CONVersation: A Whole New World for Panka
Every now and again the poker world throws up a surprise. A player comes from nowhere to claim a major tournament and wins and life-changing money. The most obvious example of this phenomenon was Chris Moneymaker’s 2003 WSOP Main Event win. That extreme example changed the landscape of poker forever.
Many players have their moment in the limelight before disappearing back into obscurity; few go on and back up their achievement by winning another prestigious event not long after.
At the beginning of 2014, one man did just that. Poland’s Dominik Panka is a name all media and players on the EPT see as part of the furniture now but prior to winning the 2014 PCA, and then the EPT Deauville High Roller, he was just a face in the crowd. PokerNews caught up Panka in the break to have a chat about his day and his new life.
PokerNews. Day 2 seems to be going well for you today, tell us a little bit about it:
Dominik Panka: I haven’t really lost any small pots. At the beginning of the day I won three pots then I had ace-king versus tens. The other player 30 big blinds and I turned a king. After that I just steadily increased my chips and all the three-bets I did – which weren’t too many – were working so, yes, it’s been a pretty good day.
Just before you went on break you doubled up Team PokerStars Online Marc-Andre Ladouceur and he has position on you. Will you have to adjust to him now seeing as though he has a dangerous and aggressive reputation?
Definitely but the blinds are going up now and I’m not sure if he’ll even have 30 big blinds now. That doesn’t offer him too much room to play and I’m not in a bad mood – which can sometimes cause me to fear certain players more – so I don’t fear him right now. If Marc had more than 100k then I’d adjust accordingly, but right now, he can’t do much against me.
Tomorrow night sees the GPI European Poker Awards take place and you’ve been nominated in the Breakout Player of the Year Category. Are you looking forward to the awards and how does it make you feel to be included in this category?
It makes me feel amazing. I know it’s not really a competition where we’re fight against each other but all of my competitors (George Danzer, Oliver Price & Jack Salter) are extremely accomplished players so I would be delighted if it was awarded to me.
You’re nominated mainly for your incredible achievements at the beginning of last year. How much has your life changed in the last 14 months?
Not that much although I would say I’m surer of myself. Before, I was just playing online and was a winning player but I couldn’t be that financially stable. I was playing a decent amount online and was a winning player although I would suffer losing streaks, but now I have financial stability I feel more mature.
I would feel good most of the time but after PCA, with all the traveling to the EPTs and being sponsored by PokerStars for a year, it’s just a great experience.
Tell us a bit more about your sponsorship with PokerStars.
I like the part where I have to do interviews and feel proud to represent the brand. When you are an unknown online player just dreaming about winning something big, you look at all those guys on TV and see how famous they are and you hope one day to be able to play against them. Right now, the fact that I (maybe) am considered one of those players is pretty amazing. I also like the fact that I feel more comfortable approaching some of those big guys, for example. I’m still living the dream!
Congratulations on getting engaged a few months ago, have you planned the wedding yet?
Of course! I’m not one of those guys who just propose to their girlfriend and waits three years. We have the date scheduled and will get married next year in July.