WSOP: meet our qualified players #3 – Norson Saho 0
After Marc and Pawel, let’s get back on one of our best players, who will be going to Las Vegas for the 4th time! We already interviewed Norson for the “unstack me if you can” challenge, but let’s focus on the event of the year, the WSOP.
Norson, can you please introduce yourself again for our readers please?
My name is Norson Saho, 32 years old, from Sao Paulo, Brazil. I am an online poker player.
How long have you been playing poker for and how did you discover the game?
I started to play poker about 5 years ago. I used to work at the Quality insurance service of a gaming company and when I went to the dentist I was reading an interview in a magazine about a Brazilian player making a living from poker and I was like, “this gotta be a joke”. Then I made a little research on the web about him and I finally figured out poker was a game of skill, and I decided to give it a try.
What do you play? What limits and what’s your favorite?
I started playing SnG and then played them for about 2 years moving from the micro stakes to the high stakes. Mostly in the euro sites. For the last 3 years I’ve been playing NLHE MTTs which is the game I enjoy the most right now. I also play a little bit of live cash game but nothing too high such as 2/5 or 5/10. My favorite MTT is the $100 Rebuy on Chili because the field is not so big and the structure is great. I think that’s where I am most profitable.
Why do you play on Chilipoker ?
The field is great, the software improved a lot in the last years, the support is also excellent and the structure of the MTTs is also pretty good. Plus the promotions are always nice. I can’t complain 
Have you ever been to Las Vegas before, and have you played the WSOP before?
This will be my 4th trip to Vegas.
In 2008 I went there just as a vacation.
In 2009 I played the Main Event and busted at the end of day2, but I was very nervous and didn’t play my A game. I got short on day1 and could not get anything going my way on day2. I had about 11bb and shoved 44 from the cutoff and the BB had QQ.
In 2010 I played the Main Event and did pretty good until a hand against Cole South. I was chipping up nicely until this hand where I am the chip leader at the table with 160bb, and Cole South was second with 155bb. In a nutshell I flopped middle set and he flopped top set and my Main Event was pretty much over in that hand.
How did you qualify this year and was it difficult?
I won the Tuesday qualifier for the Main Event. There was only one seat and as far as WSOP sattelite goes it was not so tough. I think in the heads-up, the opponent was a low stakes player something like average buyin of 1 dollar, so he was playing extremely cautious and as soon as I noticed that, I started pressuring him pretty hard with 3-bets pre-flop and putting a lot of pressure post flop.
What events are you going to play once you are in Las Vegas?
My initial plan for WSOP events are: #48($1.5k), #50($5k), #54($1k), #56($1.5k) and the Main Event ($10k) (full schedule here). I think I will go with a friend and there will be at least 300 Brazilians more so you can expect a lot of VAMOOOOOOO there.
Is it going to be your biggest event ever? What other major events have you played before ?
It will be the biggest together with the previous years. I played EPT Deauville this year and some LAPTs.
Other than you, who do you think has a good chance for a bracelet this year ?
Jason Mercier, Mike McDonald and Elky would be my bet. (the question was asked before Elky won his bracelet, nice one Norson. edit: Jason Mercier just won the $5,000 PLO SH event.)
You manage to reach the heads up of the main event, in November. What do you do?
Try not to do anything crazy… yet. Probably hire some top Heads-up specialist for some million dollar tips.
What can you say to all the chilipoker players to make them want to support you during the WSOP?
I know I am not as charming as Liz Lieu but it’s important to have a plan B
So if you wanna send some good thoughts it will be very welcomed. I am a believer of positive thinking. That’s THE SECRET!
What do think about the Chilipoker team for the WSOP and about the fact that we Connect Players?
Even though we are small in numbers I would expect good and big things to happen there.
Connecting players is certainly a good thing. Getting to know each other can only generate growth in strengthening the relations and exchanging information not only about the game but about life in general. There is always something new to learn.
Thanks Norson, and Good luck for the series!
We will keep you posted on the chiliblog, facebook and Twitter, on how our team is doing! We just heard that an other player from Switzerland qualified 2 nights ago, and we will introduce him too!
