WCOOP - Bring it on!
Saturday, 7 September 2013
Danzer and Katchalov interviewed.
For many, the ninth month of the year means the end of the shameless oxymoron known as “British Summer”; a time when leaves begin to fall, the last faintly smoking barbecue is extinguished by torrential rain and legions of crater-faced, wonky-tied kids trudge begrudgingly back to school.
For the poker world however, September means something quite different. It symbolises the beginning of something new, something exciting – it means the rapturous return of PokerStars' World Championship of Online Poker (WCOOP).
Last year’s WCOOP Main Event became the stuff of legend when a previously unheard of player known as “maratik” swiped first prize. Later identified as Russian Marat Sharafutdinov, “maratik” had a compelling rags-to-riches story – qualifying for entry to the $5,200 Main Event via a satellite, he turned 40 Frequent Player Points (FPPs) into over a million dollars. To give you some idea of just how incredible this is, two decks of PokerStars cards from the VIP store will set you back 1,400 FPPs, or THIRTY-FIVE TIMES what maratik paid for his satellite to the biggest online tournament of the year.
Sharafutdinov caused a sensation when it came to final table deal negotiations, with his stubborn chatbox insistence “I wont million”. The Russian micro-stakes player did indeed walk away with a staggering $1,000,907.26, and his misspelt demand quickly became one of the most quoted phrases in poker.
Unbelievably, maratik had an average game stake of less than $3 before his win – so even players with a modest bankroll have plenty of shots at the big time in this year’s WCOOP, with PokerStars running both cash and FPP satellites round the clock.
Kicking off on the 9th September and lasting for three weeks until its Main Event finale on the 29th, the WCOOP 2013 promises to be bigger and better than ever before. With a hefty $40 million in guaranteed prizes for the 66 events that are on the schedule this year, online grinders will be faced with more sick-value tournaments than they can shake a HUD at. Quite frankly, you’d be a fool not to enter. As a result, we’ve put together a guide of everything you need to know about the upcoming WCOOP festivities. Read on for interviews with former winners and Team PokerStars Pros Eugene Katchalov and George Danzer.
2012: Event #14 ($215 Stud Hi/Lo) for $24,588.70.
2009: Event #24 ($530 Heads-Up No-Limit Hold’em) for $170,000.
To kick off our former WCOOP winner interviews, we sit down with Ukrainian poker powerhouse Eugene Katchalov. Having won two WCOOP events in 2009 and 2012, respectively, for a combined total of almost $200,000, it’s safe to say that he knows a thing or two about crushing the fields online.
Katchalov, to put it bluntly, is an absolute machine. A characteristic icy cool means that he is fazed by no opponent, no matter how impressive their record – making him a pretty formidable adversary himself. With lifetime tournament earnings hovering around the $8 million mark, the long-time Team PokerStars Pro is the highest earning Ukrainian player of all time. As well as this, he clearly takes discipline seriously in all walks of his life – this year saw him send shockwaves through the poker world after achieving a massive weight loss of 63lbs (4.5 stone) following an intense training regime. We jump straight in to talk to him about all things WCOOP.
Hi Eugene. Obviously the WCOOP has tons of attractive events to enter – how do you decide which ones to play? WCOOP definitely has some of the most interesting events of the year as PokerStars tries to include every poker variation available and offer it in a tournament format. The buy-ins for these tournaments are, for the most part, generally quite low (at least in comparison to playing live at the WSOP, for example) and so many people have a chance to take a shot and play a game that they may normally not be particularly familiar with. Because of the prestige of a WCOOP bracelet, all the events generally have large fields and therefore large prizes which makes them all the more interesting to play. I generally try to play as many of the events that I can, but at the same time if there is a very important event on some day – perhaps a high roller – then I will try and concentrate on that and not play too many other events.
Like other online tournaments, a deep run in the WCOOP will mean you’re playing for hours. How do you stay focused? Deep runs are definitely the most fun part about poker tournaments, as when they happen, you know that you’ve already beaten a very high percentage of the overall field and are very close to making the final table and some serious money. The problem with this is, of course, that in order to get this deep you will have played for many hours and are probably quite tired. I personally try to fix my whole schedule in a way where I’m expecting to go to sleep late and so, when I do play late, my body isn’t in too much shock. Another big thing that usually helps automatically is your adrenaline. Once you make a final table, you’re usually quite excited and all the adrenaline running through your body will generally keep you awake. If all else fails, there’s always coffee!
Your recent dedication to weight training has meant you’ve achieved an amazing physical transformation. Have you seen your mental game improve as a result of this, and is it useful in tournaments like the WCOOP? Throughout my recent physical transformation, I’ve certainly also noticed a very significant mental transformation. I find myself having much more energy and confidence all around, even when things aren’t going so well. I’m also generally in a much better mood and very excited for each and every tournament. This is all very useful for WCOOP and all types of poker in general. During WCOOP, I try to work out every day before the start of the daily tournaments and then find myself with a lot of positive energy. The feeling of being tired that I used to get in the past occurs much more rarely.
In the event you won your second bracelet in [the $215 Stud Hi/Lo], you had a very varied final table, including former WSOP champ and fellow PokerStars Pro Pius Heinz. Was there any player you felt was your biggest threat at the time? I don't remember feeling particularly threatened by anyone specific at the final table, although of course there were some tough opponents left. At the time, I really felt like if I could just get some chips and stop being a short stack then I would really have a good shot at winning it all.
You went into it fifth in chips – what was your strategy for playing in this scenario? I didn’t have a particular strategy coming into the final table because I’m usually always trying to win first place and so rarely pay attention to the prize jumps – although perhaps that’s sometimes a mistake. I just try to find good spots and avoid close situations especially versus other good players.
Your final table journey was a bit of a rollercoaster, with you being the short stack at one point with eight left. Was it difficult not to lose hope for a win at that point? Being the shortest stack at one point with eight left definitely didn’t feel good, but I have learnt long ago to never give up, no matter how short you get, as you can always get back into the game. Especially in this variation of poker, when you are very short, just winning the antes could be huge and so giving up is simply not an option.
What do you think your chances are for winning a third WCOOP bracelet? What would it mean to you? It’s hard to evaluate my chances for a third bracelet, but I certainly plan on giving it my very best…
The Winning Hand (Stud Hi/Lo, antes 8,000) After a long heads-up, Katchalov had managed to slowly work his way up to a huge chip lead. His exposed card after antes was the 4c compared to the 6d of “trollringen”, meaning he had to bring in. He started the action with a bet of 12,000, only to be quickly raised to 40,000 by trollringen. Unfazed, Katchalov repopped it to 80,000, and a call from trollringen saw the Ukrainian pro dealt a face-up 3c, while his opponent received a 4d. Trollringen led out for 40,000 into a pot of 176,000, and Katchlov called, giving him the 7d, while trollringen picked up the Kd.
Trollringen doubled his previous bet, making it 80,000 into a pot of 256,000. Katchalov called behind and they were both dealt deuces, Katchalov’s being the 2d while trollringen caught the 2c. His bet of 80,000 into 416,000 was called by trollringen, and the final card was dealt face down, trollringen moved all-in to call Katchalov’s final bet, showing two pair (deuces and fours) and no qualifying low holding with 4hQd6d4dKd2s2c, while Katchalov scooped the pot with a higher two pair (aces and threes) and a 7-4-3-2-A low holding with Ad3s4c3c7d2dAc.
George Danzer Former WCOOP Wins: 2012: Event #10 ($320 No Limit Hold’em Ante Up) for $69,717.
2009: Event #19 ($320 PL Omaha 1Rebuy/1Addon 6-Max) for $109,545.
Second in our interviews with former WCOOP winners is cheeky chappie George Danzer. With an incredible five WSOP final tables in the last three years and over $1.1 million in live winnings, Danzer has shown time and time again that he is one of the best in the tournament business. Online, he is certainly no slouch either. Part of the elite group of players with more than one WCOOP bracelet, Danzer is definitely one to watch for the upcoming series.
The WCOOP has loads of eye-catching events to enter – how do you decide which ones to play? I just register for all of them. Then I try to carefully select one or two High Roller events that are too expensive and unregister from them.
A deep run in the WCOOP will mean you’re playing for hours. How do you stay focused? I just put on some music and dance in front of my PC if my mind tries to slip away.
Do you have any pre-tournament rituals? Yep, waking up.
Your second bracelet win last year was in a NL Hold’em ‘Ante-up’ event. What are the biggest differences when playing an ante-up tournament compared to a regular NL Hold’em event? How did you adjust your strategy to this? The surprising thing was how much play we got when it became shorthanded. Makes sense, though, as there are fewer players posting an ante. Strategy: Limp everything in early position. Adjust your open-raise to the ante, not to the blinds. Run good when antes become big.
You had quite a varied final table. Was there any player you felt was your biggest threat at the time? Yes, the player who I went heads-up against [mrAndreeew] was really strong. Especially three and four-handed.
You went into it as the second-shortest stack but ended up quickly accumulating a lot of chips – what was your strategy for playing in this scenario? It is really easy to play short-handed late in tournaments as you just know your shipping range and pump your stack in there with a little something.
You had a pretty long heads-up battle for the top spot with ‘mrAndreeew’. Was he a tough opponent, and how did you adjust to him? Heads up he just tried to run over me, which is a style I play comfortably against. I just let him barrel away and called down light.
Are there any other hands that you remember as pivotal moments? There were a few spots where I just doubled up with a standard all-in hand but as a big underdog. I call those situations flips, but my opponent who got rivered might disagree.
Which events do you plan to play this year? All but the 25k highroller.
Which players would you least like to see on any of your tables? I like to see all of them. As I want to prove myself every day, I sometimes secretly hope I get all of the best at my table so I can learn something. But then again, a table full of amateurs who are having a blast is even better.
What do you think your chances are for winning a third WCOOP bracelet? What would it mean to you? Chances are good, and it would mean a lot. But an even greater goal is to win the WCOOP leaderboard for which I am going to fight hard.
The Winning Hand (No Limit Hold’em Ante Up, Antes 50,000) After an arduous 2.5 hours heads-up, Danzer had waged a war of attrition to slowly gain a 5-1 chip advantage. Kicking off the action, he raised to 55,855 from the button. After thinking about it, mrAndreeew decided to 3-bet to 135,125. Making the call, Danzer bet out 155,255 on a flop of 6hQc9s. It was here that mrAndreeew seized his chance, moving all in for 1,075,256. Danzer called, flipping over top pair with QhTd, to have the 9cTs of mrAndreeew utterly dominated. With only the distant hope of a nine to win or a backdoor straight for a split, ‘mrAndreeew’ hit the rail after the turn came 3h, followed by a 4c on the river.
Be sure to check out
Mickey 'mement_mori' Petersen's guide to WCOOP success and his players to watch in the 2013 series.