Dominik Nitsche Discusses Joining 888poker & Defending the WSOP National Championship
Few players have had as much success in their careers as German poker pro Dominik Nitsche has had in the last three years. Nitsche, who began playing online poker back in 2008, has amassed $4,242,809 in tournament earnings, and now he's being rewarded with a lucrative sponsorship deal with 888poker.
“I'm very proud and happy to be the newest member of Team 888poker," Nitsche said in a press release. "I'm looking forward to represent 888poker both online and at all major live poker events. We are in the midst of WSOP 2015 and I can't wait to try and win a bracelet for the team!”
Nitsche's rise to poker stardom, at least in the live realm, began in 2009 when he won the Latin American Poker Tour Mar del Plata in Argentina for $381,030. Three years later, Nitsche notched the largest score of his career when he took down the 2012 World Series of Poker Event #59: $1,000 No-Limit Hold'em for $654,797 and his first bracelet.
A year later, he finished third in the WSOP Europe Main Event for $540,664, and then in May of last year he won the 2014 WSOP National Championship for $352,800. As if things couldn't get any better, he won the 2014 WSOP Event #21: $1,000 No-Limit Hold'em for $335,659 a couple weeks later. At the age of 23, Nitsche beat put Phil Ivey to become the youngest player in the world to win three gold bracelets.
PokerNews caught up with Nitsche during the 2015 WSOP to get his thoughts on joining Team 888poker.
PokerNews: How does it feel to land this sponsorship with 888poker?
Nitsche: It's pretty great. I've known the guys that work for 888poker for quite some time. They're great guys. I'm very excited to now get this opportunity to work together with them. The first time I met them was in the WSOP Europe where I finished third. We've been in contact throughout, and I'm very happy it finally worked out.
I look forward to playing the WSOP and hopefully winning another bracelet. It'd be quite the story if I can win another one, we'll see how it goes. I had a deep run, but no luck so far. It's still early in the summer, there's still four more weeks to play, and I'm looking forward to it, I'll be here everyday.
Was this deal in the works before you came to the WSOP, or was it something that developed while you were here?
We started talking two months ago. It was pretty much official two or three weeks ago. It was just a matter of me signing it, final details and stuff. We kind of knew what was going on for about a month. Now it's official.
Do you know any stops other than the WSOP you'll be going to while representing 888poker?
Obviously I'll be going to the WSOP in Berlin, me being German and 888 being the main sponsor of the World Series this year. My regular schedule is always the same. I play every single tournament in Europe that's worth playing. Let's see what else, I'll be in Lima playing the LAPT because I had already booked a trip months ago. I've always wanted to go to see Lima. I have some friends in South America these days, so I'll go there, that's my next stop.
What about the 2015 WSOP National Championship?
I'll always be playing that because I won it last year. Got to defend my title [laughs]. I can't miss that one. Then the EPTs and all the WSOP stuff that'll be going on in Europe.
Will you be playing more on 888poker now that you're a team pro?
I play on 888 anyway. I've been playing pretty much cash games on the site everyday, some tournament, everyday for the past three or four years. Not much is going to change other than I'll be playing under my own real name, but I'll still be playing everyday.
For more on 888poker, check out PokerNews' review of the online site.
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PR & Media Manager for PokerNews, Podcast host & 2013 WSOP Bracelet Winner.
