Anthon-Pieter Wink, Champion of Unibet Open Budapest, has experienced the poker world from several viewpoints. Playing since the age of 18, he’s no stranger to the live felt, occasionally takes a seat at the virtual one, and is also editor of Card Player Nederland. Despite the Dutch player’s workload, he took the trip to Hungary to play in the Unibet Open event in March, saying that although it was his first appearance, “We have covered all the 2009 events in Card Player Nederland, so I kind of felt like I had been there before.”
Wink’s calm and considered manner showed his comfort at the table, and his sanguine approach to the swings of tournament play meant that he was unfazed when he dropped down the chip leaderboard, making the second day’s dinner break as the shortest stack still left in. It wasn’t quite a chip and a chair comeback to challenge the lead over the next day and a half’s play, but it was close, with the turnaround in fortune in full swing by the time the final table was announced. He started the final third in chips behind Belgium’s Nils Ral and Russian Maksim Tyurin, but only just, and eventually eliminated the start-of-day leader in a race which propelled him to a comfortable lead.
Changing gears and alternating quiet periods with orbits where it seemed he was raising every hand, Wink never seemed to lose his composure. His background playing live regularly has surely been beneficial. He says of his poker introduction, “Since I was about 18 I’ve played draw poker with friends. In 2003 (after Moneymaker) we started a home game of hold’em and Omaha that is still running. I play online every once in a while but not on a professional level.” When asked what he thought made a good poker player, he replied, “Love of the game, enthusiasm, willingness to study and discussion with friends.”
Outside the tournament arena, Wink is unusually active for a poker player. “I’m pretty sporty. Besides poker my hobbies include football, snowboarding and surfing. Winning the first Unibet Open for Holland is pretty cool, although I’m only nationalistic when it comes to sports. I love writing and editing Card Player, and the Unibet Open has been a great experience for me. Not only as a turning point in my poker career, but also for the kindness of the press, the players and the organisation.”
The first Champion from Holland to raise a Unibet Open trophy (and take down a chunky €172,500 top prize), Wink may now be in the awkward position of having to interview himself…
