Tournament Trail Q and A Part II -- Sami KelopuroKelopuro Discusses the Future and How the Game Has Changed |
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One name widely known across the virtual world of poker belongs to a face which is less familiar in the live poker circuit. Sami Kelopuro should perhaps introduce himself as “LarsLuzak” when he sits down at a table – that is if he wants to send shivers down the backs of his opponents. The 21-year-old Finn has successfully sent many an online player broke, but other than cashing in the recent European Poker Tour San Remo in 12th place for $59,410, he is yet to take down or final table a major live event. Some say that cash is where the skill is, if that’s the truth, Kelopuro is one talented young man. But these days, poker success is largely rated on live titles and trophies, and the Finn appears more hungry than ever before to get one. Card Player caught up with the pro at the EPT Grand Final in Monte Carlo, which aptly is also his new home town. In part I of this interview Kelopuro spoke about how he began, his need for a challenge, giant swings, and moving up the stakes. In part II, he discusses changes in the game, cracking the live tournament ranks, and his future.
Rebecca McAdam: How much time would you say you play now online and live?
Sami Kelopuro: Now, I haven’t been playing online at all, like every third day, a couple of hours. It’s most days because there are no games. Of course, I’ve been playing tournaments – San Remo, Monte Carlo. So, after playing 12 hours in a live game, you don’t really want to play online anymore, it’s just done for the day. So that’s the other reason.
RM: You’re obviously someone who enjoys going for the highest thrill, the highest stakes, so when you’re playing tournaments it must be a little tedious for you because there is probably not as much adrenalin pumping.
SK: Yeah! I wish the buy-in was like $50,000 or something like that, I would play my best in every tournament. I don’t know, I played so much better that what I used to, in San Remo and here [Monte Carlo]. I was a lot more patient and I actually tried. It would be a really big deal for me to win one tournament or at least be in the final table. I am really trying now.
RM: Do you think the EPT has changed this season?
SK: I only played two seasons, this year and last year. The biggest change is there are a lot more players, there are still a lot of bad players, especially here, most of the locals are really bad. I think the biggest difference is that it used to be a couple of hundred thousand for the winner, and now the winner gets like a million or two … a lot more players!
RM: What’s you’re favourite destination?
SK: Monte Carlo.
RM: Is that because the buy-in is bigger?
SK: That, and the fact that I live here.
RM: Are you going to the World Series?
SK: I’m going, yeah.
RM: What are you going to play?
SK: I’m going for the first event which is the $40,000 no-limit, and I don’t know how long I’m staying. I might get sick of Vegas, it’s a crazy place, it’s not good for anyone. I might get sick of it and come back home after two weeks, but we’ll see.
RM: What are your plans for online, are you going to grind it out or do you have any intention of investing in something else other than poker just because you feel the game is dying?
SK: Not yet, it’s not that bad yet, but I’ll have to see. I’ve thought about doing something else, at least on the side, but I don’t know what it is, I haven’t decided. There’s no rush, I’m young, I can just take it easy for a couple more years playing poker and see what happens.
RM: Do you find that people on your table know you now?
SK: A little bit more than they used to, but some know, some don’t.
RM: Is that a bad thing?
SK: I don’t think it’s a big deal.
RM: But do you think it would be bad for your game if people knew, because they would know your style from online?
SK: I think it might be better if they know me. Some players are scared of me, it’s easier to take the pots away from them. Especially if the stacks are deep, they kind of avoid me, which is pretty much a good thing.
RM: What do you think the problem is with so many players being so good online but not generally being able to cut it in live tournaments?
SK: It’s a little bit of a different game, but I don’t know, I think the biggest reason why I haven’t been doing good is because I don’t care that much. I haven’t been really trying, I splash my chips away and bust after a few levels, but yeah, it’s a different game. I wish I knew. Study some more tournament strategy (smiles). We’ll see what happens.
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