This is the fifth time I’ve scribed an interview with Roland De Wolfe. There’s a good reason though: it’s not the result of a subterranean love for the Red Pro, but for the simple fact that he’s always winning something. Not only that, but when he’s not running amok at the tournament felt, he’s busy raising his profile and ensuring that he remains a permanent fixture under the spotlight. It’s this secondary ‘talent’ that has maintained his status as a popular, entertaining attraction within the poker world, and one who, despite being with a company that boasts a plethora of sponsored pros, will always be considered an invaluable asset.
But to describe Roland as merely an ‘entertainer’ would be doing the Londoner an epic disservice, as over the years this former journalist has defied the odds by churning out result after result amid vast fields, and with $4.7 million in tournament winnings he’s perched comfortably as the UK’s second biggest all-time money winner. This week’s Mansion London Poker Tournament victory at Les Ambassadeurs Club in Mayfair was just one of many notches on the poker bedpost with Roland having collected silverware in WPTs, EPTs, WSOPs and many other settings from around the globe.
One accolade that you might not be aware of is that only last week, Roland became the first player to have made three Premier League finals, an achievement that was sealed when he a came a credible, but ultimately disappointing fifth place in this year’s outing. Now back from that Vegas excursion and tackling the more local, but equally lavish setting of Les Ambassadeurs, we grabbed a few moments of Roland’s ever-valuable time to discuss the Premier League, Luke Schwartz, and his thoughts on the UK’s most exquisite gaming club.
Snoopy: How do you get to play in the Premier League?
Roland De Wolfe: It's invitational, so up to them who plays. It's a combination of who they know and who they think will make a good show, not just who the best players are. They're looking for people who can entertain an audience. Only three players, including myself, participated in all three previous Premier Leagues, and I feel that helped my chances of being selected. I've also completed the triple crown with my bracelet in 2009, so that counts for something. It's nice that they think of me though, and it's good do have a British representative in there.
Snoopy: You're good viewing though. Are you aware of the importance of being 'entertaining'?
RDW: I'm certainly aware of it, but it's my natural personality too. Obviously I know what the bigger picture is, and if it's a quiet day I might try and talk a little more, but it's definitely not an act.
Snoopy: How highly do you regard the Premier League as a part of the poker calendar?
RDW: You know, the Premier League is a really fun event to play in. It's a TV show, so it's never going to be an amazing show of skill, but it's still better than a lot of other crapshoots that I've played over the years such as the Poker Million. At this year's Premier League they changed the structure and gave you a bigger starting stack, so it's even more skillful than other events now.
Snoopy: Did you go in with a preset strategy?
RDW: I try not to go in with a preset strategy as it's important to adjust and adapt to the game as it plays out. With the new structure, it no longer mirrors online STTs, so using the same strategy isn't as affective. This event is very different to others because of the points, and the strategies required near the end in terms of securing a spot. At the start, though, I go for the win rather than try and sneak into third and fourth spots, but to come first you need to still be in there when there are only a few left.
Snoopy: Do you think you've improved much over the course of the Premier League?
RDW: I actually became the first player to reach three finals, so I think I've done pretty well and have improved every year. This time around I don't feel I saw much in the way of cards, but did pretty well nonetheless. I think I played the best in the final too. Since the first Premier League, I think I'm playing a more tight-aggressive game.
Snoopy: Neil Channing suggested that players like Phil Hellmuth and Daniel Negreanu may suffer from 'fancy play syndrome'. Would you agree with that?
RDW: Maybe Phil suffered from that a little, but I think Daniel just has his own style which works well in some spots. He's also very good at adapting. It's weird, if this show ran a dozen times, I think you'd have seen several different winners. You can play really well in these things but still not win.
Snoopy: What were your experiences of Luke Schwartz?
RDW: I have a different relationship with Luke than the others because I've known him for longer. We tend to give each other a lot of shit, but I'm just one of those players who find him amusing. I think he's a good player, but not one of the best as he only plays one type of game, so he's not a particularly well-rounded player. Nevertheless, he's still highly proficient at No Limit, but perhaps gives a lot of stuff away live. He's also very emotional, but does have good instincts and is a big personality for the show to have. He's a nice guy. Definitely has a screw loose though.
Snoopy: Who did you consider to be your toughest opponent before the event?
RDW: JC Tran was the favourite, but with five heats anyone can win. You only have to get unlucky at the start and you're already behind.
Snoopy: Moving on to today's tournament [Mansion London Poker Tournament]... Have you played here before?
RDW: Yeah. Craig [Stevens – Poker Manager] does a great job and the rest of the staff are always friendly.
Snoopy: What are your overall views of Les Ambassadeurs Club?
RDW: The casino’s fantastic and the set-up is very elegant. A nice location and a really nice group of people, I enjoy playing here.
Snoopy: I understand Teddy Sheringham plays here, what are your thoughts on him?
RDW: “He’s a very strong player. He plays tight, but is aggressive too and has a massive will to win. Considering he's not amazingly experienced, he really manages to hold his own and, from what I’ve seen of him, is probably the best out of the celebrities that play poker.”
Also see:
WSOP Interview: Roland De Wolfe
Return to Les A - Part Five: With this Tournament You Are Really Spoiling Us
De Wolfe Den