Small Talk with Ernest Shakaryan

We were able to talk a few minutes with the smiling Russian player Ernest Shakaryan during the photo shoot of the final table to learn more about his path in poker and the positive attitude he always seems to bring to the table. Ernest Shakaryan cashed for more than $280,000 in live tournaments and is a regular player at the Casino Sochi.

-It seems you’re a long time player, but you mostly have live cashes in small and medium buy-ins between $200 to $1,000. What pushed you to play in a WPT Main Tour this week?

It’s because I’m actually a cash game player. I really don’t play tournaments very often, but I really like the casino in Sochi and I come here often to play at the cash game tables. As I was here it was a very good opportunity to participate in such a big event so I had to play it! I had good results in the past in tournaments here so I like the vibes in Sochi!

-You are always smiling and bringing a happy attitude to your tables during the event, are you always that way when you’re playing?

Always, I think it’s very important to create a kind and welcoming atmosphere at the table. I often play against my friends too and in general I don’t like when people are very serious and when it’s only about cards and money. It comes probably from my cash game experience, because the vibes are different at a cash game table. We’re talking much more together, or have drinks, we tell jokes ect. It’s more chilled than in tournaments.

-Do you have a strategy for your final table ?

Not really, but I talk a lot with MTT professional players, who explained to me a bit about positions, sizing ect… for example Andrey Pateychuk and other pros who gave me a lot of good advice.

-You started today in the short stack position. You had a good run and managed to climb to the 3rd stack as we’re about the start the final table, what is your feeling?

First place! I’m not going to stop until I take the victory ! I’m highly motivated and it’s a very good day for me. I receive a lot of messages of support and I have a lot of friends here so it boosts me for the win.