The Bratislava stop of the Winamax Poker Open series attracted a number of prominent names in world poker to Bratislava, including the Spanish professional Leo Margets. The owner of a WSOP bracelet and a number of tournament successes exclusively shared with us her experiences of being part of the Winamax pro team, revealed what she likes most about poker and what she thinks is most important for eventual success!  

To begin with, please introduce yourself.

"I'm Leo Margets, a professional poker player. Among other things. I've been playing poker for about 16 years, so I'm probably an exception in this area because most people my age don't play poker that long. As a person, I am very curious and like to learn new things. I think that's a good thing in this area because poker players need to keep improving and learning. The main reason I'm still playing is that I like this lifestyle.''

What do you like most about the lifestyle of a poker player?

"I like that I can be my own boss. Poker is very meritocratic. Sometimes the work doesn't pay off in the short term, but it definitely pays off in the long run. So it teaches a person a lot of things like focusing less on immediate results and more on getting things done. I also like the freedom that this lifestyle offers. If someone is responsible and has discipline, it is a perfect job. It requires a lot of time, but you organize it yourself. And I generally like to be out of the system and not tied to any company or anything."

In Bratislava at the Winamax event for the second time. How do you feel here?

"Yes, I am here for the second time. It's very emotional because I usually play bigger events with a bigger buy-in. But when I play these mass events with people, some of whom are playing maybe their first tournament, the atmosphere is amazing. It's more fun than competition, although it's actually both. It's great when it comes together. Sure, poker is important, but those people also come here for the adventure, even if they're not competing to win. Besides poker, there are many other activities. It's such a fun friendly event. And also when you're at a table with people who are new to poker, that feeling is contagious. And that's hard to achieve after all these years."

Did you find some time to see Bratislava?

"That's one of the downsides of poker. Even though we travel a lot, we don't see much. When I started, I always got up to see more, but now I don't have time. But I hope to make it right this year.”

How do you feel about your position as women in poker? Do you feel like anything has changed since you started?

"When I started, 2008-2009, I thought that over time more women would play poker as more attention was paid to it and women knew how to get into it. But now after all these years, there is still the same percentage of women in poker, something like 5-10 percent. There are different opinions as to why more women don't play poker. I think it's about preferences. Just as more women do nursing and more men do engineering, for example. It's fine as long as there are equal options for them. But I never felt that I was at a disadvantage in poker. Poker is simply meritocratic, a person shows his worth while playing."

So you feel that there is equality between men and women in poker.

"Yes, I think so. We can have interesting debates about why men are more inclined to poker than women. That, for example, they have a predisposition to have a lower "loss aversion" than women, which is very important in poker. They are more aggressive, they feel more confident under pressure. But I think that's something we're taught. The evolutionary part, when men were hunters and women took care of resources, certainly plays a role. Even today, our brains are somehow set up. But it is clear that women who start playing poker have the same opportunities as men."

I know you won one WSOP bracelet. Can you say what is more valuable to you, money or a trophy?

“There's always a fine line in poker between a financial win and a title/trophy. I play poker for money, so that's what I focus on. But honestly, the moment I won the WSOP bracelet was incredible. You can play cash games and other formats, but for me, tournament poker is the closest analogy to a competition. And it's more about the fame than the money."

What are your next plans? Do you have any goals that you still want to achieve?

"It's important to have goals in poker. But from my point of view, they should be the ones I have in my own hands. Of course I want to win more bracelets and big tournaments. But when I set goals, I focus on the things I can control - study more hours, focus more. And it can result in more wins. Winning a bracelet is great, but it's more of a dream than a goal. I can't control whether I win the bracelet or not, but I can control how much I put in, how much I study and play."

Coming back to Winamax, what does this collaboration give you as an ambassador?

"I am lucky to be in such a team. The atmosphere is great, you get infected by the positive energy of others. Poker is very individual, when a person travels he is often alone. I'm an introvert and I'm fine with it, but being a part of something is very satisfying. I spend time with very intelligent people, I have enriching conversations with them."

The WPO Bratislava stop is just ending, where can we see you next?

"In a few weeks, I'm going to the same Winamax event in Madrid. It will be similar there, but people there are completely crazy excited, they are playing such a tournament for the first time, they will meet professionals at the table. This is special about poker. There aren't many other areas where a complete amateur can meet a professional at the same table. For example, you can't go to a tennis tournament if you don't qualify. Anyone who has money to buy-in can play poker. And it's amazing that you can play at the table together with the best players, meet them through the break. And after Madrid, the last poker trip of the year awaits me, the Winamax event in Marseille. And then, as for December, I'm still undecided about Vegas or the Bahamas."

Leo, thank you and we wish you the best of luck in the future!