It was entirely expected. On Tuesday morning I arrived at work and saw the similar picture, the similar headline, and the similar result. I knew to expect it as it happened every year, whether it's SCOOP or another Championship. And my reaction is usually the similar: dig out the last interview, make a "huh?" sound, after which scratching my head until I WILL BE ABLE TO find in a different way to invite "Andy McLEOD" what it's love to be James Obst.

On this occasion I USED TO BE completely out. So, I resorted to basic curiosity, and given the possibility that Obst could be neck deep in SCOOP for the duration, I kept the questions short, not wishing to impose.  

So much for the fatigue on focusing purely on SCOOP for 15 days. Obst got back to me immediately. And while the questions are short and never exactly original, the answers almost certainly are. Obst, now a four-time SCOOP winner, is a kind of players you would like to hear more from. Thankfully his habit of winning makes that prospect considered one of poker's rare certainties. 

On the primary time he ever played online...

"It's slightly a blur to me now. One in every of my friends on the web Chess Club often used to replicate and paste the message you notice within the chat box after he won pots  - "so and so wins pot ($10) with two pair" - I ASSUMED it seemed pretty damn cool. After my first experience learning poker at a house game I probably hit him up for a dollar and lost it at $0.02/0.04 Limit Hold'em!"

On motivation...

"Poker was an ideal fit for my personality, I knew it was something I MAY be good at so busting my meagre bankroll time after time was never a deterrent. Plus I figured at some point if I won the $109 Rebuy enough times I'd get all of the ladies, so that's still the primary motivation after all. I figure I'm one win away... but that is what I BELIEVED the last time."

On having a typical job...

"I haven't! Who knows what the longer term holds nevertheless it could be especially challenging to ever must revert to regular now, having no background in regular... just as I'm sure it's been for lots of poker players."

On why he keeps playing...

"My computer tends to search out itself on irrespective of my state of motivation, but generally I play for a few main reasons - the most obvious one being that I'LL put whatever money I'D win to good use; second being that I THINK I've significantly underachieved as much as now, for numerous reasons, so I DO NOT want that to be the sensation I'VE after I stop playing."

On, one day, after poker...

"I do have some big dreams outside of poker, but I have a tendency to be slightly more low key than most and can keep them to myself for now :)

Until next time. 

Stephen Bartley is a staff writer for the PokerStars Blog.

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