The Round Table – Mike ‘SowersUNCC’ Sowers – Online Poker’s Wonder Kid
He’s just barely legal to play in a US casino and he’s already cashed for well over $300,000 in live tournaments.
Online life’s been even sweeter. He’s cashed for several hundred thousand dollars and has won numerous events including the PokerStars $1000 WCOOP event. He’s got the attention and respect of his peers and now he just needs that bracelet.KL: Tell us a little background on you. Who is Mike Sowers and how did he get involved in poker?
Mike: I'm a 21 year old poker player, have been playing nearing four years now. I got involved in poker when I played with my friends in small sit-n-go’s in high school, fresh off viewing the poker movie Rounders. Then I took my game online at Absolute Poker and just started surrounding myself with poker players to improve my game.
After a year I had amassed about $32,000 from $50 and was playing the biggest cash games on AP, well out of my bankroll. I eventually went bust and decided to refocus on school and stay away from poker. This worked out for a year until I got tired of my job and decided to rededicate myself, this time with much better bankroll management.
That was December 2006 and since then I have grinded again from $50 into a sum much bigger than that. After I won the majors on Absolute Poker and Ultimate Bet in July, I have had a roll big enough to play all the biggest tournaments online and have not looked back since, even taking my game to the live level beginning last June.
KL: What is your greatest poker accomplishment?
Mike: Winning the Borgata $5000 World Poker Tour Event in Atlantic City versus a really tough final table that included one of the best, young online and live players in Tom "Durrr" Dwan and Erick Lindgren.
KL: What have you not accomplished yet that you want to?
Mike: Winning a main $10,000 WPT Event or World Series of Poker event. Also I want to win a bracelet.
KL: You play less volume than a lot of the other online players, why?
Mike: I try to stay sane? If I played as much as some guys there are no ways I'd look at the game in a positive way. I also try to exercise and get massages and do stuff with friends to keep my social and physical health up, which in turn helps your mental health.
KL: What are your hobbies or interests?
Mike: I like playing tennis, golf, any sport really, video games, playing pool or ping pong with friends. I really have a gained interest in astronomy as of late and have recently bought a telescope.
KL: What would you be doing if you weren't playing poker?
Mike: Difficult question, definitely something that interacts with people and allows me to travel. Maybe a pilot, I always wanted to fly planes.
KL: What do you think is your greatest skill or asset in poker?
Mike: The ability to manage my money well. This is far overlooked by many of the top players.
KL: What is your favorite thing about poker?
Mike: Competition. Since I got out of high school it has fulfilled my need to compete with other people and strive to be the best at something.
KL: What's new with you and what do you have coming up?
Mike: I just signed with No Limit Management. I'll be traveling to San Remo, Italy and Monte Carlo, Monaco for the EPT events there in early April, and maybe back in time to play the $25,000 WPT Event at the Bellagio.
KL: Where and what do you play online?
Mike: I play mostly on PokerStars, Full Tilt Poker, Absolute Poker, Bodog Poker and Ultimate Bet nearly every Sunday and most Mondays and Wednesdays. I play most of the high buy-in tournaments on the Internet.
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