Journeyman professional Jonathan Tamayo had been a familiar face on the poker circuit well before taking home last year’s WSOP Main Event title.
Tamayo had experienced the adrenaline rush and the pressure of a deep run in the Main Event once before with a 21st place finish for $352,000 in 2009.
Aside from his Main Event results, the humble player from Humble, Texas, has won four WSOP Circuit rings and finished second in the 2008 WSOP $1,500 Mixed Limit/No-Limit event for $140,000.
PokerOrg caught up with Tamayo to get his take on the upcoming summer schedule, WSOP bathroom breaks, and life after banking $10,000,000.
Besides the Main Event, what events did you play during last year’s WSOP that you plan on playing this year?
I played all the $1,500s last year. You might see me in the Colossus event, but it depends on how the scheduling comes out.
Sometimes a conflicting MSPT event will run a $1,700, taking priority over a $600 buy-in at the WSOP. I know MGM ran a $3K in the summer, and Aria ran one also. It just depends on how everything shakes out. I think everyone's just waiting for the WSOP to release the schedule.
What new events do you want to see on the schedule this year?
It would be cool if they did something crazy. It's not going to happen, but I could imagine having a mixed-game tournament that is half stud and half razz or something like that. They could do a Day 1 of razz and a stud Day 2, and when the two combine, you play half of each game.
Do you play a lot of mixed-game events?
I did until a few years ago. Then, I started focusing on just no-limit hold'em. There weren't a lot of mixed games at the time. There was a carnival of draw games; I didn't really want to learn 15 games to pull it out once a year.
Now that the WSOP is under GGPoker's ownership, are you expecting things to be different?
This year, it will probably be business as usual unless they find a way to do something about registering. The annoying part was the kiosks.
I know the kiosks were not working sometimes last year, and they still charge you the $3 fee. When it didn't work, you had to wait in line, and you were already $3 lighter. I realize that $3 is 'whatever', but it's the principle of it. That ticked a lot of people off last year.
What's your pet peeve about the WSOP, and do you think they might sort it out this year?
I don't think they'll sort it out. I want to go back to the 15-minute breaks every two hours and have a 90-minute dinner break.
When the series was at the Rio, it wasn't as important - it was easy to get in and out. It's tough to get in and out of the strip. With the current 75-minute dinner break, you're restricted in where you can go to eat.
I know 90 minutes would be a lot nicer. And the bathroom short breaks can be challenging at times with the long lines.
PokerOrg’s Lounge was a hidden gem last year: no bathroom lines and a quiet place to bring your dinner and chill.
I will check it out. I did find a couple of secret bathrooms – ones that people don't frequent because they don't know they are there!
So, give it up. Where are they?
I’m not going to say! I like having access to bathrooms with no lines. There are a few people who know, because they’ve followed me.
What are you most looking forward to about returning this year as the reigning Main Event champion?
It will be weird walking in and not being a nobody anymore. That's kind of the unknown factor I will be dealing with.
Joe McKeehen has kind of clued me in on what will happen. But telling me what will happen and going through what actually happens are two different things.
It’s like, after winning the Main, he told me there's a little bit of a winner's high getting through it.
Thankfully, I'm past that stage now. It's almost business as usual now when I sit down to play. I just have more money in the bank.
It doesn't hurt as much to bust a tournament, but I do have to be careful not to punt my chips off. I can’t not care that I have only five blinds left, punt, and move on with my day. I’ve got to be careful of that.
What’s been the most fun you’ve had from winning over $10,000,000?
I would say being able to play some nicer golf courses is kind of nice. Another fun thing is being able to play in the PGT Championship and getting to play with the super high roller chips.
Do you like playing in PokerGO events?
When I was sitting at my table and looking around, I knew that the studio was not for me. I thought, 'this can't be a regular occurrence if I want to keep the money'. There were so many amazing and better players all around me.
With that big win behind you, what’s your take when looking back at your coaches' use of a solver in the bleachers at the final table?
Most of the grief came from people on the Internet, but nobody said a thing to my face. I did notice it's so easy to be anonymous on the Internet and criticize someone. A lot of people don't want to put a name to their comments.
What did your family say after you won the most prestigious event in poker?
All I know is that my dad is watching a lot more poker on TV now. He'll be sitting on the couch, and I can hear poker in the background when we speak on the phone. He’s still learning how the game is played.
Additional images courtesy of Rachel Kay Winter
