Johnathan Westra on the Road to the WSOP

Road to the WSOP is Bodog Nation's weekly spotlight on various players who have earned their WSOP seat through Bodog

April 30, 2008

By Jake Gosselin
Bodog Nation Contributing Writer

When the name Johnathan Westra (screen name: UFPokerStar) came across my desk as one of the latest Bodog WSOP qualifiers I wasn’t very surprised. I wrote about Westra last year before the WSOP as he had qualified through Bodog then as well.

While he didn’t cash in the 2007 WSOP Main Event he took full advantage of being in Vegas during the Bellagio Cup where he took first in Event No. 1 and second in Event No. 5.

Twenty-two-year-old Westra has only been playing in live tournaments for a couple years now and he’s already made around $400,000. That’s not to mention his substantial online winnings. As of the writing of this Westra is ranked third on the Bodog Monthly Tournament Leader Board.

We recently had a chance to ask Westra few questions about himself and what expects out of the 2008 World Series of Poker.

What is your occupation?

Professional poker player/Student.

Where do you go to school?

I am a student at the University of Florida, go Gators. I’m a third year business administration student.

How long have you been playing poker?

I’ve played poker for most of my life. From the old days of penny Five-Card-Draw poker with family to high school strip poker (base dealing isn’t cheating when it involves naked girls) to college .25/.50 NL Texas Holdem cash games against players like nevertilt22 fppoker, papadelpoker all at .25/.50 (laughs) to now.

What did it take for you quit your job?

A $20,000 month (I’m a student I can live cheap).

What or who inspired you to start playing?

The idea of how much money I could make sitting on my couch instead of bartending or installing car stereos like I was previously doing. Also the traveling and the fact that I’m addicted to money doesn’t hurt the cause.

How long have you been playing at Bodog?

I’ve been at Bodog for a little over three years now. I have been playing the tourneys for only like 18 months now, but used to play more SNGs, heads-up matches and cash games then I do now.

Tell us about your best poker win.

My biggest poker win was for $223,600 at the Bellagio’s Five Diamond Classic. It was my second live trip after turning 21. I actually took second (in the chop, had a huge chip lead) but got such an amazing chop that I couldn’t turn it down.

Tell us about how you won this year's WSOP seat.

I bought into one of the main event qualifiers on a Sunday during my normal tourney line up. Did well the entire tourney but went into heads up a three-to-one dog and played my normal heads up game and came back to win the winner take all seat.

What do you think your chances are of winning the WSOP?

I would say with how my games going right now my chances are as good as anybody’s. But no crazy dreams here. Nine-thousand people in one tourney is crazy. I’ll give it my best. If not there’s always next year.

What would you do if you won?

I would take a few weeks off poker, go on a real vacation (no casinos). Then I would get back on the grind and win the cardplayer yearly (laughs).

And then what would you do with your time?

Either way win or lose I’ll be doing the same thing, minus playing some of the low stake tourneys I play if I won a half million or so at WSOP.

How will you spend your time off in Vegas?

All I really do in Vegas is play poker, eat and sleep. When traveling with the circuits there’s good poker to be played all day between tourneys, 2nd chances, SNGs and cash games. I’m there for work and I’ll play as much as I can.

What type of player are you?

I really don’t have a set style, my game depends on the table I’m at. I think my base style would be tight, but I have great instincts and play a lot on those feelings.

If you were to have a tagline (like Mike “The Mouth” Matusow), what would it be?

Johnathan “UFPokerstar” Westra. That’s because that's my online screen name and I’m not a very noticeable person at a poker table. I’m quiet unless the right table comes around. So if not my online name then I don’t know.

Who is your favorite poker player?

It will definitely have to be Phil Ivey. I just played with him in the WTP World Poker Challenge in Reno. He is a very aggressive and fearless player. I didn’t get involved with him much.

Qualify online for the WSOP and join Westra and the rest of Team Bodog in Vegas for the sickest poker tournament in the world.

PHOTO: Johnathan Westra.