raj.vardan: GENERATION NEXT: AP Phahurat - The Official Global Poker Index

রবিবার, ১৪ এপ্রিল, ২০১৩

GENERATION NEXT: AP Phahurat - The Official Global Poker Index

Few poker players have made a name for themselves as quickly as?A.P. Phahurat (GPI#459) has ? at least, not on the live tournament circuit.

Poker is nothing new for the young man who now makes his home in Las Vegas, Nevada. ?A.P. has been around the cash games for a while now, but it?s one year ago that Phahurat was introduced to the masses, winning the 2012 Chad Brown Poker Challenge, collecting over $116,000 USD for his efforts.

I sat down with Phahurat here in Hollywood, Florida ? at the WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown ? to discuss all things poker, including his upcoming debut on the European Poker Tour.

Thank you for taking some from your busy schedule. How were you first introduced to poker?

I started when I was 17 or 18, playing with my cousin at home. He then took me out to a casino in Tulsa (Oklahoma) one mile away from my High School! Editor?s Note: AP did advise that he in fact graduated from that High School ? crisis averted!

Your victory in the 2012 Chad Brown Challenge really launched your career, would you agree?

For tournament poker yes, it was my first actual live win. Winning a live tournament threw my name out there, I did a lot of interviews with PokerNews and others after winning that tournament.

Just a few short weeks ago, you finished second to David Tuthill?(GPI#244) at the WSOP Circuit Ceasars Palace Las Vegas tour stop ? you must have been happy with that payout!?

We actually chopped heads-up and played for the 10K freeroll seat. Really tough Circuit main, probably the toughest circuit main I have ever played.

You tweeted that you finally survived a Day 1A in a World Poker Tour event here at the WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown, you must have been happy?

This is the first time I have made it through a WPT Day 1A ? I?ve played like ten of them and I always double-barreled ? it was nice to finally have a day off and chill.

Speaking of the World Poker Tour, they included you on their ?Ones to Watch? list for Season XI?

I was pretty surprised at first when they came to me. I?m with ?Brian Hastings, ?Jason Koon, Shaun Deeb (and the others) those are pretty big names. It?s pretty cool to get chosen. Every poker fan wants to be on the WPT Television broadcast.

Talk to me about your association with RunGoodGear. Also, you?ve started a video blog on the site?

After that Chad Brown win, Run Good Gear picked me up (in time) for the Series (WSOP), they have a pretty big summer planned for the WSOP. I?m probably going to do some more (video blogs), but I have to work on my editing skills!

How have you dealt with your recent exposure?

I feel that a lot of people have been playing back at me a lot this season.? Every time I play and the camera comes by I feel like I get five callers or I get three bet because people (non-pros) want to be on TV.

Can you give me a few players who you think could be the next breakout stars on tour? ?Your Fantasy Poker Manager Fans want to know!

Aaron Massey and Kyle Cartwright have been crushing circuit tournaments lately.

And my roommate Joe Kuether (who recently final tabled?WPT Bay 101). ?He will be travelling with me to Berlin ? he?s probably the most underrated live tournament player out there.

What?s next on your schedule? ?I hear you?re about to make your debut on the European Poker Tour?

Yes, I?ll be playing my first European Poker Tour event in Berlin and then coming back to play the 25K WPT Championship at Bellagio.? And then I?ll be playing all summer in Vegas (at the WSOP) for the third year, i?m pretty excited

If you?re not following A.P. on Twitter, you?re certainly missing out. ?The RunGoodGear-sponsored pro tweets about everything from poker to sports betting to living the baller life in Las Vegas! ?You can follow A.P. @LegitAP47.

Ready to A.P. to your EPT Belin FPM team? ?Head on over to Facebook and signup to play the?GPI Fantasy Poker Manager?? ?FPM is the official Fantasy game of the World Poker Tour and the World Series of Poker!

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