Andrew Moreno "Freerolling" In World Series of Poker Main EventMoreno Looking To Capitalize After Fortunate Run of Luck on Day 5 |
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With a little more than 50 players remaining in the 2015 World Series of Poker main event, 32-year-old poker pro Andrew Moreno has a shot at making poker history.
This is the fifth year Moreno has played in the main event, although he’s spent the better part of the last decade in the poker world alongside his wife, former Card Player and poker media hostess Kristy Arnett. The two met while playing in a card club in Fort Wayne, Indiana ten years ago.
Moreno, who is a long-time successful but under-the-radar cash game pro currently based in San Diego, is trying to make the most of his second deep run in the main event. In 2012, he finished 177th, earning $44,655. So far in 2015, he’s already guaranteed himself a six-figure payday.
Card Player caught up with Moreno on day 6 to discuss his run so far and his mindset as the tournament continues.
Julio Rodriguez: This is your fifth time playing in the WSOP main event. You’ve now cashed twice and your previous cash was a deep run in 2012. How does that experience help you in this tournament? Or is it more about just getting the cards and a good table draw?
Andrew Moreno: Your table draw is huge. Running great is obviously huge. But the most important part of playing in the main event is recognizing how much play there is, and I think that only comes with experience. The levels are so long and there is never a need to feel rushed. When you are at a bad table, you don’t need to fell pressured to do anything crazy. Those are things I did wrong in the tournaments I didn’t cash in.
Another important part of playing in this tournament is how you deal with success. In 2012, when I did cash, I was just happy and feeling lucky to be there. That’s a big contrast from this year, where I feel like I’m supposed to be here. It’s a confidence that has definitely helped.
JR: On day 5, you got lucky in a few spots. You took out Anton Makieevskyi with A-3 against his A-K. Then you were all in against Brian Hastings with Q-10 against pocket sixes. Hastings flopped a set, but the turn and river went runner runner clubs to put a flush on board and give you a chop. Then you were basically all in with A-K against pocket aces and managed to double up after the flop brought two kings.
All three hands were pretty standard by most accounts, but most of the poker viewing public might just see you as the guy who lucksacked his way to day 6. Are you worried at all about how ESPN will portray you? Are you worried about what the viewers will think of your play?
AM: I really haven’t thought about it, to be honest. You know, that A-K into pocket aces hand was just unreal. That’s something that I never thought would ever happen to me. After the cards were turned over, I thought it was over. I figured I played well, made a deep run, got coolered and that was my story.
Before they dealt the board out, I walked over to my mom on the rail, who doesn’t really understand a lot about poker, and explained to her that I was about to be eliminated. I just laid into her arms. When that flop came down, it was just incredible.
As far as how that’s seen on television, I really don’t care. Right now, I’m just focused on playing the best game that I know how to play. To be honest, the best game that I know will include some mistakes. I’m not a perfect player. So if people see that, then I guess they get to see the real me.
JR: You are quickly approaching life-changing money in this tournament and are already guaranteed six-figures. Are you feeling any pressure with the amount of money that’s at stake?
AM: I know it’s a horrible cliche, and I honestly thought that I would never say this, but I’m not thinking about the money. It’s taking way too much of my energy just to focus on the hands I’m playing. I’m putting everything I have into that, so I don’t have room in my head to think about the money.
You could offer me ninth-place money to walk away right now and I wouldn’t take it. I know that sounds crazy to a lot of people, but this is the experience of a lifetime. I’m also getting the chance to test myself against some of the best players in the world and I don’t think you can put a price on that.
That being said, I know that I’m freerolling in this tournament right now. After cracking aces with A-K, any result from here on out is a blessing. I know that if I bust from this tournament, it will be the worst day of my years, but I’m going to do my best to make sure that doesn’t happen. I don’t want my story to end like that.
For more coverage from the summer series, visit the 2015 WSOP landing page complete with a full schedule, news, player interviews and event recaps.
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