With the 14th installment of Full Tilt Online Poker Series (FTOPS) is just around the corner, players may be considering whether or not to take a shot and buy-in to an event that may be a little pricier than their bankroll is used to in the hopes of binking a huge and memorable score. With that in mind, BLUFF decided to sit down with one of the most successful players from the previous FTOPS, James “bob2bob” Page, to get some insight on what it takes to have a successful series.

One could say Page is a bit of a Cinderella story. He went from mid-stakes grinder to the talk of the online poker world in the matter of a week, thanks to three final table showings over the course of FTOPS XIII. His stellar results earned him the title of Player of the Series, an honor that comes with free buy-ins into the FTOPS XIV events and a custom avatar in addition to some serious bragging rights. The 27-year old South Carolina native filled us in on how he sharpened his poker skills, his feelings about his FTOPS achievements and even offered some advice for those online poker grinders aspiring to be the next FTOPS success story.

Let’s start at the beginning. How did you get into online poker in the first place?

I was in college and couldn’t find any fun games around since I went to a small school, so online was best place [to play]. I played with my family nickel quarter stakes since I was about five years old, so I’ve been playing for a while. I started out playing Sit-N-Gos a few years ago and just got more into it over years and met some really good players that helped my game along the way.

When did it become more than just a hobby for you?

Last summer I went and trained with Ari Engel and David “The Maven” Chicotsky in late June and got back to Florida and quit my job selling insurance at State Farm the next week. So I started August 1st playing professionally.

Did working with Ari and David give you the extra confidence in your game to give it a go playing full time?

Well, I had some friends that had done it about a year and half before I did, and they were very successful, so I knew it could be done. I was always confident in my game, just had a few leaks.

It seems like a lot of people really turn a corner in their game after working with those guys, like yourself and Jeremy “daisyxoxo” Fitzpatrick. Can you tell us more about what you’ve gained from working with them?

Back a few years ago they were light years ahead of 95% of the players regarding tourney strategy. Some of the general rules now are kind of common knowledge, but with the adjustments we continue to make it helps us stay ahead of the game. Meeting a lot of the other students keeps me in loop as far as what is working for others as well.

So you still keep in touch with a lot of those guys and talk strategy?

Yeah, I talk to Ari and Maven probably once or twice a month and some other students on a daily basis. Every couple of months I make a trip back to Vegas to hang out, party a little and play with whoever else is out there.

Well, your plan certainly seems to be working as of late. During FTOPS XIII you made three final tables and took down the coveted title of FTOPS Player of the Series. As a poker player, did you ever expect to have such a sick run or was the whole experience a bit surreal?

I mean, everyone dreams of winning some big tourney, but you never really expect it. I thought I was capable, but the amount of luck required is crazy, so after the first final table I figured it was over. The second and third were definitely surreal

Glancing at your results, it looks like you made a ft basically every other day?

Yeah, it was pretty crazy. Sunday, Wednesday and Sunday I believe…It was really amazing.

Was there a particular high point or a finish that you were most proud of amongst the three?

Obviously the $2,500 [buy-in event] final table was great. That tourney was filled with the best online and live players and to get that far really made me proud (Page duked it out at a final table that featured Josh “JBT449″ Bergman, Mike “Gags30″ Gagliano, Brian Hastings and Jake “psutennis11″ Toole amongst others). It was the biggest buy-in I had ever played, so I assumed I was an unknown to all the players, which probably helped me pull of some bluffs. Not being scared to bust was a key as well.

Did you just decide to take a shot at the bigger buy-in since the FTOPS had been going so well for you?

Yeah, I think before that my average buy-in was like 30 bucks, so having the extra money and confidence, I couldn’t pass it up.

Have you jumped up stakes at all since the big FTOPS run?

I have been playing a lot of the bigger buy-ins, but mostly just on Sundays.

Alright, we have to know about what has to be the coolest part of winning FTOPS Player of the Series—Your Full Tilt Poker custom avatar. Have they started working on it yet?

No, I have been very slack since then and haven’t sent in the pictures yet, but I plan on doing it as soon as this [upcoming FTOPS] is over. I also think that’s the coolest part, aside from the money obviously.

Do you have a specific picture all picked out or have you not put that much thought into it?

They want four different pictures with exaggerated expressions, so I have to put a little time into it

Do you have any goals for this coming FTOPS? Maybe add a gold jersey to the new avatar?

Yes. That’s the most disappointing thing about [my results last FTOPS], not having a gold jersey.

You ended up finishing in 4th, 4th and 6th place at your three final tables.  Did it get frustrating getting that close to a win so many times and not being able to pull it off?

Yeah, the first final table I was extremely disappointed because I misplayed my last hand and to be that close and not winning was very tough. The second final table was a turbo event and the guy woke up with pocket aces on my button shove. The third final table I was 99% sure I had won the leaderboard, so that made it alright…obviously other than the huge money differences

You still did fairly well on the series as a whole. Did reading all the write-ups about your success make you feel better about your results?

Of course, and it’s much easier to realize that now than shortly afterwards. It was definitely nice, but reading [about it] just made what I had missed out on so much more real.

On the bright side, you have four FTOPS a year to keep adding to the bob2bob legacy. Since you seem to have the hang of these long tournament series, any advice for players who might be taking some shots and playing in events in this coming FTOPS for the first time?

Just play your A game. Don’t be intimidated by the prize pools or good players. Do what you think is right the whole way and things will work out.

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