Holding down the fort as the top ranked player in Ireland on PocketFives is Dan danloulou Smyth (pictured). His recent performances are so strong that he vaulted up to #79 worldwide in the PocketFives Rankings this week after being ranked as high as #119 on December 21st. Smyth was trying to qualify for the World Poker Tour’s stop in Dublin when we sat down to discuss the Irish poker scene, how he became a winning player, and the unique challenges that come with holding down a spot in the top 100 of the Rankings. PocketFives: Thanks for joining us. How excited are you to have cracked the top 100 in the PocketFives Poker Rankings?
Dan Smyth: It’s a nice confidence-booster going into 2012. I knew I was there or thereabouts when I chopped the FCOOP €300 Two-Day Event on PokerStars.fr in November. The goal now is to stay there.
PocketFives: Given your current volume, how difficult will it be to remain as the top dog in Ireland and also stay in the top 100 worldwide?
Dan Smyth: It will be very hard. There was a lull post-Black Friday (when I actually ran very badly) when most regs were saying the MTT games were softer. However, I think the European MTT regs have come on leaps and bounds in the latter half of 2011, so coupled with my plans to play more live poker, I'm going to have to work hard on my online game and put in as many hours as possible if I'm going to stay around the top 100.
Dan Smyth: I am very proud. The Irish are doing great online these days, namely BIGMICKG, Doke (pictured), and sluglife. There are also some other names you don’t hear talked about that much like scott96dl and paul ros1987 allen.
PocketFives: Can you compare the style of Irish players to their counterparts from the rest of the world?
Dan Smyth: I think every player learns his own style online regardless of his origins. With regards to bankroll management, however, maybe we take shots more often than your average online player. Also, I don’t think there is as hefty of a staking community in the Irish scene compared to the U.K. and on the continent, which is a bit of a drawback with regards to the development of online poker in Ireland.
PocketFives: Did you have any major “a ha” moments coming up in the game?
Dan Smyth: There were no major "a ha" moments for me. I was fortunate enough to be a horse in two really solid stables over the last five years where I had the opportunity to talk hands and get coaching from the best of the best. I think my successes in poker have to be massively attributed to "trial and error" learning. It’s all about volume, volume, volume.
PocketFives: How did an Irishman like yourself get started in poker originally? At what point did you decide to play for a living?Dan Smyth: I used to play during college alongside my studies and would earn a small amount on the side. I then started working with a construction cost consulting company. When the worldwide recession hit, the Irish construction industry was hugely affected and my firm effectively closed up shop. That is when I started to give poker a shot full-time back in January 2008. Let’s hope I never have to go back to counting blocks.
PocketFives: Thanks for your time. Do you have any parting words for us?
Dan Smyth: Thanks to PocketFives for being there for me as a motivator every week I start my grind looking to bump up a place or two. Also, good luck to everyone playing in WPT Dublin.
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