News / Dave Allan / 07 November 2008 / Leave a comment

David 'Chino' Rheem has plenty of big game experience of poker and will be looking to call upon some of it when the final table of the World Series of Poker Main Event gets underway this Sunday, writes Rob Eddy.

The 28-year-old has nine final tables under his belt, while he also has four previous WSOP cashes, including a runners-up spot to Allen Cunningham in the $1,000 No Limit Hold'em event in 2006, which has helped take his tournament earnings above $700,000.

The naturally aggressive Rheem is perhaps, on the face of it, not in an ideal position to land the gold bracelet and the huge cash prize that goes with it (he has the third shortest chip stack of 10,230,000), but he insists he is not going to curb his natural instincts.

"I know I have my work cut out for me," Rheem told Casino City. "But I'm not going to change how I play the game. That's not my plan."

Chino is also in two minds over the decision to delay the final table for 117 days but believes it is to the benefit of poker and, therefore, the right move.

"I think it's good for poker; and if that's the case, I'm all for it. I think the World Series of Poker and ESPN came up with this great idea because it's added a lot of excitement. It's made things more interesting and it's made it more like a real sport.

"When you play in an event like the Main Event and you're playing for eight or nine days straight you kind of get in a zone, but pausing for three months has taken me out of that zone.

"If I had a choice, I would have rather just kept playing in July, but like I said, this is what's best for the game so I'm not complaining."

Now that the wait is almost over, Rheem is itching to get the cards in the air, while hoping that the added attention will work in his favour.

"I can't wait to just get there and start playing poker. I know the spotlight is going to be on us and I'm comfortable with that," he said. "Hopefully some of these other guys will let the pressure get to them and then I can take advantage of their mistakes. That's what I'm hoping for.

"All of the other eight guys are great players. Anybody is capable of winning it, man. I'm just hoping to make the right decisions at the right time and try to get some luck along the way."