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Ann Cleveland
Grand Champion
Summer Season ’10

The Summer Season ’10 Grand Championship Tournament was held on August 21st, at Famous Pub. There were 283 players qualified for the tournament that is the highlight of an entire APC season. Players competed for prizes including a $550 entry into a World Series of Poker or World Poker Tour Tournament in Tunica or Biloxi. Ann Cleveland emerged victorious and beat out the largest field that has ever played – 167 players!

Ann moved to Atlanta two years ago from South Carolina. Ann has been with the APC since the Summer of 2008. She has only played Texas Hold’em for four years and plays no other card games. We interviewd Ann to find out more about the player who took down such a large field of players.

Who is your favorite poker player, and why?
Phil Ivey. Phil comes to the table and is quiet. He just plays cards. Doesn’t make a ruckus about losing hands. He is a nice humble player. If there is one thing I want to learn from him, it is how to remain calm the way he does no matter what happens.

Who has influenced your play the most?
First season with the APC, I didn’t play very well and read a poker book in this last Wiinter Season. From that book I took two or three strategies and incorporated them into my game. (Ann won’t tell us the name of the book because she feels that will give us the definition of her strategies.) So the book influenced my play and also playing at the Wooden Nickel really influenced the way I play. There are so many different types of players at the Nickel, and if you get to the last two tables at the Nickel you have some really good play. I learned a lot because of the different personalities and different ways of playing at that venue. I really wanted to improve my game and I learned to be more patient and the hands will come. Wait for the hands. You can’t win waiting for the premium hands only. And I also learned that some strategies of players is to get you off your game and because of the play at the Nickel and the different strategies, you have to adjust. When I first came to Atlanta they said there were a lot of donkeys at the Wooden Nickel, but I learned you should respect the different play there. There is good play there. I started out at the Nickel and branched out to other venues.

How does APC tournament play differ from tournament play in a casino?
Every six months I try to play poker at the dog track in Jacksonville. I don’t play tournaments at casinos, but cash and tournament play is the same kind of feeling. First time I went, it was before reading that poker book and I lost money. The book changed my focus and after reading it, I played the table better.

What is your advice for new players?
Don’t let aggressive players take you off of your game. Don’t get upset when a player is rude to you. Don’t worry about them and focus on your game. Oh, and come to the Wooden Nickel and play.

What are your goals in the APC?
When I started playing in Summer Season ’10, it was to be in the top ten in every venue that I played in. I played in three venues, and I made it at every venue but one. This season it is to win the GC back to back and maybe be in the top five at every venue that I play in.

How did it feel to win the Grand Championship?
Really didn’t hit me until I got home and looked at the trophy and felt it was a major accomplishment having only played for four years. A great feeling. I didn’t know I could do it. My purpose was to go and play my game and use my three strategies. I really didn’t believe it while it was going on. And when I went to the Nickel the players went crazy, and that was when it hit me and everyone was so excited that the last two champions, Kerm and myself, played at the Nickel.

Ann Cleveland definitely earned the title of Grand Champion! Ann has earned a place in the APC Hall of Fame, and entry into the Yearly Championship Tournament!

Now, if we can just find out the name of that book she read. Oh, and see you at the Nickel!

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