What’s it like to make the final table of the world’s most prestigious poker tournament? We talk to 2014 November Niner Bruno Politano and ask him about the highs and lows of his amazing run, and whether he can do it all again in 2015
When Bruno Politano entered the 2014 WSOP Main Event, his biggest cash was for $47,493 in the Brazilian Series of Poker. His only cash in the US was at the 2011 WSOP when he finished 148th in the $1k NLHE for $2,548. That was set to change.
Fast forward to July 15 at the Rio Casino and ten players were battling to avoid busting on the biggest bubble of their lives. Politano was vying to become the first Brazilian player to make the final table of the Main Event, but he was the second shortest stack and he was involved in a hand that quickly escalated.
From middle position he raised to 900,000 from a stack of around 13m with pocket Tens. Mark Newhouse called from the button before Luis Velador moved all-in for 6.15m. Politano thought before folding, Newhouse made the call and eliminated Velador when his pocket Fives held against Fours. Politano’s Tens would have won the hand but it didn’t matter – he’d made it.
The remaining nine players celebrated, leaving Velador to rue his final move and think about what might have been. The headlines might have been about Mark Newhouse and his incredible back-to- back Main Event final tables, but Politano was dreaming of a win which would make him a hero in Brazil.
As it turned out Newhouse would finish in ninth place again, and Politano would spin up his short stack to eighth, for a total of $947,172. If he was disappointed he didn’t show it, leaving with a big smile and cheers from the huge support that had flown out to watch him play.
PokerPlayer: Was this the first time you’d played the Main event? When did you decide to play it?
Bruno Politano: I played the WSOP for the first time in 2011 but this was my first Main Event. I decided to play it when I had a big win in Brazil the previous year.
How did you treat such a big tournament? Did you look to get through Day 1, then to cash and go from there?
I have a plan for every tournament I play in and with such a huge field I tried to take it one day at a time. So when I sat down my first aim was to make Day 2, then Day 3 and then to cash. After the bubble burst I went back to focusing on getting through to Day 4 and so on. Once I made the final table I only had one aim – to win the whole thing!
What was your stack like after Day 1?
It was pretty normal – nothing really happened to me on Day 1. I started with 30k and managed to chip up to around 45k, which was around 90BBs.
When did you start accumulating a big stack and when did you first start thinking you could make a deep run?
I had a huge hand on Day 5 when I picked up Kings and my opponent called my four-bet. The flop came A-K-9, I bet, he raised, I re-raised and he moved all-in. I called and he had pocket Nines for set-over-set. This hand made me the chipleader and after this I was convinced I was going deep. I finished the day in fourth with close to 5.5m. Then, after the dinner break on Day 7, there were 16 players left and I had the third or fourth biggest stack. At this point I realised that my dream was within reach and more than possible.
What were you thinking on the bubble hand of the November Nine when you had Tens – would you have called if Mark Newhouse wasn’t behind you?
If I didn’t have a big stack behind me I would definitely have called Velador’s shove. With Mark to play after me it would have been a terrible call.
It must be the ultimate bubble situation – what was going through your mind when it was 10-handed?
I just tried to maintain my focus and my patience, and to play my best poker.
What was the feeling like when you realised you’d made the final table?
It’s impossible to explain it with just words! I’d love to try but really the best thing I can say is that it was the best moment of my life – a dream come true.
What do you make of the November Nine concept and the delay?
It’s very different. I actually don’t like it too much, but it’s the way it works so you have to put up with it. I think we need to adapt it and find a new way to play the final table.
But you got a lot of support – even Neymar and Kaka tweeted support for you. That must have meant a lot…
It was amazing. The whole country supported me and I got a lot of energy from Brazil. It made me really happy.
What did you do to prepare?
I studied a lot, played a lot of tournaments and got a good coach
What were your goals? To make sure you cashed for more than ninth?
My only goal was finishing first. That was honestly all I was thinking about from the moment I made the final table. The way I saw it, there were nine players – there would be one champion, and everyone else.
What were your tactics and how did it actually play out?
My tactics were to play tight to start and then ramp up the aggression. I was the shortest stack so I knew I needed to play faster than the other players and I wouldn’t receive value for a shove at the start of the tournament. In the end it came down to a pretty standard shove with 10BBs from the button. I had to do it and I’d do it again if necessary.
Did you enjoy the experience? It must be a high-pressure environment with the TV cameras and so much money on the line?
I really enjoyed it! I lived a dream and I enjoyed every single moment of it. I was really happy with all the support I got from my new country and my new family at 888poker. I’m also very happy for all the things that happened in my life before, during and after my November Nine!
What did you do after you busted?
I had dinner with friends and family.
What advice would you give to players thinking of playing the Main Event for the first time this year?
Play with patience and focus on everything that happens on the table. If you’re lucky enough to make the November Nine, make sure you enjoy it. It will be one of the moments of your entire life.
Are you playing it again this year?
I’m definitely playing it again this year.
Good luck! We hope you can do a ‘Newhouse’ and go back-to-back!
Thanks a lot! That’s definitely my target – a back-to-back finish!
The Main Event plays July 5-14. There’s no live stream but you can get live hand updates at WSOP.com and chip counts at 888poker.com.
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