Q&A with Christine Hia, The Star Sydney Casino Champion
NewsPosted 21-12-2016
Malaysia’s Christine Hia won’t soon forget her recent trip to Sydney for the WSOP International Circuit Event. Not only did she outlast a field of 182 players to win her first WSOP Circuit ring in the PLO/NLHE Mix Event, she added another just a few days later when she topped the 245-player field to win the PLO! Those wins catapulted Hia to the top of the Casino Championship points race – a position she comfortably held to the finish line. As a result, she wins entry into the US$10,000 Global Casino Championship in the US next year! Star Poker’s Ben Blaschke spoke to this rising star about her success.
First of all Christine, congrats! How does it feel to have won the Casino Championship points race at WSOP Sydney?
It feels great to have won the race, of course! I am still in a bit of disbelief. It was a spontaneous trip to Sydney for me. A dear friend had convinced me that I was going to take down the Ladies Event so I pretty much flew in just for that. I remember feeling really sad after I busted out, thinking I had just lost ALL hope of winning a ring. Who could have known what would happen next?! Actually, it feels totally awesome now to be interviewed on this!
Was the points race something you had thought about before the series started?
Not at all! It never crossed my mind until after I had won the two rings. People started to tell me that I was at the top of “the leaderboard” so I checked it out and only then did I realize that I could potentially be The Star Sydney’s Casino Champion. But there were still tournaments remaining at that point so I didn’t want to count my chickens before they hatched.
And of course the rings themselves are highly sought after. How did it feel to win those and particularly the first one?
When I won the Mixed PLO/NLHE, it just felt surreal! For quite a while I’ve been feeling hopeless at tournaments because I haven’t been able to “seal the deal”. I suppose everyone feels that way when they don’t win or don’t make the money. When I won my first ring, it was a big “Yes, I did it!”
When it came to the PLO Event, I wanted to win badly but I tried to be realistic. “Can I really win another ring? Does lightning strike twice?”
I ended up playing heads-up against a close buddy of mine who is well known to be a tournament crusher. As intimidated as I was, I kept telling myself that nothing was impossible. I was right! It felt like a dream come true.
Did winning the first ring make it any easier when on the final table of the PLO?
No! In the Mixed PLO/NLH Event I had a massive chip lead towards the end of the Final Table. When it was down to heads-up, my opponent had only two big blinds left! However, in the PLO Event it really could have been anyone’s game. Heads-up my opponent and I had pretty much equal stacks and at one point he was just knocking me down. It was a very tough fight for that second ring.
Both of your rings involved PLO - do you consider yourself a PLO specialist?
I seriously love Pot Limit Omaha but I definitely do not consider myself a specialist in the game. I still have so much to learn. It doesn’t help that I’m one of the most stubborn people I know, hardly ever following anyone’s advice. I’ve never read any books or watched any videos on poker. I learnt both NLH and PLO through experience and paid my “tuition fees” at the tables.
When did you first start playing poker?
I’ve been playing poker on and off since college but only started playing PLO in more recent years. Being quite the misfit because I wasn’t into clubbing and drinking like my peers, my only access to a social life was through poker.
How often do you play?
Since poker is illegal in my country, I don’t get to play much. I don’t like online poker because of the lack of human interaction that I enjoy very much at the tables. Basically, I only play whenever I get the chance to attend a poker tournament series, which is about 4 or 5 times a year.
You’re a regular at events in Sydney. Why is that and where else do you travel to play?
I love the players in Sydney! They’re generally kind and friendly. More importantly, my close friends live in Sydney. Other than Sydney, I play mostly in Macau, Melbourne and Manila. My fingers are crossed for the opportunity to travel to new destinations for poker in the near future!
What do you do away from the tables? Do you work?
Back home, my mornings are well spent at the stables and my evenings are devoted to my dogs.
I actually have a job back in Malaysia. My work in Event Management gives me flexible hours and allows me the freedom to pursue my interests and hobbies.
You’ve now won entry into the Global Championships at next year’s WSOP in the US. What are your expectations for the event?
I’m very excited about this! As I said, I’d love to be able to travel to new destinations and it looks like it’s finally going to happen next year. I intend to do my best without putting too much pressure on myself and whatever happens, happens.
I will be thankful for the opportunity and the experience regardless of my result at the event. I never expected to win two rings back to back at WSOP Sydney so who knows?
Finally Christine, do you see yourself taking poker more seriously in future now that you’ve had some pretty impressive success or will it remain more of a hobby?
That’s definitely something I’m considering. I’ve always enjoyed poker as a hobby, cherry-picking tournament destinations and even the events I enter. I fear that turning my hobby into “work” may dampen my enthusiasm for the game but we’ll see how it goes. Look out for me in 2017!