A WSOP final table, a virgin WPT title and a key place in poker’s hottest hit squad. But, David ‘Chino’ Rheem, just how hot are you at paintballing?
What a breakthrough year 2008 was for David “Chino” Rheem. He was part of the group of final-tablers to experience the first-ever 4-month toilet break at the World Series of Poker and on returning to take his place among last year’s now-infamous “November Nine”, bookies and fellow pros alike were climbing over one another to install Chino as their favourite to bag the Big One.
However, after suffering a huge setback when he ran his pocket jacks into pocket queens pre-flop, it was always going to be an uphill struggle for Chino, and a day that had started with such promise soon ended with his brutal and untimely elimination. Unfortunately, his exit interview was as ugly as the manner of his departure. His pre-flop shove with A-K was called and cruelly out-flopped by the A-Q of eventual winner Peter Eastgate, with Chino making no attempts to hide his frustration.
‘Are you serious? How do you think I f**king feel?’ was Chino’s fiery retort to a hapless reporter who quizzed him on his feelings about crashing out in 7th place. Silly question fielded, the commercial break couldn’t come fast enough.
However, that uncharacteristic outburst doesn’t provide a particularly accurate reflection of the 28-year-old Californian’s true character. For the most part, Chino is a picture of Zen-like calm, both at the table and off it. Already hailed by fellow pros for his good-manners and exemplary conduct, Chino was recently appointed as an ambassador for the Asian Poker Tour after taking down his first ever WPT title last November.
Now, with his major title hoodoo broken, several million in tournament winnings safely in the bank and his PokerPack – a collection of poker’s hottest Asian-American talent – currently conquering all that’s set before them, WPT caught up with one of the game’s most rapidly rising stars to talk poker, posses and paintball.
Chino, congratulations on winning the Doyle Brunson Five Diamond World Poker Classic. How was the experience for you and what does it mean to take down a WPT event?
The experience overall was great. It meant a lot to win this event because it was redemption for me personally after 7th place in the WSOP.
You came up against some pretty stiff competition at the final table in the likes of Mike Matusow, Hoyt Corkins, Amnon Filipi and Steve Sung. How does that compare with playing against the previously unknown players that you faced at the WSOP final table?
Well, to be honest it was easier to play these guys because they are great players. What I mean is that good players are sometimes easier to play against unknown players. When you play against other good players the only big pots played tend to be when both players have big hands. Other than that it's more of a wait-for-a-good-hand-to-play type of game.
Despite making more money from your 7th place WSOP finish, would you say that the Five Diamond win was even more special for being the first WPT or WSOP event that you’ve won outright?
Definitely. This win just validated myself as being a professional amongst my peers. It was a great accomplishment in my poker career.
Of course, during the WSOP final table you were pretty widely regarded to be the most skilled player at the table, with the majority of fellow pros and bookmakers installing you as one of the leading favourites – were you disappointed to go out in seventh and is there anything that you wish you’d done differently?
Of course I was disappointed but it was from bad luck, not from bad play. The one thing I wish I had done differently was folding those jacks to Dennis [Phillips]. I was very close to folding and was 90% sure he had queens. I just hoped he had tens and the whole situation was one of those things where I think I was supposed to call because of how the action was going leading up to that hand.
What did you make of the whole four-month break concept and how did it impact on your mentality going into the tournament? Do you think it helped or hindered the better players?
I think the break somewhat hindered the better players and helped the worse players. Overall I was fine with the break. I just wish there were more things that could have been done as far as the sponsorship went.
It must be said that – exit interview aside – you were a picture of calm and good-nature at the WSOP and Liz Lieu has also said in her blog that while she doesn’t know you that well, she considers you to be one of the most well-mannered and courteous players in the game. How do you maintain your composure at the table and is there anything that riles you?
First of all, I want to say, "Thank you Liz for the compliment!" I guess keeping my composure is somewhat part of my nature or reflects who I am off the table, so why not be the same on the table? I go on tilt like anyone else but I try to not let things get to me at the table because I understand the psychology it takes to win these things. There have been times where I know I've lost composure, of course, but I tend to realize it right away and be a good sport when it comes to the game.
Ok, onto your posse now. Who’s the sickest gambler in the pack?
[laughs] Is that a real question? Me of course! But now that I have a lot of money I am much more controlled and disciplined. I am just maturing overall as a person and understand the longevity of this lifestyle. Also I don't ever want to be broke again. But I’d say the sickest gamblers really have to be either my good friends Tuan Le or fellow PokerPack member Steve Sung. "Sick" might not be the right word, but we’re definitely all sick in our own right.
Who’s the most sensible?
That's too easy - Nam Le of course. His discipline and dedication to hard work is an inspiration to me.
If you were playing a tag-team tournament and could only choose one member of your team as a partner, who would it be and why?
I would be happy with any member of The Poker Pack as a partner because we aren’t just a team - we’re a family and we believe in each other’s play and decisions.
OK, so it’s your lot against a Team Full Tilt pro squad of Phil Ivey, Howard Lederer, John Juanda, Gus Hansen and Chris Ferguson in a day of no-holds-barred paintballing – who comes out on top and who gets the crap blown out of them?
[laughs] Full Tilt would be called Full Splat after we get done with them! These guys are phenomenal poker players, but paintball? I think the combined age group between them is double ours! Plus, they got no shot! Playing poker against them would be tough though; all those guys are legends and deservedly so.
Any other young up and coming players who are pressing for a place in your gang?
Yeah, Tommy "legend" Le, Nam's younger brother. He’s an excellent candidate to join The Poker Pack. His last name is Le - how could we go wrong?!
Finally, with the WPT box successfully ticked do you have plans to chase that elusive WSOP bracelet in 2009, or will you just be taking every tournament as it comes?
Of course I will always have the WSOP in my sights, I think that's every poker player’s main goal. But I will definitely be putting much more effort into every tournament I play throughout 2009. |
