been with PokerStrategy since early June 2005. Since then, a lot has happened. Why would you recommend PokerStrategy to poker rookies?

StarsAbove: I don't think there is much to say. The successes of many people who "learned" playing poker at PokerStrategy speak volumes after all. They show the way to success for those who start playing poker at PokerStrategy.

PokerStrategy: Let's get to the private stuff: You are a professional swimmer. This sounds very interesting. Please tell us a bit more about it!

StarsAbove: Yeah, there's not that much to tell. I get a bit of money for swimming fast. ;-) It is a nice situation to receive money for something which started as a hobby. I often have competitions and training camps spread out all across the globe. This is motivation enough for me to remain successful - or preferably become even better. ;-)

PokerStrategy: During the latest BlackMember party, you were also in a training camp on Lanzarote. What does such a training camp look like? Please tell us about your daily routine!

StarsAbove: Yes, well I hope that the next party takes place on a date when I am also able to come for a change!

About the training camp: Usually the alarm goes off at 6:30 AM, then you swim from 7 to 9. Afterwards, you eat breakfast quietly, and I have some peace until 3:00 PM. Most of the time, you chill at the pool or sleep during this time. Then you are off to the weight room for an hour, and from 4 to 6 PM you have the second swimming session. After that, you eat, and during the evening we sit together outside, shoot some pool or do anything else which isn't exhausting.

PokerStrategy: How long do you still want to pursue swimming with this intensity?

StarsAbove: As long as I am still able to keep up with the others and my body is able to endure the strain, I'll certainly keep doing it.

PokerStrategy: You have also worked in a bank. Will this be your future career?

StarsAbove: Hm, I hope not. A job in a bank isn't really my cup of tea, even though the economic connection does interest me in general. Preferably, I would do something later that has to do with sports.

PokerStrategy: How do those around you react towards your poker career? Your parents knew from the start that you play poker. Did they support you?

StarsAbove: At first they were rather skeptical, but as I only played with donated money and on small limits, they didn't really care. When I then started to play on higher limits and also raked in very nice profits, they thought it was good, and now they even play themselves a bit in the micro area.

PokerStrategy: Which goals do you have concerning poker?

StarsAbove: First of all, I want to improve my SnG- and MTT game. Unfortunately, the content material isn't as extensive for these as with FL...

PokerStrategy: What do you wish for in your private life? What goals do you have?

StarsAbove: For the time being, I mainly hope to remain healthy enough to still pursue my swimming career - in the past, I broke my foot and had an inflamed sinew in my shoulder within a relatively short period of time.

PokerStrategy: That doesn't sound good. We hope you reach this goal, and that you'll still be able to travel around with your sport! Speaking of travels: You are interested in other countries and cities like South Africa, Stockholm or Amsterdam. Could you imagine leaving Germany anytime, or do you perhaps already have such plans?

StarsAbove: Yep, deliberations are definitely present. I have already seen so many beautiful cities and countries where I would like to live. However, there aren't any concrete plans yet, the more so as they would have to make it possible for me to continue with my swimming.

PokerStrategy: Thank you for the interesting interview and the time you took for us! We wish you all the best and good luck for your future!