Poker Interviews

Interview With New European Champion, Simon Trumper
By Mark Napolitano

I would like to thank Simon for taking time out after his big win in Europe to answer a few questions and to give all of us an insight into his world and thoughts.

Be Lucky Simon,
Mark

Where and when were you born?

Born 31/5/1963 South Kensington,London

At what age did you become interested in poker? Where did you start to Play Poker and What attracted you to playing Poker?

Started playing poker in 1995 when asked to go with a friend to a £10 tournament in Reading. Initially it was just a night out having fun and meeting new people

What advice for somebody starting to play? Make use of all the types of media available,and every time you play observe other players and self analyse after each session to always come away with a positive outcome.

Your Favorite Poker Game?

No-Limit Hold Em

Do you have any good luck charms?

I have a pair of gold and diamond aces which i use to cap my cards

Does anyone else in your family excel at the game?

No

Have you played in tournaments all over the world?

Yes

Have you entered into our World Series Warm Up Tournament?

Yes

Do you think that Internet Poker will effect the live card rooms?

Yes, by encouraging new players to learn before playing live games.

What has been the highlight of your tournament career?

There are three.

• 1st,2nd,3rd,4th in the 1997 European championships(chip leader three times going into final,all different games).
• Late Night Poker champion Series Two
• European WSOP Trial No Limit champion 2001

Do you play on the internet? Which do you prefer?

Only online tournaments on the internet (this is great practice) otherwise I prefer live play

The future of Poker, where do you see it going?

Further expansion. More televised tournaments, corporate and personal sponsorship, managed teams, product endorsement and celebrity status for the top players.

What is your ambition?

WSOP champion

Who are the poker players you most respect?

Devilfish, TJ, Eric Seidel

What would you do to improve the industry?

1. Standardise Rules
2. Improve player conduct
3. Set up a world ranking system
4. Encourage every player to see the potential of corporate sponsorship with benefits for all, and be willing to make changes accordingly

If you could implement one new rule for Poker - What would it be?

No Smoking

Would you like to see poker have corporate sponsors?

Yes

Do you have another job outside the tournament trail, if so what is your occupation and where do you live now?

I live in England 20 miles from London. I own a drainage company.

Do you enjoy playing live games as much as you do tournaments?

No

Do you play other casino games?

Blackjack and craps. But only for fun.

Where did you go to school and what is your level of education?

I went to a secondary school, but got no qualifications. I was expelled for playing poker dice after finishing the maths exam first. Apparently dice on a plastic chair in a silent hall is quite loud!

Hobbies?

Good food, company and cinema. Collecting watches.

All time favorite Movie?

I see at least 50 a year, some that I remember are:

• Pretty Woman
• Schindlers List
• Titanic
• As good as it gets
• Silence of the lambs

What music do you like to listen to?

Anything you can dance or sing to.

Most favorite place in the world?

Crane Beach Barbados

Favorite food?

Roast Dinner.