1.Hello, Alok Brewer (APB1989) / Abhishek Goindi (pomfret1989)! Thank your for having a conversation with Adda52. Congratulations on winning the ‘Gateway to World Poker Tour’. For our readers who don’t know much about you, please tell us how you got into playing poker? Or your poker journey till date…
Alok: I started playing poker three years ago. I started playing live poker specially high-stakes home games in Ahmedabad. I also participated in IPC last year, and made to two of the final tables, and played against some of the prominent poker players like Sahil Agarwal, Aditya Sushant, and Abhishek Rathore.
Abhishek: It was 9 years back when I started playing poker. During that time I was in high school and was introduced to poker by my friends. Later when in college, I used to play home poker games and also used to visit poker clubs in the town. After college, I joined a job but later changed course and started playing poker professionally from 2009 to 2014.
2.How do you feel right now – excited, intimidated, terrified?
Alok: I am feeling excited and it would be the first time that I would be going to London and that too to play World Poker Tournament.
Abhishek: I am very excited, and champing at the bit for WPT.
3.How did you qualify for the ‘Gateway to World Poker Tour’ Promotion?
Alok: I made direct entry to the tournament by paying an entry fee of Rs. 3500.
Abhishek: I paid an entry fee to enter this satellite tournament. Though the competition was tough, but I kept patience and managed to stay ahead all the time.
4.Have you ever played at international level tournaments like APT, EPT, etc.?
Alok: No, this would be my first international tournament. I have grown up watching WPT and have always wanted to play it at least once in my lifetime. I have even watched all the seasons of WPT and have stored them on my PC’s hard disk.
Abhishek: Yes, I have played poker tournaments at international level, to name a few are MPC, APPT- Cebu, APT- Manila, etc. However, I have yet to win any WPT event.
5.What do you prefer more – tournament games or cash games?
Alok: Though tournaments offer name and fame, I prefer playing more of cash games over tournaments.
Abhishek: I am a cash game player and usually play less of tournaments. I play more of online poker games than live games because I can play anytime and choose my preferred stakes accordingly.
6.How do you keep yourself focused during long tournaments?
