Online railbirds have been thrilled to watch the continuing battle between the online poker newcomer Isildur1 and several of the top professionals from the Full Tilt Poker stable. While Patrik Antonius, Phil Ivey, and Tom “durrrr” Dwan have swapped six-figure pots with the Swedish phenomenon, online poker fans and players have been offering their thoughts on Isildur1 and high-stakes play. Poker News Daily sought out the opinion of two top professionals in the game today for their outlook on this week’s battles on the virtual felts.
Tom Schneider, who is the proud owner of two World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelets and captured the Player of the Year award in 2007, believes that there is a dominant factor in the gentlemen engaged in this game. “I think a part of this game is ego for everyone,” Schneider told Poker News Daily. “Keeping it in check is important for good play and bankroll management, however. Good players and even great players are susceptible to go broke if they’re not careful.”
“Most all of us are guilty of playing higher than our bankroll would suggest,” Schneider continued. “I don’t know how deep these guys are, but I can’t imagine that both of them can continue to play for this kind of money for too long, especially if there aren’t some really bad players in the game.”
Many have suggested that the players in this high-stakes game are perhaps the best in the world, but Schneider respectfully disagrees. “I can’t comment on whether these players are better than the rest because I haven’t played with them,” Schneider admitted with a laugh. “Confidence is key in poker. If you have built your bankroll up enough to play at this level, one has to be incredibly confident. Having said that, one of the best poker players in the world might be playing in a $1/$2 game right now. He or she may never play higher because they don’t want to.”
“Is there really a best player in the world,” Schneider continued during our discussion. “I don’t think so. It is much like saying, ‘Is there a best artist in the world?’ Poker is too much art to have a best player. A list of great players could be written, but the word ‘best’ shouldn’t be used. No offense to Phil Ivey, but I would use the term ‘amazing’ to describe him. Did he play better than anyone at the final table (at the WSOP Main Event)? I’m not sure.”
Joe Sebok, who drove deep in the 2009 WSOP Main Event (finishing 56th) and is a sponsored pro with UB.com, is one who admits to being amazed about the players and the high-stakes game that is occurring. “There’s no denying that they have sick skills,” Sebok stated, “They also have a certain amount of sick gamble in them. That’s a trait that you just can’t teach to people. These guys want to gamble as high as they possibly can, working the smallest edges imaginable. You have to take your hat off to that.”
Sebok coins a new term for the players that the online world is transfixed with. “They are a different breed, for sure,” he says. “A lot of factors all combine to create these ‘super gamblers.’ There is definitely a lot of ego involved.” When asked if he would be playing at these levels, Sebok laughed. “I think they are insane! I can’t imagine that I would ever play that high. I don’t think I would even want to if I had unlimited bankroll. I just don’t have it at that high of a level. As I’ve said before, it takes an innate sick amount of gamble and I don’t have it at that level.”
