Life Outside Poker is a new podcast for PokerNews hosted by Connor Richards that seeks to pull back the curtain on poker players and allow viewers and listeners to get to know them on a personal level.
For the sixth episode, Connor spoke with longtime poker pro and coach Faraz Jaka, who was fresh off a runner-up finish in the World Series of Poker (WSOP) $25,000 Heads-Up No-Limit Hold'em Championship. Jaka talked about running up a six-figure bankroll in college, going broke and moving down stakes, battling back from a debilitating back injury to win his first bracelet in 2023 and running deep in this year's $25,000 Heads-Up Championship.
Jaka also talked about his site Jaka Coaching, discussed what makes a good poker coach and offered advice for players looking to grind the WSOP this summer.
Raymond Mancini raised from early position to 450,000 and Mark Johnson three-bet all-in from the hijack for 1,300,000. Action folded around to Michael Wills in the small blind, who re-shoved for 3,300,000, and Mancini folded.
Mark Johnson: Q♠Q♥
Michael Wills: A♦K♥
When the dealer put out the flop, there was an ace in the window, giving Johnson a scare, but the full flop came Q♦9♥A♣. Johnson's trips held as the 10♣ landed on the turn and the river brought the 7♠.
Action folded around to Radoslav Stoyanov who limped in from the small blind, Pierre Jeffredo raised from the big blind to 650,000. Stoyanov then announced that he was all in, Jeffredo took some time to contemplate his options before making the call that put his tournament life at risk.
Pierre Jeffredo :A♠J♦
Radoslav Stoyanov :6♥6♦
The board ran out 8♠5♥4♦10♠3♠ awarding Stoyanov one of the largest pots in the tournament to date.
