Park Jae-sang, better known by his stage name Psy, revolutionized the world of pop music in 2012 with his hit “Gangnam Style.” As a matter of fact, its music video was the first to reach a billion views on YouTube and one PocketFiver we’re sure couldn’t get enough of it was Costa Rica’s Peter winwin07Nigh (pictured), who finished third in the Full Tilt Poker Sunday Major earlier this month for $22,000, his fourth largest online tournament score to date. We’ll get to big Psy later, but in the meantime, let’s dive into our interview.

PocketFives: Nice job in the Full Tilt Poker Sunday Major. How are you feeling about it?

Peter Nigh: Pretty good. The first couple of weeks of the WCOOP grind had been pretty brutal with several close calls, so it’s nice to get back on track and stop the bleeding.

PocketFives: Can you walk us through how the tournament went in general and how the field compared to a regular Full Tilt Poker Sunday Major? We know the WCOOP was going on too.

Peter Nigh: It was pretty much smooth sailing from the beginning due in large part to running very pure throughout the whole thing. The fields on Full Tilt tend to skew a little tougher these days and even more so during WCOOP. I remember at one point somewhere around the bubble I was at a table where seven of the eight other players were all way, way above average regs. This forced me to focus on picking good spots and not getting too out of line.

PocketFives: Do you have any plans for the money?

Peter Nigh: Keep grinding away. I’m going to take a week or two off after WCOOP, maybe go to some playoff baseball games, and then hit the live circuit for a bit.

PocketFives: You have had lots of PokerStars Super Tuesdaysuccess including a win in 2012 for nearly $100,000 and a final table this year for $59,000. Talk about that tournament and how you’ve found success in it.

Peter Nigh: I remember back in the day seeing the tournament in the lobby and thinking it had to be this nearly impenetrable, elite tournament, but in reality it is surprisingly soft. I definitely make a point on Tuesdays to lower the volume for more complete focus on the tournament, which allows me to more precisely pick up on my opponents’ tendencies and exploit them that way. Also, having an awareness of the different stages of the tournament and what strategies are most appropriate for them has allowed me to navigate that field a couple of times.

PocketFives: We take it you are originally from the United States?

Peter Nigh: Yes, St. Louis, Missouri, born and raised.

PocketFives: Tell us about going down to Costa Rica to play poker. How’d that happen and how’d it go?

Peter Nigh: After Black Friday, I had originally committed to the live grind, playing mostly WSOP Circuit events around the US. Mike telks Telker (pictured), who had been my good friend and mentor since my early days in the game, invited me down to come live in Playa del Coco with all those sickos.

I didn’t know very many people in the poker community at the time, so the opportunity to live and learn from guys like Gettin Daizeand Big Huni seemed almost surreal and an opportunity I had to take. As it turns out, it was easily the best decision I’ve ever made in my life, as I’ve not only improved tremendously as a player, but also as a person, while making countless new and now very close friends.

PocketFives: Talk about what life is like down there. Would you consider moving back to St. Louis if there were regulated online poker in Missouri?

Peter Nigh: It’s very easy going, a bit of a bubble in a largely hectic world. Everyone is so relaxed and happy. Whether it’s getting breakfast on the beach before the start of a grind session or dancing the night away at the clubs, living here gives me ample opportunities to smile and enjoy life. I would definitely spend at least some time back in Missouri if I could grind there, as I do miss my family and friends, but for the foreseeable future Coco is going to be my home base.

PocketFives: How did you get started in poker?

Peter Nigh: The same story as most guys my age: I saw it on TV and started playing with my friends from school.

PocketFives: What were you doing before playing poker for a living?

Peter Nigh: Pretending to be a student for a bit and then working a few simple jobs where I spent my downtime studying the game and trying to make the dream of being a professional a reality.

PocketFives: Is there anything else you’d like to add?

Peter Nigh: Shout out to all of the brothers here in Costa Rica who have been great friends and picked me up when I needed it. Also a shout out to Psyfor the most hypnotic yet irritating piece of pop music this side of the new millennium. I wouldn’t be who I am today if it weren’t for Gangnam Style.

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