News
MEET NOVEMBER NINER ERIC BUCHMAN
Nov 05 2009 02:10 PM EST
Like many young poker professionals, Eric Buchman’s career started in college. As a student, Buchman played poker at various casinos in Atlantic City and Connecticut. By graduation, Buchman had amassed enough of a bankroll to pursue a career in poker.
Buchman has nearly eclipsed the million dollar mark in tournament winnings even before having made this year’s Main Event final table. Among his accomplishments are second- place finishes in a 2006 WSOP Limit Hold’em event and at the 2007 No Limit Hold’em Circuit Event Championship at Harrah’s Atlantic City.
Having come so close to WSOP glory twice before, Buchman, coming into the final table with the second-largest chip stack at 34,800,00 is more than ready for the task that lies ahead of him come November 7th.
WSOP.com: What if any has been the biggest change in your life since making that final table back in July?
Buchman: I'm relaxing and taking a vacation from poker. If I didn't make the final table I would still be playing poker on a regular basis.
WSOP.com: Take us through a typical day for you during the break between Main Even play.
Buchman: I get up and take care of any obligations (bills, emails, interviews). I might do a little working out (maybe tennis or the gym). I hang out with friends. I watch movies, and go to baseball and hockey games.
Buchman: I'm relaxing and taking a vacation from poker. If I didn't make the final table I would still be playing poker on a regular basis.
WSOP.com: Take us through a typical day for you during the break between Main Even play.
Buchman: I get up and take care of any obligations (bills, emails, interviews). I might do a little working out (maybe tennis or the gym). I hang out with friends. I watch movies, and go to baseball and hockey games.
I watch football every Sunday. I take trips (Vegas, Maine, Connecticut, London, Amsterdam, Chicago). I'll go out for dinners, drinks, parties and do a lot of relaxing.
WSOP.com: It was recently revealed that Jeff Shulman has enlisted Phil Hellmuth to help him prepare for the final table. Have you procured the services of a poker coach or training academy?
Buchman: No. I have a lot of experience and feel like I can play as good as anyone in the world. I feel like a coach might even mess me up, get me off my game, and maybe even make me play worse.
WSOP.com: It was recently revealed that Jeff Shulman has enlisted Phil Hellmuth to help him prepare for the final table. Have you procured the services of a poker coach or training academy?
Buchman: No. I have a lot of experience and feel like I can play as good as anyone in the world. I feel like a coach might even mess me up, get me off my game, and maybe even make me play worse.
I get more out of playing and analyzing information on my own than having someone (who might not even be as good as me) telling me what I should do. When I play in November I have to trust my reads not my coach's reads.
WSOP.com: Do you still play in local games? How do your opponents react to you?
Buchman: I have not played in any local games since making the November Nine.
WSOP.com: How have your friends and family treated you since coming home with more than $1.2 million with the potential to earn much more? Any funny stories to share?
Buchman: When I first came home and met my friends out at a restaurant, as soon as I walked in everyone of them started applauding for my accomplishment which was very nice. Also my girlfriend Rachel threw me a big party with friends and family. It's nice to know everyone's supporting me.
WSOP.com: Was there one particular hand during the tournament in July that was instrumental in your becoming a November Niner? Could you describe how it played out?
Buchman: On day 7, I had my stack dwindle from 5 or 6 million to about 3 million and was not picking up any hands for an extended period of time (hours).
WSOP.com: Do you still play in local games? How do your opponents react to you?
Buchman: I have not played in any local games since making the November Nine.
WSOP.com: How have your friends and family treated you since coming home with more than $1.2 million with the potential to earn much more? Any funny stories to share?
Buchman: When I first came home and met my friends out at a restaurant, as soon as I walked in everyone of them started applauding for my accomplishment which was very nice. Also my girlfriend Rachel threw me a big party with friends and family. It's nice to know everyone's supporting me.
WSOP.com: Was there one particular hand during the tournament in July that was instrumental in your becoming a November Niner? Could you describe how it played out?
Buchman: On day 7, I had my stack dwindle from 5 or 6 million to about 3 million and was not picking up any hands for an extended period of time (hours).
With 28 players left, I picked up Ace-Ten suited in late position and moved all in for about 30 big blinds. The big blind called with Jacks and I thought this could be the end, but I flopped the nut flush, doubled up, and never looked back.
WSOP.com: Heading toward November 7th, which is it that makes your heart palpitate more, the potential to win over $8.5 million, or that you will be playing at the highest profile poker table in history, in front of millions worldwide?
Buchman: Both the money and the possibility of being world champion are very, very exciting.
WSOP.com: How confident are you that you can take down the crown?
Buchman: I am very confident in my ability to play but you can get it in great and take a devastating beat. So while I am very confident I can take down the crown, I can also take a horrendous beat and be out of the tournament. All I can really do is be happy with the way I played and fate will decide the rest. I hope it's meant to be, it's definitely within my reach.
WSOP.com: Is there a player at this final table you fear the most?
Buchman: I don't fear anyone at the poker table but I respect many. If you're playing scared you’re at a disadvantage.
WSOP.com: Who is the one player at the table you feel you are most familiar with? And least familiar with?
Buchman: The extent of my NL hold'em experience with the other final table members is limited almost entirely to this tournament.
WSOP.com: Have you been watching the Tuesday night telecasts on ESPN? What do you think thus far? Anything surprise you?
Buchman: I have been watching and I find it very entertaining. No surprises that I can think of.
WSOP.com: How many people are planning to attend your final table play at the Rio November 7-10? Does that make you feel more comfortable or more nervous?
Buchman: About 100 people. I don't think it affects my comfort level but its nice to have people rooting for you and cheering you on.
WSOP.com: Regardless of where you finish, the ability to beat out 6,485 players and receive more than a million-dollar payday is an incredible achievement. Have you been able to recognize that or is it simply about finishing the job now?
Buchman: I am able to recognize that but the celebrating is over for now; I have to concentrate on finishing the job.
WSOP.com: What is one thing you want the public to know about you that they may not from watching ESPN or reading stories about you?
Buchman: I worked very hard to get to this point. In the past, although I consider myself primarily a cash game player, I have gotten very unlucky in many big money tournaments.
WSOP.com: Heading toward November 7th, which is it that makes your heart palpitate more, the potential to win over $8.5 million, or that you will be playing at the highest profile poker table in history, in front of millions worldwide?
Buchman: Both the money and the possibility of being world champion are very, very exciting.
WSOP.com: How confident are you that you can take down the crown?
Buchman: I am very confident in my ability to play but you can get it in great and take a devastating beat. So while I am very confident I can take down the crown, I can also take a horrendous beat and be out of the tournament. All I can really do is be happy with the way I played and fate will decide the rest. I hope it's meant to be, it's definitely within my reach.
WSOP.com: Is there a player at this final table you fear the most?
Buchman: I don't fear anyone at the poker table but I respect many. If you're playing scared you’re at a disadvantage.
WSOP.com: Who is the one player at the table you feel you are most familiar with? And least familiar with?
Buchman: The extent of my NL hold'em experience with the other final table members is limited almost entirely to this tournament.
WSOP.com: Have you been watching the Tuesday night telecasts on ESPN? What do you think thus far? Anything surprise you?
Buchman: I have been watching and I find it very entertaining. No surprises that I can think of.
WSOP.com: How many people are planning to attend your final table play at the Rio November 7-10? Does that make you feel more comfortable or more nervous?
Buchman: About 100 people. I don't think it affects my comfort level but its nice to have people rooting for you and cheering you on.
WSOP.com: Regardless of where you finish, the ability to beat out 6,485 players and receive more than a million-dollar payday is an incredible achievement. Have you been able to recognize that or is it simply about finishing the job now?
Buchman: I am able to recognize that but the celebrating is over for now; I have to concentrate on finishing the job.
WSOP.com: What is one thing you want the public to know about you that they may not from watching ESPN or reading stories about you?
Buchman: I worked very hard to get to this point. In the past, although I consider myself primarily a cash game player, I have gotten very unlucky in many big money tournaments.
But my luck in this tournament makes up for it. I'm very fortunate to have this opportunity and the chance to win the world championship, the absolute epitome of tournament poker.
WSOP.com: With winning the Main Event of the World Series of Poker comes the title of “Reigning World Champion of Poker.” Would you embrace the role of poker ambassador or is that something you would have a hard time with?
Buchman: I would embrace the role of poker ambassador and would love to be known as the world champion of poker. It's any poker player's dream.
WSOP.com: With winning the Main Event of the World Series of Poker comes the title of “Reigning World Champion of Poker.” Would you embrace the role of poker ambassador or is that something you would have a hard time with?
Buchman: I would embrace the role of poker ambassador and would love to be known as the world champion of poker. It's any poker player's dream.
