For greater than 20 years, John Arne Riise battled to maintain opponents away from his crew’s web for soccer golf equipment like Liverpool, Fulham, and Roma. As a brand new CoinPoker ambassador, the Norwegian soccer star now has his sights on protecting opponents away from his rising bankroll.
The former defender was a part of a Champions League-winning squad from 2001-08 and can also be most-capped participant for the Norway nationwide crew after showing in 110 video games.
Riise, 44, not too long ago talked about his life within the sport, which included receiving some suggestions from Daniel Negreanu and about coping with large coolers in World Series of Poker important occasion.
In reality, Riise loves the sport a lot that he additionally explains why profitable a WSOP bracelet would imply greater than a medal in soccer, revealing that he will get extra nervous taking part in poker than he was even earlier than the league remaining in 2005.
What is essentially the most memorable sport of poker you’ve performed in?
[It doesn’t get bigger than] the WSOP important occasion in Vegas. I’ve performed it just a few occasions. It was at all times a dream to go there and see 6,000 to 7,000 folks taking part in. (10,000 this yr!) You watch it on TV, however you don’t see all the things behind the scenes.
One yr, I made it to day three, after taking part in for 12 to 14 hours over the primary two days. Time flies if you’re taking part in poker for that lengthy. It was such an incredible expertise on the most important stage. Late on day 2 nevertheless, I had pocket kings and I ended up calling an all-in, however the man had pocket aces. If I’d received that hand, I’d’ve been within the prime 10 chip leaders, however it wasn’t meant to be.
The disappointment was big. I used to be pondering that is my time, however that’s poker. It offers you pleasure and might crush you on the identical second.
There was additionally a World Cup soccer (soccer) event between poker gamers, and that’s the place I met Daniel Negreanu.
Daniel was representing Canada and after that I met him throughout a soccer occasion. He has a powerful shot and we’ve stored in contact ever since. He is a superb man and I’m a giant fan of his. He’s been useful together with his suggestions and recommendation. He is just like the Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo of poker.
What recommendation did Negreanu have for you?
He defined that for the highest gamers, it’s all about positioning and studying the sport. They take into account all the things earlier than making a transfer, together with who’s sitting subsequent to them and the way large the guess dimension is.
I used to simply have a look at my playing cards and play, however these guys suppose 10 steps forward. He spoke quite a bit about endurance. In tournaments, he can sit for 4 or 5 hours with out taking part in a single hand. In my world, that’s insane.
He additionally mentioned you probably have a powerful hand, play it laborious. It’s higher to lose taking part in the proper means than to lose taking part in the mistaken means. He additionally mentioned it’s higher to win small than lose large.
What is the newest event you performed in?
I not too long ago performed in a neighborhood Norwegian event that some influencers performed reside on their YouTube channel, and I ended up profitable that one, which was good.
I really like touring round Europe and taking part in. I identical to sitting on the desk, speaking about various things, and also you meet folks from everywhere in the world. It’s an effective way to socialize, and it’s aggressive, which is why I prefer it. I get pleasure from having one thing to play for and feeling the strain.
The poker atmosphere is superb in Norway. We have a lot enjoyable collectively. For me, it helps my mindset and psychological well being, as a result of all of us have every day struggles, however for me poker, paddle, and golf are my methods to relax. Poker is my peace and quiet place.
In Norway, we’ve got the )Norwegian Poker Championship_, however there are [betting] limits, as you’ll be able to solely lose a specific amount.
How would you evaluate taking part in poker with taking part in skilled soccer?
With poker, it’s simply you. When you play soccer, you rely in your teammates, so it’s a bit completely different. But after soccer, golf has been a giant a part of my life, and recently, I’ve actually gotten into paddle.
That’s extra aggressive, just like soccer, the place you play towards somebody and must apply to get higher. I really like sports activities the place it’s important to put the work in to enhance. Poker although, is extra of a relaxed atmosphere. You can sit down, chill for hours, and speak to folks.
Patience is my weak spot when taking part in tournaments, because you may sit there for hours with out getting good playing cards, however I benefit from the social side of it. It offers you calmness.
Most folks acknowledge who I’m, so it’s straightforward to begin a dialog, at the least with individuals who like soccer.
It’s aggressive but in addition simply chilling, not enthusiastic about the rest. Any time I’ve an opportunity to journey the world to play poker or get invited to tournaments, I at all times say sure.
Are there any shared feelings between taking part in soccer and taking part in poker?
When it involves tournaments, like within the Champions League, you play so many video games and get to the quarterfinal or semifinal, after which lose – it’s fairly related. You get so upset.
You’re so near going all the way in which, and you then lose on the finish. Most of the time in soccer, it’s due to a private mistake. I scored an personal purpose towards Chelsea within the 2008 Champions League semi-final. That was the worst feeling I’ve ever had on a soccer pitch.
It’s type of the identical with poker. You’re so shut, and one mistake simply kills it. In poker, you’ve got a powerful hand, you’re feeling prefer it’s your second, after which one thing occurs.
Behind the scenes at Liverpool, did you guys play playing cards to loosen up?
On bus journeys, we principally performed Mario Kart competitions on small consoles, however typically we performed playing cards. We cherished competing, whether or not it was ping pong, pool, or playing cards.
It’s simply pure for athletes. We’ve spent our complete lives competing to be one of the best, so it’s simply a part of who we’re. We used to play three-card poker. Michael Owen (striker for Liverpool, Real Madrid, Newcastle United, Manchester United, Stoke City, and the England nationwide crew) was fairly good; Owen was fairly good at all the things. He was sensible when it got here to playing cards. He was simply good; he didn’t attempt to trick you.
But on the finish of the day, it wasn’t in regards to the cash, it was in regards to the feeling of profitable and competing, enthusiastic about one thing else on the way in which to the lodge or simply getting our minds off soccer.
How does making ready for a giant poker occasion evaluate to the Champions League remaining nerves?
I’m one hundred pc extra nervous going right into a poker event, as a result of it’s not my enviornment. I bear in mind going to my poker desk, shaking, and feeling nervous, pondering, “what if I don’t know the rules?”
You begin doubting your self, and also you’re taking part in towards people who find themselves actually good. I get nervous in large video games in large tournaments as a result of I haven’t educated for it my complete life. But in soccer, for any remaining, it didn’t trouble me.
I knew what I may do, how good I used to be, and that I deserved to be there. In poker, it’s extra about attempting to not mess up, remembering guess sizes and learn how to play your playing cards. I’d simply have a look at what different gamers had been doing and attempt to mimic them.
*Photos courtesy of John Arne Riise on IG (@jariiseofficial)
