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GUS HANSEN
Squash, Poker, Etc. |
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Gus in Monte-Carlo, Nov. 2012
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Squash and Poker, a good partnership?
You may have read this article about
Gus Hansen that I did during
the Worlds in Rotterdam. He is both a professional Poker
Player, and a fervent Squash player. I saw him
Question is, what Poker and Squash have in common?
Well, I would say, quick thinking, ability to control your
emotions and use them when needed, the planning of the next
move (constructing rallies), but most of all, fooling your
opponent. In Poker, they call it the Poker Face, in squash,
we'll use delaying, deceptions, sending wrong information
via body language, etc.
So I guess that Squash Players should be not too bad at
poker, and vice-versa!
Many sites now propose Poker like
partypoker de
and apparently, a lot of sports people find poker quite easy
and enjoyable to play.
Please, let me know if you play squash and poker, are you
any good at both, what do you like about it? Would be nice
to hear from you... |
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GUS WHO...?
 First
time I heard about Gus Hansen was while doing my Fram's corner, when I read about a Poker player who
decided to sponsor the Danish Squash Team.
Forgot about him to be honest, until Rotterdam during the
worlds.
Here was an extremely fit young man, hard to miss
really, dressed in a very unusual outfit - in our squash
world - more like a cyclist or a water ski athlete, chatting
with all the top players as if he had known them all his
life, but struck me than everything else, was that he was playing
with them for hours. And I'm not exaggerating. HOURS!!!
Although I'm blond, I truly put 2 and 2 together. Gus
Hansen, the "Poker Dude", aka "The Great Dane" had joined
the building. But I didn't realise how well known, how world
famous he was until I chatted about him to others.
The man is HUGE! And he is passionate about squash??? We
love him!
 He
is also famous for his love of sports in general and
challenges in particular, such as a boxing match against WSOPE bracelet winner Theo Jorgensen. He plays a lot of
tennis - was a junior champion - and according to tabloids, has been linked to a very beautiful Danish Tennis player who also lives
in Monte-Carlo...
Not sure what a woman would see in him though, his earnings
are only close to 10 million dollars, and in 2004,
People
Magazine classified him as one of the 50 sexiest
men in the world.
Naaaaa, can't see it myself....
To conclude, I must say that I can see why he is so
successful in the Poker world. Normally, I can read what
people feel and think rather easily. But with him,
nothing. A black screen. Absolutely nothing. Scary.
Anyway. Caught up with him in Rotterdam - thanks to Laurent
and John from PSASquashTV...
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Gus Hansen:
Official sponsor
of the Danish squash national team
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sexiest card shark
GUS HANSEN
AGE: 30
STATUS: Single
CLAIM TO FAME: Known as "The Great Dane" on the Travel
Channel's World Poker Tour, the Copenhagen-born card champ has won
three tour events and ranks as one of the most aggressive no-limit
players in the game.
NOT YOUR AVERAGE POKER FACE: Hansen, who works out daily and
dresses in black Hugo Boss jeans, "is an anomaly" among men who sit
at poker tables for hours on end, says actress Mimi Rogers, a
tournament-level player. "HE'S INCREDIBLY SMART AND BUFF. COMBINED
WITH THE DANISH ACCENT, IT'S PRETTY ENTICING. And there's an element
of unpredictability that makes him sexy. He's a dangerous player."
SHARING THE POT: With winnings racked up over seven years as
a pro, Hansen bought homes for his grandmother, mother and sister.
"I'm not big into gifts on holidays," he says. "I like to give
presents when the situation arises." |
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"I was born in 1974 just
outside of Copenhagen, Denmark and grew up playing a lot of
sports, especially tennis.
 I
was always fascinated by numbers and math. I was introduced
to backgammon and really took to it. I practiced
intensively until I was ready to test my skills around the
world.
I ended up in New York, touring backgammon and gin rummy
clubs, and hanging out with guys like Huckleberry Seed
and Phil Laak. It was during this time that I was
introduced to various types of poker, including Stud games.
I played my first World Series of Poker in 1996 but,
looking back, I had absolutely no chance of winning, as I
had never really played No-Limit Hold 'em before then. After
being knocked out on the first day, I decided to start
practicing more, testing new plays and experimenting with
different styles. Experimentation and mixing-up my style has
been part of my game ever since.
 By
1998, I found myself playing more poker than backgammon,
and making more frequent trips to Las Vegas.
When the World Poker Tour kicked off in 2002, I had
developed a loose, aggressive style that immediately paid
off, both in terms of money and recognition.
When not playing tournament poker, I am a regular
participant in the "Big Game" at the Bellagio battling it
out in as many as 13 different poker games with players such
as Phil Ivey, Chip Reese, Doyle Brunson, Barry
Greenstein, and David Benyamine.
Online, I often play high-limit Pot-Limit Omaha games or
Omaha 8/B Limit games on FullTiltPoker.com. On
occasion, I can also be found in low-stakes Limit Hold 'em
and Razz games, along with low-limit SNGs and some of
FullTiltPoker.com's larger tournaments.
 If
I'm not playing poker, there is a good chance you can find
me on the golf course, the tennis court, the squash court or
playing soccer with my friends, as I find that playing
sports and working out help me maintain the physical stamina
needed to be a successful poker player.
I also provide poker commentary for both Danish and American
television shows, and am always ready to play a high-stakes
backgammon match against anybody who would like to challenge
me.
I currently reside in Monte Carlo, Monaco where I spend a
lot of time with my family, including my niece Sally, who I
believe will be my first poker protégé." |
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