AOL World Series of Poker Profiles: Troy O'Brien

AOL is sending twelve lucky winners to the World Series of Poker 2007 in Las Vegas this year. We’re excited to have such fine players represent our team. AOL games are running a series of winner interviews of our top players. Our poker studs beat out tens of thousands of other players to get a shot at the World Series of Poker Championship.

Troy O'Brien is a firefighting dad from New Jersey and he is under the spotlight!

Troy, tell us what your occupation is and all about your family? Who are taking to the WSOP of Poker 2007? So here I go off to the WSOP. I'm a professional firefighter for the Elizabeth NJ Fire Department 20 years. I have a beautiful wife Sheila and four great children Katie, Sean, Kevin and AnneMarie. Much to my disappointment my wife doesn't what to come to Vegas with me and leave the kids behind. I'm unable to afford four more tickets and an extra room YET. I figure I'll fly her out when I'm at the final table. My friend and co-worker Tony will be coming with me. Wait till you get a load of this character!

What is it about poker that so engrossing for you? Money won is so much sweeter. I like the action also. I was a top rated Jr. Pool player growing up and the action is still in my blood.

Is there any advice you would give to the online poker playing public? As my late friend Steve Mizerak world champion pool player once said practice, practice, practice

Do you watch poker on TV or read about it? ESPN, Late night, basically any time its on

Do you have”lucky” items? No

If you win a huge prize, what will you do with the money? Start paying some of my bills. My kids all go to catholic school and living in NJ isn't cheap. Take the wife and kids on vacation this summer (Close to Atlantic City) Jersey Shore.

What did you do when you won your online tournament and found out you'd be going to play in the live WSOP? I was on cloud 9 and its pretty hard to rattle my cage but I was rattled Do you play other games on AOL? My wife is a word game junkie. I basically stick to poker Are you making any special preparations for the WSOP? I play every Thursday night at a local restaurant in Roselle Park, it’s a tough crowd. We'll be meeting a few more time during the week in preparation for the WSOP. Maybe a trip or two to Atlantic City

Are you playing more or reading any books, watching it on TV? Not really

What is your strategy for playing at the live WSOP? I'm a tight and very patent type player I'll stick with that and see how far it gets me. If I get some cards and a little luck a couple of suck outs and I'll see you at the finals Ha-ha. But lets keep my strategy under your hat.

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Update:
Troy is now playing in day four and is in the money! He really has a chance at winning it all! We've set up a message board so that all his well wishers can let him know how great he's doing.
Wish Troy luck here!

___________________________________________________________________________ Troy was great in the tournament finishing in the top 200! We caught with him after he finished is amazing run.

What was it like to play in the Main Event? Playing in the WSOP was tough, long hours, good players, but a blast!

What was one of your bigger hands that gave you a lot of chips? The first night with 28 minutes left to the end of the round. There was a guy at my table that was stealing my blinds and raising me all day. I call his raise on my big blind with a pocket pair of 4s The flop came rainbow 2,6 9 turn I checked he bet I called. Turn was a 9 I checked once again. He raised once again. River was a 5 I think. I checked he put me all in I sat and went over the hand in my head and put him on a A K or AQ anyway I called and doubled up.

What was your final hand? I was a little short stacked with only $195K left blinds were and $5K with antis $1000 I had a pocket pair 10s on the button and went all in I think it was the first time that I pushed all- in pre-flop. A pro from New Zealand Kirk Morrison called me with AK flop came KQ9 I forget the rest but that was the end of me!

Would you do anything different in your play or strategy? Yes, but I'll keep that under my hat until next year when AOL sponsors me to defend my title. Please look into that for me. (Laughs) Can't blame a guy for trying.