More coverage from 888Live Barcelona as Lee Davy sits down with 888Poker ambassador, Sofia Lovgren, to talk about her recent appearance in the Poker Sport’s League, her Singaporean start-up, and much more.
Fear.
Ian Brown said it’s every man’s religion.
I wonder if Sofia Lovgren listens to the Stone Roses?
I doubt it.
I spy her at the bar talking with her sister, sipping a purple liquid out of a cocktail glass taller than a munchkin. The last time I saw her she was at the same bar. Her sister wasn’t. I can’t remember the colour of the liquid.
I am always slightly in awe of Sofia. I realise when I press my stethoscope to her beating life I could be construed as being sexist when I bow down to the admiration I have for a young woman travelling through Asia earning a living as a card sharp.
Maybe it’s the valley in me.
The safe snuggle of a crowd of 3,000 people preventing me from experiencing life.
Fear.
Ian Brown said it’s every man’s religion.
It’s not mine.
What have you been up to, Sofia?
“I have been playing a lot of live cash games and tournaments, mainly in Asia. In the past few months, I was playing cash games in Asia, and then I got invited to play the Poker Sports League (PSL) in India. It’s the biggest poker league in India. It was in Goa. 11 teams were competing in different poker formats. Each team had ten players, and I was a wildcard pick for the Punjabi Bluffers.”
Do you plan on going back?
“I am positively surprised by the poker in India. It’s a great environment. There is a good atmosphere at the tables, good energy; everyone knows everyone – it’s like a home game, so much fun. In this league, you are in a team, so it makes poker more like a sport. You are cheering each other on, and it’s a lot of fun. There’s a shared happiness. I would love to go back.”
Did you know anybody in your team?
“They were all new players. I knew the Team Captain. I have gotten to know a lot of poker players in India. I would love to go back and play in Goa. It’s such a nice place for poker. There are a lot of beaches, and the Deltin Casino is a floating casino, so it’s a different experience.”
Are you still spending a lot of time in Macau?
“I have been playing a lot of live cash games there. I love playing deep stack poker. I combine that with tournaments, but I love playing cash games.”
Where’s home?
“I am in different cities all the time. I spent a lot of time in Singapore and Macau.”
Who surrounds you?
“I have many close poker friends who pay cash games; we spend a lot of time playing cash games and talking poker hands. I also spend a lot of time with my boyfriend, but he’s not into poker. He is an actor, and it’s a different lifestyle. But he enjoys travelling which is fun. He knows the basics, but I don’t want to see him play.”
How difficult is it being 100% focused on poker for so long and now having to share that focus on someone else?
“I am balanced. I am very focused on my work, but I also like to spend time with my friends and family. I had a vacation in Thailand with my boyfriend recently. You have to connect your thoughts away from poker so when you return to the game you’re focused. He is very focused on his work, so we are very similar.”
How is your Mandarin?
“My class starts next week. It’s in Singapore. I didn’t learn it last year, but I want to learn it for sure.”
The last time we spoke you talked about starting a business. How has that been going for you?
“I have a company in Singapore, a video and animation company. We create videos for companies. We have had a few clients in Singapore. We have made a few videos for the likes of Experience Singapore. It’s still a small company, and we are trying to build, but it’s early stages.”
Why video animation?
“I have always loved animation, watched a lot of movies when younger, and I have a lot of friends in Singapore who are skilled at animation, So I asked them if I started a company would they join me and they said they would.
What’s your vision of the future?
“Right now I like travelling, exploring, experiencing different cultures, so I like living in different places. Right now I don’t want to settle down. I have a base in Singapore and Macau, and I travel between places. I am also going to Malaysia and Thailand. I haven’t decided where to live in the future. However, Sweden will always be my home, as my family is there.”
How important is networking?
“I would say that one of the best things about being a poker player is you meet so many different people and connect with so many people around the world. You learn to build connections. I have met so many interesting people and learned so much.”
What advice would you give to people who want to find success?
“First of all, you need to love your subject. When you love something, you have motivation. Then you need to be patient. Never give up no matter what happens. If you hit a wall, it’s a good thing. Find another way, and when you get there, you will be so much stronger. It’s the same in poker. All the time find new ways to develop. The sky is the limit. Have fun and do what you love.”
How does poker make you feel?
“I love meeting people, travelling and learning new things. I love poker.”
