Hello Marc. Firstly, congratulations on your impressive victory at the WPT 2024 in Liechtenstein! Your achievement is truly remarkable and a testament to your skill and dedication. I’d love to hear more about your journey. How did you first discover poker, and do you remember your very first experience with the game?
I started playing poker around the age of 15 while I was still in school, though we played a different variation of the game back then.
Did you have anyone in your family or close circle who inspired you to play poker?
The person who had the biggest influence on me was definitely my close friend Phil Wettstein. Without him, I probably wouldn’t have taken the game as seriously as I do now. Another key influence was Renato Fümm, who spent countless hours discussing hands with me.
Is poker a profession or just a hobby for you? If it’s a hobby, what is your profession, and what other interests or hobbies do you have besides poker?
It’s a hobby, but one I’m deeply passionate about. I’m a self-employed Motion Designer with my own small agency called reiheacht. Besides poker, I enjoy football, movies, and books.
What poker events do you remember the most and why? Which event is the most important to you?
The poker events that stand out the most for me are definitely both WPT Prime tournaments in Liechtenstein, but I also have fond memories of my first-ever final table at a tournament in Schaffhausen back in 2015. That’s where I played against Thomas Hofmann for the first time, whom I also consider to be a great poker player and one of the nicest guys in the poker community. Meeting him and seeing him play, had a big impact on my game. His ace-high call against me, along with his explanation, left a lasting impression. It made me realize that there’s so much more to poker than just playing your cards. But if I had to single out the most important event, it would definitely be the WPT 2023 in Liechtenstein.
Let’s return to the final table of the WPT. Was there any player who you saw as your biggest threat? How did you approach playing against them?
Obviously, Leandro stood out—not only as a fantastic player but also because he had an enormous chip lead. No disrespect to the other guys, who clearly had to play great poker to make the final table, but Leandro was the Captain from the start. I had played against him a few times before and knew what he is capable of. Starting the final table in second place gave me a bit more breathing room than the others, so my strategy was to let Leandro do his thing and even fold a few hands I might not normally lay down so easily.
What was going through your mind when you faced Leandro? Was there a moment when you thought you might lose?
From the start, I knew Leandro with his chip lead was the most likely to win the whole thing, but I also know how quickly things can turn in poker. I believed I had a real shot at taking the tournament myself. That said, I wouldn’t have been too disappointed with a second runner-up finish in a row.
Can you walk us through the most important hand of the tournament? What was the thought process behind your move?
That’s a tough question. In a multi-day tournament like the WPT, you play a lot of crucial hands. But if I had to choose one, it would be the final hand of Day 2 when I got lucky with pocket tens against Sven Wildhaber’s pocket jacks. It was a bittersweet moment—it put me second in chips, but Sven really deserved more; he played great poker. Despite being young, he handled the bad beat like a champ, which was really impressive. It was late, and luckily, there wasn’t much decision-making involved. I opened, he shoved for 14 big blinds, I called, and got lucky.
What excites you most about being at the table? Is it the thrill of the risk, the challenge of outsmarting opponents, or something else?
I simply love the game; it’s incredibly versatile. Beyond the game itself, I’m fascinated by the psychological aspect and the need to adapt your strategy to each table, since poker can be played in so many different ways. For me, it’s a game like no other.
Have you ever played a game where something bizarre or funny happened at the table?
There was a guy who folded pocket Aces preflop on day one in a small tournament against an open from me, saying he loses them every time. I just thought, "Thank you very much!"
What is your goals in poker now? If we meet in five years, where do you hope to be in your poker career? Do you see yourself winning a WSOP bracelet?"
I don’t have any specific goals beyond improving my game. I’m not making any predictions—anything can happen in this game.
Have you ever experienced a crushing loss that made you question whether you wanted to continue playing? How did you bounce back?
Oh yes, many, too many to single one out. I wanted to quit poker like at least 100 times. Phil Wettstein, Renato Fümm, my PokerMoker Homegame Crew and the passion I have for the game helped me stay on track.
What’s one tip you would give to someone who wants to get into poker or improve their game?
Enjoy the game and be mentally prepared for the ups and downs. It took me years to learn that staying calm and avoiding tilt is crucial — it never helps to let frustration take over.
How do you feel about the poker community and your fans?
I think it’s fantastic how many people love to play this game. The vast community is what makes poker what it is today.
Thank you Marc, I wish you all the best!
