Is a Shootout the Easiest Path to a WSOP Bracelet?
In a $3,000 No Limit Hold’em event during the recent World Series of Poker (WSOP), Craig mcc3991 McCorkell (pictured) came away with the win and officially banked $368,000, although a three-way deal was struck. The all-star final table was packed with talent that included One Drop winner Antonio Esfandiari. We’ve heard several players say that a Shootout provides the “easiest” path to a WSOP bracelet, so we went to the winner of the richest one on this year’s WSOP schedule to find out.
PocketFives: Some people would argue that a shootout provides the easiest path to a WSOP bracelet. Is there any truth to that?
Craig McCorkell: I think some of my friends would agree. I’ve gotten a lot of banter like, “Who’d have thought you could win three sit and gos and they’ll give you a bracelet?” In all honesty, I think shootouts massively favor skillful play. You have three opportunities to play short-handed and heads-up, where there is obviously a lot of skill. I think that was demonstrated in the standard of play at the final table and the names that made it there.
PocketFives: We wanted to ask you about the final table of the Shootout, which had players like One Drop champ Antonio Esfandiari (pictured), Greek bracelet winner Athanasios Athanasios 9Polychronopoulos, Roberto Romanello, and Joe Tehan.
Craig McCorkell: Ideally, the first WSOP final table you make wouldn’t be as tough. When the seat draw was released, I’m sure I was the only one checking to see who was to my left, etc. I also didn’t have much experience playing against those specific opponents nor did many of my friends, but I am generally very confident in my game and looked forward to the challenge. I had my friend Roberto Romanello on my direct left and knew at the very least we would have some fun.
PocketFives: How do you know Roberto Romanello, a former fish fryer and fellow U.K. player? Tell us about that relationship.
Craig McCorkell: I met Roberto through poker and through traveling to EPT stops, where we’ve had dinner and nights out together. We have a lot of mutual friends. In Vegas for the WSOP, we were staying at the same apartment complex, so we chatted a bit and ate together a few times.
PocketFives: We’ve heard there was a three-handed deal struck at the final table of your event. Can you tell us what went down?
Craig McCorkell: There was a lot of speculation about the deal mostly because there was a bit of chatter caught on the WSOP stream and it was misinterpreted as a deal between Jeremiah Fitzpatrick and me, not including Antonio, which was not the case. Antonio was involved at every stage and there was no exclusion or teamwork. Antonio ended up finishing third, so it did benefit him financially, although the amount of money he received I’m sure seems very insignificant given his One Drop score.
PocketFives: You’ve been a member of PocketFives since 2006. How did you find PocketFives originally and how did it impact your game?
Craig McCorkell: I found the site originally through friends. I think it’s a great tool and obviously the Rankings are respected throughout the poker community.
PocketFives: Back to the WSOP, you busted in 172nd from the Main Event after a deep run. What happened down the stretch in that tournament?
Craig McCorkell: It was really cool running deep in the Main Event. I got super unlucky with my table draw on Day 5. My table had Paul paulgees81Volpe (pictured), Taylor taypaurPaur, and Joseph subiime Cheong to my left. That’s not really what I was looking for deep in the Main Event; it was more like a $200 Rebuy final table. I made Day 3 the previous two years of the Main Event, so it was nice to make it deeper and get some money.
I was very deflated and exhausted afterward, but I always look forward to getting home after the WSOP. Seven weeks in Vegas takes its toll and I get very homesick, so busting the Main Event is always disappointing, but there’s a silver lining.
PocketFives: How did you approach your Day 5 table in the Main Event given its formidable lineup?
Craig McCorkell: I approached the table with the idea that my variance was going to be higher and I was going to have to embrace that. Marginal spots that had previously been dismissed because the field was so weak needed to be taken and I was willing to do that. It was still disappointing that it had to be like that though.
PocketFives: How did you get started in poker originally?
Craig McCorkell: I first got into poker at university after going to my local casino and getting stuck into the rebuy tournaments. After getting into online poker, I was fortunate enough to final table the PokerStars Sunday Million in 2007 in my third year of university, which gave me the confidence to drop out and pursue poker.
PocketFives: How proud are you to represent the United Kingdom pokercommunity?
Craig McCorkell: I am super proud to represent the U.K. We have a fantastic group of people here. The support I had at the final table was overwhelming. It was certainly a day I will never forget.
PocketFives: Who showed up at the Rio to root you on to a bracelet?
Craig McCorkell: Basically all of my good friends in poker: Toby 810ofclubsLewis, Christopher NigDawGBrammer, Sam TheSquidGrafton, Rhys floppinhelJones, Ash AshTheDonkeyMason, Mathew matfranklandFrankland, Tom hittheholeMiddleton, Ben gs08bjohnsonJenkins, and Jack jackellwood Ellwood. It was awesome.
Oh, and if any PocketFives members plan to take a trip to Vegas next year for the WSOP, try not to get carried away. You might end up marrying a stripper like one of the people mentioned above.
