In 2013, Team PokerStarsOnline member Randy Nanonoko Lew (pictured) logged five in the money finishes at the World Series of Poker, including a top-ten showing in a $10,000 No Limit Hold’em Heads-Up tournament for $54,000, his largest WSOP cash to date. Now, Lew, whom we associate with mass-multi-tabling online, is one of the many players who are just three weeks away from descending on Sin City.

—

Follow professional sports tipsters, make your own betting tips, and compete for real cash prizes. Tipdayis the ultimate sports tipping resource. Check it out.

—

It has been a while since we’ve caught up with Lew, so we wanted to take the next 1,000 words and let you know what the pro has had on his plate and also discuss a newfound photography hobby.

PocketFives: What advice do you have for first-time WSOP attendees?

Randy Lew: If it’s your first time at the WSOP, something I learned was that it’s important to have some days off in between tournaments. It gets really tiring day in and day out and you can easily get burned out, especially if the results aren’t going your way. Having a relaxing day off from poker allows you to reset your mind and stay refreshed.

PocketFives: You finished seventh in the Asia Championship of Poker Main Event last October for $102,000. What have you been up to since then on the live scene?

Randy Lew: I was very pleased with my ACOP result last year. It’s nice to make a final table again for the few times I’ve been to Macau. I told myself that I’m going to try to play more live tournaments this year. Not only have I been going to some of the bigger spots such as the PCA and Aussie Millions, but I’ve also been playing local WPT and HPT tournaments, trying to grind it out live a bit more.

PocketFives: Have you had a chance to play online with all of your live events?

Randy Lew: I’ve been grinding it out really hard when I get the chance to play online. Usually, it’s cash games, as those are still my bread and butter and I still am trying to go for Supernova Elite this year, which seems to get tougher for me each time! I usually only play tournaments online on Sundays as well as the bigger tournament series like SCOOP and WCOOP.

PocketFives: One of the hot topics in the poker industry lately has been whether we should implement a shot clock. Where do you stand?

Randy Lew: I’m not a big fan of the poker shot clock idea even though I think I would be able to do pretty well with it. I think that live poker has its own vibe and culture. Thinking through decisions is definitely one of them and I think it has earned its place in live poker.

We have to remember that not all players are the same. Whether you’re a pro or someone who plays recreationally, some players enjoy playing fast, while others don’t. Just because someone plays super fast, why does that mean he should force a rule set on other players to play to his standards?

I think something that needs to come about is that for players who do habitually tank, the other players should be willing to call the clock without feeling guilty about it. I think, as players, we should advocate calling the clock more and bring the culture of calling the clock from taboo to the norm.

PocketFives: What poker software do you use nowadays?

Randy Lew: I’ve mainly been using the same two pieces of software since I started: PokerTracker 4 and Table Ninja. I think having some sort of poker tracking software is necessary as a professional and Table Ninja definitely makes multi-tabling a lot easier, although the new PokerStars hotkeys have been pretty good too.

I think there are a lot of great tools out there that I could take advantage of, but I’m still a bit old-fashioned in that sense and really have no idea where to begin with some of the programs I’ve seen, as they look very time-consuming.

PocketFives: You have been a member of Team PokerStars Online since 2009. Tell us what the crew has been up to and how it feels to reach five years on the team.

Randy Lew: I’ve been with the team since the beginning and it has definitely evolved a lot. I think there’s a lot of great talent all around, especially guys like Isaac Haxton and Alexander Millar. We all have our unique personalities and media-related content and PokerStars always has something new and cool to work with.

PocketFives: What poker goals do you have for 2014?

Randy Lew: While poker is still a very important and major part of my life, I want to introduce more balance and positive, healthier decisions into my life. I’m hoping to get into more of a routine by eating healthier and throwing in some exercise alongside poker so that it’s not just me grinding 24 hours a day without food and feeling really tired.

PocketFives: Speaking of balance, what do you do away from poker? What else interests you?

Randy Lew: Recently, I’ve taken up photography and videography. I think it’s a nice option for me because as a poker player, I have a lot of opportunities and free time to travel to places that most people never get a chance to go to. Capturing these new places and sharing my life with my fans is something I want to do more of and this works well. I plan on getting more into the groove of showcasing my stuff on my personal website, Nanonoko.com. Be sure to check that out when you get a chance!

Catch Lew on Twitter under the handle @nanonokoand on Facebook at facebook.com/nanonoko.

Want the latest poker headlines and interviews? Follow PocketFives on Twitterand Like PocketFives on Facebook. You can also subscribe to our RSS feed.