AOL World Series of Poker Profiles: Dhilip James

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. Dhilip James is the second person put under the spotlight.



Dhilip, how do you feel about representing AOL in the World Series of Poker?
I am very excited about participating in the main event of WSOP. I thank AOL for this great opportunity.

What is your occupation?
I’ve been working as a chef. I’ve been doing it for the past 12 years.

Tell us about your family and who will be accompanying you to the WSOP?
One of my good friends is accompanying me to the tournament.

What is it about poker that so engrossing for you?
It is the one game you can play without relying on blind luck. I get excited with the degree of control I have over the outcome.

Do you watch poker on TV or read about it?
I watch poker on TV at home and in local bars. I play in little tournaments at the local bars as well.

Do you have ”lucky” items?
I don’t have any lucky items but I do have a lucky hand, queen six off-suite is my favorite and lucky hand.

Is there any advice you would give to the online poker playing public?
I would say you have to be patient and have to make rational decisions. Poker isn’t about making the calls, its about making the right folds.

If you win a huge prize, what will you do with the money?
If I win a huge prize I am planning to open my own restaurant and buy a nice house by the Lake Norman in Charlotte, NC.

What did you do when you won your online tournament and found out you'd be going to play in the live WSOP?
When I won the final hand of the event i was screaming at the top of my lungs and I ran out to tell everyone. It was quite a feeling! I always wanted to go to the main event it is a dream come true and truly awesome feeling.

Are you making any special preparations for the WSOP?
I am playing a lot mostly online though and sometimes with friends. I am going to practice all day and night the final 10 days before the tournament.

What is your strategy for playing at the live WSOP?
My strategy for the main event is that I want to stay composed and want to win the tournament. It is important to me to make a mark.

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Dhillip James played well but was eliminated from the tournament. We caught up with him right after he left the tournament room.

What was it like to play in the Main Event at the World Series of Poker?
There was a lot of pressure because there is a lot of people, but then a few hours in it got normal, like playing poker at a bar, except there is no drinking.

What was your last hand?
I was playing against Jamie Gold’s mother. Jamie Gold won the Main Event last year. I was in the big blind with Ace - Queen off suit. Mrs. Gold bet $1,200 and I raised to $11,200 on top of her bet and she called. The flop showed 3 spades and my Ace was the Ace of spades! I checked and she checked. The turn showed a Queen so not only was I on a flush draw, but I now had top pair with Queens! So I bet $6,000 and she calls. The river card is a 10, but not a spade so I was relying on having top pair with my Queens so I go all in, with a total bet of $30,000. Mrs. Gold had $32,000. I showed my Queens and she showed pocket 10s to make three of a kind. She bet $30,000 on the chance of getting another 10!

Could you have done anything differently?
I probably should have just called that hand and not been so aggressive in betting. I was playing pretty well, but I had a lot of bad luck. For example, I had pocket Aces and another guy had pocket 9’s. The guy ended up catching a 9 on the flp and I lost $23,000 in the first 30 minutes. If anything, I would have wanted to have better luck.