After The $350k Jackpot Win: Supermoderator Tigga In Our Interview

"Don't get discouraged at poker!": Supermoderator Tigga busted PartyPoker's biggest Bad Beat Jackpot of all time. A few hours later, he answered our questions: How does it feel? What will happen now? And most of all: What will you do with over $350,000?

The interview was held by storge

 

PokerStrategy: Hello Tigga! About ten hours ago, your bankroll increased by $354.683. Have you gotten your head around it yet?

Tigga: Hi storge, to be honest – no, not really yet. Of course you're always hoping for the Bad Beat which leads to the Jackpot. You imagine what you could do with the money. But when it really happens... it simply rolled me over.

PokerStrategy: Please describe in your own words how it feels to win the biggest jackpot in the history of PartyPoker.

Tigga: It is pretty much the most wicked feeling I ever had. The adrenaline rush was simply gigantic. I saw the Royal and my quads. In the moment the pot went over to him, I jumped up, ran through the flat and simply hollered.

PokerStrategy: Understandable. What did you do next?

Tigga:
Well, I was hoarse following all this screaming, and already the first congratulations were arriving on Skype, and I went to my balcony - and had a nice smoke.

PokerStrategy: You were already playing nine jackpot tables FL 0.5/1 for several hours. Does one think about the win in every potential starting hand?

Tigga:
I would rather say: "one hopes". I think I played every suited connector and every pocket pair starting at 8-8 – simply with the hope that it would happen. Interestingly, I only realized it on the river in the decisive hand. Before that, I was simply in autopilot mode and clicking.

PokerStrategy: When you realized it could be something, was it already too late?

Tigga:
I only realized it after the cap on the river, and by then the pot had already moved over to him. All of it was very, very close.

PokerStrategy: What was your first thought?

Tigga: "Yeah, all mine." And then the immediate thoughts about the things you want to treat yourself to.

PokerStrategy: And while we're on the subject: Where will the money go? Do you have any plans yet?

Tigga:
Yes, by all means. I think I'll pay off our house for good. As this isn't that much anymore, a nice little vacation with my girlfriend over New Year's Eve is also planned. And the great thing is: As the BBJ was so big, there's still a sizeable amount left to invest and I can study without worries.

PokerStrategy: How was the reaction of your friends and relatives towards your win?

Tigga:
My girlfriend said, "and for this you make such a fuss and wake me up?", my father wanted to invest everything immediately and my mother wanted to go on vacation. Apart from that, I received many congratulations and also a bit of – in part understandable, of course – jealousy.

PokerStrategy: Since your last interview some time has passed. Are you still a student?

Tigga: Yes, I'll take my Abitur next year.

PokerStrategy: What plans do you have for the future?

Tigga:
After my studies, I definitely want to take some time out as I don't have to join the Armed Forces thanks to the T5 physical examination. Then I definitely want to study and see what life has to offer.

PokerStrategy: And in terms of poker?

Tigga:
After my studies, I'm flying to Vegas to the WSOP. Now the decision is much easier. After that, I'll use the time-out to grind as much as possible. In the long run, I hope to be able to establish myself on the mid stakes between 15/30 and 50/100.

PokerStrategy: Which limits do you currently play?

Tigga:
Currently, I mainly play Fixed-Limit 5/10 to 15/30 –
in between going back to the roots every now and then. Then I play some SnG's, anything between the $200 to the $500 SnG's. I'll probably not push my Pot-Limit Omaha career much further. For the moment, I simply don't enjoy it anymore.

PokerStrategy: Will the jackpot win also increase your bankroll in parts and thus allow a rise up a limit?

Tigga:
I'll smooth out my downswing with it, which unfortunately has had me in its grasp since March. But that's all. I still want to play under my own steam and my own skill.

PokerStrategy: For this we wish you the best of luck and we thank you for the interview! Do you want to say anything else?

Tigga:
Yes, don't get discouraged at poker! Downswings get us all. What's important is only this: Keep on trying, cram the theory and bring along the necessary patience.