ESPN

Andrew Feldman

  (2:59 PM)

Welcome to today's poker chat! Today we have Darus Suharto, a man you can find out about by heading to the poker section today. He'll be here in a second, so keep on sending in your questions!

Matt NY

I saw you on the tv broadcasts and you seem like a rather patient player that picks his spots well. Was that a your strategy at the start of the main event and will you change your style at the final table?

Darus Suharto

  (3:03 PM)

Thats very much throughout my style during the tournaments -- I try to pick my spot. I try to trust my style but adjust given table dynamics. I'm not planning to change my style too much, but if I have to, I will.

FLOYD (NEW ORLEANS)

Darus, Good luck in winning the whole thing!!!My question is how much did Poker X Factor help your game and which players on the site influenced you the most???THANKS AND GOOD LUCK

Darus Suharto

  (3:06 PM)

Thanks so much for the support. Pokerxfactor helped my games by watching the videos when I was a big donkey. I'm still a donkey now, but just a little one. I think that the people influenced me most were Rizen, Bax and Sheets. Those are the three that I watched the most videos. the other thing I can say about pokerxfactor, they have this hand history is a tool where you can upload your hands and you can go through every hand that you play and I analyze the big hands that I lost and win and I just think about how I can play better. How can I do things differently. I think that really helped me a lot.

Matt (WI)

Hey Darus- I see you got your start playing online. How easy was the transition to live tournament play? Any pointers you can share?

Darus Suharto

  (3:08 PM)

I think to me it seems easiser to play live because the structures are so good. The blinds don't move up so fast and you really have a lot of times to play. You can lose a big hand live and stll be in good shape. Online the blinds move up so quickly that you don't have the same advantage. Live is so much better because you have more time to play. Online you have to learn how to play better when you're under 20 bbs. Live, you don't have to do that.

Mike- San Diego

What was your luckiest hand in the tournament?

Darus Suharto

  (3:10 PM)

I think it was when I had A-K vs. QQ or JJ. I remember one or two of those. I think it was on Day 7 when I had A-K vs QQ and I had queens. I went all-in after the flop so I was a big favorite and then on Day 4 I called someone's all in with queens when a guy had A-Q. I had to be tricky because that hand was three-handed. In my recollection I didn't really suckout against anyone, I just won a coinflips and my big hands held up.

Rick (Houston)

If you had your choice of finishing the tournament back in the summer or delaying it til November..which would you choose?

Darus Suharto

  (3:11 PM)

I would choose to do it right away. Maybe one or two days off, maybe a week at most, but the WSOP and Harrahs make the decisions so I'll go with their decisions.

Chad (Park City, Utah)

What player were you glad to see bust out of the main event that went deep but did not make the final table?

Darus Suharto

  (3:13 PM)

I can't really point to one or two players, this is really tough. I can't recall anyone who I was happy to see that person bust. Maybe Tiffany Michelle, but not really, A lot of people didn't like her. She was a bit out of line when she called the clock on Snead. I wasn't at that table, but if I were at that table I would've thought she was out of line. I mean come on! Someone was playing for their tournament life and he absolutely needed to take all the time he needs. She was out of line there.

jeff (atlantic city, nj)

Hey, Darus how has the new built-in "vacation" changed the way you prepared for the final table?

Darus Suharto

  (3:15 PM)

I guess on Day 7 I was so dead tired that Iw as very happy to get the break. I dont think it's a good break just because I'm always thinkign about it and I just want to get it over with. On Day 7 I was playing very well, confident in my reads and it will be tough to get back.To answer your question, the advantage is that I could learn about my opponents and talk strategy about hte final table with other pros. Having said that, everyone has the same advantage, so I'm not sure it didn't help me more than others.Now, it's also raised my profile and a lot of people know me and could generate sponsorships, but thats about it.

Scott(Los Angeles)

There's been a lot of negative talk about Tiffany Michele (pocket fives) how did you feel about playing with her and did TV portray her as bad as she really was?

Darus Suharto

  (3:18 PM)

I played with her on Day 5 and I think she, other that the hand that she sucked out with the aces against the set of fives, i think she played pretty decent. I tangled with her maybe one or two times and I never won a pot against her. Day 5 was the worst day of the main event for me. I had Tiffany to my left and Allen Cunningham to my right along with Kido Pham. There were some very aggressive players.I'm not sure about TV. I think she's a decent player. Being the last woman standing I didn't like her attitude when she called the clock. You need to give that guy all the time he needs.

Brad (Gadsden,Alabama)

Do you play any sports?

Darus Suharto

  (3:19 PM)

I'm a big sports fan. I used to play basketball, but now I just go bowling, play volleyball. I used to do martial arts. Right now my big sports is watching the Toronto Raptors and Blue Jays, but not the Leafs as they aren't doing so well right now.

Ben (Madison, WI)

Have you ever had or seen a royal flush?

Darus Suharto

  (3:20 PM)

I had a royal flush playing online during a cash game. I probably made $2-3K for it. I thought the quad aces versus royal flush during the WSOP was sick. I think in my lifetime I've only seen one or two.

Darus Suharto

  (3:21 PM)

Hopefully I'll get one during the final table.

Rollie (Omaha, NE)

Will you have to force yourself to be aggressive in the early stages of the final table or do will you lay back and allow others to pick each other off?

Darus Suharto

  (3:22 PM)

I'm not sure what I'm going to do during hte final table, but I play tight-aggressive. I'm not going to just sit around and wait to move up. If I have a good hand, I'll ship it. I'll see what the table dynamics are going to be and I'll go from there.

Craig York, PA

Do you feel that you have a read on most of the players at the final table already, or when you sit down do you think you will have to figure out everything all over again?

Darus Suharto

  (3:23 PM)

That's a tough one. I had a pretty good read of most of the final table when we left, but having the delay, you might think you had a good read, but it might change. I might have to figure it out again, but we'll just see what happens.

Blake- Katy TX

Have you had a chance to socialize with any of the other final players during this time off? , who would you most like to play heads-up with?....GL

Darus Suharto

  (3:25 PM)

Thank you! I met with some of the other finalists at WPT London - the other pokerstars players. It's a very nice group of people. I think that we're all in the same situation and we try to be supportive of each other. I don't know who I want to be heads up with. Dennis Phillips would be good because he's another amateur. It would be great! Two amateurs heads up for the bracelet.

Rollie (Omaha, NE)

How did you become involved in this tournament? Did you front your own money, win a seat, etc? Have you played in this before? What were your expectations coming in?

Darus Suharto

  (3:26 PM)

I satellited in through a $80 satellite on PokerStars. I didn't really expect much coming in this year, but I knew that in 2006 I was a donkey and made the money. I thought that if I could make the money two years ago I wanted to at least make the money, that was my original expectation. I never expected to make the final table, I just wanted to get through each day.

Don Everest, Lubbock, TX

Have you had to bear the brunt of a pro's temper tantrum during the event, and if so, who was it?

Darus Suharto

  (3:27 PM)

Actually, no! Throughout the tournament I'm pretty quiet at the table and I try to respect the other players. I don't think anyone really got upset at my or said bad things to me, and if they did, I wouldn't say anything to them. I have a really quiet image at the table and I try not to upset anyone.

jeff (atlantic city, nj)

what's it like having Scott Montgomery, another guy from Ontario, at the final table too. Have you guys played together before?

Darus Suharto

  (3:29 PM)

I played with Scott I think for most of Day 6 and part of Day 7. He's a very good player. I enjoyed playing against him at the same table. It's good to have another Canadian, but he's just another poker player. There's never been a Canadian to win the whole thing, so if he can win this one, it'll be good to make history. Obviously I want to be that player!

South Riding, VA

Congrats on making it to the top nine Darus. I've been watching you constantly on ESPN and I'd have to say that you are really playing well. Good Luck

Darus Suharto

  (3:29 PM)

Thanks for your support!

Erik costa mesa, ca

What do you expect to happen first at the final table? aggressive play or passive play

Darus Suharto

  (3:30 PM)

This is a tough one. I think that if we continued to play after day 7, the table would've been very aggressive, but I think with the delay it would be very tough to expect to predict how it will be at the final table. Everyone will be adjusting again. I guess we'll just see.

BK (Omaha, NE)

Darus: do you consider yourself a good player or a lucky one to make it this far in WSOP and what will you do with money if you win it all??

Darus Suharto

  (3:31 PM)

I consider myself a lucky donkey! With the money, I'd probably just invest it. Help family and others. I'm very conservative. I'm an accountant - what do you expect?

David (Denville, NJ

what was the worst beat you took or saw someone take throughout the whole tournamnet

Darus Suharto

  (3:32 PM)

The worst beat that I had was when a guy runner runnered me. I had a full house on the flop and some guy hit runner runner on the turn and river to get a bigger full house. It cost me about 50 percent of my stack on Day 2. I hope it doesn't happen again. After I took the bad beat, then they broke up the table. There's nothing worse than that. It's all good now, I'm at the final table, so it worked out.

Brad (Seattle, WA)

Do you find it annoying when other players are acting obnoxiously, particularly during televised events? Do you think anything more could or should be done to curtail such behavior?

Darus Suharto

  (3:34 PM)

I try to conduct myself and be respectful to other players. I personally don't like people who berate other players, but sometimes it's what's good for TV. As long as they don't do it all of the time, I'm ok with it. That's what a tournament director is for, they'll handle things. I can take it though, no problem.

jeff (atlantic city, nj)

What was your worst ever beat?

Darus Suharto

  (3:35 PM)

There have been so many beats that I've had, I can't really point to one. I hate flopping the nuts and somoeone hits runner runner against me. To put it into perspective, I'm sure I do the same thing. I'll hit a one outer or two outer online all the time. It's just part of the game.

Kim (Texas)

Did you go to WSOP Europe?

Darus Suharto

  (3:38 PM)

I went to EPT London I thnk that I didn't play well at all. I bluffed too much and I sat with Daniel Negreanu and during one particular hand I gave my entire stack to him. It was an expensive mistake, but I learned from it.

Jaime (Tampa, FL)

With about a week left until Nov 9th, are the nerves kicking in yet?

Darus Suharto

  (3:38 PM)

It's getting there. I keep thinking of the final table now. Hopefully I can handle it just fine, but I'm not sure though. I'm getting nervous now.

chris (state college, PA)

Would you say chino rheem is the biggest threat to your potential victory or is there another player you consider to be the favorite?(aside from yourself haha)

Darus Suharto

  (3:41 PM)

It's tough to single out a player. I think that all of them are good players. Dennis is the chip leader and Ivan Demidov just made teh final table to WSOP Europe, they are both great. They are all good players, I don't know if there is one player that I can point out. Obviously Chino has the experience and it might help him a lot. Kelly Kim is a good player too, but unfortunately he's the short stack.

jay (NJ)

What's the biggest difference between watching the WSOP on ESPN and actually playing in it?

Darus Suharto

  (3:43 PM)

When you play in it it's exciting. When you watch, you're just watching! It's the biggest final table in my life! When you're watching, it's just a game, but when you're playing it, you're trying to do the best you can to make the right decision. It will be very nerve wracking next week.

Matt (WI)

Do you play primarily MTT's or cash games online? What levels?

Darus Suharto

  (3:44 PM)

I play primarily MTTs, but I don't play a lot because I have a job and can only play on the weekends. I play from $5 to $215 on the weekends and once in a while I'll play a $1,000 or $5,000 tournament. I play cash games as well $3/$6 or $5/$10 no-limit. I'm not trying to make a lot of money, but you can't make a lot of money until you're actually good at the game!

Dylan (Tempe, AZ)

Is your sponsorship from Pokerstars permanent, or just for the Final Table? Have you talked with them about a permanent sponsorship?

Darus Suharto

  (3:45 PM)

I dont think I can talk about this, but I'm sponsored by PokerStars for the final table with a standard agreement and we can discuss afterwards about what is going to happen.

Nicole (Camden, NJ)

Out of all the professional poker players you've played with, who is your favorite?

Darus Suharto

  (3:47 PM)

There are a couple who I really liked. I played with a lot of pros during the main event, but my favorite is Daniel Negreanu. He's another Canadian, a very great player. I also like Jon Friedberg and I'm a good friend with Sorel Mizzi as well. He's a good friend of mine.

Scott (Toronto)

How big of an impact do you think it will make in Canada if you win?

Darus Suharto

  (3:48 PM)

Oh gosh! I think it will be huge. No Canadian has ever won this one, so it will be huge. Canada has so many good poker players and being able to win this one is just another step towards a bigger Canadian poker industry.

jay (NJ)

Were there any hands that at the time you played them couldn't wait to watch with the pocket cameras? What was the biggest surprise about what another player was holding?

Darus Suharto

  (3:49 PM)

To be honest, no, because the hands that they showed on TV, I knew the hand they held. There were hands that I would've liked to know, but they didn't show them on TV.

AJ (Tampa)

How much of a distraction is it when you have to deal with the TV stuff?(microphones, cameras, hole cam, etc..)

Darus Suharto

  (3:49 PM)

Surprisingly, I don't find them as a distraction at all. I'd just rather focus on my game. Focus on my opponents and when you do that, you don't have times to worry about the camera or whatever. It's the same thing with or without a camera.

Cameron (Jacksonvile, FL)

What's it like being on team pokerstars?

Darus Suharto

  (3:51 PM)

It's great. Pokerstars creates the best online players and on top of that they realyl take care of the players. You could make comparisons between the finalists that are sponsored by PokerStars and the finalists that are sponsored by Full Tilt. Stars has the million dollar men tournaments, features us in commercials and they've really done a great job promoting us. I can't say enough about the good jobs they've done. PokerStars is good, absolutely.

Darus Suharto

  (3:52 PM)

Tomorrow, the million dollar men tornament is at 3 p.m. and the six finalists from PS are playing against three online qualifiers. We're playing for charity, the other three play for the cash.

Paul (AZ)

I know you primarily play on-line, but what is your favorite casino to play at, and what types of games do you typically play in at your local casino?

Darus Suharto

  (3:54 PM)

I guess my favorite casino is Fallsview in Niagara Falls because it's so close to me! I usually play the $5-$5 or $5/$10 no limit or higher. I could play higher, but I play for fun. If you play higher, you can lose a lot more too, of course I could win!

Shawn (Framingham MA)

What pro would you consider your playing style to be most like?

Darus Suharto

  (3:55 PM)

I don't know! I'm very tight aggressive and maybe Eric Lynch has been pivotal to my game, that's probably why he's my coach!

Darus Suharto

  (3:56 PM)

Thanks for all the questions and support and please say hi if you see me in Las Vegas and say that you chatted with me on SportsNation!