72-Year-Old Belgian Vying For World Series Of Poker Main Event Final Table

Pierre Neuville, a former executive for a game and toy company in Europe, retired from business in 2008 to spend more time pursuing leisure activities. He had taken a break from poker for many years to focus on business, but lately he’s rekindled his love for the game.

Since 2008, the 72-year-old Belgian has created an impressive poker résumé. He has more than $2 million in career tournament earnings during the stretch, which includes a runner-up finish in last year’s $5,000 no-limit hold’em six-max event at the WSOP.

Neuville was still alive on Tuesday with less than 25 left in the 2015 World Series of Poker main event. It has been an incredible run for the poker enthusiast, especially considering the grueling nature of poker’s most prestigious live tournament.

Card Player caught Neuville on a short break in play to chat about his deep run and what has helped him wade through a tournament that began with more than 6,400 players.

Brian Pempus: How are you feeling here on day 7?

Pierre Neuville: I think I am the happiest poker player in the world. I had a dream to come into America and beat a few Americans like I did years before. To play this tournament was already a dream, but to be this deep was really above expectations.

BP: Have these long days of poker wore you down? Do you feel tired?

PN: Yes. I prepare myself a lot. My age isn’t a secret anymore (laughs). I am practicing fitness everyday, some swimming. I take care of my health. In fact, poker helps me to be in better health than when I was a businessman. It helps me stay younger; in fact it is very useful for the mind.

BP: A lot of people say that playing deep in the main event is very stressful for them, but you find poker not that stressful because this is something you are doing in your retirement?

PN: Yes, I was playing a lot when I was young and in university. Tournaments didn’t exist then so I played cash. I don’t play cash anymore because I don’t play with money in mind. I realize that for these young guys who are playing poker for a living it creates terrible stress. Of course we all like dollars, but I have been fortunate enough to enjoy the game and just have fun. Yesterday I was card dead the whole time, but I saved myself with two big bluffs because young guys don’t imagine that an old one can do that. I wouldn’t have done the bluffs against average players, but against two top players [it worked]. He did think about it for seven minutes. To be sincere, I think if I had to make a living out of poker I don’t think I would have had the courage to push all in. For me, it remains a game. To [bluff all in] when you are making a living at poker, I have admiration for the guys who do it.

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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