Hello Matthieu nice to meet you. How long it takes to organize such a huge event like this?
When everything is set up with the casino and hotel, we can consider a one year of work. We need to begin planning at least one year before the event to secure all the necessary spaces and reserve the hotel rooms. This is the first step; from there, we can proceed step by step.
How many players came here to enroll?
So in the Main Event we have +-1500 players that means with re-entries. Usually number of entries in the Main Event is plus minus the number of unique player in the whole festival.
Did you expect more numbers?
No this is plus minus arrange what we expected. It is good surprise that tournament is more and more international. On day 2 of the Main Event we have 31 different nationalities around the tables. That is amazing. This is the most international event we ever run.
From what country are the most players?
France for sure. Because we are French online room and we qualified a lot of player. So first one is France, second one is Spain because we are in two markets.
How many members of the Winamax Pro team came here to Bratislava?
We are very lucky, that this week we have the whole Winamax pro team, they are all of them here. I think it is a good news for Bratislava and Slovakia. What I appreciate a lot, there are a lot of players usually playing very high buy-ins, but they come here for the atmosphere and for all the fun what Winamax offer.
Who was the first player you were collaborating with?
It was Michel “MIK.22” Abécassis, very famous French player. In my opinion, he was the best player in France. This guy was world champion of bridge, he has an online world champion title (320$ WCOOP PLO event 2002), and had insane hendon mob in poker. But now stop playing poker and he goes back to bridge.
Who is your favourite player?
I can´t say only one name, I had a lot of I appreciate. Let´s say from French players Ludovic “Sir Cuts" Lacay, he is on top of his career now. He was a perfect mix of aggressive player, fun player at the same time and huge party after the poker.