How do you win the PokerStars Gamers Championship (PSPC)? With the $25,000 occasion as a consequence of begin on January 30, we wished to know what it takes to win $5 million. CardsChat spoke to PokerStars professional Ramon Colillas to learn how he went from Platinum Move qualifier to PSPC champion.

Ramon Colillas believes that focus, self-discipline, and studying to benefit from the course of are keys to success on the PokerStars Gamers Championship. (Picture: PokerStars/Neil Stoddart)
Everyone knows that profitable a poker match, not to mention a $25,000 occasion, is hard. You want a wholesome dose of luck, in addition to a capability to regulate on the fly. These info weren’t misplaced on Colillas when he sat down for the 2019 PokerStars Gamers Championship. Due to this, he didn’t put an excessive amount of strain on himself and tried to benefit from the expertise as a lot as potential.
“I didn’t really feel an excessive amount of strain taking part in the PSPC, to be sincere. I used to be champion of Campeonato de España de Poker by PokerStars. That earned me a Platinum Move for the Bahamas, so I approached the PSPC as a bonus after a tremendous 2018. I used to be excited to play. My objective was to only benefit from the second,” Colillas instructed CardsChat.
Anybody that performs the PSPC ought to have enjoyable and profit from Baha Mar, however they will’t neglect concerning the process at hand: profitable.
Begin gradual and be careful for professionals
Just one particular person can do what Colillas did in 2019, however over 1,000 gamers shall be attempting this 12 months. With extra gamers than ever anticipated within the Bahamas, making it by way of the plenty gained’t be straightforward. The reigning champ’s recommendation is to be affected person and decide your spots.
“My technique was fairly fundamental in the course of the early phases of the match. I attempted to deal with the desk and observe all my opponents to get an thought of who they have been. I wished to know in the event that they have been leisure gamers, on-line qualifiers, or regulars. I attempted to play in the way in which I assumed was optimum in opposition to every kind of opponent,” Colillas mentioned.

Ramon Colillas taking psychological notes on the desk. (Picture: PokerStars/Manuel Kovsca)
So avoiding the professionals is a good suggestion, particularly in the course of the early phases of the PokerStars Gamers Championship?
“Sure, as I mentioned, it is best to at all times attempt to keep away from complicated conditions in opposition to probably the most skilled gamers, significantly at the start of a match. It is because errors may be dearer when the stacks are deep. Newbie gamers normally make extra errors, so it’s greatest to focus on them first,” Colillas continued.
Loads of time to play in PokerStars Gamers Championship
The excellent news is that the PSPC isn’t a crapshoot. The construction is such you can afford to choose your spots early on and, if potential, exploit any weaknesses you see in others.
“The construction of the match is excellent. It means that you can decide your spots, so attempt to keep away from difficult conditions in opposition to probably the most skilled gamers. That’s the perfect tip that I may give anybody taking part in the PSPC for the primary time,” mentioned Colillas.
After all, we all know that lots of gamers on this 12 months’s PSPC shall be extra used to grinding on-line. With a document variety of qualifiers set to ante up within the Bahamas, adjusting to the nuances of dwell poker shall be essential. The important thing to switching from on-line MTTs to a $25,000 dwell occasion, in keeping with Colillas, is focus.
“It is advisable to have lots of persistence and self-discipline. Dwell poker could be very completely different [from online poker]. Typically you possibly can go a number of hours with out taking part in a hand. That not often occurs on-line. You shouldn’t let this frustrate you. Settle for that issues are completely different and focus on a regular basis” defined Colillas.
Three suggestions for PSPC success
So how would Colillas sum up his strategy to the PSPC? Focus, self-discipline, and avoiding powerful spots each time potential:
His recommendation for anybody collaborating on this 12 months’s PokerStars Gamers Championship, or any future iterations of the occasion, may be condensed into three suggestions:
- I believe qualifiers ought to benefit from the match. Don’t deal with the outcomes. Strategy it as if it was some other match.
- Attempt to relaxation as a lot as potential. There are lots of ranges every day, so it’s laborious to pay attention. You additionally must cope with adrenaline rushes and nerves. They will trigger fatigue and, in case you don’t are available in contemporary, you’ll find yourself paying for it in the direction of the top of the day.
- All the time be centered when you’re on the desk. Observe your opponents and take psychological notes.
These suggestions actually labored for Colillas. The Spaniard topped a area of 1,039 entrants in 2019 to win his first main poker title and $5.1 million.
Everybody wins at PokerStars Gamers Championship
A partnership with PokerStars and a brand new life as a poker professional adopted that victory. In truth, it modified his life. Nevertheless, even when the celebs hadn’t aligned, Colillas nonetheless cherished every part concerning the PokerStars Gamers Championship.
“Successful the 2019 PSPC was crucial second of my life to-date. I felt so fortunate to be taking part in the PSPC, so profitable it was even higher. I’ve watched replays of the ultimate desk a number of instances and, to at the present time, I nonetheless get excited” mentioned Colillas.

Take pleasure in every part the PSPC has to supply, says Colillas. (Picture: PokerStars/Carlos Monti)
Successful would be the objective of everybody who sits all the way down to play on this 12 months’s PSPC. Just one particular person will stroll away as champion however, in keeping with Colillas, nobody goes house a loser.
“Every part concerning the PSPC is fantastic. The poker site, the setting, the tournaments, the resort. If you’re fortunate to have a companion, it’s nice as a result of there are many actions to do. For my part, it’s a unbelievable expertise that marks you for all times,” Colillas concluded.
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