Posted: Sunday, January 3rd, 2010

We recently interviewed 2009 HOPC Champ Royce Baker or ‘yankee1869′ on NLOP.  Royce beat out over 1000 players to be the 2009 Hawaii Online Poker Champion and win the GRAND PRIZE of a trip for two to Vegas from Vacations Hawaii and a $100 pupu party from Big City Diner!  See the interview below.

Q) How long have you been playing poker?
A) I’ve been playing poker for a little over a year now, mostly on Pokerstars and Full Tilt, grinding low stakes S&G and MTTs. And I’ve recently begun working with a team of great online poker pros to improve my game as much as possible over the next couple months, and get me into shape to provide coaching to other aspiring poker players.

Q) Do you remember the hand you won the tournament with?  Please tell us about it.
A) I ended up winning the Tournament with AK off suit against Q8.  I had pushed about the previous 4 or 5 hands, so I figured my oppenent would make a stand with anything decent, as he was losing blinds quickly.  He did and luckily the board didn’t pair and Ace high won it.

Q) Do you have another memorable hand or specific moment that you would like to share from the tournament?
A) There was one turning point where I got lucky with about 20 players left.  I had played mostly tight aggressive but hadnt played many hands so I found myself a short stack and had to make a move.  In the SB I pushed into BB with like J8 suited and he calld me down with AK i think and had me covered.  He hit one of his cards and I ended up hitting two pair to double up.  I was a short stack most of the way with about 25 players left.  I think 13/14 near the end and basically tied for short stack going into the final table.  Then I got a couple quick double ups and proceeded to knock the first 5 players out of the final table.  At that point I knew I was going to take it down by just letting the others fight it out and getting to heads up play.  I was thrilled to win.

What’s your favorite poker hand?
A) My favorite poker hand is J 10 suited

Do you have anything to tell the other players?
A) Id like to congratulate all the players for making the final tournament as that was no easy task in itself, as well as those who made the Final table and scored some nice prizes as well.  It was well played by all.

Q) Anything else you’d like to say?
A) I’d like to thank whichever radio station I was listening to on my way to work where I heard about HOPC like two days before the qualifier I won.  And thanks to HOPC for sponsoring the event.  Good luck to all the players out there, keep grinding and see you at the tables.

MAHALO ROYCE and CONGRATS!