BPOIII Event #4 Winner: John "JohnnyGstaks" Hayes

by Bodog Poker | May 8 2009

The Bodog Poker Open III Event #4 was won by online veteran John "JohnnyGstaks" Hayes. Bodog had added $5K to the prize pool, making the first-place prize money for the $300+$25 (six-handed) event worth $9,510. It was another day at the office for the Shakopee, MN native JohnnyGstaks, who has numerous online wins, including the Bodog $100K. He was a pocketfives.com Triple Crown winner in 2008 and has cashed with consistency for years.

John Hayes has been a fixture around the internet cash game scene for years. Known for playing long sessions in the past, over the last two years he's mainly played only the big online MTT's a couple of days a week, usually on Wednesdays and Sundays. He particularly likes the over-lays that Bodog offers on so many tournaments, and he wishes that there were more higher-stakes sit-and-go tournament action offered.

"I used to play cash games all the time but I've mainly been playing MTT's for the last two years. I like playing on Bodog, it's a really good place for new players to start out, and I like the tournaments. The over-lays are great."

John used to play a lot of live events on the pro circuit that resulted in six cashes for a little over $38K in earnings. He hasn't played many live events since 2007, other than the WSOP main event and a couple of other big ones. He does intend to play in the main event again this year, and hopefully a couple of other smaller WSOP events prior to the main event if he has the time. But John's poker focus continues to be on online MTT's where he knows he has a better edge on the action, and the WSOP does not seem to be an important event on his schedule.

The 26-year-old Hayes intends to play more live events in the future and would like to eventually be back on the professional circuit again now that he's put some health issues behind him. He hopes to be a bracelet winner someday and intends to get there by concentrating on playing his best game every time he sits down at a table, real or cyber. He knows that working hard on being his best is what puts money in his pocket.

"If a player wants to become a professional they have to have self-discipline with their money. They also need to set goals for themselves and do what it takes to reach them."

Outside of poker John says that he lays low in the winter season. "I pretty much hibernate in the winter." He is looking forward to spending time on the lake once the Minnesota weather cooperates. "Once summer comes I'm spending as much time on the lake as I can. We enjoy tubing, fishing, bonfires, and barbeques, just having a good time on the water."

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