卡菲尼哥夫轉戰POKER

Hakkinen

Poker career on the cards for Kafelnikov
London
November 17, 2004

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Former world No. 1 Yevgeny Kafelnikov says he has given up tennis to become a professional poker player.

"I have retired," the Russian told Britain's Independent newspaper. "But I have not officially announced it yet. Some people still think I am just taking a break, but I believe that my time in tennis has gone by."

Kafelnikov, 30, hasn't played since the St Petersburg Open in October 2003.

"I began at 19, and now it is impossible to compete with guys 10 years younger," he said.

Kafelnikov won the 1996 French Open, the 1999 Australian Open, a gold medal at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, the 2002 Davis Cup and 26 ATP titles.

Kafelnikov, known for his love of roulette while on the tennis circuit, is competing in a poker tournament in Maidstone, south-east of London.

"I find it very exciting," he said. "Because you win not with the cards but with your skills. With body language, you can win a game, but also you can lose a game.

"You need guts in poker, as in tennis. And if you don't believe in your ability, you don't win."

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AdvertisementKafelnikov's words struck a chord with Leo "The Mechanic" Boxell, one of Australia's best poker players. "The Russian is right, it's very exciting, it's an adrenaline rush like you wouldn't believe because you know you are playing against top people the same as he does on the tennis circuit," Boxell said.

Victorian Boxell, who competed in last year's World Series of Poker in Las Vegas, said Kafelnikov had the confidence needed for the game, but feels the game most like his is cricket.

"In poker your chip stack is your wicket and all you've got to protect it with is your cards and what you do with them (using) your brain. You're . . . fending off the attack of the other players and, at the same time, you've also got to make runs, which in poker is taking their chips."

- AP, Michael Cowley