Nik Persaud: "There are two types of people in poker: those who get it, and those who don't. If you don't really get it, then you're never going to go to the top of the tree, no matter how much you play or try to study the game. These guys get it, and they're showing just how talented they are."
There was a time when a British bracelet win was rarer than a visit from Halley's Comet, but these days, the UK are collecting more precious metal than a flock of magpies in a jewellery store. In 2010, we brought home five - more than any other non-North American nation - and this year we've exploded out of the blocks with equal velocity, securing another two bracelets within the opening ten events.
Despite this sudden injection of success, few would have predicted that the same town would be reeling in multiple wrist-warmers, especially one holding less than 100,000 inhabitants. But when Matt Perrins secured victory in Event #9's 2-7 Lowball, he joined $25,000 Heads-Up Champion Jake Cody as Rochdale's only bracelet winners.
This can't just be coincidence, can it? Well, no, not entirely, as Matt and Jake aren't strangers, and have known each other for most of their lives. Nevertheless, the oddity that they both snapped up bracelets at this particular Series, and within just one week of one another, was certainly a long shot. For those who know them, however, that shot wasn't quite as long as the staticians might have thought.
Black Belt Poker's own Nik Persaud is one of those lucky few pros to have rubbed shoulders with poker's hotshots. For the last year or two, he's grown to know Matt and Jake on a personal level, and has always touted them for big things.
"It's and amazing story really," he beams like a proud parent. "They grew up together and have been best friends since they were kids. They haven't really been on the scene for very long at all. I met them a couple of years ago and the success they've enjoyed since, and in such a short space of time, has been just incredible. The best thing about them is that they haven't changed as people. They're still the sweetest, nicest, most down to earth kids you'd ever want to meet.
"Jake is just a beast," he confesses, "and undoubtedly the hottest property in UK tournament poker at the moment. He's the fastest, youngest Triple Crown winner, but it's not like he's won easy stuff. The WPT London is a strong tournament; the numbers at Deauville were huge; and the bracelet he just won was likelye the toughest event the Series will see this year. His achievement is phenomenal."
Although Jake's win - and the calibre of talent he defeated along the way - has grabbed the headlines and attention of the rail, Matt's triumph shouldn't be overlooked - in many ways, it's just as good. For someone to dive into fresh waters with just 30-minutes of YouTube ammo in their armoury is bordering on crazy; to then go on to lift the bracelet defies belief! Cynics will turn their nose up at the size of the field, but not everyone is as cavalier as Matt; the majority of the field will have been Lowball specialists with a wide knowledge of the game, thus making Matt's victory even more unlikely.
"Matt's story is hilarious," sniggers Nik. "He only had a very basic knowledge of the rules, but he's such a fast learner. He's never going to win the Triple-Draw Limit format because, technically, he'll make too many errors against good players who will play near perfectly. But when it's No Limit, the realms of what you can do can be expanded as you can pick up on when opponents are weak and apply pressure, which I think is what he did.
"In his mind, he had nothing to lose, it was a bit of a joke, and before you know it, he's in the top 10, then chip leader, then holding up the bracelet. Matt has so much raw talent that he's able to beat a game that he knows nothing about. For him to pony up $1,500 for a tournament that he didn't even know the rules to is just so typical; the fact that he's gone on to win it is even more typical, and it just shows his brilliance. He likes to be a bit baller and has the worst bankroll management ever, but he makes up for that in talent because he can always win if he puts his mind to it. He's like a modern day Stu Ungar; he really is that good. He might even be the most talented tournament player this country has right now.
Although they have both been swimming in the sea of success of late, their approach to money sets them apart, as Nik explains:
"Jake is a little bit more professional. My first encounter with him was at the PCA, and he was just there to try and satellite into the Main Event. He didn't manage it in the end, so he didn't play. I had a 'roll at the time and he didn't, but a few months later he won Deauville, and now the boot's on the other foot. Even after his win, he maintained his discipline, and sold action at the WPT just to keep the variance down a little. I think that the fun bit of the story is that Jake will say that Matt is the biggest influence on his poker career and the person who he has learned the most from. When Jake wins a title, a little bit of that is Matt, so the happiest man in the world now that Matt has won will be Jake."
Last year, I posed the question: 'Why have the British contingent been so successful?' The consensus threw words like 'variance' and 'coincidence' back at me; at the time, I agreed with them, but now I'm not so sure that there isn't a little more to it. Outside of the Series, British players have continued to run amok - in particular the 2010 EPTs - and there's a genuine sense that for the first time since the poker boom, the Brits are considered on a par with our across-the-Pond friends. The Americans have always been known for boasting the best talents, but times have changed, and the level of respect for British players is currently sky high. No longer is it considered an upset if we take down a big tournament.
So why, in this brief two-year period, have players like Jake and Matt suddenly started capturing every title under the sun and making the UK a force to be reckoned with?
"It's a function of time, but also of the network that has been created," suggested Nik. "If James Mitchell hadn't been part of the strong community of young players and sold pieces of his action to people like Sida Yuen and Stuart Rutter, then he wouldn't have even played the event. There's an established crew, and if anyone's having a hard time and needs help with getting a buy-in together, there is a long line of players waiting to buy a piece, not just as a favour, but because they think they are really good players. I feel privileged that, along with guys like Toby Lewis, John Eames, Tom MacDonald, and many others, if I need to talk about hands, they're there. It's a great network. The most important thing is friendship. If I had 200K and they were broke, I'd be putting them in everything."
The British invasion has already commenced, and with American pros feeling the effect of Black Friday, the door may have opened for a full-on ambush. More Brits are in Vegas than previous years, and if the raucous rail during Matt and Jake's victories was anything to go by, they're hungrier and more confident than ever. The question isn't if we'll win another bracelet; the question is: how many?
Event 2 - Jake Cody
Event 9 - Matt Perrins
Schedule/Results page...
WSOP Content:
Vegas 11: Operation Bracelet
A Happy Median - Snoopy
Vegas, Baby - Jerome Bradpiece
Vegas: Advice from the Pros
Paint It Black - Part One: Wassup With WSOP?
The Vegas Cherry - Hugo Martin
Cashing In; Where to Play Cash in Vegas - Sam Razavi
Snoopy's Top 10 Las Vegas Tips
For the Love of Ivey
Interview: Ashby Going for Bracelet #2
Richard Ashby Finishes Fourth in Event #11