News
Q&A WITH NOVEMBER NINER JEFF SHULMAN
Nov 06 2009 02:06 PM EST
A seventh place finisher at the 2000 Main Event final table, Jeff Shulman finds himself in somewhat familiar territory as one of the nine remaining players of the 2009 World Series of Poker Main Event. Amazingly, his father, Barry Shulman, just recently took down the Main Event of the 2009 World Series of Poker Europe.
A successful tournament player and publisher of Cardplayer Magazine, Shulman has seen poker evolve both as a game and an industry over the past decade and has no reservations about voicing his opinions on its current direction. Taking down this championship would not only earn him $8.5 million and an epic, once-in-a-lifetime accomplishment, it will make the Shulmans the first father-son combo to win WSOP Main Events.
WSOP.com: Let’s start with the obvious. Based on your father Barry’s showing in the World Series of Poker Europe Main Event, do you think you should have hired your dad as your coach instead of Phil Hellmuth?
Shulman: Dad's my life coach, my business guru, and my role model. I'm not going to defer to him because he won a small field event overseas somewhere. Seriously, Dad got me started in poker and has been a huge influence in my success at the WSOP.
WSOP.com: Will Phil Hellmuth be near the final table with you during the tournament, or are you only planning to use his services in advance of the final table beginning?
Shulman: Phil's going to be in my corner. If he gets out of line though, I will have him removed. I'm still undecided as to whether he'll be permitted to speak during the event. The coaching has gone really well so far, and Phil's been great. I have a feeling that we will both be better players because of it.
Shulman: Phil's going to be in my corner. If he gets out of line though, I will have him removed. I'm still undecided as to whether he'll be permitted to speak during the event. The coaching has gone really well so far, and Phil's been great. I have a feeling that we will both be better players because of it.
WSOP.com: Fellow November Niners Antoine Saout and James Akenhead made it to the final table with your dad at WSOPE. Does that change your perspective of them heading into your match-up with them?
Shulman: I'll definitely get my father's perspective on Antoine and James' play at the WSOPE, but I am keeping in mind that we're working with a small sample size of observed hands.
WSOP.com: For the most part, it appears most of your fellow players in November have been busy playing in other tournaments, and doing well to boot. Are you comfortable with your decision to stay away from the major live tournaments during the break?
Shulman: I don't play a lot of live tournaments, so taking all this time off is the norm for me. I've done okay in the big buy in events coming in semi-cold, so it's probably the right decision for me. I think the worst thing for me to do would be to alter my regular routine.
WSOP.com: You are said to be retiring from poker if you become the World Series of Poker Main Event champion. Is this true? And if yes, does that mean from playing poker professionally or completing leaving the industry entirely?
Shulman: I play fewer than ten tournaments a year, I don’t play live, and I have a full time job. So, I wouldn’t consider myself a professional poker player. I love the industry and I don’t see myself ever leaving it. Also, I have two children now, so I will not retire, since they like to eat every day.
WSOP.com: With your father being the 2009 WSOPE Main Event champion, how would the prospects of you becoming the World Series of Poker Main Event champion have on CardPlayer magazine?
Shulman: It can't hurt.
WSOP.com: CardPlayer has been a pioneer in the poker industry for the past twenty years which means you have seen poker go through incredible growth and changes. Are you bullish or bearish on the future of poker? Why?
Shulman: Things have been rough in the poker industry for the past couple of years, but I think regulations will loosen up and poker will be even more popular.
WSOP.com: If you were commissioner of the World Series of Poker, what are the biggest changes you would make to the tournament?
Shulman: All star treatment should end at the parking lot. The superstars can get preferred spots in the lot, but during the event, everyone should be treated equally in terms of rulings, penalties, etc. I'd make sure the Main Event is uncapped in terms of entries, and there would be no dinner breaks for the late starting events.
WSOP.com: You are said to have changed your style of play dramatically, playing small-ball, not getting involved in coin flips for too much of your stack. What factors came into you changing your game play?
Shulman: Raw aggression used to work. Now it doesn't. In 2000, I'd raise 15 out of 20 pots and they would just keep saying, "Take it Jeff." I couldn't let anyone defeat my style. Now, I have had to adjust, and, I'm a little more risk-averse.
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?
Shulman: I had pocket three’s on a Ten-Queen-Queen-Three board. I previously moved the opponent off a couple of hands and he was itching to call with any marginal hand.
I check-called the turn, hoping to check-raise the river. The river was a ten, and it was checked down. He had Ace-Ten and I truly believe that if I check-raised all-in on the turn that he would have called and I would have been out.
WSOP.com: Is there a particular player among the November Nine that you are paying extra attention to?
Shulman: Phil Ivey seems to have had some poker success. He might be worth watching if he can get some chips. Also, I love how Darvin Moon has been playing too.
WSOP.com: Who is the one player at the table you feel you are most familiar with? And least familiar with?
Shulman: I've known Phil Ivey for almost 10 years, so I'm pretty familiar with him. Not that that will help, he has broken many people that thought they were well-acquainted with him.
Shulman: I've known Phil Ivey for almost 10 years, so I'm pretty familiar with him. Not that that will help, he has broken many people that thought they were well-acquainted with him.
I played a lot during the event with Darvin, Kevin and Eric, not so much with most of the others.
WSOP.com: Have you been watching the Tuesday night telecasts on ESPN? What do you think thus far? Anything surprise you?
Shulman: Norman Chad's been surprisingly positive about my beard, and hilarious in general.
Shulman: Norman Chad's been surprisingly positive about my beard, and hilarious in general.
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?
Shulman: I will have 100 people in the stands. I like having my people around so I should be comfortable.
WSOP.com: What is one thing you would like to share with the public that they do not already know about Jeff Shulman?
Shulman: The public already knows too much about me.
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?
Shulman: Poker has always been a game of rugged individuals and mavericks. That doesn't jibe too well with the entire ambassadorial concept. Does poker really need ambassadors? Will I get an embassy from Harrah's and some kind of colonial residence?
