Banking $2.2 million for winning the 2010 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure (PCA) Main event was 19 year-old Harrison “gibler123” Gimbel, who became the youngest champion ever of the $10,000 buy-in feature tournament. Gimbel sat down with Poker News Daily shortly after the win to recap his monumental run.
Poker News Daily: Congratulations on your historic win in the PCA Main Event. Can you tell us a little bit about your heads-up opponent, Tyler “puffinmypurp” Reiman?
Harrison Gimbel: He’s a really good player and I knew that going into the final table. The first time I played with him live was at the final table. When we got heads-up, he had 28 million to my 17 million at 100,00-200,000 blinds.
PND: You’re only 19 years-old. Talk about going up against a former Full Tilt Poker $1K Monday winner and successful online poker player heads-up. Did any nerves set in considering you were out-chipped?
Harrison Gimbel: Not at all. People were shocked that I stayed so calm. If anyone watched the webcast, I really wasn’t nervous and I played my game well. The biggest hand of the heads-up match was when I bluffed him off of a straight.
PND: In that hand, you check-called a bet of 630,000 after a flop of 5-6-4 with two hearts. The ten of clubs hit on the turn and you check-called a bet of 1.8 million from Reiman. The seven of hearts on the river put out straight and flush possibilities. You check-raised Reiman all-in and he folded 7-8 face up. Can you walk us through that hand, in which Reiman flopped the nuts?
Harrison Gimbel: I had Ah-4x, so I knew he didn’t have the nut flush. I figured check-shoving that board means that I either have a straight or a flush. I wasn’t necessarily putting him on a straight, as he could have been value betting a set or maybe even two pair. Me check-shoving there looks mostly like a flush.
PND: Were you surprised to see him fold 7-8?
Harrison Gimbel: Not really. I still think it’s pretty hard from him to call with an eight there. I was surprised he folded so fast, though. I had actually thought he called.
PND: How does it feel to be the youngest PCA Main Event champion ever? Is that important to you?
Harrison Gimbel: Yes, for sure. I think that is the most important part; being the youngest person to accomplish anything is an amazing feat. I just accomplished something at 19 that most people don’t do ever.
PND: What does this win do for your confidence and can you tell us about your future poker plans?
Harrison Gimbel: My confidence is at an all-time sky high. I came into this tournament thinking I was going to win. After Day 1 when I had 100+ big blinds, I told a friend that I was going to win this tournament. As for the future, I would love to travel the circuit. I can’t do too many tournaments, though, because I’m only 19, but I have an early lead for Player of the Year, so maybe if I win something else, I can lock it up.
PND: You told us that you got into poker through playing in $5 and $10 buy-in home games during the Moneymaker Boom. Do you play full-time now?
Harrison Gimbel: I should be a freshman in college. I went for two weeks and took the semester off. I don’t think I’m going back next semester either, so I’ll probably play poker full-time now.
