With 712.66 points, Tristan Wade topped the Season 2 WPTDeepStacks Player of the Year race at season’s end. Wade locked up seven cashes and four top 15 finishes during the season, besting fellow pro Rex Clinkscales by more than 100 points. We spoke with Tristan about his big win, and the future of the tour.…
With 712.66 points, Tristan Wade topped the Season 2 WPTDeepStacks Player of the Year race at season’s end. Wade locked up seven cashes and four top 15 finishes during the season, besting fellow pro Rex Clinkscales by more than 100 points. We spoke with Tristan about his big win, and the future of the tour.
Congratulations on winning the Season 2 WPTDeepStacks Player of the Year award! At what point during the season did you think you had a legitimate shot at the title?
Thank you! About halfway through the season I overtook the lead in the points race. It wasn’t until I went deep in the third-to-last event in Oceanside where I realized I had a real shot. I kept telling everyone it would come down to the last event, and it did.
Who was your toughest competition en route to winning?
There were a lot of good players in the running when it came down to the Championship event, but the toughest competition was myself and Lady Luck. When it comes to poker tournaments, all you can control is your decision making. Nobody is going to affect how I play or what I do in a tournament. I study the game, I know what I’m doing. If I make a mistake, then I’ve met my competition.
Your best finishes in Season 2 were a 12th, 11th, and 5th – how do you stay composed in the next event after coming so close but ultimately not being able to achieve your goal?
This sounds cliche but It’s part of the game. It’s nothing new to me. If you play tournaments often, you should understand they are volatile. I haven’t ran exceptionally well overall in my poker career, but I am consistently in a position to win. All I need is a chance and I’ll make the best of it.
Do you have a boost of confidence knowing that, if you keep putting together deep runs eventually variance will be on your side in the critical situations?
Absolutely. Momentum and confidence is huge in poker, and in life. The snowball effect is real.
What separates WPTDeepStacks from other mid-major tours?
WPTDeepStacks operates on a major level. We offer affordable buyins, which are appropriately raked, plus an experience for our players that they don’t receive on most other tours. They get the feel of participating in a large-scale tournament, for a fraction of the price, while playing for a LOT of money. It is a more laid back environment than most tourneys, however everyone brings their game face. It’s a bunch of fun.
As tour ambassador for WPTDS, do you feel like you have a target on your back in the events? If so, is this a good thing or a bad thing?
Yeah, it brings attention to myself. Everyone treats me differently. It’s my job to figure out how people respond to it, if they do at all. When people see someone wearing a patch, it gives them information that is open to interpretation. My mom would tell me “When you assume, you make an ass out of you and me.” Sometimes it’s a good, other times it’s bad.
What does the role of ambassador mean to you?
I represent myself, the WPTDeepStacks brand, and a piece of the poker community. Being the Ambassador for DeepStacks means a lot to me. I’ve been consulting with the organization and its President/CEO, Chris Torina, for many years. I’ve always wanted to bring change and prosperity to the poker world. I have the opportunity to do that and advance my professional poker career at the same time. Many people who speak or act on behalf of the poker community have never sat at the tables or managed/played/lived off of a bankroll. I’m the inside man.
Season 3 of WPTDS is shaping up to be the largest ever – what odds would you lay that you defend your title as Player of the Year?
That’s not something I’ve even thought about. I take it one tournament at a time. Season 3 starts the first week in January, and comes fiercely out of the gates. The tour has gained a lot of traction and I expect it to blow up next year. More people will be playing the tournaments and chasing the Player of the Year award. They have to play with me though. When it comes to poker, I like my chances. I’m looking forward to it.
