Just scrolling down John Juanda’s Hendon Mob page can give you RSI, but it’s not just quantity, it’s quality: four bracelets, umpteen WPT finals, Poker After Dark Champion, PPT victory – the list just goes on, and on, and on. His crowning achievement – some might say – is perhaps his WSOPE title from last year in which he beat one of the toughest pound for pound fields ever collated to claim the £868,800 first prize. And if that wasn’t enough, he finished second in the EPT High Rollers event the following week for an additional £327,000. I think we can safely say that with a near 10 million in tournament winnings, it’s not just variance.

Personality wise, I have seen two sides of John Juanda on my TV screen and at live tournaments: one a softly spoken, shy individual, the other a more mischievous, talkative kind of guy. When I met him a couple of days ago, I had no idea which one I was going to get, and so was relieved when I stumbled upon a mild-mannered, pleasant chap who treated me with respect and was open to discuss any issues I raised. Ladies and gentleman, the man who Daniel Negreanu considers to be the best reader in the game, defending champion and Full Tilt Pro John Juanda.

Snoopy: Was there anything in particular about your game last year that you felt attributed to your success, or was it just coincidence?

JJ: I think it was a little bit of both. Last year I remember I didn’t do very well in Vegas, and wasn’t playing that well. So I came here and I was really motivated and for the whole time I didn’t drink, walked every day and ate healthy. I was feeling really good and motivated. Of course, you have to get really lucky too to win any tournament. I think the first three tournaments before the Main Event I went really deep. I didn’t win, but I played good. I actually felt really good during the Main Event and also the High Rollers Event. I was thoroughly happy, but it would have been awesome too if I’d have won that event as well. I got a little bit unlucky towards the end - I think I could have won both.

Snoopy: How do you motivate yourself to keep playing your best in tournaments?

JJ: You know what, you raise a really good point. In a way, I don’t think I’m playing as well this year. The first three events there wasn’t much money involved - and I know I shouldn’t be using that as an excuse - and sometimes it’s hard to get up and play for three and a half days to win £150,000. Having said that, there’s one big tournament here, and I’m going to try my very best.

Snoopy: Is it about the money or defending your title?

JJ: I think it’s more about pride. I’ve been playing for 13 years, so I’m playing on satisfaction now. I take a lot of pride in my game. The money’s always good, but at this point in my career, even if I don’t win, I’m not going to go bust or anything.

Snoopy: Were you prepared last year for the long days?

JJ: I hope it will be another long week this time around, it would be nice. But here’s the thing about poker: if you’re a serious poker player, you might get tired - say, if you’ve been drinking the night before or something - but once you get down to the end, where you’re so close to winning it, there’s no way your mind is going to let your body get tired. You might be exhausted physically, but mentally you’re going to be alert. Your mind tells you that you’re so close to winning the ultimate prize. People complain about being tired, but to me, I just don’t see how you can be tired. That’s like the most exciting moment and the part of the tournament where I’m truly awake.

Snoopy: How do you stop that one mistake occurring and what do you believe to be the main weakness in your game?

JJ: The most important thing is to get good rest. [Pauses] I’d like to be able to focus a little bit more.

Snoopy: What’s the standard like here compared to Vegas?

JJ: The field is smaller, but you see much fewer really bad players. There are always bad players wherever you go, but there aren’t as many here, most people know what they’re doing.

Snoopy: Would you exchange your WSOPE bracelet for a WSOP one?

JJ: It would have to be the Main Event in Vegas or the HORSE to exchange it. Money wise, it’s probably the second or third biggest.

Snoopy: How important is maintaining a profile for you at this point in your career?

JJ: I actually don’t like that sort of stuff. I don’t get approached that much here, and it’s the same in Asia. I can get recognised in clubs and stuff, because customers there watch ESPN, and a lot of them will be drunk too. I like to have my own quiet time. When I’m in the US, it’s difficult for me, but in Tokyo, I can spend more time to myself.

Snoopy: Do you have trouble getting to the toilet in the Rio?

JJ: You know what, I think people are a lot nicer here. Here they are very respectful, if you’re at the table, playing in a hand or whatever. People tend not to bother you. It’s different in Vegas. You can be on a final table there and someone will be like, ‘Hey, can you sign my hat!’

Snoopy: What’s the biggest development you’ve seen at WSOP?

JJ: The fields are obviously much larger. I don’t like having to play against thousands of people to win something, a bracelet. Ideally, I’d prefer to have smaller fields with larger buy-ins. I like the introduction of the $10,000 World championship events and the $40,000 No Limit, but even like a $20,000 or $50,000 buy-in as well would be good. Don’t get me wrong, I think everyone should be given the same opportunity, to be able to win, but in sports, say baseball in the US - I don’t like baseball by the way, but just using it as an example - there’s like a minor league and there’s a major league, a bit like the soccer here too where you have the different divisions. It would be nice if people played a $4,000 event and then moved on to the $40,000 event. It would be so great. It would create a much more progressive route to the top, because otherwise you just have these ridiculous fields, and it’s so hard to make it to that final table. OK, Phil [Ivey] made it to the final this year, but how many times to do you see top pros on the Main Event final? Not very often.

Overall, the WSOP is just so commercial now. Before, I could look over my shoulder and see Erik [Seidel] or whoever, and be like, ‘Oh, hi Erik, how’s it going?’ and now I might not know anyone around me. If I had the choice, I’d definitely go back to the old days, and how it was then.

Snoopy: Would you like to see the Main Event buy-in increase?

JJ: Absolutely. Like I said, I’m happy for everybody to have a chance, but as long as there are plenty of satellites and chances for people to qualify for the event, then everyone does have a chance.

Snoopy: What are your goals for the upcoming months?

JJ: My main aim is to only play events where I’m motivated. Recently, I’ve been playing too many where I haven’t been able to motivate myself about playing, but sometimes you fall into a trap where you look at a guy with 10 bracelets or whatever, and think you’re not as good, and it lures you into playing bracelet events that you just don’t feel like playing, and are not particularly excited about. So, that’s my biggest goal, simply to be focused and interested in the tournaments I am playing.