Is winning the WSOP enough to ensure superstardom?

Internet Poker / Editor / 16 August 2007 / Leave a Comment

Jamie Gold vs Jerry Yang - how important is proving strength of character at the final table?

With the first ever WSOP Europe coming up players who think they have a chance of winning ought to be thinking seriously about how they win.

Jerry Yang was the long shot in the Betfair betting market going in to the final table at 18-1 yet he still managed to win despite making some "dodgy calls" according to Betfair Poker forumites. But doubts over his poker play can be quickly dismissed - he managed to beat a field of over 8,000 and you need more than luck to make it that far.

What you do when you win the World Series can have a massive impact on how much value (or +EV as some might say) you get out of it. Last year's winner Jamie Gold was dropped by his sponsor and is now the only unsponsored World Champion of the last 5 years. Yang on the other hand assured his place in the world of poker for years to come by making an impassioned speech showing deep humility and respect for his opponents. He also announced that 10 per cent of his winnings would go to charity. Before tax we hope!!

How you win is as important as winning itself. It is easy to forget this when you are bathed in $100 bills. In reality the $8.25m win at the World Series represents a fraction of what is available to someone with the strength of character and personality to become a poker superstar.

For more info on the WSOP Europe and how to qualify online see - http://www.betfairpoker.com/wsope