Juha's Profile

2009 has been another fantastic year for InterPoker Pro Juha Helppi. In the ever changing world of Poker, very few players continually produce the results and gain the respect that Juha has generated. In 2009 alone while representing InterPoker, Juha has won the €20,000 High Roller Event at the EPT Deauville, come second in the $10,000 Heads Up Grand Slam in London, and also made the final table in the prestigious Poker Million VIII.

Profession:

Professional poker player.

Family status:

Living together with his girlfriend and their 3 year old son and baby daughter

Age:

33

Limit:

Online he mostly plays $25/50 PLO and sometimes $25/50 or $50/100 NL at InterPoker. Live his favourite place to play cash games is Grand Casino Helsinki, where he plays mostly €20/€20 or €40/€40 PLO.

Lives:

Helsinki, Finland

Previous Job/s:

Used to work as a dealer before his poker career. Never dealt poker though.

Favourite Opponent:

11 WSOP bracelet winner Phil Hellmuth. Juha just loves to beat him!

Worst Opponent:

Phil Hellmuth. He is a very good tournament player and it is very frustrating to lose to him.

Best Poker Moment:

Winning World Poker Tour in Aruba 2002.

Worst Poker Moment:

Juha had Phil Hellmuth all-in before the flop in the 2006 WSOP $1000 NL, rebuy tournament. They were heads up and if he won this hand the bracelet would have been his. Juha had A6 against Hellmuth's 55. Hellmuth flopped a set, but Juha turned a flush. At that point Juha was world champion but seeing the river card making Hellmuth completing his full house is by far the worst moment of Juha's poker career. Hellmuth doubled up and won his 11th WSOP bracelet.

Interests and Hobbies:

Paintball and tennis.

Best Advice:

Many good players have lost their bankroll while playing on tilt. Try to take poker as one long session. There is always another day, so when you feel tilted for some reason, just quit your session and come back the next day!

Motto:

Never give up!

Other Achievements:

Juha's paintball team has been the national champions of Finland 5 times. Juha was the team captain two of those times. His team has won the championship the last two times in 2007 and 2008.