Guts.com Poker Coordinator Isaksen "Loves the Ambiance at the Cash Game Festival"
Lars Erik Isaksen is one of the new faces at the Cash Game Festival. We learned a bit about Isaksen and his thoughts on the Cash Game Festival.
Isaksen just became the poker coordinator at Guts.com on May 2 straight after the Norweigan Poker Championship. He explained how this came about.
"I had some talks with people at Guts, and we set up a small interview and things came along nicely from there," said Isaksen. "They were looking to add to the poker team and I was willing to move back to Malta. I believe it worked well for both parties."
As Isaksen mentioned, his moving to Malta isn't his first rodeo in the country. He explained a bit about what brought him there previously.
"I come from a small town in Norway (Kragerø)," shared Isaksen. "One of the most popular summer tourist destinations in the country. I first moved to Malta after the summer of 2012 when I was recruited to take charge of the Norweigan poker community at Donkr.com and also work on affiliate relationships and management."
Most of his friends leaving the country, combined with a little homesickness led Isaksen to return to Norway.
"Most of my good friends in Malta were moving back to their home countries," said Isaksen. "I was also getting a little homesick. So I wanted to move back home to see how the job market was. I went back to my former job as a pharmaceutical process operator."
As the saying goes, the grass is always greener on the other side and he had a huge itch to return back to the iGaming industry.
"However, after my move back to Norway, I never felt comfortable with that and wanted to jump back into iGaming industry, especially poker," said Isaksen. "That is where I feel I belong."
Isaksen considers himself mostly a multi-table tournament and sit-and-go tournament players. He admitted thought he also dabbles in cash, but it isn't his strong suit.
However, while he may or may not be a cash game novice, he certainly is an experienced player in the tournament circuit.
"I have been all around the world and been fortunate enough to go to Vegas twice," said Isaksen. "I have gone to a few EPTs and UKIPTs. I have also attended the Battle of Malta and nine straight Norweigan Championships."
He shared, however, the ambiance at the Cash Game Festival is truely special. He credits this to being able to play when he wants along with the focus on a good experience by the organizers.
"I love the ambiance at the Cash Game Festival," shared Isaksen. "I really enjoy the team behind the festival and the players they are bringing in. You don't feel forced to play and can do what you want. They just create the setting for a good experience both on and off the felt. I believe this is the key to keeping players coming back."
It appears Isaksen picked a great destination to wet his tongue.
"This is obviously both my first time at a Cash Game Festival and in Gibraltar," said Isaksen. "I am overwhelmed with both the venue being a casino and hotel on a luxury yacht and Gibraltar itself. I can't wait to go see the rock and its famous views and monkeys tomorrow."
On the first day in the festival, Isaksen appeared on the feature table. He wasn't nervous because he recently had played under the lights in cameras during two deep tournament runs.
"I have been on a couple on a couple of TV tables during the Norweigan Championship last year after a pair of deep runs in PLO and 8-game," shared Isaksen. "I don't mind being on camera, but it isn't my strong suit either."
Despite his experience, things didn't go completely Isaksen's way during his first televised poker experience at a Cash Game Festival. He lost a few bucks, however, had a good time and made a good friend in Cash Game Festival regular Ryan Davey.
"I was so card dead on my first televised table during this festival I couldn't even get suited connectors and am hoping to change that today," shared Isaksen. "However, the game was super fun. "Franke" (Martin von Zweigbergk) was on the table and that is always a good time. I also got to meet Ryan Davey for the first time and enjoyed playing with him."
Isaksen will be once again on the feature table early this evening with Davey. He is in awe of Davey giving away a chunk of his profit to one lucky viewer of the stream.
"I am playing on the feature table again tonight with Ryan and he is generously giving away 15 percent of his profits on the table," Isaksen explained. "I really like that idea. While I hope I actually make a profit, if I don't I am happy that a random poker fan will get a few bucks if I lose money to him."