The first Hungarian World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelet winner ever, Peter “Belabacsi” Traply took home the gold in the $5,000 No Limit Hold’em Shootout, Event #41. Traply steamrolled a field of 280 players en route to a $348,000 payday, only his second in the money finish in a WSOP event. If there’s an online poker tournament, then chances are he’s final tabled it. The acclaimed player finished second in a PokerStars Spring Championship of Online Poker (SCOOP) event for $77,000 in April and won the $100 rebuy on Full Tilt Poker in May. He’s a former winner of the Stars $100 and $200 rebuys and, in early April, Traply emerged victorious from the pack in a Friday Night Fight tournament on Full Tilt.
As part of Poker News Daily’s exclusive coverage of the 2009 WSOP, we caught up with Traply after his bracelet win to get his reaction.
Poker News Daily: Congratulations on taking home a bracelet during the 2009 WSOP. You’ve posted an impressive run lately and became the first Hungarian WSOP bracelet winner ever. Is there something about your game that you’re doing better now?
Traply: I don’t think so. I wasn’t able to play in the United States until I turned 21. I didn’t play in Europe, either. I only have two and a half years of experience in live play. My live play is definitely better than it was a year ago, but I can’t really say that I’m doing anything differently.
PND: You’re a well-known online poker pro and can be found playing under the name “Belabacsi” on the virtual felts. Do you try to hide your identity when you play live?
Traply: Not really, but I don’t think my opponents knew who I was until now, so it wasn’t a problem. Maybe a few more players will know my name now. I just try to deal with it, but it’s a good problem to have.
PND: You were at the final table of the $5,000 buy-in No Limit Hold’em Shootout with another stellar online poker player, Andrew “luckychewy” Lichtenberger, whom you defeated heads-up. Did you guys know each other going into the final day?
Traply: I knew who he was and I think he knew the same. I played against him a little bit online, but we don’t have a history or anything, so I don’t think it affected our play.
PND: How did you adjust going from ten-handed to six-handed to five-handed play over the course of the high-stakes Shootout?
Traply: It almost comes naturally to me now because I play so much online. When I make a final table, it starts nine- or ten-handed and goes down to short-handed and heads-up, so I can deal with it.
