The winners have officially been announced for the Caribbean Poker Tour satellites and the next step is paradise. The tour, hosted by Juicy Stakes Poker and Intertops Poker, produced two winners: Chris P aka 'Grandma Mary' and 'Sim79'. Now, the two lucky winners are eagerly awaiting the next tournament which will take place in November in St Maartens.
A $2700 prize package was won by Chris in an online satellite in August, while Sim79, from Quebec, just scored his last Sunday.
Winner, Chris P, weighs in on the change in tournaments and his excitement for the upcoming main event, stating, “This isn't 2007 anymore. Tournaments are hard now. But I think I'll do well in St Maartens. Playing live the same style that I do online has been successful because people make so many mistakes live. If I could multi table live poker, I'd have a lot more money in my pocket than I do now!”
Chris, 30, has accumulated over $160,000 in total lifetime winnings, thus far. He recalls his latest win in August, resulting in his trip to St Maartens, commenting, “I didn't play scared. In a top heavy tournament like this you have to be able to make some plays and grind out all the small edges you can. It was up and down for me. A few times I got overly aggressive but I always picked up hands when I needed them.”
It wasn't until the later half of the tournament that he began really thinking he had a fair chance of winning. He explains, “It was when we were three handed and I had a slight chip lead that I realized I might win. I was short stacked coming into the final table so I obviously ran really well.”
Chris, or 'Grandma Mary' was not too impressed with his competition either, further adding,
“Most players were either too nitty or too aggressive. There were a few decent MTT regulars in the tournament but it was a Sunday so I figured most of them were playing lots of tables and probably weren't paying much attention to this one. This allowed me to open a lot more on their blinds and fold some big hands to them as well.”
He also has a major tip for players, explaining, “One thing I've learned is the biggest thing is to understand bankroll management. Make sure you have a minimum of 100 buy-ins, preferably 200 – 300. The guys who are doing really good at poker are putting in the hours. Michael Jordan didn't become the best basketball player by sitting around, he practiced every day and that's what all poker players need to do too.”
For this lucky winner, it's not just about the money, though it definitely helps: “Poker has always been fun for me. The money is nice, but I love competing. I'd like to win a WSOPC ring event. If things go right, I could see moving to Costa Rica to grind full time.”
Poker players from around the world are expected to gather for the main event November 1st and 2nd, taking place just before the WPT Caribbean Tournament. A full schedule of CPT satellites and main events can be found here: http://caribbeanpokertour.com/tour/poker-schedule.
Your feedback
Please enter your comment.
Your comment is added.
