Han har vunnit ett WSOP bracelet och arbetar även som chefredaktör hos pokerjätten PokerNews. Frågan är om det finns någon som har bättre inblick i pokervärlden än honom? Jag pratar om Chad Holloway – mannen som upplever de stora pokerhändelserna från första parkett!
Hi Chad! The World Series of Poker (WSOP) recently finished which I know you’ve been following very closely. What is it like covering the biggest poker event of the year?
– Covering the World Series of Poker (WSOP) is always a lot of fun. It’s like getting a front-row seat to a major sporting event, like sitting ringside and getting to see the best players ply their trade. It’s also an honor to be there each and every year literally documenting poker history. I’ve had the honor of being there for some major poker events such as the $1 million Big One for One Drop and Phil Hellmuth winning bracelets 12-16.
Was there any specific moment during the WSOP 2022 that you think will be remembered for a long time?
– I think the 2022 WSOP will be remembered for its first time at the new Bally’s/Paris venue and how flawlessly the switch occurred. I think a lot of people, myself included, anticipated a lot of issues, but there really weren’t. You didn’t hear anyone saying, “I miss the Rio.”
Moment-wise, I think Dan Smith, Alex Foxen, and Amnon Filippi all winning their first bracelets stick out, as well as Katie Kopp, a woman, being the first-ever bracelet winner at the new venue.
In 2013 you did what every poker player dreams of: Winning a WSOP bracelet. Do you remember the feeling when you realized you were the winner and what was it like?
– Winning the 2013 WSOP Event #1: $500 Casino Employee for a bracelet was a dream come true for sure. It was a whirlwind experience (we came back to Day 2 with 53 players and played to a winner), and I remember the moment I won two dozens of my friends who had stayed up all night rushed the stage and embraced me. I then took a stroll to call my dad back in Wisconsin (he was just getting up for work at 5 a.m.) and then I did a winner interview with Sarah Herring, a good friend of mine (we started at PokerNews at the same time). It was an emotional experience and overall one of the best experiences and most cherished memories of my life.
And what did you do with the prize money?
– I won $84,915, so it wasn’t exactly life-changing money. I’ve been pretty open that I was put in the tournament on a 50% freeroll, but I actually only got 45% as I had swapped 5% with my PokerNews coworker Josh Cahlik, who finished in 12th place. Still, the money was enough to allow me to remodel my kitchen and gave me a little bankroll with which to play.
“You’re actually coming into the game at a good spot, launching at a time when there’s a ton of information out there”
Do you have any beginner advice for players that are new to poker?
– My advice for new players is to study. You’re actually coming into the game at a good spot, launching at a time when there’s a ton of information out there. A lot of players are stuck in their old ways, but the game has evolved. You don’t have to deal with bad habits and outdated ways of thinking, but instead can come into the game fresh and learn from the best. A lot of new players have come into the game in recent years and are already better than “pros” who’ve been around for decades. However, to get there you have to put in the work and study, which can be anything from reading books to watching videos, or running simulations to talking hands with a group of friends.
What does it take to become a professional poker player in 2022?
– It wasn’t that long ago when you could sit down at a poker table and there would only be one or two players who knew what they were doing. That’s no longer the case. The game has gotten tougher as players studied, learned, and got up to speed. Now, you’ll be lucky if you sit at a table and find one or two players who DON’T know what they’re doing. The competition is tougher, so if you want to become a poker pro in 2022, you have to put in the work. That means devoting as much time off the felt studying as you do actually playing poker. Not an easy task, but that’s how the best of the best get to where they are.
“I think almost anyone can become a successful poker pro if they put the time and effort into the game”
Do you think a lot of people can become a pro if they put the time and effort into the game?
– Yes, I think almost anyone can become a successful poker pro if they put the time and effort into the game, but I also think very few are willing to put in the amount of time and effort that is required. You really have to live and breathe poker to get there, and unfortunately not everyone has the resolve, let alone the time, to get there. You just have to ask yourself — how badly do you want it?
Since we are a Swedish website we got to ask you about Swedish players! What is your top three favorite Swedish poker players of all time and why?
– I am very fond of Swedish poker players. I’ve always respected their game and have found them to be fierce competitors. I’ve always liked Martin Jacobson, who is a champion both on and off the felt, as well as Niklas Åstedt, who is arguably (I believe he is) the best online tournament poker player in the world right now. Chris Bjorin is a legend in his own right, but I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention Sofia Lovgren, who is a great player in her own right.
“(Viktor) Blom was there and he and I had a drinking contest, which I won!”
You have worked in the poker industry since 2009, which is the same year the Swedish poker legend Viktor “Isildur1” Blom took the world by storm. What do you remember of his heads up matches against the best in the world?
– I remember those matches well as they dominated the poker headlines. The amount of money that would change hands nightly was mind-boggling. Everyone was wondering who “Isildur1” was! I remember when his identity was officially revealed at the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure (PCA), as I was there to see it in person!
Speaking of Viktor Blom, in 2013 after I won my bracelet, I traveled to a Full Tilt Poker event in Galway, Ireland. Blom was there and he and I had a drinking contest, which I won!
More info on that here -> http://www.pnn.dk/artikler/viktor-blom-sat-til-vaegs-af-poker-blogger-i-drukkonkurrence/
Who would you say is the closest to “2009 Isildur1” in 2022?
– This is a tough question. Talentwise I think there are a lot of players who match up including Fedor Holz, Wiktor “Limitless” Malinowski, Landon Tice, etc. However, I don’t think there is anyone in today’s game who has the same gamble as Blom. He wasn’t afraid of anyone or any amount, and I think today’s players are a little more conservative. That said, guys Blom used to play against, like Phil Ivey and Patrick Antonius, are old-school gamblers and aren’t afraid of the action.
Lastly: Where can people follow you for more poker news?
– The best way to follow me in on Twitter @ChadAHolloway, but I am also on Instagram and Snap at disco_chad. You can also read my articles on PokerNews.com and hear me weekly as a co-host on the PokerNews Podcast, which is available on all platforms now.
PS! Dela gärna artikeln med era Betting-kompisar! Vill du läsa mer om FPL gör du det under fliken ”Fantasy Premier League” högst upp på sidan! Vi finns på Twitter @BetCentralen.