By Matt Clark
Selfies with Olivier Busquet. Picking the brain of Joe McKeehen at 2 a.m. on the eve of the WPT Rolling Thunder final table. Rayo Kniep had the experience of a lifetime in his first-ever World Poker Tour event.
Dream
At the end of the Day 2 in the Season XVI WPT Rolling Thunder Main Event, Kniep said that it was his dream to play at a WPT final table. To have friends watch from around the world meant a lot to the German-born software engineer.
Kniep is cut from a different cloth than most in the poker community, recreational or professional. Wristbands from music festivals and Burning Man numbering in the dozens clogged Kniep’s arms during play. The fun-loving Kniep sported a wooden tie at the final table that he calls his “party gimmick” and gained a fan base outside of his transplanted Northern California roots.
When Kniep started playing poker in 2016, his original hope was to eventually enter the World Series of Poker Main Event. A WPT final table was on Kniep’s mind, but he never found it to be in the realm of expectation until he made the final six at Thunder Valley.
A run like this proved to be in the cards for Kniep in January when he took second in a WSOP Circuit event at Thunder Valley in a field of 1,511.
“It’s funny you ask, because I never thought if it was possible or not,” Kniep said about his goals when he first picked up the game. “I literally had this one goal to play in the WSOP Main Event and I set myself up at the end of 2016 to make it by 2018 or 2019. The goal was to make it to the Main Event and not be a total fish when I play it.”
Declare
Kniep put all of his joy on display when his run started to pick up traction on Day 2. Near the end of the day, Kniep was close to the top of the leaderboard. Those talking chips allowed him to engage in conversation with WPT Champions Club member Olivier Busquet. The chat passed the time for Kniep, who followed a walking plan to achieve the final table.
Once the money bubble burst on Day 3, Kniep started to see a path open up that had his name on it. The mental strength required to battle through the 14-hour journey from 64 to six wore on Kniep, but his smile could not be tempered.
“My minimum goal was to make Day 2 and that was great,” Kniep assessed. “The dream was there after making the money. Everyone says, step by step. Everyone passes by the trophy and has this thought of ‘this trophy could be mine.'”
The final two tables required Kniep to play against Joe McKeehen. The current fourth-ranked player in the Hublot WPT Player of the Year standings, McKeehen offered Kniep excerpts of knowledge as the two competed.
Why are you always looking at your opponents? Why did you make this bet? What do you think of the Action Clock?
All of these questions were peppered by Kniep toward McKeehen, who engaged without divulging his web of secrets. Kniep felt he played his best against a tough sea of opponents and recognized their strengths as professionals.
“I played here at this final table and felt somewhat comfortable,” Kniep told WPT.com. “I think Joe was taking advantage of me and maybe had some tells on me.”
Deliver
He may be a relative novice to tournaments, but Kniep is keenly aware of the variance that’s allowed him more success than some of his professional adversaries. Kniep wants to improve his game. The former Connect Four World Championship finalist is passionate about expanding the level of strategic thinking he saw McKeehen and others use.
The evaluation of Kniep’s overall performance may take some time, but he’s determined to get better. His full-time job prevents a packed study schedule, but there are pieces of the game that Kniep is already looking to better for the next run.
“It’s a bit weird,” Kniep said of his success. “Obviously there’s lots of luck, lots of variance. I’m on the receiving side of the variance. I made it to heads-up in the Circuit [event] and I said to my friends, ‘It’s frustrating to take second because I’ll never have the chance again to play for the ring.’ Now, two months later, I sit here playing for the WPT title. So, I don’t know what to say. Maybe there is another chance that takes four more years. I think the biggest problem in poker is I don’t know how to judge myself. I would love to have more time to study the game. This coach gives me all this homework I don’t have time to do.”
Free Spirit With a Gambling Soul
Kniep will be back at Thunder Valley soon for the next tournament. He expects to play the upcoming WPTDeepStacks $500,000 guarantee event in April.
The personality displayed by Kniep endeared him further into the poker community. A welcome presence at any table, Kniep should be a notable for years to come in Northern California.
For other amateurs who want to replicate Kniep’s success, his suggestion is to go for it.
“For some people, it’s weird to see yourself on television, but for me, it’s so cool to walk through the casino and see yourself playing,” Kniep said. “I can just say it’s a great experience, everyone should try to do it.”
To see a bit of Kniep’s easy-going, fun-loving personality on display, check out the following hand from the WPT Rolling Thunder Main Event final table, where Kniep makes quad aces.
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