After more than 17 hours of play on the final day of event No. 53, $1,500 limit hold’em shootout, 24-year-old New Orleans native Matt “mattg1983” Graham bested Jean-Robert Bellande to take home his first World Series of Poker bracelet and the $278,180 first-place prize. Card Player caught up with a visibly exhausted, but excited Graham after his big win to discuss his experience at the WSOP and his mindset at the final table.
Question: You went in (heads-up) with a big chip deficit. What was going on in your mind?
Matt Graham: I was really confident… I still had plenty of chips and despite the deficit I just played the best I could.
Q: Do you think it helps that you put in so many long sessions online? Do you think that gives you an advantage over some of the other players?
MG: Yeah, because I really don’t have to think that much when I play… Online you become kind of a robot, and I guess sort of being a robot helped today. You don’t have to think a lot to be a robot; but an effective robot not a crappy robot.
Q: So even with the chip deficit you felt confident?
MG: I really did. I’m sure a lot of people say that, and didn’t, but I really did… The only time I lost a little confidence was when I dipped to 300,000. I lost several pots and just couldn’t make a pair, got caught bluffing. That was desperation mode there, (down) 2.4 million to 300,000. I can’t remember how it turned around but it did.
Q: Can you tell us about your experience at the World Series?
A: Last year I had a terrible World Series and didn’t cash at all, and lost like $90,000. This year I did a lot better. I had three cashes coming into this for about $50,000 total, so I was already more pleased with this year than last year, despite nothing big.
Q: Who do you feel were the toughest players at the final table? Was Bellande the toughest?
A: No, there’s a guy – Brandon Wong – he was really good. Brandon Wong is a really good internet player apparently, and he showed it. You could tell that he knew what he was doing. He was tough. He never really got anything going, which is good.
Q: Do you play limit much online?
A: Not anymore. At this point I never play limit, but I mean it’s still hold’em.
