Aspers Milton Keynes Qualifier Guy Taylor in the Field

Guy Taylor qualified for Day 2 of the $1,000,000 GTD 888poker WPT500 London after playing a Day 1 in Milton Keynes. We spoke to him about his experience of playing in the WPT500.

“Deciding to play in Milton Keynes was partly tactical and partly down to convenience. I play all around the country, but I tend to go where the money is! Aspers in Milton Keynes was the best option for me because it was in a really accessible location to where I live.

“I think it’s good that a tournament like this means people get to see new locations. So when they qualify at their local casino they then make the trip down to Aspers here in London. It makes the trip special for them.”

Players who made it to Day 2 were guaranteed around £1,300 and Taylor thinks that’s a good thing for those who satellited.

“That concept is really good,” said Taylor, “For me it really takes the stress coming into Day 2 out of the equation. The worst thing at other tournaments is rocking up to Day 2 with only twenty big blinds, and not knowing if you’re going to cash or not.

“The fact everyone here sort of starts with a level playing field, with already being in the money, that’s really good. It means you can focus on kicking on and making your way to the final table.”

We asked Taylor whether he thought this payout structure, with players already assured at least three times their buy-in will change people’s approaches to Day 2.

“It shouldn’t do, but some people with a short stack might start going crazy! There are some people I know who squeezed through to Day 2 with short stacks, but they might feel like they’re freerolling now. Their goal might have been to make Day 2, so now they might be splashing around.

“You have to be wary of who’s playing the long game, and who’s going big or going home real quick.”