The Bernard Lee Poker Show 12-09: 2019 WSOP champs Joseph Cheong & John Gorsuch
In this episode of The Bernard Lee Poker Show on the PokerNews Podcast Network, Bernard Lee interviews two first-time World Series of Poker bracelet winners.
During the first part of the show, Bernard speaks with Joseph Cheong, the winner of the 2019 WSOP $1,000 Double Stack no-limit hold’em event. Joseph has made numerous WSOP final tables, including a third place finish in the 2010 WSOP Main Event. He also describes his endless tournament schedule during the summer.
During the second half of the show, Bernard interviews John Gorsuch, who captured the Millionaire Maker event. John discusses his tournament run, which includes a comeback from two big blinds nine handed to win the largest Millionaire Maker field ever. John discusses his potential run at Player of the Year, which could include a trip to WSOP Europe later this year.
Show Time Stamps
| 0:00 | Welcome to The Bernard Lee Poker Show as this week’s guests will be Joseph Cheong, 2019 WSOP $1,000 Double Stack no-limit hold’em winner and John Gorsuch, 2019 WSOP Millionaire Maker champion. |
| 0:06 | Bernard previews the schedule for the WSOP Main Event, which begins this week. |
| 2:02 | Bernard discusses the latest news at the WSOP with all the results from the past week including $50,000 Poker Players Championship, $1,500 PLO Hi-Lo 8 or better, $10,000 Razz Championship and $10,000 PLO Hi-Lo 8 or better Championship. |
| 6:18 | RunGood Gear Ad |
| 7:01 | Advertisement |
| 7:32 | Bernard welcomes Joseph Cheong to the show. |
| 8:39 | Joseph joins the show. |
| 9:33 | Joseph explains that he focuses on the money more than the bracelet. “I’ve always to play poker to win a lot of money.” |
| 10:48 | Joseph discusses how difficult it is to win a no-limit hold’em bracelet with the large fields in the WSOP. “(There are) so many people. It wouldn’t be strange to just never win a no-limit bracelet in a lifetime as a good player.” |
| 11:12 | Joseph discusses how to maneuver through a huge field. “Definitely takes some stamina to sit there for four or five days straight.” |
| 13:30 | Joseph reveals which games he plays and does well in. “I used to play in a little of everything, but I’m definitely really bad at most games except no-limit and PLO. I’ve done really good at 2-7 (no-limit hold’em), but I have no idea why.” |
| 14:14 | Joseph explains how he chooses his schedule during the WSOP. “I literally wake up in the morning see what is going on. Go play at the Rio first and then go to the next Venetian stop and then the next Wynn stop. I do that every single day. I don’t even know what’s going on tomorrow.” |
| 15:08 | Joseph recalls the final table of the $1,000 Double Stack no-limit hold’em event and discusses his mindset and strategy. “Well, I knew I had a lot more experience than everyone at the table and I had a lot more chips, finishing out Day 4. I thought I would come in and play my game and I was really praying that I wouldn’t get sucked out and get third place” |
| 16:35 | Joseph can’t believe that it’s been nine years since his WSOP Main Event final table and reveals he is still in touch with them. “It’s so long ago…I’m still friends or friendly with most of them.” |
| 18:27 | Joseph discusses how to survive the grind of the WSOP Main Event. “Playing a lot of these smaller events definitely prepares you.” |
| 19:33 | Joseph reveals a common mistake that the amateur player makes during the Main Event. “I hear a lot of talk about average stack…on Day 1. It is completely meaningless…I think they are too focused on winning chips and staying average on the first couple of days when it’s not that important and it gets to them too much, emotionally.” |
| 20:51 | Joseph also recommends patience which many amateurs just do not possess. “You got to be patient for hours on end for days.” |
| 23:15 | Joseph describes his schedule outside of the WSOP. |
| 25:49 | Las Vegas Laundry Services Ad |
| 26:49 | Bernard continues his show with John Gorsuch, the 2019 WSOP Millionaire Maker winner. |
| 27:23 | John joins the show. |
| 28:11 | John reveals he was surprised at the massive field in the Millionaire Maker. “I thought most of the players…would come in, do the Big 50, couple other events and leave…I was pretty amazed at the size of the field. But, those fields have been that size for almost every event the entire summer so far. It’s been amazing.” |
| 30:16 | John describes the hand that got him down to two big blinds nine-handed, but eventually started his comeback. “I absolutely believe this was fate.” |
| 31:52 | John discusses how he went over to his rail and how they calmed him down. |
| 32:58 | John recalls the first hand of his comeback which he blind shoved. |
| 36:40 | John recalls the next hand where former guest Josh Reichard is eliminated in 9th place during a three-way all-in and Gorsuch held pocket nines. “Lokesh then is forced, after three-all-ins in front of him, to fold guess what, pocket jacks and the case jack hit on the turn. It was a golden nine that was actually in the window.” |
| 39:08 | John was thrilled going into the final day as he felt it was on a freeroll. “I just felt like I was using house money to win this tournament…I was the loosest player at the table.” |
| 40:54 | John discusses playing in the Thunderdome. “The Thunderdome was awesome, that’s where you want to be. But I had a little experience coming in where I don’t think the others players did.” |
| 43:29 | John excited to play in the WSOP Bracelet Winners Only event. “It would be an honor to play amongst some of the greatest players of all time.” |
| 44:49 | John discusses after selling his company that he will become a full-time poker pro. “I will definitely be a full-time poker player.” |
| 49:08 | John looked at the WSOP Europe schedule which are mostly no-limit hold’em events. |
Let us know what you think of the show - tweet about the podcast using #BernardLeePokerShow, and be sure to follow @BernardLeePoker on Twitter or Instagram.
You can follow Joseph Cheong on Twitter @subiime.
You can follow John Gorsuch on Twitter @Gorsuch00.
The Bernard Lee Poker Show is now available on iTunes.
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