Interview With World Amateur Champion

Charles Mason: World Amateur Champion

Charles Mason, winner of the APAT World Amateur Poker Championship, took time to answer a few questions in this exclusive interview for APAT members.

Charles, tell us a little about yourself and your Poker background:
Living in Solihull, first and foremost I’m a family man with wife Linda and kids Simon (19) & Laura (17). I work as an IT specialist in a leading Software company. I love my Poker but I’m a genuine recreational player trying to get a game once a week if possible playing sub £100 tourneys and the occasional low level cash. I started back in 2003 with small stakes online, went to Vegas in 2004 and got hooked big time. I play around the midlands (DTD, G Coventry, Broadway etc), but have had the opportunity to play around the world when travelling (USA, Russia, Copenhagen, Dublin, Prague).

What are your major poker achievements to date?
Getting a seat in the WCOAP! I was so lucky as I got a seat at the last minute, one of the last six available phew! I have had a few notable wins. 2006 Hawaiian Gardens (LA) for $2500, Lucky Chances (San Fran) in 2007 where I chopped 1st and 2nd for $7500 and a win last year at DTD in the £75 regular comp for £3250. Sounds corny but successfully managing my bankroll and picking the right buy-in levels to stay ahead has been my biggest achievement, just when you think this game is easy and you move up too quickly it bites you in the bum.

How did you hear about APAT, and have you played APATs before?
I’ve railed APAT from the beginning; I played in Edinburgh in Season One as well as Luton, not with much success though. I struggled to adjust to the longer format, more chips and time; I just sat there in a daze often not knowing how to play different situations. Those experiences made me study the dynamics of larger tournaments and figure out strategies to hopefully improve.

Talk us through Day One. Any notable hands?
My luck started big time late on when Mark Williams flat called, and there is a raise behind that. I looked down at pocket Kings and re-re-raise only to have a another raise from Mark! So far I had had a pretty torrid time, having no hands and I had to think through the consequences of folding Kings versus what I now suspected was Aces. I guess I am just not good enough to lay it down and pushed. I am immediately called. The flop brought no help for the Kings or Mark’s Aces, I am reaching for my coat as we shared spades and club suits, then a diamond King came on the turn, wow. The other beauty was to Mark’s sibling, the fellow final tabler, Ant Williams. We had a few tangles with Ant one to my right on day one. We had a battle of the blinds as it’s folded to his small blind and he makes a decent raise. Suspicions are aroused (why does this happen!) I look down to see pocket twos. Raise! Ant warns me he has a hand and re-raises. Being quite a bit shorter in chips I decide to go for it he snap calls, I feel a bit queasy when he tables Ace-King. Well the proceeding low board and not a picture in sight help me get lucky again! Ant says in jest “It’s clear you are destined to win this thing”

You came back with 77,200. This must have felt comfortably placed?
I felt ok as I moved up from 30,000 to 77,000 near the end of 1a, I could take a bit of step back and let the shorties fight it out.

You made early progress on day two when finding Aces to a push with Jacks. Was that the moment you thought you might be hitting the final?
It did kick start my day and really help with my table image, I had Kings, Jacks and could even afford to lay down Ace King suited. I had a plan, I had written down on a copy of the structure all the key “Harrington” M metrics for the levels and was able to keep around 8 – 10 for most of the sessions. I was worried that this was too low for regular play but there were a lot of small ball pots which allowed quite a bit of play. One dynamic of that is I was able to execute Stop and Go’s when in position far easier than if there had been larger raises. I really feel this got me some chips.

As you hit the final, what were your thoughts and expectations?
Relief as I was took a few chances when down to two tables to try to accumulate some chips when people don’t want to go out. The 10 minute break for the media stuff allowed me a bit of thinking time, “What’s important the money or the chance of getting the added seat”? I may never have the opportunity to play in a major buy in comp so I decided to play as aggressive as possible in an effort to secure the seat.

How did you find play on the final table? Any key early hands?
Everyone was a bit wary of the short stacks, not wanting to unnecessarily double them up. Oystein was quite busy and folks seemed happy to call his all-ins. Dave Potter really picked his spots well and continued to double up time after time, his play was very impressive. Its fair to say the blinds / antes were getting so big post flop play was at a premium, this gave the table a very edgy atmosphere, with Jamie having so many chips for most of the final people braced themselves for an all-in push if they felt good about their hand and the situation. Both John’s and Ian exits were unlucky where they made optimum moves and just ran into big hands. I got very lucky with my first three outer of the final to knock out Ian while damaging Chris’s stack. This is where I really got chipped up. I need to review my isolation technique and re-read the chapter in Harrington I’m sure I did not make the optimum play here or later when I did it again the Jamie.

Walk us through your push with Ace-Four, and the feeling you had when Jamie Reeve called it:
I just wasn’t focused on Jamie, he had played Tight Aggressive in many pots, but I had seen him lay what appeared to be good hands down in the face of stiff pressure. I was focused on snaffling Ant’s raise and the blinds, so isolation here we come, imagine my shock when the Blue Square maestro comes over the top! Eeek.! I know I’m dead, I nearly turned my cards over having forgot about Ant! He dwelled and folded his probably winning hand when the flop came 10 – 10 – 5 – K and a beautiful 4. I was just shocked and frankly gutted for Jamie – I had flash backs of all the similar suckouts I’ve had against me and remembered the sick feeling. He took it like the Gent he is, hats off.

A few days on, what are your feelings about the event and your victory now?
I had the best Bank holiday Monday! I treated the family, had nice lunch, and tried to explain to confused relatives how they now have a World Champ in the family. But seriously I have had time to reflect on the comp, I feel I played well for much of the contest but had lady luck on my side at these key stages when elimination was staring me in the face. I did play probably too aggressive, when smaller bets would have given me the same information without the huge risk. I really hope to have learned a lot from the experience. Having been lucky to play comps in many places, I can sincerely confirm that this was the best run, best structured, best venue, friendliest tournament I have ever played in.

Looking forward to playing in the GUKPT Grand final?
Firstly massive thanks to Blue Square for making this happen! The seat was a focus during the final, what a fantastic opportunity to rub shoulders with our leading players at a venue I know well from my visits to London. I just hope to keep nerves under control and to thoroughly enjoy the experience. Having said that, in talking to others who have had similar experiences I know it presents me with a great opportunity to possibly give me a leg up to my next level in poker, hope I can grab it!

Will you be back for future APAT events?
Work and family commitments aside, I hope to be in both Bolton and Luton, won’t be wasting any wagers on myself as I am sure to have used all my luck and “one times” in Nottingham!