Sumit Sapra was in Nottingham this month to play WPT National UK with 6 more Indian players who qualified for the $1 Million Main Event via online satellites on Adda52. Sumit made a deep run in the main event finishing 45th in the field of 886 entries. Moving ahead, he will be playing at 2016 World Series of Poker which starts on Tuesday, 31st May. OPN India had a conversation with Sumit about his WPT experiences and plans for the WSOP.
Hi Sumit, thanks for your conversation with OPN. Congratulations on ITM (45th) finish in the WPT National UK Main Event. Share your experiences of the tournament.
Sumit – The tournament was pretty good with great value and a very good structure and I had a really great time playing it. I busted the 1st bullet in a hand where I flopped bottom set against another player’s middle set on an AT8 board and it was pretty disappointing to bust like that but luckily there was one last starting flight remaining and I decided to play in that and made a deep run. I was pretty happy with the way I played and the only time I took a flip in the entire tournament was in my bust out hand where I lost a huge pot in a pre-flop all-in with 99 against AJ.
Did you play any side event in the series?
Sumit – I only played one side event in the series, the 330 GBP buy-in PLO event where I busted pretty early.
A contingent of 8 Indians were present during WPT National UK including those who qualified via Adda52 satellites. How was your experience as a part of Team India in the series?
Sumit – It was a good experience and we had a good time both on and off the table. We were railing each other in all the events and there was good camaraderie between all the Indian players at the event.
You got to interact with Mike Sexton as well many Indian players were interviewed by WPT representatives. Tell us about the media and player engagement activities at WPT National UK.
Sumit – It was an honor to talk to Mike Sexton and he was quite curious about the poker scene in India and interacted with all of the Indian players. The WPT staff went out of their way to make us feel comfortable and we had a really good time especially at the players’ party!
Tell us about your 2016 WSOP plans where you headed after this series.
Sumit – I’m in NYC for a short break and will be heading to Vegas for the WSOP on the 3rd of June where I am scheduled to play a bunch of events including the Colossus and the Millionaire Maker. It will be a unique experience playing a live tournament with such massive fields and I hope I can continue playing with the same focus and intensity.
Have you planned the Vegas trip alone or with a bunch of other Indian players?
Sumit – There are obviously a bunch of other players expected in Vegas though most of them will be arriving a little later, especially the ones who are playing the Main Event but there’s a few around earlier as well, like Jagdeep Singh and Madan Kumar.
Good luck for the world series.
Sumit – Thanks. Follow me on twitter for my WSOP updates.