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With a close call in Los Angeles following up his WSOP November Nine slot, we thought we’d hook up with the nearly-winner at the Legends of Poker.
Kevin, congratulations on reaching the WSOP final table and coming so close
in the WPT. How did you feel with the WPT spot?
Obviously it would have been great to win, but I was very happy with my performance and that's all I could do. I had a pretty good chip lead twice and lost two big pots where I was a big favourite. If I had won either one of those things might have been different.
Were there any hands you felt you could have played differently?
The only one would have been the last one [laughs]. I knew when Prahlad [Friedman] re-raised me he had a pretty strong hand but I thought K-J was a pretty strong hand heads-up and if he didn't have one of a very few big hands I could get him to lay it down. As it turned out I was only a small dog to take a commanding 7-1 chip lead and probably win but nothing came in and that was the end.
Do you really feel on top of your game at the moment or do you take variance in your stride?
I definitely feel good about the way I'm playing, but I've been playing too long to know that making two final tables in a row is unlikely to happen again soon, if ever again. With that said, I will be trying for three in a row when I come to London – the EPT will be my next tournament.
Did players’ attitudes to you change at the Legends of Poker because
you’d just come off the back of reaching the November Nine?
I could definitely feel a little more respect but mostly there were just a lot of nice comments and well wishes for me in November.
What preparations, if any, will you be making for the WSOP ME final table?
I will have played in two major tournaments, played a lot of cash games and played a lot online with PokerStars. In addition, I will be watching all the shows on ESPN leading up to the finals and that should be interesting and hopefully a little insightful.
Does this WPT result change your mindset for approaching the November Nine?
It certainly was great for my confidence, but things are so much different for the WSOP because of my chip position and stack [Kevin sits in 6th place at the WSOP final table] compared to being the chip leader heading into the WPT final table.
You’re a big golf fan and a decent player, we hear. Any juicy prop bets you’ve got going with some of the other poker pros?
Haha. No, but I'm open for any offers.
How does being a father affect your attitude to the game?
When my son Jeremy was interviewed about me for a local newspaper article, he said that in all the years he watched me play he never saw me yell and scream or get too upset, so if I have made a good impression or if he behaves properly in similar situations in poker or in life, that would mean I've done something right as a father.
Is having a lengthy career followed by semi-retirement the way to go about
playing out a poker ‘career’?
If I knew it was going to be this good I would have retired from my business a long time ago [laughs]. No, seriously, I think someone should try and do what they love first and see if it works out. I have no regrets getting into my family business, then raising a family and now getting a chance to do what I love. I'm very blessed right now and hope it will continue for years to come. |
