One of the many PocketFives.com members who emerged victorious in events held as part of the 2010 PokerStarsSpring Championship of Online Poker (SCOOP) was Hungarian Peter BelabacsiTraply. The World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelet winner added another feather to his cap after coming out on top in a $1,575 No Limit Hold’em 2X Chance Turbo for $128,000 following a five-way chop. Traply sat down with PocketFives.com to recap his ride through the high-stakes tournament.
PocketFives.com: Talk about your strategy in a 2X Chance Turbo.
Peter Traply: Basically, it came down to re-steal and push/fold plays and I think I'm quite good at those areas. Obviously, running well is the most important aspect in a Turbo tournament.
PocketFives.com: You defeated cpfactorheads-up in a final table that also featured PocketFives.com members the real roks, mrvogt, and fellow Hungarian szusza84(pictured at left). Talk about some of your competition.
Peter Traply: I know szusza84 personally and really respect his game. Unfortunately for him, he was eliminated early. I also recognized most of the names at the final table and felt I would have too small of an edge and there would be too much variance in the Turbo format, so I really didn't want to flip for $25,000 to $140,000. That's why I made a deal five-handed and played for $15,000 and the SCOOP watch.
PocketFives.com: You also finished second in the mid-stakes version of SCOOP Event #9 ($215 Mixed Hold’em Six-Max) for $28,000. Does it feel good to record a pair of top two finishes heading into the World Series of Poker (WSOP)?
Peter Traply: It feels great. This year until the SCOOP wasn't that good for me. I had mediocre results online and despite playing a lot live, I only had two smaller cashes. Now, I can enter the WSOP with full confidence and hopefully be able to make some noise again.
PocketFives.com: What are your WSOP plans? Where are you staying and how many events are you looking to play?
Peter Traply: I'll rent a house with my Hungarian poker player friends. We did the same thing last year and it was much better than staying in a hotel. I'll try to play in as many No Limit Hold’em events as possible except for the $25,000 Six-Max. Last year, I couldn't make a Day 2 until my bracelet, so I could conceivably enter more than 20 events. Hopefully, this year will be a little different, although I wouldn't mind only cashing once again, even if that means a WSOP bracelet at the same time…
PocketFives.com: Will we be seeing you in any non-Hold’em events?
Peter Traply: I'll play in some Pot Limit Omaha events as well, but I have no idea about the other fancy games.
PocketFives.com: Given your live and online poker success, have you become an inspiration to aspiring Hungarian poker players?
Peter Traply: Yes, definitely. I have a lot of fans who watch me play online and even some who consider me to be some kind of role model. It's all a little bit strange for me. The whole Hungarian poker community united in order to collect votes for me for the WSOP Tournament of Champions. I'm currently in the top 50, but could still use some help, so PocketFives.com members, please vote for me!
PocketFives.com: What advice do you have for first-timers to the WSOP?
Peter Traply: It's really important to make a playing schedule before the WSOP. There are a lot of tournaments and a lot of other stuff to do in Las Vegas. It's good to be spontaneous sometimes, but you need to be fresh and well rested if you want to play your A-game. So, don't party too hard the day before you play and have some rest days when you don't play poker at all.
Visit PokerStarsfor full details on the 2010 SCOOP. Also, check out our SCOOP final table results.