"I value experiences & memories more than money" - interview with George Danzer
Today we chat to mixed game specialist and all-round nice guy George Danzer to talk about his WSOP and the upcoming WCOOP festival.
"Top five in the WCOOP leaderboard is my goal"
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| PokerStars Pro George Danzer |
PokerStrategy.com: The WSOP is over, what do you do immediately after the series to recover?
georgedanzer: This year I did not go hiking as usual after the WSOP, but decided to stay at home and watch Game Of Thrones with my girlfriend.
After that I went to a rock music festival for half a week and then another vacation in Portugal.
PokerStrategy.com: The WCOOP is one of the first major festivals after the WSOP; do you like the timing of it for that reason?
georgedanzer: I could play online tournament series all year long. As long as I get a week or two in between them to relax, they should just do one after another.
PokerStrategy.com: What are your goals for WCOOP this year?
georgedanzer: I just want to win one title in 2-7 and make a run for the leaderboard - top five is the goal.
PokerStrategy.com: Which events are you looking forward to the most?
georgedanzer: The high roller 8-Game. It is a great tournament with an awesome structure where you really get some hands of every variation.
"When I play one game for too long my skills plateau"
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| "I don't like rock paper scissors" |
PokerStrategy.com: When did your enjoyment of mixed games begin?
georgedanzer: I really love all games; all but rock paper scissors actually. If I can play them competitively even better.
When I play one game for too long and my skills plateau, I get a little bored and just try to learn the next one.
PokerStrategy.com: Do you enjoy playing them more, or is it because they are softer with the best chance at a bracelet?
georgedanzer: I enjoy them all. I just want to become the best player I can in every game I start to play.
It is nice to have a higher chance of winning some of the mixed games events, but that is not why I play them.
PokerStrategy.com: Many people say mixed games are soft, but I have always assumed they would be tough because they are full of experienced players - what is your experience of that?
georgedanzer: To define soft is quite complicated. I imagine Rafa Nadal rates most of the ATP fields as soft. I find them quite hard to play through... How strong the field of a tournament is always depends on the buy-in, the structure and scheduling.
I have not seen a SCOOP high stakes tournament in any mixed game that was soft. The nightly $8.80 NLO8 is manageable though.
"I value experiences and memories more than money"
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| "Treat other people with respect" |
PokerStrategy.com: You had a great SCOOP - was the leaderboard always a goal of yours or was it more about money and titles?
georgedanzer: The leaderboard is always my main priority. I try to play as many tournaments as possible and I try to play them as good as I can.
I just try to go from day to day and look at the results at the end.
PokerStrategy.com: You had some big results in the WSOP, but no bracelet - how did you feel at the end of it?
georgedanzer: I was really happy about my WSOP results because I finally made the final table of the $50k Poker Players Championship on the third run at it.
That tournament was my main priority for the WSOP. The bracelet will come another year.
PokerStrategy.com: Why do many pros value the bracelet more than the money? Would you happily have a WSOP where you lost money overall if it ended with you winning a bracelet?
georgedanzer: Yes I would happily be down a little money if I come out with a bracelet next year. It just feels so good to win a tournament when you get beat up and feel down every tournament you bust.
Also, I value experiences and memories much more than money.
PokerStrategy.com: You have a really great reputation as one of the great ambassadors and gentlemen of the game. Are you aware of this and if so, is it important to you?
georgedanzer: I just love poker and think the game is like a mirror of life: just treat other people with respect and the way you want them to treat you.
PokerStrategy.com: Thanks very much George, good luck in the WCOOP!
