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Wolf Millionaire winner @Positive_chi: Poker is like life - you have to play the cards you're dealt
First of all, congratulations! Big win, big success, big financial bonus. How do you feel now, immediately after winning?
"Thank you. I feel overwhelmed now, it's been an amazing journey. I feel great and very grateful."
Is this your shot of a lifetime?
"Yes it's my biggest win so far."
Tell us about yourself first, how long have you been playing poker? How did you get into it?
"I started about twenty years ago with 7-card stud. I liked that game and then I got to know Texas Hold'em. I played a tournament in a casino in Switzerland and came second. That's when I started studying some poker books and playing more. I've also been to Vegas. I won a side event package at Bwin and flew there, stayed at a beautiful hotel, it was great. I cashed there too, but not at the WSOP, at another tournament, I think at Ceasars. I play a lot of poker at Poker 24, it's a poker room where they have great tournaments and great staff."
Do you play poker professionally or do you have another job?
"I have another job, I would call myself a semi-professional."
Does this great win change anything in your life?
"Something will definitely change, but for now I plan to slow down and take it one step at a time with a cool head."
Looking back at the whole tournament from day one, what has your journey been like? Did you climb consistently or were there more big dips and peaks? How do you rate it?
"I advanced from day one in two charges. The first day it didn't work out, I was card dead, but the second charge was great. The last four hands of the day produced a crazy spot where I was chipleader and got a bonus. I had pocket eights, there was a small all-in that several of us called, and the chipleader flopped with almost 700k pushed. I had a set and of course I called. Day two was short but tough, I managed to rack up about 1.1m. Day 3 was a roller coaster, my cards weren't coming in, I lost some coin flips... And suddenly it turned around and I was in the last 21 or so in the top 14."
Going into today's final table, the final table may not have been decided yet, but you knew your opponents. Did you prepare for them in any way?
"I watched the stream and I already knew some of the players. I analysed the stream and I think it was a good decision. It was good to recap."
What was it like for you to play on the TV table, was it your first time?
"It was my first time on a TV table, but I didn't feel the difference. I stuck to my style. I'm a pretty tight player and I haven't changed that."
As far as the dealio, you were making deals, were you happy with it?
"Somehow I have it in my mind that whenever somebody doesn't agree with a deal, they're the first one to get out right afterwards. So I've agreed to everything. When we discussed the deal in the last four I was the chipleader and I told them I wanted CHF 110,000. And they didn't agree. So I told them, well, let's do it the way you want. I just remember that when somebody disagrees then he goes out first."
You had your fans right here at the Grand Casino, who came to keep their fingers crossed for you?
"There's my wife and my friend who said to me 'You're going to win this tournament, I'm going to be here for you the whole time and I'm not going to let you get out'. There was a tournament at the 24 poker club today and they were streaming this final there. It was packed and they had their fingers crossed for me, which is great."
What's more valuable to you, the money or the prize and the trophy?
"The prize. Two months before the tournament I manifested that I was going to win it. I took time off work and I told my wife she had to come with me because I was just going to win this tournament."
That ties in with my next question, is there anything you do to keep yourself physically and mentally fit besides playing?
"I stay in physical shape mainly because of my two kids (laughs). Mentally, when I have to drive for one-one and a half hours I play one song, it's kind of a mantra. So that's it for me."
What place does poker hold in your life, what does it mean to you?
"Poker means a lot to me. You can compare it to life - it's like a rollercoaster sometimes and you have to play with the cards you're dealt."
Is there anything you'd like to add in closing, any message for our readers?
"Believe in yourself and don't give up, anything is possible!"