Glen Chorny recently defeated 841 other runners to win the European Poker Tour Grand Final in April. He took home the largest prize in the history of European poker -- €2,020,000. This win was on the heels of another deep finish that he had posted in January, by finishing in 13th place out of a field of 1,136 entrants at the EPT PokerStars.com Caribbean Adventure. Card Player caught up with Chorny right after his historic win and caught his reactions about winning at the long final table.
Ryan Lucchesi: This is a huge win in a huge tournament. How are you feeling right now?
Glen Chorny: There’s no better way to feel right now than like this. It feels like you’re a rock star -- legitimately.
RL: It was a tough field from start to finish, especially with some tough competition at the final table. How confident were you heading into the final table, what was your game plan, and what was your mindset coming in against those opponents?
GC: I was very happy with how I played in the few days that happened before the final table day. I was pretty confident going into the final table, especially with a big stack. I had planned on sitting on it for a bit, and I did at first, but then I started testing the table a bit, and people really didn’t play back at me as much as I thought they might, and I took down a lot of pots that I really shouldn’t have.
RL: Did you think your seat draw out of position against Isaac Baron made it a bit more difficult for you at the final table?
GC: Definitely, I’ve had him on my left at three different tables during the tournament, and he is hell to have on your left, especially blind vs. blind.
RL: After your deep finish in the PCA, did that really strengthen your determination at this final table to win it?
GC: I would say it strengthened my determination right after I lost. I won a bracelet in Tunica, Mississippi, in January, so my confidence was never an issue. It was just running good deep in tournaments. I mean, I could have won the Bahamas tournament just as easily as I could have won this tournament, or lost this tournament. It’s all just a matter of some key hands. You know, picking up aces against your nemesis, Isaac Baron, and this and that is not a bad thing to be able do.
RL: This was really a table where stamina and long-term focus came into play. How were you able to keep your focus when the final table had climbed above 250 hands?
GC: I don’t have any issue with playing for a long time if I have to, especially if you’re playing for as much money as we were. Everything is business; it’s just another day at the office, except one that is yielding great rewards.
