Jesse Lonis Keeps It Simple at EPT Monte Carlo: "I Just Hop In and Play"
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Jesse Lonis is wasting no time making his presence felt at EPT Monte-Carlo.
With an early win under his belt in the €30,000 High Roller Warm-Up, the former GPI World #1 is proving once again why he's one of the most talked-about American players on the international circuit.
PokerNews caught up with Lonis to hear how he approaches a major festival like this, what fuels his momentum, and why the European Poker Tour has become a permanent fixture on his ever-flexible schedule.
Early Success for Lonis
"Getting off to a hot start is always great," says Lonis. "It means you don't have to worry about facilitating funds to jump into high rollers like the 100Ks. You're freer to focus on playing, and you can even help out other people with buy-ins if they need it. That early success can set the tone for the whole series."
Momentum and confidence are clearly on his side, and Lonis is embracing it. With a shiny new trophy to his name, he knows that opponents may approach him differently at the tables. "It helps when people know you're coming in strong and aren't afraid to play."
American players have been a fixture on the EPT circuit for many years, with famous winners like Gavin Griffin and Mohsin Charania grabbing EPT Main Event titles in the principality, before even talking about the High Roller success that has headed back stateside.
" [EPT] Monte Carlo especially is one I always want to come back to "
Lonis is a more recent convert, and having played at both EPT Paris and EPT Barcelona, Monte Carlo has become a personal favorite.
"I love the EPTs," he says. "They are run really well, with great floors, great people, and a great environment. Monte Carlo especially is one I always want to come back to."
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Taking it Day by Day
Unlike many players who tightly plan out their schedules, Lonis takes a more spontaneous approach to his career. "I never make a schedule. I go day by day. Sometimes I decide two days before a series whether I'm even going to go. I just wake up, look at the schedule, and if something looks good, I hop in."
That laid-back approach doesn't mean he takes the opportunity for granted. Not long ago, Lonis was grinding low-stakes events and watching the high roller fields from the sidelines. Now, he's in them.
"It wasn't more than two years ago I was playing $1Ks and dreaming of the 100Ks. To now be battling in those fields alongside legends of the game is amazing. I need to remind myself sometimes not to take it for granted."
