 |
James Akenhead carries the poker hopes of Britain at this year’s November Nine. James sits down with WPT Poker to discuss bankroll management, backing and why he wants to “do a Demidov.”
Among many pros’ tips of people to do well this summer in Vegas, the soft-spoken former Tube driver surpassed many people’s expectations by reaching the final table of the WSOP Main Event. It may not have been a bracelet (yet), but it surely established James on the world map more than his runner-up spot last year when Grant Hinkle cruelly beat him in the $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em event.
James goes into the final table as the November Nine’s short stack (although not so short that a comeback is impossible) and although sat downwind of chip leader Darvin Moon and the plucky young unknown Phil Ivey, Akenhead might well prove to be a shrewd bet to finish in the top three.
What kind of preparations are you making for November?
Well, it’s a unique situation for me. I’ve got to the final table of a Main Event and I have no idea where I’m going to come. I have a lot of time to think about it. It’s really quite weird. It’s a good opportunity for me to get information on the other players. I’ll sit down with a few pros and discuss strategy but I feel very confident in my short-stack game.
In some ways, is the short stack a good position to be in?
I wouldn’t say it’s ideal [laughs]. I don’t feel under pressure by any means and I’m really confident that I can go and do well.
What would you consider a success?
It’s tough to say but I will really only be happy with first. Being happy with coming anywhere else is just going to ruin my chances.
Is last year’s [WSOP] runner-up spot playing on your mind, then?
Yeah, definitely. To not win it in such a brutal way has really spurred me on. I want to win a bracelet so badly. If I came second in the final table, the money would be great, but I want that bracelet.
What about coming second if Phil Ivey wins?
I guess that would take some of the pain away [laughs].
Anyone else you’re wary of at the final table?
The standard is generally pretty good, much higher than in recent years, and that’s down to players getting 30,000 chips instead of 20,000. It’s given the better players the chance to play. Anything can happen though at this final table. I do need to gamble early on but once I get some chips I’ll be able to play poker.
You’re about 20/1 to win with some of the bookies, which looks a decent bet to us. Have you got anything on yourself?
No, there’s no point putting anything on myself, I’d only be able to stick on a few hundred quid.
And we understand Neil Channing’s got a piece of you this time as with last year.
Yeah, Neil has a piece of me, 25 percent [puts head in palm]. It’s nowhere near as much as last year. I let him take a piece of my WSOP so that I had $30,000 to play with, and that allowed me to play a few more tournaments. And he’s lucky for me.
Will that be the end of being staked into big tournaments?
I’m not sure. My bankroll management is one of the biggest parts of my game, and I always make sure I’m not playing above my means. When I got back from Vegas I was playing £100, £200 freezeouts—nothing has changed. I’m not going to start going mad with my winnings and playing $200/400 with “durrrr”—that doesn’t interest me whatsoever.
Are you getting more interest from the American players now?
I’m not really too bothered about that to be honest. My result last year put me in the picture and this year will have put me more in the spotlight.
So, WSOPE coming up. It’d be nice to do well there before going back to Vegas.
Yeah, the “Demidov”! Everyone wants to do a Demidov, don’t they? [Ivan Demidov came third of the WSOPE Main Event in 2008 before heading back to Vegas to play the final table of the WSOP and finish runner-up.] To make the final of the London event would be amazing, I’m really excited.
What are your expectations of the WSOPE this year? Will we see numbers holding up?
It’s great, it’s a novelty. You still get the best players in the world coming over. There’s a new £1,000 hold’em event that is bound to get a ton of runners.
Other tournament plans in the run-up?
I’m playing the GUKPT Luton and APT [in Macau]. Then I’ll be off to the Cyprus WPT event in September before the English Poker Open and then of course the WSOPE. It’s good to practice rather than not play at all. It’s good to relax as well. All in all, it’s a nice build-up to the November Nine when I’ll be flying out the whole Hit Squad to Vegas. |
