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Attending the World Series of Poker in 2006 when the entrants numbered over a staggering 10,000 players was a truly fascinating experience for me to report on for PokerAllstar. At that moment in time I believed it to be the center of the universe, and an honor to be among the elite players in the poker world.

However, this past year was a striking contrast to the year before, due to the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) prohibiting US-Facing Online Poker sites from awarding seats to US Players. Instead, there were contingents of Canadian, European, and United Kingdom players, with alot fewer Americans.

One of the more colorful and talented people I had the pleasure of meeting, and interviewing, was Ciaran O’Leary from Cork, Ireland, who won the No-limit Hold’em event. Winning this event was a distinctive honor too because it was a record breaking field of almost 3,000 players, ranking it as one of the top five biggest tournaments ever held at WSOP, and that’s including Main Events.

Another gentleman I was honored to meet was regarded as the “event senior”, Raymond Rahme from South Africa, who surprised many in attendance by climbing his way to the final table with what I would call a down-home style of play.

Especially charismatic however was Jon Kalmar from Chorleyville, England (pictured at right with his wife, Kila) who landed a seat in the 2007 WSOP by winning a satellite event at the last minute. I met Jon during a break on Day 2 out in the smoking area behind the Amazon room. He was laughing and smoking with a couple mates of his so I walked up to them introducing myself as a reporter covering WSOP for my website, and asked how he was doing in the event. His response was that he would give me plenty to write about because he was going to win the main event. I took an immediate liking to him because of how he said that, he believed it, and during the next few days whenever we were both out back smoking, we'd chat briefly about his cards and chip standing, then he'd be off in a blaze to get back to his seat.

I followed Jon's exploits from table to table, snapping pictures, and watched play at the next to the last table where Jon eliminated Kenny Tran (16th place), and my good friend Bill Spadea (13th place). Then we both watched as Hevad Khan missed a golden opportunity to eliminate Jerry Yang in an all-in play where Jerry was able to double-up.

The next day at the final table, it was one head-to-head battle after another until Jon was regrettably eliminated in 5th place by Ray Rahme. As Jon was walking out to collect his prize, we said our goodbyes and agreed to follow-up with an interview once he got home and settled in again.

This is that interview, and what Jon and I discussed is how life has been going for him and his wife after winning over $1¼ million.


PokerAllstar – Well Jon, first let me congratulate you once again on behalf of all our PokerAllstar readers for your excellent run in making the final table at last years 2007 WSOP main event, and eventually finishing in 5th place. Now that you are among only a handful of players to win over $1,000,000 in the world’s most prestige poker tournament, how do you feel?

Jon Kalmar – Couldn’t feel better. If anyone won a million bucks and didn’t feel like a million bucks, I’d have to give them a slap.

PokerAllstar - Great! Okay, as I understand it you had a couple of fellow poker friends that you had shared percentages with, and also had someone who put up part of your buy-in. It must have been a wonderful feeling for you to come through for your friends in such a big way. What did that feel like for you?

Jon Kalmar – The buzz from getting money for my mates almost matches winning a wad of cash for yourself. Getting $350k in cash to chop up was cool, it felt like we were doing a drugs deal.

PokerAllstar – Was there anything else that you and your wife Kila were able to do with your newly won wealth which was important to you?

Jon Kalmar - More than half the money went to buy my mother in laws house (Kila’s mum). She was moving to Spain and needed a sell. I always wanted a house for my mother so it all seemed like a very good solution. I kind of look at that as our pension (should I outlive my mum of course). I paid off some of our house, and put a little away hoping to clear the mortgage in a few years time.

PokerAllstar – Getting back to the main event, I understand that you didn’t take the approach of just trying to survive day by day, but that you actually established yourself as one of the chip leaders almost from the get go, and remained at or near the top of the leader board throughout the entire event. That’s a remarkable achievement. Was this part of your strategy, to try and take control early on, or was it based more on your table draw and who was at it?

Jon Kalmar – It was mainly just due to flow. I had a lot of things all my own way on days 3 and 4, things started to slow down in 5 and thankfully day 6 I was back on track. I tried to make an effort to loosen up if the money was about to go up. Some of the jumps were big and a lot of people play too tight.

PokerAllstar – Playing for so many grueling days, how were you holding up with the long hours of play and constant sleep deprivation?

Jon Kalmar – The adrenalin just keeps you going. I tried not to go to bed straight away as all you think about when you close your eyes is poker. I must have played 10 satellites a night once day one was over. A week in bed when the thing finishes is a must.

PokerAllstar - I recall when you were down to just two tables remaining, and it looked like you were playing as if you had a certain plan. After you eliminated Kenny Tran, who did you then consider to be the next biggest threat standing in your way of making it to the final table, and how did you approach them?

Jon Kalmar – There were no fools left in the event, and everyone could play. I have to say though Jerry Yang was the most dangerous player to have in the pot. It is very difficult to control the size of the pot with someone who is likely to do anything with anything.

PokerAllstar – Speaking of knocking out Kenny Tran, how on earth were you able to make him call you when you had the nuts (an Ace-high flush) and he only had top pair?

Jon Kalmar – He had been bragging all day how his name was "Sick call Kenny", and I knew if I could get a monster against him I could over bet it and he may try to make a hero call. A bit of needle had started between us from a previous table and I had chosen to show a few bluffs to him, one was the very hand before I knocked him out. The timing could not have been better. I called his flop bet and turn bets purely to move in if I hit. All I needed then was the call. I grinned, tried to look nervous, chatted to my mates everything to taunt a call from him. He took one last look at his cards and I thought he was ready to pass. I then called the clock on him hoping one last poke in the ribs might make him snap, it did. It may not be the most scrupulous move in the world but frankly he had not represented himself well on the tables and was disrespectful to any player he didn’t know. It was not a move I would have made against any other player left in the event.

PokerAllstar – You told me you played in a rock back in England for many years and were used to the pressures of having to perform on stage for crowds of people. How does that compare to the pressures of being on one of the biggest stages of all, the final table in the main event?

Jon Kalmar – While I was there I never really thought about it. The main event is the only event in the world you spend twice as much playing time in the money than out of it. You have a long time to get ready for it. The worst bit is the anxiety making the final 9. With ten left I had a nice lead so even that wasn’t a big worry.

PokerAllstar – Unfortunately Jon, I must ask you this question because our readers are going to want to know. What did it feel like when you were finally eliminated, knowing that you had come so close to being cemented into poker folklore with likes of Doyle Brunson, Stu Unger, Phil Hellmuth, Noel Furlong and so many others?

Jon Kalmar - Couldn’t give a toss. I had won plenty. Anyone who feels disappointed after that result has serious issues. I have never been a greedy man (Unless it comes to food and beer).

PokerAllstar – Would you mind telling us a little bit about how you rated Jerry Yang’s performance and your own personal confrontations with him?

Jon Kalmar – The guy was almost impossible to play. He had a game plan and stuck to it. He may have gotten a little lucky but he went out to win and it worked out for him. I think even he will openly admit he is not the greatest player to win but I feel it has been unfair that so many people have queued up to knock him. Although a couple of hands we played together spring to mind, I don’t want to sound bitter by mentioning them here.

PokerAllstar – I've talked with a couple of other players I know that are planning on retuning to play in WSOP 2008, and the cash games leading up to WSOP. Have you and Kila made plans for returning to Vegas this year for WSOP?

Jon Kalmar – We love the place, so who knows? If I do a little better this year I may buy a pad. I was there in December for the five diamonds, and I'm there again from the 1st of April for the WPT finals. As for the World Series I don’t arrive till June 25th. My friend is leaving for Australia so I don’t want to miss his send off. Shame because I was hoping to play a few more events this year.

PokerAllstar – Finally, having spent some time with you in Vegas, I know you're like me when I was young and always ready for a good time. Have you taken steps to get financial guidance, made plans to start a business (that you and your wife Kila could manage), or maybe buried some of your winnings in the backyard for a rainy day?

Jon Kalmar – Basically I bought a new car for myself. I went way, way over my budget so had to buy Kila a new car too. There weren’t masses of money left after that, so I have a fairly modest bankroll left to try again. A good thing really, too much money gets me in trouble.

Editors note: The author, Kurt Stine, is publisher of PokerAllstar, and other poker related websites in the ComKings network.

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