Fabrice Soulier: elegance at the table
He’s not only the smartest poker player on the circuit, but also one of the most successful. Luxsure had to find out more about “FabSoul”: a player in a class of his own!
You’re one of the players who takes the most care over your appearance and style of dress. Why is this important to you?
A player’s appearance is important, both for himself and for the image he projects. Clothes must therefore be both elegant and comfortable. That’s why I like to wear, for example, products from the JAQK brand, which specializes in the world of poker. They’re clothes in which I feel really comfortable at the table.
You’re the JAQK brand ambassador. Can you tell us how this meeting came about?
Our collaboration was born out of a meeting at the launch of the M6 program 100% Poker, of which JAQK was a partner. I was immediately seduced by this team’s passion for poker and their innovative, promising project.
The discovery of their collection, in October 2011, confirmed my first impressions. Cashmere shirts, sweaters and cardigans, fine details and, above all, excellent quality… Because as I travel a lot, it’s true that I need clothes that keep pace too…
 
Do you take part in the creation of certain models? Do you give your opinion?
Beyond the brand’s original idea, I share JAQK’s values: respect, elegance, instinct, audacity, but above all the pleasure and beauty of gaming.
We have regular, privileged contacts during which we exchange ideas on the world of gaming and on our shared desire to design products inspired directly by gamers.
The JAQK team asked me to wear the products for the Autumn Winter 2012 collection catalog, and I’m very flattered, even though I never thought I’d one day become a model! [laughs]
How important is the image you project at the table?
There’s “image in playing style” and “image in clothing”, but both are very important at the table. Indeed, style can heavily influence decision-making. For example, when you see a 20-year-old guy arrive wearing a hoodie and loose jeans, you’ll immediately think there’s a good chance he has a very aggressive playing style. And when a 50-year-old man with a gold watch, a cigar in his jacket pocket and cufflinks sits down at the table, chances are he’ll want to have fun and play the way he feels, and therefore get in a lot of shots. It’s a bit of a cliché, but it gives you an idea.
Many of my opponents are familiar with my unpredictable, off-the-beaten-track and highly creative style of play, either from TV or because they’ve come across me many times on the circuit. So no matter how I dress, it won’t influence their decision-making. On the other hand, I always want myself, my sponsor and everything else to look good at the table. It’s out of the question to come and play in shorts and armadillos: you can wear casual sportswear, be comfortable and elegant at the same time!
Are you interested in fashion? Have you ever been to a fashion show?
My association with the JAQK brand has enabled me to become more interested in fashion and everything that goes behind a brand, such as the different materials, the diversity of cuts or the importance of details; it’s a really fascinating field. I have to tell you that when I was 20, I had one of the best jobs in the world as a chauffeur for Elite Models, going from show to show! And since my girlfriend at the time was a model, I was always backstage. Claudia, Christy, Cindy, Naomie, I met them all at the fittings for the biggest shows; it was the good life, and I have really good memories of it! [laughs]
 
Do you wear dark glasses at the table? If so, why?
I wear them from time to time, as they not only protect me from the gaze of others (so that they can’t read any emotions I might let slip through tiredness or inattention), but also allow me to observe my opponents without them noticing. What’s more, it also allows you to rest your eyes after several hours of play…
Do you still live in Las Vegas? What’s it like to live there every day?
My main residence is in London, a city where I feel really at home. Travelling all the time can be a bit of a burden, you want to go home to your neighborhood and visit your fishmonger, baker etc. [laughs]. And London is as dynamic and lively as it is relaxing, so I’m delighted to go back there every time! As for Vegas, I lived there for several years and loved it too, even if the atmosphere, architecture and everything else had absolutely nothing in common with a European city. I lived in a little house with a pool on the edge of the Strip, and in the morning I could hear the birds singing, with a view over the desert. Nothing to do with the madness of the Strip, the clubs and the casinos. The Bellagio was my office and I went there every day to work. All in all, I had a very normal life there [smile]. After that, it’s true that Vegas is a city that can drive you crazy, because everything there is out of proportion. But it’s also easy to have a good life; for example, there’s a ski resort 45 minutes away and a gigantic lake on which you can sail all year round less than 30 minutes away!
In the film “That’s Poker”, in which you are one of the protagonists, you play one bad beat after another. Isn’t poker a metaphor for life: falling down and getting back up again?
Being a professional gambler is a very difficult job, and I never stop telling those who are thinking of making a living from it. I think what has also kept me going is having other activities on the side, other businesses to run, such as MadeInPoker.com, the reference site for poker news in France. If you’re only a player, you’re too vulnerable to the luck inherent in the profession. When I started out in Vegas, I didn’t know how to manage my money, and I was often broke. We’re not like tennis players who, if they train hard every day, are almost certain to achieve a result after a certain time. For us, even if we stick to our guns and work hard, it can happen that luck doesn’t come our way for weeks or even months on end. And that’s certainly a lesson in life. It teaches you to never give up and always look straight ahead, with faith and strength.
In tournaments, do you still feel the same adrenalin at the table despite playing thousands of hands?
I
never tire of poker, because I think I’ve got the competition gene in me [laughs]. People often ask me if I’m tired of it, but the truth is, I just realize how lucky I am. As for the adrenalin, it’s always the same, and has been for years. Going far in a tournament always provokes emotions like no other.
What’s your best poker memory? The worst part?
My best memory is obviously my first HORSE world champion title, last year at the 2011 World Series of Poker. Winning a bracelet at the WSOP is the crowning achievement in a poker player’s life; I’d been dreaming of it for years. It’s a real source of pride for me.
As for my worst poker memory, it will also be at the WSOP in Las Vegas, but this year. For over seven weeks, I put in long hours every day at the poker tables, accumulating premature exits, false hopes, bad encounters, lost 80/20s and flopped brelans and struggling to stay optimistic. In short, I’ve had the worst WSOP of my career…
Will you be taking part in the ISPT (International Stadiums Poker Tour) in London in May 2013?
As I live in London, it would be a shame not to! [laughs] The ISPT is set to revolutionize the poker world by organizing the first tournament to be played both on online tablets and on real tables, offering one of the biggest prize pools in the history of world poker. So if this tournament takes place, I’ll definitely be there!
Which players do you admire?
I had a lot of admiration for Chip Reese, who was as good in tournaments as he was in cash games, and always had a smile on his face – he was a real gentleman. But in general, I admire all the players who have been on the circuit for years and who hang in there. It takes a lot of mental strength and good money management to stay in the game for a long time; there are a lot of shooting stars in poker, who shine brightly before disappearing. Today, there are many talented players, both in France and abroad. But a lot of them burn out too quickly, so we’ll talk about it again in 10 years’ time… That is, unless I’m no longer in the business either! [laughs]
 How often are you on Twitter?
A little too much… When I think that the media keeps repeating that poker presents addiction risks, it’s nothing compared to social networks! [laughs] I often post my news at [sur _fabsoul_] to keep my followers informed of my various results and projects, and I mostly read the news feed – it’s the most immediate means of information there is! But as with Facebook, I never talk about my private life. It’s purely for anything to do with the world of poker.
What’s your schedule for the weeks and months ahead?
I’m off to Prague in December to play the World Poker Tour and the European Poker Tour, as well as some cash games. After that, it’s Christmas with my family and then Brazil for New Year’s Eve, where I often go back; I can’t wait!
Interview by Julien Tissot
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Cette publication est également disponible en : Français (French)
