Winner Interview – To the next OFC Trophy with lemon water! Fabian Bartuschk is one of the Kings of Tallinn!

The Kings of Tallinn Festival at Olympic Casino is known for its variety of tournaments, and German Fabian Bartuschk for his diverse trophy collection. The two factors came together on Saturday in Event #11 of the current Kings of Tallinn edition, ending with another Open Face Chinese (OFC) title for the Dresden native! The perhaps most successful OFC player of recent years has spoken in an exclusive winner interview with Hochgepokert!

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Jan Schwarz: Hey Fabian! Once again, I can congratulate you on a live poker title! And again, it’s in Open Face Chinese!

Fabian Bartuschk: And once again, I can thank you for the congratulations (laughs).

Jan Schwarz: What number OFC live title is this for you now?

Fabian Bartuschk: It must be the fourth tournament win, if I’ve counted correctly. The other three were at “The Festival”.

Jan Schwarz: Is Open Face Chinese your favorite poker variant?

Fabian Bartuschk: Yes, I think you can definitely say that.

Jan Schwarz: What makes OFC appealing and fun for you?

Fabian Bartuschk: OFC events almost always have a relaxed atmosphere, and it doesn’t get boring quickly. In NLH, you constantly have phases where you can only watch for half an hour because you don’t have playable cards. In OFC, there’s no fold button. You have to make several decisions in just a few minutes.

Jan Schwarz: How did the tournament go for you? You managed to win with your first bullet. Were there any key moments that set the course for your victory?

Fabian Bartuschk: This time, one bullet was enough, not four (laughs). I built up a good stack right from the start and was always among the biggest stacks in the tournament. I got a lot of good draws and can’t complain about the card distribution.

Jan Schwarz: Did you have anyone on the rail sweating with you?

Fabian Bartuschk: My friend and teammate Scott Kenyon was on the rail during heads-up, cheering me on. – Since you just asked about key moments, he would probably tell you that my win was thanks to the lemon water he brought me at the table!

Jan Schwarz: Do people know each other in the OFC scene? Did you encounter opponents you’ve played against before?

Fabian Bartuschk: The OFC player pool is significantly smaller than, for example, in NLH or PLO, and I know some of them personally. Nevertheless, in these events like at the Kings of Tallinn, you often have players who might have some home game experience and are playing OFC as a tournament format for the first time.

Jan Schwarz: I would venture to say that no one has had a better OFC tournament performance in recent years than you. Are there players you still look up to in OFC, or would you say you can compete with anyone worldwide?

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Fabian Bartuschk: Statistically, you might be right that I am the most successful player. Whether I am the best, others must decide. My heads-up opponent Artem, from Ukraine, was one of the strongest. We didn’t play against each other before the final table. In over 3 hours, I saw almost no mistakes from him. Then I could mention my teammate Riku, who is the only player who has beaten me heads-up so far – twice, in fact. There are still several other strong OFC players. I could certainly beat anyone. Whether I have an edge against everyone, I don’t know.

Jan Schwarz: Can you give an important starting tip to those who would like to try OFC themselves but have never played it before?

Fabian Bartuschk: The most important thing is to build your hands in such a way that you have the highest possible chance of getting into Fantasyland. There you can gain a significant point advantage.

Jan Schwarz: Where will the poker trophy from Event #11 find its place?

Fabian Bartuschk: Next to the others – if there’s still room.

Jan Schwarz: Honestly, you have the Kings of Tallinn as a tournament stop firmly planned because there’s an OFC on the schedule, right? (laughs) – How often have you been to Tallinn and what do you appreciate about the KoT festival?

Fabian Bartuschk: I was here for the first time in 2022 and have been here every year since, often multiple times. I enjoyed the tournament series even before I discovered OFC. The wide selection of variants is always a good reason to come here.

Jan Schwarz: What else is on your poker agenda at Kings of Tallinn?

Fabian Bartuschk: Many things… Hold’em, Omaha, Mystery, PKO, a few Mixed Games, and especially important: on the last day, there’s a second OFC tournament with a smaller buy-in!

Jan Schwarz: Then I hope we’ll hear from each other again at the latest on the last day! (laughs) – Professional athletes often only see the inside of the sports hall, despite tournaments in the most unusual locations. Have you had the opportunity to see some of Estonia’s capital? Or what do you plan to see or visit there?

Fabian Bartuschk: Unfortunately, that’s often neglected for me in some places, but not here, thankfully. Whether it’s the Old Town, the Baltic Sea, karaoke bars, cafes, shopping centers, museums, minus 10 degrees in winter, or in summer when the sun shines at 4 AM… I’ve really experienced a lot here and hopefully will see even more in the future.

Jan Schwarz: Thank you, Fabian, for taking the time for the interview. Good luck with the further events at the Olympic Casino in Tallinn!

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Fabian Bartuschk: Anytime again, thank you.

Event #11: €350 Open-face Chinese Pineapple

Kings of Tallinn