First part: CLICK HERE
Charles Hawk: What was your main weaknesses back in the beginning? In which spots did you struggle the most?
killuifuplay: My main weakness was my bad temper. I was very aggressive in Skype conversations, if something didn't look the way I wanted I started to become very aggressive, provoke many conflicts, etc. To be honest this helped me later, cause many of the players thought I am a little bit psycho, but as I mentioned at some point I was totally aware of that and it became part of a bigger strategy.
Charles Hawk: From which limit did you start playing HUSNGs professionally? What year was it?
killuifuplay: I always played HUSNGs. Before I transitioned to PokerStars, I played on Euro sites and I was very successful over there also. I started playing hypers in like September 2011, from $60-$100 stakes. Back then I was a 500 reg on Euro sites, but I wanted to start slowly and play some games to get bigger experience. I moved up very fast, because as I mentioned my main stakes was much higher originally. So in 2012 January or February I felt comfortable enough to start playing 1k's.
Charles Hawk: Tell me about the biggest downswings and most critical moments in your HUSNG career. Did you ever have doubts in yourself, in your ability to reach the top?
killuifuplay: My biggest downswing was something close to 100BI. I never doubted for a moment my skill. I was sure I would make it at some point with proper dedication, motivation, work ethic. The hardest moment was the match vs Serkules when I ran close to 100BI below EV with positive ROI on EV, but I managed to regrind a little bit and finally Serk gave me a share.
Charles Hawk: What was the hardest in your journey up to the highest limits at HUSNG hypers?
killuifuplay: I think I had to build up my mindset. At the beginning back then in early 2012 I wasn't mentally ready. I was good enough by skill, but for sure not good enough from a mindset point of view. I blew up on chat so many times, but to be honest sometimes it was my advantage, because I was well known as one of the best trash-talkers before the mrGR33N13 era. :) The hardest also from a mindset point of view was my match vs Serkules back in 2012 that I mentioned earlier. I ran terribly bad. This match built my mindset. Serk was the last one who gave me a share at 1k and it was mostly because I was very immature back then and he gave me well-deserved punishment. I can say that he was my mindset and poker coach at the same time. Because I played over 3000 games vs him, and I review like 90% of them hand by hand, I knew more about his game than he himself. :) So with this kind of coach everything that happened after was a like sure thing.
Charles Hawk: Tell me about your learning process back then. How did you divide grinding and learning time?
killuifuplay: Back then I spent like 12-14 hours every day improving every aspect I could. I worked very hard with bakudranski. I review my games every day, create strategies in reg-wars, readjust, etc., etc. Every time when my EV didn't look good enough, I would review all matches (every hand) from this period of time. Sometimes after a 10 hour session it was extremely hard, but I was highly motivated and keep telling myself all the time, "If you want to be the best, you have to work more than the others.”
Charles Hawk: How big is your ego? :) Is having a strong ego important to a poker professional's success?
killuifuplay: To be honest, at the highest level in hyper turbo everyone has to think that he is the best. You can't play 4 tables with someone and think, “He is better than me.” Correct mental attitude is one of the most important things, and here I think I have big edge against many players. I am extremely strong mentally. In the poker world, I created some kind of alter ego which isn't even close to the person I am normally. But it was necessary to build some kind of respect amongst the other players and to give myself even more self-confidence. As I wrote, I used to be very rude from time to time , but most off the time it was a part of my strategy, part of a bigger plan.
Charles Hawk: What did you need to give up to become a top poker player that you regret the most? I know you don‘t like to talk about private stuff, but could you give me a clue: was your relationship with your parents or friends affected?
killuifuplay: Maybe I regret a little bit that I can't read as many books as I would like to. I don't have enough time for some of my other passions like football, chess, tennis. But these are the things you have to sacrifice if you want to be one of the best . There is no other possibility. Of course some of my relations went a little bit worse but not that much. I am the kind of person who doesn't have like a 50+ circle of colleagues. I have a small circle of people which are close to me, but I can call all of them as my true friends.
Charles Hawk: Tell me about your social life. What are your hobbies?
killuifuplay: As I mentioned I love playing football, basketball chess tennis I love every kind of competition. I am also a very big fan of Liverpool Football Club. I am a very quiet kind of person. I really don't like partying and what you could call a “baller” lifestyle. I am the opposite In my normal life outside of poker, I am a very humble and aware of my limitations kind of person. All the time in my life, I set some kind of goals, and then I do my best to not disappoint myself, to do my best. At this moment of my life I am giving all I can to our Spin & Go project and coachings.
Charles Hawk: What is the biggest difference playing 3 handed vs 2 handed?
killuifuplay: I see this difference as more EV to make opportunity. The more decisions you can make, the better EV you can have With correct strategy, it isn't much harder, to be honest. Of course, you need to have some knowledge about certain ranges in certain 3 handed spots, etc.
Charles Hawk: What are some of the major problems spin n go players have when coming from HUSNGs?
killuifuplay: I still don't have enough player samples to answer this question at the proper level. But I would say they aren't comfortable enough with 3 handed play, but as I mentioned above some work with ranges, bigger sample and in my opinion you can at least double your ROI from hypers.
Charles Hawk: Do you think there will be a rake decrease if Amaya bring out 100s on Stars?
killuifuplay: It is very hard to predict. I am the kind of person who adjusts to circumstances. Whatever they will do, our team and I will adjust in the best possible way we can.
Charles Hawk: If you would be 17 today, would you start playing poker profesionally with an aim to reach the highest stakes, or do you see some other ways / ideas on how to become rich and respected these days?
killuifuplay: if I would be 17 today, and I would have my knowledge of course I would do the same, but it is all about your character, some bigger philosophy. How much are you willing to sacrifice to be successful, to be at the top?