Tournament Trail Q and A -- Sandra NaujoksSandra Naujoks Speaks to Card Player after Taking Down EPT German Open |
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Sandra Naujoks shone as she ploughed her way through the 667-strong PokerStars.com European Poker Tour German Open. Making it to the final eight, she sat among some of the best players in the world on one of the most exciting final tables the EPT has seen in some time.
First of all there was William Thorson, who is no stranger to going deep in an EPT. There was also Luca Pagano who was looking for his first win alongside his tenth EPT cash. But the most important mention has to be Mike McDonald. This baby-faced pro won the same event last year, and was the youngest winner to take down an EPT. Naujoks stuck to her guns and picked her spots, sneaking up on her prey when they least expected it — much like her nickname, Black Mamba. She walked away with €917,000 for top prize from a meaty prize pool of €3,335,000. Card Player spoke to her shortly after her big win.
Rebecca McAdam: How are you feeling right now?
Sandra Naujoks: I’m exhausted, and I can’t believe what has happened. It’s such a great feeling, this is my home EPT, and it’s my first EPT season ever.
RM: Why do you think Germans have done so well this season?
SN: There are some fantastic German tournament players. We have Sebastian Ruthenberg who won a bracelet and the EPT Barcelona, and other really good guys who have such a strong game. I think we have a good chance at the WSOP, my bet is we will have, all together, two bracelets, and I hope I win, and get another million [laughs].
RM: How did you get your nickname “Black Mamba”?
SN: I have a snake as a pet and that’s why ... the Mamba, and then my black hair. And it’s deadly.
RM: When you came back after the dinner break, you seemed to change your game, was that intended?
SN: I like to change my game, from tight to aggressive. There was a situation where I played very passive and I really was tight. I just had eight big blinds, so what should I do, wait for aces? No, that’s not my game. So, I pushed everything all in so I could triple up.
RM: How did you find the heads up action?
SN: At the beginning I tried to play a lot of flops just to figure out how he [Holger Kanisch] plays. He was really tough to play — he told me that he plays a lot of sit ‘n’ go’s. So it was not so easy to figure him out in the beginning. I needed some time.
RM: Was there any point where you felt like you had lost your confidence, like when you pushed with K-4 and he called. After you lost that hand you were about even in chips...
SN: Yeah it was not such a good situation because I made him strong in chips. He was short and then he had chips, so it wasn’t good.
RM: How did you feel after that hand, did you have to change tactics? Did you have to regain confidence?
SN: No, that was never the problem. The situation changed, so I had to change my game.
RM: Is it on your mind at any stage that you are a woman playing with so few women around?
SN: Never.
RM: Are you proud to be the second woman to win an EPT — after Vicky Coren in her own country? You must be proud because you are representing all female players.
SN: I don’t know if I should be proud. It doesn’t depend on if it’s a man or woman. There were so many players on the final table who are deserving. I was really sorry about the kick out of Mike [McDonald] as I wanted to sit with him heads up because he is such a good player, and back-to-back ... wow, it was great to see. And Luca ... has how many final tables?
RM: He has cashed 10 times on the Tour including this final table.
SN: Oh my God!
Naujoks was then whisked away to collect her winnings, and allow for the consequences of her fortune and astounding play to sink in.
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