Episode #77 - July 1st, 2009

Pokercast Episode 77 - Ilari "Ziigmund" Sahamies, David Sklansky & Chris “DeathDonkey” Vitch

Live from Las Vegas - The Pokercast crew has invaded Las Vegas and the 40th annual World Series of Poker to continue our coverage of this prestigious event. We were able to track down the man, the legend, David Sklansky to chat about how his series is going so far and even get a play by play account of his recent home invasion. Ilari Sahamies, better known as "Ziigmund" online also graces our make shift studio at the Palms Place for a feature interview to talk about his WSOP experience, his early days in poker involving some pool hall battles with Patrick Antoinus and of course the sick cash game action over at the Bellagio. Chris “DeathDonkey” Vitch was kind enough to sit in during the last segment and provide some invaluable tips and strategy for deuce to seven players. Mike and Adam also talk some forum static, WSOP news and of course gives away the password for the July 5th Poker Stars VIP Club Invitational for Pokercast listeners. Discuss this Pokercast on the 2+2 Forums

Pokercast Theme - Demitone Productions Inc. © 2007 : Ra - I Believe Again - Black Sun © 2008 : Silversun Pickups - Swoon - Substitution © 2009 : Lynyrd Skynyrd - Tuesday's Gone - pronounced 'lĕh-'nérd 'skin-'nérd © 1973 :

David Sklansky

David Sklansky is a professional poker player and author. He has written many books on poker, blackjack, and general gambling. His book, the Theory of Poker, is considered to be a quintessential poker primer. Sklansky has won three World Series of Poker bracelets, two in 1982 ($800 Mixed Doubles, and $1000 Draw Hi) and one in 1983 ($1000 Limit Omaha Hi). He also won the Poker By The Book invitational event on the 2004 World Poker Tour, outlasting Phil Hellmuth Jr, Mike Caro, T. J. Cloutier, and Mike Sexton, and then finally overcoming Doyle Brunson. Learn more about David Sklansky

Ilari Sahamies

Ilari Sahamies, better known as "Ziigmund" online, is one of the most popular online players today. Railbirds always flock to the tables when he's playing, hoping to see another great show by one of the toughest players around. They are rarely disappointed, because with Ilari's aggressive style comes huge wins but also huge swings, and his blow ups in the table chat after bad losses have become legendary. Ilari Sahamies was born in 1983 in Helsinki, Finland. At school he was good at sports, practising wrestling, football (soccer), basketball and even diving. He was also an avid billiards player and won two Finnish junior championships. He was always interested in all kinds of games, and had become aware of poker at an early age when he saw Texas Hold'em being played in a talk show on Finnish tv. The spark was ignited when he was 15 and tried poker for the first time in some home games with friends. Another player in those games was none other than Patrik Antonius, whom Ilari had met at a local pool hall. Around this time Ilari also started high school. At first it went well, but as poker became more and more important for him, his studies began to suffer. At one point the principal of his school got so fed up with him that he was almost expelled. Once Ilari got a phone call from his Swedish teacher, asking why he was not at school. "I'm in Amsterdam playing poker," Ilari explained - right before the battery of his cell phone went dead. Next week he returned to school and got an icy reception. However, he finally graduated after 4 years, but at that point he was already thinking of poker as a possible career. "I don't know what I would be doing today if it wasn't for poker," he says now. "But I know it wouldn't be some 9 to 5 job." Learn more about Ilari Sahamies

Chris Vitch

I started playing poker five years ago in college dorm games with friends. I immediately found Texas Hold'em fascinating and turned to the Internet for easy access to games and strategy advice. I began playing for play chips on Ultimate Bet, turned a freeroll into a bankroll for penny limit games, and never looked back. Early on in my poker career I found the 2+2 books and strategy forums where I have learned everything I know about poker, and made lifelong friends. These days I have my college degree--but play poker in lieu of working. I consider my regular game to be 30/60 online and 100/200 live, but have played as high as 400/800. Learn more about Chris Vitch