News: "When I started playing the regs called me Harry Potter"

We have a quick chat with high stakes pro and Harry Potter look-a-like Isaac Haxton ahead of him hosting the Sunday Million tomorrow.

"My first minus $20k day really stung"

PokerStrategy.com: What is the toughest thing about the stakes you play?

Isaac Haxton: My favourite game is heads-up No Limit Hold’em, the higher the stakes the better. I also play ring NL and high buy-in live tourneys.

In these games I'm playing against the best poker players in the world. I have to be constantly improving and always play my best because I know my opponents will do the same.

PokerStrategy.com: On your way up, what was the hardest stake to progress from?

Isaac Haxton: I started as a Limit Hold’em player back in 2004 when there was actually more action online at limit than NL. I struggled moving up from $30/$60 to $100/$200.

Both the pros and the amateurs were much tougher and the big jump in stakes was tough mentally. My first minus $20k day really stung.

PokerStrategy.com: What’s your primary method of learning now that you have already reached the top?

Isaac Haxton: Early in my career I read a lot of books and did some coaching. Now I mostly just talk poker with my friends and study on my own.

"When I started playing the regs called me Harry Potter"

PokerStrategy.com: What’s the craziest thing you’ve done when on tilt?

Isaac Haxton: I'm not much of a tilter. I can't really think of anything worse than making bad ‘quit or continue?’ decisions.

Either continuing to play in mediocre games even though I'm tired, or quitting good ones just because I'm frustrated.

PokerStrategy.com: Best prop bet you’ve seen or heard?

Isaac Haxton: I'm reluctant to call it the ‘best’ because it was a pretty messed up situation, but the Ashton Griffin treadmill prop bet is definitely a crazy story.

PokerStrategy.com: If you weren’t a poker player what would you be?

Isaac Haxton: Probably a maths or computer science teacher. I've always enjoyed those subjects and teaching. Before getting into poker I was studying computer science at university and planning to pursue a PhD.

PokerStrategy.com: If they made a film of your life, which actor would play you?

Isaac Haxton: The dude who plays Harry Potter. No real reason other than that we look kinda similar. When I first started playing live cash games, the regs at Turning Stone called me Harry Potter.

PokerStrategy.com: Thanks Isaac, good luck hosting the Sunday Million tomorrow.

Isaac Haxton is hosting the Sunday Million tomorrow at 14:30 ET at PokerStars. As part of his hosting duties there will be a $215 bounty on his head in the tournament and when the final table is formed he will be in charge of negotiating any deals that take place between the players in the chatbox.