Despite only having played around 10 events lifetime on the World Series of Poker, rising poker pro Safiya Umerova became a bracelet winner in her rookie summer when she sat with the entire chips on the end of the $1,500 no-limit hold’em shootout.

In order to capture the title, the 28-year-old Umerova needed to win three consecutive sit-and-gos. The Russia-born Umerova also needed to beat established poker pro Niall Farrell heads-up for the bracelet.

In addition to the piece of poker history, Umerova took home the $264,046 first-place prize. The win continued Umerova’s breakout year at the tournament circuit. In January, she won a prelim and finished runner-up in another on the L.A. Poker Classic. She also finished fifth in an event on the Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown in April. In total she now has greater than $400,000 in live tournament winnings. She only began playing tournaments two years ago.

Card Player spoke with Umerova about her poker career and what she's going to be doing from here now that she owns a global Series bracelet.

Brian Pempus: When did you locate poker and what did you favor about it?

Safiya Umerova: I first saw it on TV. The sector Series of Poker and the WPT caught my attention. So I BEGAN playing cash games in 2011 at local casinos here in Los Angeles, Hustler and the Commerce. I'D go like once every week or another week. It was only for fun. I wasn’t planning on becoming a certified poker player. For me, I USED TO BE sending time with my friends. I USED TO BE learning the sport by observing what successful players were doing. It was trial and error, like everyone else does. After I started playing tournaments in 2014, I first thought that I'LL make poker my career. At that point, I BEGAN to place time into studying the sport. This year in January, I BEGAN playing far more. I BEGAN to have more success.

BP: What was it like winning a bracelet so soon once you started playing professionally?

SU: It was surreal. Obviously, it was my goal, but I wasn’t prepared for it to happen in my first World Series. It's something that each poker player dreams of, but if it happens it’s incredible. I wasn’t nervous on the final table, I USED TO BE just playing my game. I USED TO BE happy to make the general table. For me, it was a large achievement. I USED TO BE trying to not take into accounts the bracelet and the massive win as it would have put extra pressure on me.

BP: Does winning one make you wish to have more bracelets now?

SU: Evidently. I FEEL that after you win a bracelet it does raise the bar, and that i feel like I MUST win an increasing number of to validate my bracelet. At the moment I'M thinking the goal is to play against tough fields, that is naturally your next step to enhance your game. I WILL BE ABLE TO probably be traveling more. I CAN soon be playing my first EPT. I’ll also keep playing smaller stakes.

BP: Do you are feeling just like the smaller buy-in tournaments are a great spot to hone one’s poker skills?

SU: Yes, I MUST put far more hours into poker. I just started my career. It’s amazing what number of playing hours professionals installed. I spend a large number of hours studying the sport clear of the table, but I still don’t find myself playing that much. Eventually I CAN. You know, I can’t afford to play such a lot of expensive tournaments. I’ll still be playing smaller tournaments. I’ll be mixing it up.

BP: Do you think that you’ll put more hours in at cash games or stick with tournaments?

SU: I do wish to work on my cash game and put more hours into it, but at this time I'M that specialize in the tournaments. I LOVE them more, and I’m doing better in them, but eventually I’ll need to work more on my cash game. I’m not as happy with my cash game as I'M with my tournament game.

BP: Would you are saying you have got an aggressive poker game?

SU: I don’t attempt to play aggressive, but my game will also be considered aggressive. I just attempt to make the play that may be profitable. I don’t really force it or attempt to play aggressive, or attempt to play like another person. Winning a bracelet definitely brought me some confidence.

BP: Vanessa Selbst, who's the most effective players on the earth and one of the aggressive, finished 10th within the event that you just won on the WSOP. Were you capable of pick up anything by fiddling with her deep in that event?

SU: I didn’t play along with her until the last day. I USED TO BE keen on a few hands together with her. It was cool. I appreciated the experience. At that moment, I wasn’t fascinated by winning. I USED TO BE seeking to play my best and luxuriate in the method. It felt great.

BP: What makes you an even poker player?

SU: I’m pretty confident in my game and feature good instincts. My ability to be informed from my past experiences quickly makes my growth in poker fast. I can’t overcome the experience of alternative players. They’ve played millions more hands than I have, but when you're employed hard and learn out of your mistakes, you'll catch up.

BP: Even supposing you are attempting to validate your win, are you furthermore mght looking to keep things in perspective and never get too hungry for more titles since you could push things too hard?

SU: Evidently. I’ll still be playing the smaller stakes. I’m looking to stay rational with my decisions and my money. I take every tournament very seriously.

Read More... [Source: CardPlayer Poker News]