Discourse with Timur of TimsonAAA
Timur "TimsonAAA," highly-ranked poker player in Kazakhstan, grants an exclusive interview to APoker.kz. In this conversation, we discuss poker, his career, and personal preferences. Known as the best offline player in Kazakhstan in 2015 by Hendon Mob (placing 2nd by Global Poker Index), and a member of the Bombay Team, Timur shares his experiences in the world of poker.
Timur, aged 36, was born in Kyzylorda and moved to Shymkent as a child. He earned a financial education, specializing in "Banking and Securities Market," working in Almaty at a large bank and top brokerage firms before the securities market crisis led to a closure of many firms. Now, Timur primarily trades for himself and plays poker.
Timur switched to poker by chance, blaming an unusual late-night poker show on TV for his sudden interest. He recalls his naive beginnings, playing with friends with crude rule interpretations, and still maintains friendly poker nights with them. His family has supported his poker career, with his mother being an active online poker player.
Online poker doesn't appeal to him, as he prefers the social atmosphere and face-to-face communication at a table. Timur won his first tournament, a 1000tg rebuy event, in Almaty’s underground club Tumar and found regular wins and ITM finishes in friendly club Kazaksha. His style, known for being a tight-passive nit, contributes to his offline poker preference. Initially, he played tournaments out of competitiveness rather than monetary gain, but recently has started mixing cash games and tournaments.
Timur discusses his tilt-resistance and self-learning methods through daily hand reviews with local players rather than formal lessons. Some unusual experiences at the poker table, like witnessing a player's strange winning reaction or observing chip theft, add to his enduring memories.
Internationally, Timur has played small-scale poker events in Ukraine, Belarus, Georgia, and Northern Cyprus. However, his most memorable poker series experience remains competing in the Main Event of WSOP in Las Vegas. Trying his luck at Craps at MGM during his stay, Timur plans to return to Vegas, aiming to play in the PCA (PokerStars Caribbean Adventure), Macau, and EPT (European Poker Tour) as well.
As for the current poker situation in Kazakhstan, Timur finds it unpromising but inevitably hopeful due to the country's economic recovery. He appreciates the poker clubs in Kapchagai for their competitive low rake and fairness, and in his free time, Timur skiing and spending quality time with his family.
If you have questions for Timur, you can post them on the forum. To follow Timur's poker journey, keep an eye on his social media channels or watch major poker tournaments’ broadcasts for insights into his developing strategies. Good luck to all poker enthusiasts, and may the button always favor you!
What are your favorite sports, Timur, aside from poker?Despite his busy poker schedule, Timur still manages to enjoy playing sports, especially soccer and skiing.
