The curve beteeen learning poker and becoming a champion can be as long a a lifetime or as short as the time it took PokerStars player pes4fans to win a WCOOP bracelet. Though he asked repeatedly for a chop in Event #17, his opponents refused. Germany's Pes4fans responded by winning the whole thing. Here's what he had to say when it was all over.

Q. Tell me a little about yourself.

pes4fans: I'm 20 years old and live in Trier in the western part of Germany I love poker as much as I like soccer and I'm more a calm boy who is a little crazy too.

Q. Any particular meaning or story behind your screen name?

pes4fans: I had a website about Pro Evolution Soccer so I used that name a lot even if it is silly.

Q. How long have you been playing poker?

pes4fans: For a year.

Q. How did you learn to play?

pes4fans: I watched a celebrity poker show and learned the basics and then I started playing at PokerStars for play money.

Q. What was it like to make a final table at WCOOP and finish as well as you did?

pes4fans: It was an incredible experience, especially because I've only played poker for one year and it was my biggest buy-in tournament ever.

Q. What do you do when you're not playing poker?

pes4fans: I start going to university next month studying economics.

Q. Is this your biggest win to date or have you had others?

pes4fans: Yes by far. My next biggest was almost $10k.

Q. What is your best poker game?

pes4fans: NL Holdem 6 handed ;)

Q. Any goals for your poker play?

pes4fans: I want to go step-by-step to higher limits and make some money. And one day I want to play the WSOP, but first I have to improve my offline poker skills.

Q. If you have a basic poker philosophy, what is it?

pes4fans: Trust your instincts. That helped me a lot today and I had some real good reads and bluffs.

Q. Is poker a game that is played a lot in your family, or are you the only one who plays?

pes4fans: My family doesn't like poker at all but I'll teach them a lesson by telling them what I won.

Q. Is there a lot of live poker in your hometown? What’s it like there?

pes4fans: We have a casino here and I'll go there soon. Haven't been there yet so I can't tell you how it is.

Q. Is there anybody you look up to in the poker world? Heroes?

pes4fans: Daniel Negreneau, Humberto Brenes and Phil Ivey.

Q. Do you have any plans for the money you won in WCOOP?

pes4fans: I've got no idea, I'll save most of the money and maybe buy some stuff like a PS3.

For the full story of pes4fan's win, check out the 2007 WCOOP: Event #17 Final Table Report.