The March 31 running of the iPoker $200,000 Guaranteed, which is played out on sites like WinnerPoker, attracted a field of nearly 1,000 players. The $215 No Limit Hold’em tournament featured an overlay, which worked to the benefit of Mexico’s Eric rappy300 Rappaport (pictured), who finished in first place for $34,000. He is a U.S. transplant who sat down with us to talk about this marquee victory.

PocketFives: $34,000 has to feel good. Tell us how you’re feeling.

Eric Rappaport: It definitely feels great. I have worked hard on my game lately and it feels amazing for it to finally be paying off with my biggest score.

PocketFives: We don’t talk a lot about the iPoker $200K, so tell us about the tournament’s field and structure and why you play it.

Eric Rappaport: Recently, I have hit a lot of variance in bigger fields on PokerStars and Full Tilt and started trying to diversify my options with Euro sites like iPoker. Those sites give me more of on an edge and smaller fields. I am always looking for the best value and a $215 buy-in $200,000 guaranteed tournament is the best value you can get on iPoker.

As for the structure, it has solid 15-minute levels, which definitely plays to my advantage. The field was pretty soft, especially deep near the final table bubble and final table itself.

PocketFives: What are your plans for the money?

Eric Rappaport: I’m planning to play WSOP events this summer in Las Vegas, so the winnings will definitely help with my plans and my time here in Mexico. I am in the process of putting together a WSOP schedule that I believe will be the most profitable for me this summer with prelims and the Main Event. It will be nice to play live and get away from the online grind for a little while.

PocketFives: Tell us about the big month of November you had when you won the PokerStars Big $109 twice for $43,000 total.

Eric Rappaport: That was a pretty surreal start for me, especially since it was my first month back on PokerStars since Black Friday. I was sharp and on top of my game. I can’t put into words how amazing it felt to validate the lifestyle choices I made with making the commitment to finally move out of the U.S. and play online again.

PocketFives: What caused you to move out of the U.S. finally? Why did you decide to do it and how was that process?

Eric Rappaport: After Black Friday hit, I was just like most U.S. poker players who were lost and unsure what to do next. I was still in college and knew I needed to stay home and finish out my Business Administration degree before making any big moves. I weighed my options between poker and getting a regular job, but decided I just couldn’t give up my dream for poker.

I then decided to play live cash and dabble on U.S. sites. I did some research and talked with friends and other grinders to see what options were out there and decided that the West Coast and Mexico with the great weather would be a perfect fit for me seeing as I how have grown up my whole life on the East Coast. Making the move made me nervous living in a different country, but now I could not be happier that I did and wish I would have done it sooner.

PocketFives: Is there anyone you’d like to give a shout out to?

Eric Rappaport: I would like to give a shout out and congrats to two other grinders and friends on their recent accomplishments. A close friend of mine, Jason Brauda (Appst08), recently final tabled the $22 buy-in $1 Million Guaranteed and chopped it three ways for $80,000. Jason is a great player and a great guy who I have talked a lot of poker strategy with and has helped me further my game.

I also wanted to say great job to Kevin Eyster (1SickDisease, pictured) for his amazing third FTOPS jersey in the $2,100 buy-in event for $333,000. Finally, I’d like to give a shout out to all of the Calafia grinders here in Mexico as well as actyper. Thanks to my parents for supporting me in everything I do.

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