While on vacation in Goa, Aussie pro Bobby Zhang bagged the title of Baadshah Gaming Live Main Event for an unruffled Rs. 17 Lakhs! Now who wouldn’t love a holiday like that!?
Zhang’s been playing poker for eight years now, recreationally at first, then more seriously, and back to more recreationally again in the past year! We’d love to know what his poker routine is. “I think I’m a bit of a nomad! I travel from place to place without too much of a plan, many a time!,” the 30 year old smiles. And playing this tournament was not planned either! Zhang is on a first time vacation to India with his good friend and our favourite, Aditya Agarwal, who suggested to him that they go to Goa. And he is a happy man!
“This feels great, the tournament was fun, well-structured and organised by ‘Maddy’ and team, with a great playing atmosphere. I met a bunch of people on breaks, and it’s great that everyone’s super-friendly and helpful! It kind of reminds me of my poker days back home,” he shares. We ask what his thought process was in the middle of the tournament, to which he says “…I don’t really think about these things while playing. I just believe in playing the situation as it comes and then hope for the best!” and this got him his seventh live title, crossing $650,000 in poker winnings, with his single highest win of AUD $120,00 at the Aussie Millions “…when I lost QQ < ATo, to come 10th, unfortunately!”
We discuss the Indian poker industry and he goes on to advise that players have to keep learning to grow – individually and for a growing community. “IPR seems like a fun concept, and anything that can help the poker community is great!” ‘Enjoy the ride!’ he says.
We’re still keen to know how he thinks through his game, so we quickly ask “In Hold’ Em, how would you play 9-8 suited, if first to act?” to which he’s quicker to answer “In an Ante game, especially if we are deep, I’d like to be raising suited 9-8, if first to act.” How would you play the same hand?