Team Bodog’s Kai Paulsen Takes Fifth at Irish Open

Kai Paulsen earned his seat to the 2008 Irish Open through Bodog where he cashed for €175,000. (Bodog Beat Image)

Kai “kingkai”Paulsen of Norway bought into one of Bodog Poker’s Irish Open satellites earlier this year. Little did he realize at the time that he would not only win that satellite but he’d go all the way to the final table of the main event.

Paulsen found himself coming into the final table as fourth in chips and played some strong poker eventually getting into third position behind England’s Neil Channing.

Paulsen got into a hand with Channing where he had top pair and Channing made a straight. It spelled the end for Paulsen’s tournament but the €175,000 he made for his fifth place finish helped ease the pain. Channing went on to steamroll the table and take first place.

Bodog Beat caught up with Paulsen in Dublin after the Irish Open and asked him about final tabling the Irish Open and his poker career.

Read the interview after the jump.

Bodog Beat: What kind of expectations did you have before you went to Dublin?

Kai Paulsen: I was really hoping at least to get into the prize money. And I have to say that I always want to win when I enter a tournament.

BB: What kind of expectations did you have before the final table today?

KP: Neil was a huge chip leader so I knew I had to double up through him one time or another. And of course my only goal was to win the tournament. I didn’t care if I placed second or sixth.

BB: Were you happy or disappointed for your result an hour after the tournament?

KP: I have to say I was disappointed. Was going for the title and when I didn’t reached my goal I was disappointed. I want to win, that’s just the way I am... But if anyone told me that I would finish in 5.place before tournament start I would be really happy.

BB: What is your best live/online result ever?

KP: This is my biggest win in prize money. I have won a big tournament on the Internet and placed second in a few other, one of which was the $100K on Bodog. I also finished second in a side event during the master classics a couple of years ago. And 18th of 3200 in a NL $1,500 WSOP event in 2007.

BB: How long have you played poker?

KP: I have played for three and a half years, professionally for just the last two.

BB: How did you qualify for the Event ?

KP: I qualified through a satellite at Bodog.

BB: Have you played any other events around the world ?

KP: I Have played some EPT events. WSOP main event and a side event. And also some other tournaments. APT Manila, Master Classics in Amsterdam and some smaller tournaments in Europe.

BB: What do you think about Bodog and how long time have you played there?

KP: I really like Bodog and have been playing there for a year I guess. I usually play in the 5/10 cash games there. (But you do have a great structure in your tournaments).

BB: What is your next goal?

KP: My next goal is EPT Monte Carlo.

BB: Are you trying to qualify for the WSOP at Bodog and why?

KP: Yes! I think Bodog has the best satellites. Overlays and great structure like I said before. But I am going to the WSOP this year anyway and it would be great to win a package on Bodog. I'm going to play some side events during the WSOP, so if Bodog will have some satellites to those as well it would be great.

BB: What are you going to do with the money you won?

KP: I don’t really know yet.... Throw a gigantic party for my friends back in Norway next weekend, and I will also use it to buy into some big live events.

BB: In your opinion, how good were the players in the Irish Open?

KP: Some were great (Sorel Mizzi is the best player I have played yet I think), and some were terrible. The competition was softer than the EPTs in my opinion.

BB: What do you think about the Irish Open Event ?

KP: Great event! Nice location and I did well so I can’t complain at all. I will definitely be coming here next year.

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