Tournament Trail Q & A: Liz Lieu

Liz Lieu recently made back-to-back final tables at the Asia Pacific Poker Tour event hosted in Macau. She made the final table in the main event, where she finished in seventh, and she also made the final table of the $15,000 high-rollers event, where she finished in eighth place. The trip to Asia was about much more than poker for Lieu, and she also traveled home to Vietnam to do charity wotk in honor of her father's passing.

Card Player caught up with Lieu at the Doyle Brunson Classic, and she spoke about the trip, as well as staying focused at the poker table when life is an emotional roller coaster.

Ryan Lucchesi: How did it feel to make back-to-back final tables at the APPT event in your home country?

Liz Lieu: It feels great, especially in my home country. That’s what I wanted, that’s what I was hoping for [smiles].

RL: Do you feel like you were in the zone there, just really focused and playing well?

LL: Yes, before I went to Hong Kong/Macau, I was determined to play my best and completely focus.

RL: Tell me about the charity work you did in Vietnam after the APPT event in Macau?

LL: Right after the event, everybody knows that I donate 20 percent of my winnings, and after that I went back for my dad’s 100th day of mourning. And then, after that, I did the charity work on behalf of my dad. It was one of the best charity journeys I have ever done. I did something completely different than I ever do; I went way out in the middle of nowhere. I had to drive three hours, and then go by boat two and a half hours to get out there. I just see a whole different lifestyle. I went to an area, a poor village, that had no electricity, no heat, no food, nothing at all. They were living like the old days. I was amazed, because the kids were running around and they were so happy; it’s something that money could never buy. That’s one thing that I really see, and it changes the way that I think about life. It makes me more into charity. You give a little, but they’re so grateful. Even though it’s a temporary thing that you’re helping them out. But they’re thankful, and they’re cheerful and you know you make their day, and that’s all that counts. Especially now that my dad has left, it’s more important for me to go back, because he has always taught me, since I was a little girl, to never forget my roots. So, I think I will be doing a lot more charity work back there, a lot more.

RL: Can you explain to me the custom of the 100th day of mourning in your culture?

LL: In our culture, in the Asian culture, when a parent passes away, there are five important days. The first one is three days after they pass, then it's seven days, then it's 49 days, then its 100 days, and then its one year. My dad’s last wish was to be cremated and be put in the temple with his family. So, what I did was I placed him in a really good temple, and I built a glass case for him, and I was back there for every single important day to make sure that everything’s OK. Every single time I go back there, I do charity work, but the last two times, for the 100th day and 49th day, meant the most to me, because in my culture they say when a parent passes away, the only people they can rely on are their kids to help their spirits move on in peace. And the more good that you do, the more that you will help your parents rest in peace.

RL: So, when you go back and help with charity work, you’re honoring your father?

LL: I’m like killing two birds with one stone, you know? I’m helping people back there, and I’m also honoring my dad. ... They give a receipt for donations when you make a charity donation. So what I did was I took all the receipts and burnt them; I burnt them because I wanted it all to go to my father. Right after the 100th day, that was my intention, you know, and it meant a lot for me to do it. I put all of my effort into it. I went five days, and I started at 5 a.m. and went until 8 p.m. every day.

RL: So it was a very rewarding trip to Asia, both at the poker table and in life?

LL: Overall, it was wonderful. I believe in what goes around comes around, so maybe me making two final tables is like a way to do the most good, because I donate some of my winnings. I was really, really happy to make those final tables, because I know I have more money to give away now. I brought a certain amount of money with me there to be prepared, but now I have even more money on top of that. It was a win-win situation for me.

RL: The last 100 days have been an emotional roller coaster for you, from the low point with your father’s passing, to the high points of helping people in your home country. How do you keep your focus at the poker table during such an emotional time?

LL: To be totally honest with you, my focus is because of my father. I want to win a tournament for him. He’s in my mind right now, and he’s in here [points to her heart]. He’s always with me. I already said after he passed away that I’m going to try my best to take down a tournament. If it happens it happens, if it doesn’t … . I’m trying my hardest, and I’m playing my best. There’s no more joking around or fooling around; I’m basically here to win.