Nick Schulman displays his bracelet to the crowd with pride.

Nick Schulman won his first bracelet in what he called “poker’s purest game,” the $10,000 World Championship 2-7 Draw Lowball (Event 23). Known as “The Takeover”, his victory was no simple feat, he had to navigate what may have been the toughest final table of this World Series of Poker so far.

Can you tell us a little a bit your background, you were a former pool player?

Well, when I was 14 or 15 I went to the local pool hall with my dad and really fell in love with the game. I stopped going to school, which I have regretted even though it’s worked out. I played in my teenage years through about 20 professionally. I started playing poker in the pool halls.

In what part of New York City did you grow up?

Manhattan.

Would you say poker is easier than pool?

I think poker is easier than pool, but it’s close. The games are very different. It’s hard to compare, there’s a certain type of pressure in pool that’s not there in poker. Although, No Limit 2-7 kind of matches that pressure because there’s so many staredowns and reads. In pool you really have to execute athletic motions, so for me poker is easier - but they’re very close. To get good at either takes a lot of sleepless nights. 

You talked about dropping out of school and it’s worked out for you, but for a lot of people it doesn’t. If you had a younger brother thinking about playing poker for a living, what would you tell him?

Stay in school, absolutely. You can still play poker. College seems like the best years in your life, even if you don’t like school, you can go to school and still play poker. If you have to cut a few classes, then cut a few classes. Stay in school and graduate.

You came into the one of the toughest final tables of the series so far this year, what are your thoughts about the table?

There wasn’t a weak spot in the field, I feel really fortunate. The cards came my way and I was able to capitalize, I feel very lucky right now. I made some moves I’m proud of and had the cards when they called me

You drew one card to make the absolute nuts in 2-7 Lowball, what card did you draw?

Can’t tell you that. It’s too embarrassing.

Why do you think it is that the pros love the 2-7 tournament?

It’s pure poker. It’s a very simple game, but the intangible qualities that make someone a very good player is what would make someone excel at 2-7 - reading people, the physical nature of the game. It’s a game of very few decisions but they mean everything. The best players feel like when it’s crunch time they’re going to make the best decisions.

You’ve won a couple of WPT titles, does a bracelet feel different?

The prestige of the bracelet is a little overwhelming. A bracelet is the term when you talk about winning tournaments. It’s exciting, they say these tournaments sometimes aren’t about the money and I never used to think like that. But now that I just won one, I know what they mean. The bracelet is sweeter than the prize.

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