Alexander Rusinov on the Fisherman's Challenge: I am very happy that live poker in Lithuania is moving in the right direction, albeit slowly.

From 1-10 March, Lithuania will be rocked by the Fisherman's Challenge Poker Festival with a guaranteed prize pool of €100,000 in the Main Event.

This will be the record-breaking Lithuanian live poker series that you1 can enter, taking part in qualifying tournaments.

With the Fisherman's Challenge coming up, PokerioMokykla.com interviewed Alexander Rusinov, two-time winner of the event.

- I know that you went to Costa Rica to live in a grind-house and have recently returned to Vilnius. Tell us how you spent those months. I'm interested in both poker stories and what you did in your spare time. Also, how do you find Costa Rica in general and its people? What are the prices and conditions like to go there for poker?

- Well, first of all, it wasn't grind-house. It was just that a poker-playing foreigner friend of mine had a spare room in the house where he lives with his family and a few friends, so he invited me to come over. I couldn't refuse. Plus, I wanted a change of scenery, because I was a bit 'stuck' in Lithuania.

I flew to Costa Rica with the aim to play a lot and work hard on my game. Since I have spent over a year in this country in the past, I didn't travel much this time, spending my free time by the ocean or doing something fun with friends. As I said, this is my fourth time in Costa Rica, so it goes without saying that I really like the country.

Very nice weather, lovely people, delicious food, beautiful girls. Unfortunately, the country is the most expensive in Central America, so, for example, the prices in the shops are slightly higher than in Lithuania.

- You've probably already heard about the upcoming Fisherman's Challenge and the incredible numbers that the organisers have staggered? What do you think about this evolution of poker in Lithuania? Do you notice that step by step things are getting better (or better:) with live poker?

- I have heard about the Fisherman's Challenge, the guarantee surprised me in a good way, and I am very happy that live poker in Lithuania is moving in the right direction, albeit slowly.

- The buy-in for the Main Event remains at €200 and the guarantee rises to €100,000, possibly even €30,000 for first place. That's 3x more than you got when you won the Fisherman a couple of years ago. Very strong, wouldn't you say?

- As I understand it, there is a guarantee of €30,000 for first place? For some reason it seems like it should be overlay, but of course such figures can only be encouraging.

- By the way, you are the only one who has won the Fisherman's Challenge twice. Technically one, but you've also pushed the chips in the middle for the winner's title after the deal, and came second. That's another record that will be very hard to beat. Tell us about those tournaments, what are the most important things you remember from them: corner hands, any other aspects?

- Both times we grabbed headsup (split the money, the other two - note), and both times we flipped for the cup, so it's like it's fair. As for the cross-hands, to be honest, I don't even remember what year I won that tournament, let alone the cross-hands.

- I really liked your look in the last Fisherman's Challenge. It seems like a small thing, but it's a great example of how to be an ambassador of poker, to contribute to the popularisation of the game in Lithuania. Do you have any ideas for your colleagues what dress code to wear to the next Fisherman?

- Well, as for the look, it's not me I should be thanking, but my friends who gave me a fisherman's chair and a fisherman's outfit for my birthday and told me to make sure I dressed for the tournament. As for ideas for my colleagues, in view of the recent events in Lithuania, I would suggest that everyone dress up as a clown.

- Let's talk about the future. What ideas and suggestions do you have for what could be done better or more for future poker festivals in Lithuania? Maybe you even have some constructive criticism, observations on what could have been done so far?

- The only thing that comes to mind is that the reentry problem with the waiting list should be solved somehow. Reentry is meaningless if you can't do it immediately after you are eliminated from a tournament.

- You've taken part in many (all) of the recent Fisherman's Challenges, yes? What was the ratio of casual players to strong visuals? How much does the field get stronger going into the second, third days and beyond?

This time there are even more satellites to the Fisherman, + one start day each in Riga and Tallinn, and online. How do you think this will change the level of players and the dynamics of the game?

- I would say that in such a massive fielde and without a very deep structure, the amplification is not really felt. It's great that they did the start days in Riga and Tallinn, I don't think it will affect the strength or the dynamics of the field. To answer the last question, I think it would be very nice to have a few starting days in Kaunas and Klaipėda. First of all, it would attract more players, and secondly, it would save people from cities farther away from the capital from having to go to Vilnius several times.

- How do you find the Fisherman's Challenge different from other Olympic Casino Poker Club tournaments?

- I think that's the difference between €30,000 and €1,000.

- What are your top tips for poker beginners on how to win - or at least do well in - the Fisherman's Challenge? What factors do you think determine success in larger Live tournaments?

- The main advice would be to try to play good poker, not to try to reinvent the wheel, but just to play your game and not to stereotype (for example, to be afraid to play pots against players you think are better, or to try to bluff your way out of the pot at all costs when playing against a better-known player). As for the factors, short-rune success is very much a factor, as anyone can win one tournament.

Questions by Miroslav Siniavski.