Recently, PocketFives.com member Heinz zhivKamutzki was part of a three-way chop in the Main Event of the 14th Full Tilt Online Poker Series (FTOPS). The 5,471-player field marked the largest turnout ever for an FTOPS Main Event, surpassing the 5,306 entrants that turned out for the finale of FTOPS XIII. Kamutzki earned a healthy $418,000 after ultimately emerging as the champion of the $535 buy-in tournament and sat down with PocketFives.com to discuss his performance.

PocketFives.com: Walk us through the three-way chop in the FTOPS XIV Main Event. How were the payouts determined and what were your thoughts on the outcome?
Kamutzki: I wasn’t really interested in making a deal, but when two of the remaining three players wanted to discuss it I opted to talk too. I thought, “If I can get $400,000 right away, I would take a deal at this point.” It was still way more than second place and I couldn’t be sure that I would have finished first. I got $393,000 and $25,000 went to the winner, so in the end, I got more than $400,000.

PocketFives.com: Tell us how the final table played out from your perspective. Are there any key hands you can share with us?

Kamutzki: The final table pretty much played itself. I busted the ninth place finisher and had about 11 million chips, there were two stacks of two million, and the rest had between four and six million. Most of the players probably didn’t want to bust before the shorter stacks did, so they didn’t really play back, which was a very good situation for me. I had the chip lead during the final table and only lost it once in heads-up for two hands.

The first 10 hands of heads-up, I played badly. I thought the other guy was way too passive and that I could run him over. Then, there was a break and I found my game and finally won it. I’m a very big luckbox to have such a big run in this event.

PocketFives.com: This is your largest online poker cash by far. What did you do to celebrate and how are you feeling now?

Kamutzki: I was playing in Sanremo at an Italian Poker Tour event. Luckily, I busted early on Day 3 and went right back to hotel to play in the Sunday majors. I played in the hotel lobby by myself and after the win, I had a very good dinner and just went to bed.

PocketFives.com: How did you get started in poker?

Kamutzki: I started with friends in a home game with virtually no money. Then, I learned and played a lot online, but now I mostly play live because the competition is so much easier than online.

PocketFives.com: What stakes do you normally play and on what sites? Did you qualify for the FTOPS Main Event or why did you decide to play?

Kamutzki: I’m a live tournament player traveling the European circuit mostly and have already played some European Poker Tour and World Poker Tour events. I bought into the FTOPS Main Event because it’s a very big field and most of the time that means a lot of dead money.

PocketFives.com: Did anyone rail you down the stretch that you'd like to extend a shout out to?

Kamutzki: A lot of forum members of Donkr Germany. Thanks a lot to all of them and, of course, Huber IamSound Stefan (pictured at right), one player I’ve learned so much from lately.

PocketFives.com: Are you a full-time poker player?

IamSound: At the moment, I do nothing else besides playing poker.

PocketFives.com: What about your game still needs some work?

IamSound: I still can learn so much. To improve my game, I talk to other players. I’m also trying to learn Pot Limit Omaha at the moment.