GPInterview: Sam Razavi | Success With A Smile

Success with a smile – that’s how I would describe Sam Razavi (GPI#184) and love-for-life attitude both on and off the poker table.

Never afraid to poke fun at himself, Razavi has had an amazing run these past 12 months – including a ANZPT Melbourne title as well as being named Asian Player of the Year on the APT tour.

Razavi’s journey also brought along love, announcing his engagement about a month ago.

All in all, Razavi’s life is a good one!

Here is my conversation with Razavi who’s spending his summer playing all sorts of tournaments including those here at the World Series of Poker:

The last 12 months or so have been really good for you including a dominant run in Asia and a ANZPT title in Melbourne, how is life different for you now that you’re known worldwide as a established poker player?

The results I’ve been getting have done a lot not only for the bankroll but also for the confidence. I’ve really learnt so much going deep. I really feel that I can make a living playing tournaments; there was a time when I thought that you needed to play cash on the side to supplement.

I’ve been playing heads-up cash games online for over ten years so it’s a bit depressing now sitting indoors in your home. It’s a much healthier lifestyle than sitting on your ass, I mean, you’re sitting on your ass, but it’s a lot healthier than sitting on your ass at home, on a laptop!

How does a bright-eyed kid from Brighton grow up to become the best tournament poker player in Asia?  🙂

As anyone that’s ever been to England knows the weather can be very depressing. When I used to purely play online, a friend of mine and I decided to look for a place that not only could we find the time differences such that we could do the Sunday grinds, for example, and be on a more normal schedule.

We discovered Thailand and hung out on the islands there. If you’re having a bad week, you can jump on a jetski for example.

More and more we discovered Asia, I found Macau, which is lovely. It’s a lot more laid back and there is a lot more money to be made either playing cash or tournaments. The APT has really grown in the last few years.

When I found out there was a Player of the Year there, I decided to multi-table any tournament I could.

You’re such a happy, positive guy. Recently you went on a rant about players maybe being too serious when they are playing poker, it’s important for you to have fun at the tables, isn’t it?

Absolutely. That rant was a reaction from a great Brad Willis blog post that has been retweeted by Mike Sexton and Neil Channing, amongst others, and it basically says exactly what Neil preaches everyday and I just wanted to make my point as well.

A lot of the tournaments I go into I sometimes feel that if can’t sit down have fun then what’s the point? It’s not something you can control – even a $400/$500 at the Venetian that people are taking seriously they dwell over every decision, they feel like they’re playing the Grand Final in Monaco but on another table, you’ll have people having fun, joking, maybe a prop bet here and there … and I’m not saying have fun to the point that you’re going to disadvantage yourself by giving away tells and being too relaxed and not focused but all it takes is a little bit of spirit and lightheartedness.

I’ve noticed for me that with the good results I’ve got have come off the back of being focused but enjoying the moment. There is a quote that I always repeat when I’m presented with these sorts of questions. When I was about 15 in school, a career councilor came in and said “Chose a job you enjoy and you won’t work a day in your life”

About a month ago, you announced your engagement to your future wife, congratulations!

I’m extremely lucky! It’s really funny, I was with my brother in Thailand and there was a tournament coming up, APT Cebu, and I told him that I really have to get out there, I really feel a result coming, I didn’t know why.

I decided to go. I ended up chopping the Main Event, which was a great result – but I didn’t realize that I had met my future fiancé on that trip. She’s really amazing, I’ve never felt that way about anyone, ever – and she plays poker, which is good! We hop on the APT tour together.

You’re playing in other smaller tournaments in Vegas during the summer, what’s the motivation behind doing so?

A lot of players think they’re above those smaller tournaments because they’re too small. I actually think that there is so much value in those small tournaments. Those scores could be the difference between a losing trip and a winning one.

If you can win 9-10K in those events and you’ve dusted off 9-10K at the WSOP, you’re still even; you don’t need to find a way to get that money back jumping into cash games.

FPM is a hot thing this summer at the WSOP – why should we count on Sam this summer?

Well, I’m a bit of a nit! As long as I have an average stack heading into Day 2 I probably will cash 90% of the time. I really grind and I don’t really tilt!

If you’re looking for a consistent scorer, Sam may just be your man! You can follow Sam on Twitter: @Sam_Razavi

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