Poker kicks off in Croatia!

October 2, 2009 by Tatjana

Its been a busy week and I did not even start packing! As you might know, poker has still not kicked off in Croatia and I have been trying hard for the last season to give the few players we had some info and help them to learn the game by going to EPT’s and giving them tutorials, interviews, tips from players, following the action from the tables and trying to expand poker in the region.

I worked hard on that project and it has finally shown some results. Like I said in my previous post, we made video blogs in Croatian that got over 20 000 views and people just went crazy! I had over 300 facebook requests and was swamped with emails.

It surprised me even more when I got called by the biggest portal in Croatia to do an interview with them. It was a lovely chat, the journalist, Marko Petrak, did a great job and had some really cool questions other than the usual – how is it to be a girl in a sport that is ruled by men and similar. As I was having my afternoon tea, I looked at the comments and found out that my interview is still on the front page. That was really exciting, it meant people are reading! What I did not know is that it launched a chain reaction – in within half an hour all the press was calling me wanting to know about poker, wanted to write about it and present it to the public. It meant all the time that I, as well as some other people that were in the industry for a while now, have done a good thing and people are now asking for information on this amazing game.

For the Croatian readers, here is some links from the media, for the rest of you, there is pics:)

http://www.index.hr/tag/167467/tatjana-pasalic.aspx

http://www.net.hr/sport/page/2009/09/14/0394006.html

I was especially happy when I got offered to write a column for Playboy!I did my first one this month and the feedback was great. I am the first chick to write a poker column in a magazine in Croatia and its Playboy. They always kept a certain standard with their authors so I am very glad that they gave me that opportunity.

It is hard for me in Croatia because everyone thinks that I am a doll that is here only for marketing and that I do not know what poker is about. I remember my first poker days when I came to Vegas and saw the WSOP venue, hundreds of players playing with chips, the sound of poker.:) I already knew then that poker is going to mark my life.

Blogging and reporting for Poker Europa (Thank you Nic and Eliza for that!) and advice I got from Kara has made me into what I am today – confident about my playing and helping others to get info on how to start. I know I am not a pro even tho I cashed in Prague at Unibet Open, thankyouverymuch:), but I think my only passion is going to remain the action behind the table.

Producing the blogs with Marko Butrakovic (www.butrakovic.com) and presenting them, made me realize that journalism is my love. Interviewing Tony G (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nn3imGnqkd0) was a so much fun and a great experience. Many players came up to me later and asked about the advice he gave me and I was glad to be able to pass it on to them and see how they are sucking up the info, improving their game.

Back to the subject, it is going to be a big week for me, I am flying to Zagreb on Monday to meet the press and tell them more about poker, play a few home games and do an editorial!YAY! Guys probably wouldn’t get it, but its a huge deal for a chick – you get to be pampered all day and then they take photos of you and make you feel like a superstar! I wonder what theme they’re going to choose? Wish it’s Angelina back in the Raider days…Oh, enough of daydreaming!

Share