Part Time Poker Interviews Tony G from PokerNews.com
Tony G is one of the stars of the online poker revolution. He’s launched several websites, most notably PokerNews.com, won some half-a-million dollars in tournament play, and has become somewhat infamous for his lively play and humor at the poker table. The Hendon Mob website calls him “a very aggressive player.” and adds that “it would never be a surprise to see him feature prominently in the final stages of any tournament.”
Learn more about Tony at his personal site - tonygpoker.com and be sure to check out pokernews.com today
PTP recently sat down with Tony to learn more about the rising poker star that the WPT website calls a “hyper aggressive smack talker”.
Tony G
PTP: For those of our readers who aren’t familiar with pokernews.com, why don’t you tell us a little bit about how the site started and what it’s grown into.
TG: I bought the domain name pokernews.com in 2003 and we started in early 2003 it has been a fun ride with the boom in online poker. Now I have several partners that
help out with PokerNews.com and I stay in the background.
PTP: You’re someone with a bit of an inside track regarding online poker. Where do you see the largest growth market for the next decade, and what market seems most vulnerable to decline at this point?
TG: All the growth will be in Europe, USA might stay the same, but to launch new sites about online poker or portals to play on now is very tough. The market is very competitive. I think Online poker will still grow over the next 1 year but after that we will have to see.
PTP: Pokernews.com has a lot of useful, relevant content for poker players, but it seems as if the Internet is being overrun with sites that offer ads, starting hand requirements, and some more ads. Are we reaching a point where the Internet is more trouble than it’s worth as a poker resource for the average player?
TG: Yes it’s true, many sites are pushing very hard. You see the home page and there are 10 banners, but the internet is still great - imagine life without it. I hate pop ups though I don’t view sites that have popups. I think the Internet will get better - there will be more unique stuff like TV streaming live broadcasts on line and so on.
PTP: I know you’re working on a big story about Andy Beal. Talk a little bit about what angle you all will be running with and also, if you would, about your personal opinion on that whole saga.
TG: Andy Beal is a great achiever he is very intelligent he is smarter then all the team members of the corporation and he can flip a coin for all their money put together. The big thing now is that he has beaten them as a team one man beats the best on their own turf. The fact is that the corp is overrated to say the least, they should stick to beating fish. I should say they have no value playing him at all.
PTP: With as much time as you spend on pokernews.com, how much poker do you
really get to play these days? Do you find yourself wishing some days that you could just focus on poker?
TG: No really I play just enough to enjoy it I am in USA right now playing and will play the Bad Boys of poker next week and then Bay101 followed by the National heads up Champs that will air on cnbc. I love my poker, I am not as hungry to win anymore and
It’s just about getting a kick out of it for me, its my outlet to do stuff that I can’t at home.
PTP: I noticed that pokernews.com is putting together a WSOP ‘team’… tell me a little more about how that’s going to be set up. What sets it apart from the 100’s of other WSOP promos online?
TG: We are putting together a big team to the WSOP it’s quite easy to get inn in fact if you are a good player you can make it pretty easy, you still have to win a free roll but we will have about 50 of them so everyone has a chance. The main thing is that it’s easier
to get inn as you only have to beat PokerNews.com players in the free roll, then you get to spend time with some time with me and Patrick Antonious and a few other great players that are joining the team.
PTP: If you had to put your money on one tournament circuit surviving, would you back the WPT or the WSOP and why?
TG: WSOP. Although they don’t have it right they have the holy grail of poker with the main event that must be worth much more then the WPT. There also seems to be a backlash against WPT; Raymer and others are boycotting right now.
PTP: What’s ahead for PokerNews.com? Give us the sketch of where the site’s heading.
TG: We need to keep improving it all the time – we’ll be adding more TV I hope and great tournament updates coming for WSOP.
PTP: Thanks for your time Tony. Any final words for PTP readers?
TG: The most important thing when you play online is game selection.
