Interview with First-Time WSOP Circuit Ring Winner Jon Kyte

Tallinn, Estonia recently played host to the whirlwind WSOP Circuit festival, marking a first for this part of Europe. Amidst the 12 ring events, a special spotlight shone on Event #8: €1,100 PLO 4&5 Cards. The victor of this one-day event was none other than Jon Kyte, who outplayed a field of 143 entries to clinch a coveted WSOP Circuit Ring along with a hefty money prize of €34,780.

The heads-up battle saw Kyte overcoming Finland’s Olli Rummukainen, amidst a tournament landscape where Finnish players were absolutely asserting dominance. An amusing sidebar to Kyte’s journey involved a casual massage during a €60 satellite for the event. According to olybet.tv, post-massage, Kyte whimsically offered the masseuse a 5% stake, which she accepted. As fate would have it, she ended up being his biggest cheerleader at the final table, and walked away with a sweet €1,739 payday.

Following his win, we caught up with Jon Kyte to get his take on this victory and his poker journey thus far:

Jon, you’ve been globetrotting all year. Among the many places you’ve played, which location holds a special place for you, and why?
I really like Barcelona, they have the weather, the beach at the doorstep of the casino and of course the food.
 
Since our last conversation, you’ve had a stellar run, including a 4th place finish in the Eureka Main Event and bagging your first EPT trophy in the H.O.R.S.E event. Did you expect this year escalating with big wins at EPT Barcelona and now, WSOPC Tallinn?
I don’t really have any expectations. I just prepare myself as good as possible. Show up and work hard. The results always come to the ones who work for it.

You’ve dabbled in and excelled at various poker formats. Which one is your favorite one?
I think that hold’em is the most important format, if you want to make poker your living, but I do enjoy all formats, that’s why I play everything. If I should choose one tournament format it would be dealers’ choice, but if I should choose only one game, I think fixed limit 2-7 triple draw is the best game.
 
As you reflect, would you say 2023 has been your best year in poker?
I think the most important year of my career was 2017. However, I would rank 2022 in front of 2023. Getting 4th in two different EPT National Main Events as well as many final tables and my first EPT trophy.

What’s on the horizon for you this year, and how do you see your poker career five years down the line?
My goal for the rest of the year is just to play good poker, travel and enjoy my life with my loved ones. And hopefully make a big final table, preferably EPT Main Event.
 
Rewinding back to 2017, when you dove into full-time poker, did you expect this level of success?
I would never expect to be even close to this successful. I’ve been very fortunate to get this far and will do my best to continue to deliver content and results.
 
What’s next? Where will we see you hunting for more trophies?
I’m heading for the Norwegian Championship now before going to EPT Cyprus, then straight to Malta and then Las Vegas before taking some time off.

2023 WSOP Circuit Talinn Event #8: €1,100 PLO 4&5 Cards Final Table Results