PocketFives caught up with Wayne resident Artim aceszhuitedZhuta (pictured, ranked 24th in New Jersey), who started playing poker at the age of 18 and hasn’t looked back. He currently plays under the handles AcesZhuited on WSOP, zhumaster on PartyPoker, and zhuking on Borgata Poker.

He won a seat to the World Series of Poker Main Event in 2014 and lasted until Day 2. With over $145,000 in tracked online cashes, Zhuta has won the 888 Poker/WSOP $10,000 Guarantee three times and the Party/Borgata $10,000 Guarantee two times for a total of $14,115. Visit PocketFives’ New Jersey poker community for the latest news and discussion from New Jersey players.

PocketFives: Give us your thoughts and experiences of regulated online poker in New Jersey.

Artim Zhuta – So far so good. There are plenty of fish out there and they are biting! But seriously there is some good competition out there also, some better than others, but overall good. The only real problem is I guess I’m spoiled from PokerStars and I think the playing fields are too small. Hopefully they will open up interstate play.

PocketFives: When did you start playing poker and why was it appealing?

Artim Zhuta – I probably started playing poker for money when I was around 18. You know, just little $10 or $20 buy-in home games with friends. After that, I graduated to online and then Atlantic City. Just like everyone else, I’m trying to become the next big name. The appealing side of the game besides the money is the roller coaster rush you get when your chips swing up and down. It’s just a crazy game, as we all know, and winning just feels great!

PocketFives: What are your favorite New Jersey online poker sites to play and why?

Artim Zhuta – So far, WSOP has been my favorite site, but lately I’ve been playing on PartyPoker a lot as well. I basically just play the $10,000 Nightly Guarantee on each of those sites with some satellites in between. I also play the Sunday Majors as well. Through WSOP, I won a seat to the Main Event in Las Vegas last year. I ended up busting on Day 2, but made a descent run in the Little One for One Drop, so that was a great experience. Hopefully I’ll be back there this year; we shall see.

PocketFives: Since the launch of regulated online poker in New Jersey, what has been your most memorable cash or win?

Artim Zhuta – For me it’s a no-brainier. WSOP had a $250,000 freeroll last year as part of a special event they had going on. The catch was to be eligible, you had to have played in one of the Majors, and I played all of them anyways. After being down to almost nothing, I rallied back and ended up coming in second place for $33,000, which is my online largest cash so far.

PocketFives: What do you do away from poker? What else interests you?

Artim Zhuta – Besides poker, I just started to really get into golf. I’m happy if I can break 100, so no bets! Traveling is always fun too, and in about five months fantasy football will be back.