Player Interview: Annette_15 aka Annette Obrestad

Lucy: I noticed when we walked together that everyone was looking at you, and I’m sure you did too. Have you gotten used to everybody knowing you since the WSOPE?

Annette_15: Yeah! I guess people knew who I was before I played the WSOPE because of my online reputation.

Lucy: Is it good to have people wanting to speak to you?

Annette_15: It can be kind of annoying sometimes, but you do get used to it.

Lucy: Is it not flattering sometimes?

Annette_15: Yeah it’s cool all these people want to talk to me when I don’t feel that special - I’ve just won a tournament.

Lucy: Yeah, but you should feel a bit special, cos here’s the thing. I’m 19 year old girl just like you. I play poker, but I haven’t won millions of dollars. In fact, I’m probably not even in profit right now. What is it that makes you so successful so young?

Annette_15: Erm, I just play a lot. I play a lot of tournaments and I work very hard at my game. I’m always reading books and forums and training sites, and I watch videos.

Lucy: Then could anyone devoted to poker really be great?

Annette_15: I guess you kind of have to have it in you. But I think if you work hard enough you can definitely be a winning player. It’s not that hard to be honest. So many people play so bad, you just play the right game and try not to make mistakes.

Lucy: Do you feel relaxed when you are playing?

Annette_15: Now I do. When I started I was a little nervous, sitting with nine guys round the table and I’m the only girl, you know? But it’s kind of the other way around now.

Lucy: I think so too. Do you think being a young woman makes them nervous of you?

Annette_15: Definitely; especially when I play online. People who have been playing with me online have heard about me. I think I get a lot more respect than I deserve! It is good – they fold too much to me. But wait until the WSOPE is televised – I am never going to be able to get away with a bluff again! (laughs)

Lucy: I spotted Daniel Negreanu coming to talk to you – were you nervous when you first met him?

Annette_15: He’s a really good guy. I’ve talked to him some and he seems nice. The first time I saw him and had never talked to him before, it was like, wow, there’s Daniel Negreanu. But after a while you see him at every tournament and you’re like in the same position as him.

Lucy: So you are one of the pros now?

Annette_15: Yeah, in a way (laughs). It is kind of weird!

Lucy: And how has becoming a poker star affected your life away from the table?

Annette_15: I wouldn’t say it has affected anything. No, not away from the table. Back home, poker isn’t a big thing so I don’t get recognised when I walk out in the street. I don’t know, I kind of like it. It’s like two different lives. People don’t know who you are. I wouldn’t like to be an all out poker star, like wherever you go you have paparazzi following you.

Lucy: I assume though, that back home, your friends know you are successful. Were any of your peers jealous of you when you first won money?

Annette_15: I think they were just happy for me. People say they’re jealous but they’re just kidding.

Lucy: Do you invest your winnings?

Annette_15: I’ve invested a lot of money outside of poker tournaments, yeah. I don’t have to invest in tournaments because of my sponsorship with Betfair. They pay for my entry, they pay for my travel and all the expenses – I’m freerolling for the next five years.

Lucy: Wow! Have you invested in Poker Manager?

Annette_15: Urm, yeah a little bit I have.

Lucy: Are Poker Manager and Betfair connected, and if not, does that affect your Betfair sponsorship?

Annette_15: No, they’re not connected. And it doesn’t affect things, Betfair are really just using my name.

Lucy: Like a brand?

Annette_15: Sort of! (laughs)

Lucy: So you get freerolled for being a brand?

Annette_15: Yeah – but not because of Poker Manager. I got involved with Poker Manager through my manager.

Lucy: When did you get a manager?

Annette_15: March last year, it was half a year before the WSOPE. He was trying to get me deals.

Lucy: Were you getting approached a lot for interviews too?

Annette_15: A lot of people wanted interviews, it was annoying at times but I would just say yes and do it!

Lucy: Going back to being a girl – what do you think about womens’ tournaments?

Annette_15: I haven’t played in any. They’re just haven’t been any – I can’t play in Vegas. I guess one day I will play one in Vegas – I think the field will be really soft. It’s a good chance to win a bracelet! (laughs) It wouldn’t be as good as winning a normal event, but it’s still money, it’s still good.

Lucy: Does it still mean anything to you to when you win money considering the amount you’ve already won?

Annette_15: It’s not so much about the money any more. It’s about proving how good I am now and I don’t want to be in the situation where I really haven’t done anything for a year. I don’t want to be like Chris Moneymaker, just win one tournament and never do anything again.

Lucy: Well, he PLAYS tournaments…

Annette_15: Yeah (laughs), he does.

Lucy: Now it’s all about keeping winning?

Annette_15: Of course. I want to be the best poker player in the world.

Lucy: So if you were to win the World Series main event…

Annette_15: That would be so sick!

Lucy: …then what would be your next goal?

Annette_15: I don’t know. You can’t top it. Win a WPT 5 diamond event? I have no idea. It’s what every poker player wants.

Lucy: I’m interested in this, because every time you win, the goals must get higher and higher for you. So say for me, my goal is to win a $50 tournament next week, then the week after, a $100 tournament, then I would think, how do YOU keep finding your buzz of winning?

Annette_15: It’s just exciting to play. Like when you make a play and it’s like three hundred thousand dollars if you’re wrong, you know? You just get that feeling.

Lucy: Do you like gambling?

Annette_15: Nah. I don’t play any table games like blackjack or craps.

Lucy: Uh oh, I’m going to have to ask you a standard poker question now, sorry! What percentage of poker is luck?

Annette_15: (laughs) That’s hard to answer. If you play ten thousand tournaments, probably 100%. But if you play one individual tournament, any one could win it. It’s just about making less mistakes than everyone else and running good at the right times.

Lucy: Do you care about your media image?

Annette_15: I’m just being me. If people don’t like it, I don’t care.

Lucy: That’s definitely a good thing. But if the attention were to stop tomorrow, would you miss it?

Annette_15: Well, maybe a little bit, yeah.

Lucy: And what about if you had to choose between the respect you get with winning, and the money you get with winning?

Annette_15: I guess respect comes with money…

Lucy: You really couldn’t choose?

Annette_15: Well I guess the money! (laughs).

Lucy: Because you’re made for life right?

Annette_15: (smiling) Yeah.

Lucy: That’s perfect, thanks. It’s been a pleasure meeting you Annette, and good luck with everything.


Annette is sponsored by Betfair Poker. To download Betfair Poker click here.