Matt Perrins UK PRO
picks up WSOP 2011 Bracelet

Event 9 $1500 NO LIMIT 2-7 DRAW LOWBALL
Date: June 4-6
Winner: Matt Perrins
First Prize Payout: $102,105

How did you pick up the game so easily?
I've always been quite a quick learner, but I'd say the main reason is because it was like a no-limit hold em tournament in a way. My strategy was basically to pen a lot of pots that had potential to draw one or two and any hand I could stand strong with. I tried picking on players that were opening too often as it so rare that they pick up good hands so frequently.

Are you planning on taking the variant further?
Yeah I played the $10,000 2-7 no-limit tournament the other day, which kind of went well. I made day two and lost with an 8-5 draw against a T-7 draw early on day two, which sucked but I really enjoyed playing again. I think I'll have a look at some games online too when I get back home.

Last year you came so close to making a huge score, did you feel as if major victory was just around the corner?
Yeah, I had quite a few close calls with big money last year, which was really disheartening, especially when good friends of mine were winning big too. Don't get me wrong, I was overjoyed fro them all but I really wanted to be a part of the UK success last year. I had to tell myself to put the volume in and it would come.

Would you swop the bracelet fro the EPT title?
A bracelet is massive to me; it's a poker players dream. Obviously the prize money was a lot smaller for the bracelet. But to win one was an amazing feeling. I just hope one day I can turn a deep win in an EPT into a win.

What is the secret to being a consistent tournament winner?
I just try to make as many good decisions as I possibly can and take few marginal spots than what I would do online. In live poker there's just so much time to build that there's no need to play like you might do online, unless you have a really tough table where there are not as many easy spots to take advantage of. Also if I feel I've played a hand badly, I'll go over and what I did wrong in my head over and over. If I get a chance I'll ask everyone I know who will give me a good answer about a hand, which I think is so important. I never let a hand go till I think I know what the correct line is.

You've only been playing major live tournaments since 2008 - in what areas has your game progressed the most?
I think picking up on tells is the area I've progressed with the most. I always feel really comfortable at the table and I try to get as much info as I can off people, and it seems to working really well at the moment. It's a really important tool to have in live poker. Some people don't give off too much but when they do its like they are telling you they are strong or weak, which is pretty damn helpful

Jake Cody and You go back a long way. Is it a coincidence that you are good mates and have become successful at the same time?
We learnt the game together quite a few years back now. Most of the time all we did was talk and play poker, and in the last year or so we've both improved a huge amount, so I don't think it's much of coincidence. But it's still pretty amazing to think about.

What do you expect the reception to be like when you get back to Rochdale?
I've spoken to quite a few people from back home and they're loving it. We both made the front page in our local paper, which I thought was really cool. Hopefully poker is going o catch on in Rochdale.