How has your journey with poker been? Have you faced any obstacles along the way?
I discovered poker when I was about 14, after seeing my dad playing online. At 18, during university, I started playing casually with friends in public games. After leaving university, I began taking it more seriously. I improved, kept studying, and eventually turned it into a full-time pursuit.
Along the way, I faced a lot of obstacles — one of the biggest being health issues, which lasted for quite a long time. That period was really tough. Since I was just playing online, I didn’t know many people in the poker community until I started traveling. That’s when things really changed — I got more serious, started playing higher stakes, and found success that way.
You open yourself about health issues and online poker. What kind of poker do you like to play now?
These days, I'm more interested in live poker and not as into online poker anymore. I don’t enjoy it as much as I used to. Now, I mostly stick to the major online championships like SCOOP and WCOOP. Earlier in my career, when I was dealing with physical difficulties, online poker was my main focus.
Why do you focus on mixed games?
I mostly play mixed games now, which is what I specialize in. I think I enjoy them more — they're more fun and offer more variety compared to Hold'em. Hold'em feels a bit more about memorization these days, and it's become a bit robotic, which doesn't excite me as much as it used to.
Why did you decide to go to Bratislava for the Norwegian Championship, even though you're from the UK?
Mostly for fun — I have some friends here, and I’d never been to Slovakia before. I’ve always been interested in traveling to new places, so I thought it would be a fun experience. I usually go to the Norwegian Championship when it’s held in Dublin, and that’s always a great atmosphere. Some of my friends came here last year and encouraged me to check it out this time.
What kind of places are you interested in when it comes to playing poker? How do you decide where to go to events?
These days, it's a little different from how it used to be. I’ve spent so much time traveling, and now I’m more excited about visiting new places. For example, events like the EPT held in the same location don’t excite me as much as they used to. Part of my decision now is based on the social aspect — it’s always great to hang out with friends and enjoy it that way. That’s a big factor for me. The second factor is choosing a location I enjoy, but the other important factor is whether the place is profitable for me.
What places are on your wish list, both for poker and for personal interests?
I’ve travelled a lot for poker, so there aren’t many places left on my list that I’m really excited about. There are a few spots in the USA I haven’t been to yet, and I’ve been encouraged to visit for various reasons. Taiwan is another place I’ve heard a lot of great things about from friends, so I’ve become interested in it. I really enjoyed playing in Melbourne, Australia. It was a great experience.
The Bahamas is also a beautiful location; I loved playing there. Monte Carlo is another favourite — the casino is just stunning, with amazing backdrops. Beyond that, there aren’t many other poker destinations I’m specifically interested in. As for general travel, I’d love to visit a few places in Asia. I’ve never been to China, for example. There are also beautiful destinations like Hawaii and Bora Bora that I’d love to explore.
Why you are interested in these type of places? Culture? Or because the country is beautiful?
Yeah, both. Places like Hawaii and Bora Bora are more about the beautiful pictures, the stunning sea, and nature. I really enjoy nature, so I think being somewhere like that would be amazing. As for culture, a place like China seems like it could offer a truly interesting experience, and I’d love to visit at least once in my life.
How would you describe your personality, both in poker and in real life?
In poker, I’m generally serious because I treat it as my job and try to approach it with focus. Off the table, I’m more about having fun. Overall, I’m logically minded and quite rational, which is how I approach life. But I also try to have a full personality outside of poker.
In the second part of this interview, you will learn more about the skills needed to win, what his plans are for the future, and Benny shocks us by saying he is thinking about ending his poker career!
