Thomas took home €100,000 from the Ladbrokes.com Poker Festival in Killarney in the early hours of Monday morning having qualified through one of our Killarney Rake Races in August, playing mid stakes. Thomas is only 22 and has been playing full time poker for a year and a half, since he finished University at Loughborough. We managed to catch up with Thomas, and asked him a few questions to see how he is feeling after an intense weekend of poker and how he will be spending his winnings.
>> See the final table video footage: http://bit.ly/Qdmzo
Adam: So how does it feel to win and be €100,000 better off, at your first attempt?
Thomas: It feels amazing! Didn’t realise how much I had won at the time, it didn’t really kick in till the next day what had just happened and what I had been through, it’s a massive amount of money and feels great!
A: What have you done since the early hours of Monday morning to celebrate?
T: Well we had a few drinks with the Ladbrokes guys and then finally got to bed about 8am and then don’t think any of us were up until 5pm Monday evening. But we took it easy and I treated the boys to a meal in the hotel. I’m saving my main celebrations until the weekend, when I’m going out in Nottingham with a group of friends.
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A: What was the atmosphere like at the final table?
T: Well I have made a final table once before, I finished 3rd it at the Venetian back in February. But that was nothing like this…it was no way near the same, towards the end nearly every hand got the crowd off their seats, which added to the atmosphere and pressure.
A: You seemed to be very calm at such a young age, how did you deal with the crowds and the long hours?
T: Generally I calmed myself by chatting to the other players at my table, but in general I found myself calm throughout the tournament. I felt the banter increased amongst players as the tournament went on; it was very quiet to begin with.
A: How did your family react when you told them?
T: Ha ha, I text my mum and her first response was a text saying “DON’T LOSE IT!!” and that was shortly followed by another one saying “don’t buy a car!!” Since then I have had loads of texts and facebook messages from friends and family.
A: What are you going to be doing with the money?
T: Short term, I’m going to play more high stakes, cash games and hopefully get involved in a few more live tournaments. But long term, I’m looking to buy a house in Nottingham.
A: Apart from winning, what was your favourite moment of the weekend?
T: Umm…wow that’s hard one. I did enjoy one specific big hand on day 2. I had a pair of Ace’s and this other guy had 6/4 off suit. The flop gave a pair of 6’s and he bet very aggressively but I was never going to fold holding Ace’s. Then an Ace came on the River, I doubled my chip stack, winning about €95,000, so that was nice.
A: Have you been on any other VIP events with Ladbrokes?
T: No this was my first, as I’m quite a new VIP, but hopefully not the last as I had an amazing weekend and have heard good things about Ladbrokes VIP events from other players.
A: Have you played poker since Monday morning?
T: No not yet, but will probably play later today. Whilst travelling home we played some stupid games, flipping a coin for money and things like that but only small scale stuff.
A: Did you make any new Poker friends over the weekend?
T: Yeah I met a few nice guys. I had arranged to meet up with Alexdb before hand on the Ladbrokes chat, as we have played together on a few occasions and he is a strong player, so yeah it was good to finally meet up with him.
A: What’s next for you in the near future, any holidays? Or just more poker whilst your on a high?
T: Just more poker, nothing crazy planned as yet.
A; You had some great support at the final table, would you like to thank anyone specially?
T: Yeah I think I had the support of all the English….well all 3 of them at the final table, but yes I would like to thank Simran (D33pincider), Chris (GARY888) and Alex (Alexdb) for all their support.
A: Will you be back next year?
T: Definitely, to defend my title!
A: So are you looking forward to the Cruise, you also won?
T: Yeah I can’t wait, to be fair, when I won I forgot about the Cruise package but to realise after, that I will be going to places such as Jamaica is great. Really can’t wait and hopefully a few of my friends will win packages through Ladbrokes too.
Report by Adam F. - Ladbrokes Poker Team
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