Tournament Trail Q and A: Moritz KranichEPT Deauville Champion Moritz Kranich Speaks about his Journey to the Top |
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The PokerStars.com European Poker Tour Barcelona was taken down by Sebastian Ruthenberg, and a mere four months later, another German was at it again — staking his claim to an EPT crown. Moritz Kranich followed Ruthenberg’s example and demolished his opponents at the EPT Deauville, taking home €851,400 for first place. But his victory was just that bit sweeter, as the field was the largest so far this season, excluding the PCA. The young German newly-wed spoke to Card Player moments after taking the title.
Rebecca McAdam: Can you tell us a bit about your background? Do you play mainly in Germany?
Moritz Kranich: Mostly I play online, and I play some German tournaments, mostly in Hamburg. This is my fourth EPT.
RM: Sebastian Ruthenberg accomplished the same feat this season, so how come German players are now making such an impact on the international tournament circuit?
MK: I don’t know. We have a lot of very good German players. Poker has grown for two or three years now in Germany. They have more and more players every year, and some good ones as well. And also... a lot of luck ... you have to have a lot of luck in the tournaments. Maybe in the next four or five years no German will win!
RM: Were there any key hands that rocketed you to the top at the final table?
MK: There were two pots. In one I pushed with J-8 suited in the small blind, and doubled up against A-K. Otherwise, I would have busted. Three-handed, I got a big rush and that was a big help.
RM: Were there any players who impressed you during this event?
MK: Tristan [Clemencon] played really great, and I was really afraid of the Italian guy on my left, Andrea [Benelli], because he played very aggressively the day before, and he was really capable of some crazy things. But I doubled up against him, got pretty lucky, and then three hands later he was dead. That was really my biggest concern at the final table.
RM: Did you find the final table tough or tiring, especially with the cameras etcetera?
MK: No not really. I was so focused, I didn’t think about anything like that, I just played.
RM: There was an offer of a deal three-handed with Tristan Clemencon as chip leader, but he was advised to turn it down. He ended up finishing in third place and losing out on a good bit of money. What do you think about this?
MK: Usually for the chip leader it’s not bad to accept a deal. He didn’t have a very big chip lead as one might think. If I had of been chip leader I think I would have made the deal but I cannot say. He wanted to play, his friends and all said he should play, but he didn’t win.
RM: Have you any ideas about what you’re going to do with the money?
MK: Yeah I really want to buy an apartment or a house for my wife and me. That’s the most important thing now.
RM: Are you going to play more events?
MK: Yeah I will play in the World Series. I have a Monte Carlo ticket now, and I will play Copenhagen, maybe Dortmund. Mostly the EPT tournaments and the World Series tournaments.
RM: How do you feel now? Do you feel like it’s actually happening or does it all feel like a dream?
MK: I haven’t realised it yet. I think it will take a few days to sink in. Right now I’m really ... I cannot describe it, it’s fantastic.
RM: What are you going to do to celebrate?
MK: Drink a few beers and celebrate with my German mates.
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