Final Table Interview: Kazu Oshima
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Temecula, California��s Kazu Oshima is no stranger to the World Series of Poker.
He made the jump from the online poker world to the world��s biggest tournament series five years ago, but found very little success here in Las Vegas. But now there��s been a sudden breakthrough and he finds himself here at this final table, three-handed, with a bracelet and some $169,225 for first hanging in the balance.
PokerNews caught up with Oshima to discuss his experience so far and see what��s ahead for him.
How has this experience of playing at a WSOP final table been for you so far?
It has been everything I��ve ever dreamed of. This is my fifth year here and I��ve been able to do anything. I��ve been dreaming about this since I was 14 years old, 11 years, and I haven��t had any success at the World Series at all. I��ve lost every year I��ve been here.
I��m still young, but I��ve put in a lot of hours and it feels really nice to have it pay off.
Has play at the final table been what you expected it to be?
There hasn��t been anything too crazy, pretty much what I expected, except ending up here three-handed. That��s what I hoped for but certainly not what I expected.
Pot-Limit Hold��em doesn��t seem to attract the large fields No-Limit does. Do you feel like this is your game, or do you just play everything you can get your hands on?
I play everything that I can afford really and I have a cash game background. I understand not playing with antes and I think a lot of people don��t catch all on the little things that make Pot-Limit different from No-Limit
I got 14th place in this same even three years ago and that��s the best finish I��ve had here, so I think I have a pretty good idea how it works.
Plus with the small field too you have a better chance of winning a bracelet.
You made a deep run at the L.A. Poker Classic recently, and now this, what do you think has changed that you��re seeing all this success on the live felt now?
Patience, that��s a big thing. I feel like I am a pretty patient person. Letting those big hands go when you know you��re beat, and making big calls too, sometimes I just get too attached. I��ve played a lot of heads-up where you play every hand, so ten-handed ring games can be like nails on a chalkboard, you have to fold and fold for hours. So really, patience is the biggest thing I��ve improved on for sure.
So what��s your plan going forward three-handed?
Just to try and let the game come to me, see how they play and adjust to that. I have a lot of experience playing shorthanded, so I��m very comfortable and excited to be at this point.