Once upon a time, when I felt like having some beer and also doing some thinking — the idea came to mind: since we’re not recording the podcast temporarily, why not make an interview in text? I liked this idea, and I decided to develop it. Here we a…
Let’s start! Ann, many people ask you: do you want to answer questions about betting? Strategies, all that stuff. Maybe based on your old articles, you know… Everything you’ve written looks amazing from the outside. Are you ambitious?
I’m ambitious. But I’m not boastful. Though I think I have plenty to boast about: my articles can practically form a history of modern betting. At the very least, if you reread ‘tutta strada arriva a Roma’ or, for example, my blog on Uabets, you’ll find plenty of answers. But, you see, those articles were mostly written for myself. I enjoy writing for me, I love my own created language, I like seeing how my ‘ksta’, ‘cones’, and ‘chozh’ (along with many other phraseological shortcuts) have entered the internet and are used by people. So I often answer such questions tautologically: ‘Use them, chozh’.
In that case, let’s jump straight to questions about beer! And, of course, who is that wonderful tennis player in the picture?
That’s Ugo Carabelli himself! The famous Argentine, and Anya, as everyone knows, knows her stuff about the Arges. He really is wonderful (though not Schwartzman or Guido Pella), but here’s a counter question and it’s more serious… Want me to pour you some beer? From the questions about beer, I only know that there should be a lot of it. What could the question even be? Maybe about why I drink beer — that’s a twist? I like it. I like both the taste of beer and the effect it gives. On one well-known channel in certain circles, I often used to talk about, so to speak, the technique of drinking, and it came out smoothly. Then, though, I suddenly concluded that no one else drinks properly except me. Well, maybe a couple of close people. Tell me, would you have a Carlsberg with me? Or do you prefer craft beer?
Well, Anya. It seems like you’re dodging the beer question. That’s not very fair.
Well, you listen too, you’re so young… And already an interviewer. How can you dodge a beer question? The answer is clear: drink if you can. I drink too. I even gave a manual, we discussed it on uabets.com and in ‘Troika Pentaclei’. So I guess we’re discussing it here on betsportslive too?
That makes sense. And why, by the way, ‘Troika Pentaclei’? Why such an unusual name for the channel?
I’m an artist, that’s how I see it ©… I don’t even know what’s unclear (and especially unusual) about that name. It just suited my taste: it reflects my mental essence, directly connected to the tarot card (those who get it, get it, and those who don’t — well, that’s on them. Improv). You know, what question I liked? About whether I’ve ever hit rock bottom! The thing is, I didn’t spend my entire, far from entire, betting career as a pro. Pros back then? They placed accumulators, played catch-up, even entire threads on forums appeared with ‘professional’ catch-up.
I’ll interrupt you for a second. So you were really on the forums?
Well, listen, everyone was on the forums, absolutely everyone. What do you mean ‘really’? In the early days of betting (say, around 2004 and then 2012), it turned out that information was born in pure form (I see, by the way, that this process is repeating now), ideas were everywhere (not about sharpness, ha ha). We did what we could, as they say. And we waited for those who could do better (that’s a reference to the motto of ancient Roman consuls, if you didn’t get it)…
What about casinos? Did you play professionally there?
In casinos? Anya? Professionally? Open a beer, where’s your Leffe, Corona, or whatever you’re drinking… I gambled professionally there. It was a tough 2008, we gambled as we could ©™
That’s incredibly interesting! I’m opening a beer as per your advice, please tell me. What was happening in the casinos? In your blog on Uabets, Kava asked if you’re familiar with the Dnepr mafia characters. Are you?
Oh, you seem to want (not) to get me banned from private clubs. I can answer straight: everyone who played in those years (the 2000s and a bit later) was familiar with the mafia. Naturally, the center of the universe was no exception. We were the mafia of gambling (I still keep casino cards at home, it’s amazing memorabilia, but we’ll talk about that another time — this isn’t the last moment we’re discussing, we need to save something for future interviews and podcasts). I can tell an amazing story about how I once won a special casino prize draw. It happened in Cashville…
Where do you get all these stories from?
Well, you know, that’s life. So we’ll put that story on hold for later, okay. You’re interested in the stories behind the stories. Hmm. I don’t regret my major losses. Essentially (and in fact), I bought experience with my money, and that experience is priceless. As for the casino in the center of the universe (continuing), it was great. White piano, Versailles, Cashville… Even Aurora!
They asked about Aurora too…
Well, that was about the cruiser! And they asked in the context of ‘what dreams may come’… But I don’t discuss such questions; it’s too personal. An interview isn’t about turning inside out. It’s a soft, sociable process. Here we are chatting, and I’m just drifting on the free waves of past, present, and future. I like it, you like it, readers like it too… But I’ve never told and won’t reveal (in jargon) my entire personal or public life. I talk about such things with close and dear people. The format of an interview with pre-prepared questions implies a different way of asking.
You’re a bit sharp…
Yeah, like bold beer ©™
Do you talk like that in real life (I mean IRL)? I mean, you switch tones so quickly.
Oh, come on. C’mon even. The whole internet knows Anya is mean. Let’s not ruin that myth, okay? Those who know me better can draw their own conclusions. About how quickly I jump tones and so on. There have been many situations in life where I really had to switch tones, not always with nice people. And not always those people were happy with my performance in the conversation. And, accordingly, not always the conversations led to the desired results. Once, one of my acquaintances sold a tower crane! But that’s a completely different story…
Let’s go back to the start of the questions. Did you ever hit rock bottom? If yes, how did you get out? How does the older generation feel about your lifestyle? Hold my popcorn and also beer!
Oh, that’s a solid question. We’d need to drink a cup of coffee under it, but you’re on beer (he-he). So drink up, and I’ll tell you the answer, blowing smoke rings (see my avatar)… It went like this…
I’m getting comfortable.
Well, how are you, interviewer? I see you’re great. Shelter it, as they say in Ani’s personal language. I like these questions, even though they touch on personal stuff. Anyway, this interview is personal enough. Did I hit rock bottom? Ha! More times than I can count. I even lost track of the exact dates — that’s how many times I did. I remember in one tough year, I had 30k left (you can guess what currency I had)… I distributed it as I could: went to roulette, hit rock bottom there, had a good time, and then! Then I had 200 hryvnias left in my account (where there was a huge amount just recently)… 200 hryvnias, several phones at pawn shops, serious debts, gold in hock. Think it’s a detective story? Oh, no! At the same time, I was betting from an old laptop with one famous person back then in our (past) internets on tennis (betting on tennis, not the person). If I had lost, I wouldn’t have had anything to pay with; I’d have to hide.
Hide?
Go into hiding. But I didn’t want to hide; I bet Rafa against Andy (Andy is Murray himself, author’s note), some big NBA game (no, Boston wasn’t champions then, and before the golden era, I’d have to walk through a string of foggy memories), and other bets on Valencia (-1). It was 2009, as they say. We survived as we could! So, what was I saying, interrupter? Oh yes, about the 200 hryvnias. You know, it’s quite uncomfortable to go to a betting shop where you recently deposited a nice amount of money… with just two hundred rubles. At the very least, the cashier girl’s eyes (Hi, Natasha) widened for me. But we calmly left. Smoked. Didn’t ask each other questions. I got my 200 and…
Don’t keep me hanging!
Oh, you don’t understand. What ‘and’? I firmly hit rock bottom and, damn, left myself some for a comeback! Right in the account, you get it? That’s a joke! You wouldn’t do that, ha ha. Bet on Ljubicic against Andreev (or vice versa, who cares) at 1.18, and my player didn’t win. And in the bet, it turned out my opponent took my turnaround — get the volumes trouble? The rock bottom hangs; and where just yesterday we played 200k in the evening, I had to be happy with two hundred hryvnias. Have you, readers, ever been happy with such an amount? I was.
You’re telling this kind of bitterly. Or is it just me? I’m interested in what happened next, if those remaining funds helped… Maybe someone from your family helped?
No, that’s a stop. Maybe we’ll start discussing my family ties in these internets? Later, I spent (to spend means to spend money in the past over a period, such a nice verb) the cash on various useful and not so useful things, successful investments and not so much… Naturally, I can switch to a slightly bitter tone. I’m interviewing myself here upside down. It’s not about the violet scent of dawn and dusk; my life is unrestrained. It was and is. And I smilingly keep my secrets.
So did you get out of the situation?
Of course. Otherwise, this interview wouldn’t have happened. Most of my life, I’ve been busy getting out of situations. Let’s listen to a song, want to? Te aviso, te anuncio by Shakira (don’t confuse with annuncio, since annuncio is something about Ann). You love songs, I know for sure!
I do. It’s like you’re interviewing the interviewee… I like this approach: we’re sitting nicely, drinking beer. Like two girlfriends! Do you believe in female friendship?
Oh my god. Straight to the gut? That’s a debatable philosophical question. I believe in friendship. Female friendship exists in this world as serious exceptions. And I have no idea why people always ask me about female friendship? I have plenty of female friends; they’re good girls. We chat great, call each other, help one another. But the whole internet knows Anya is unfriendly, ha ha. I’m mean. And a bit dark inside. Who in their right mind would be friends with me? Who needs me? As you’ve figured, I don’t make divisions by gender in questions of friendship.
Anya, reading the questions asked of you, I like (see, I’m talking like you now) the direction towards betting… You won’t mind if I ask? Why. Why tennis? Why tennis and Italian football? What drew you to them? On Betsport and Uabets, and on DT… Even on Telegram! You always write about the same thing…
What phrasing. You should watch yourself saying that, or you’ll get the mean Anya, but we’re sitting friendly-like. Why? I like it. It’s close. I hope that answer didn’t offend you. I think readers will fall asleep if we drone on about that. Anyway, I’ll expand a bit: I love tennis with a tender love since Agassi in Atlanta 1996 (oh, I watched the Olympics on a black-and-white TV at grandma’s dacha), and football… Football probably later, but I can’t remember exactly when it all started. In a consulting mode, I’ve always been interested in sports. And since I always hung out with boys, that’s how it went. I’ve been in betting for a million years, in sports journalism even longer. I just love Italian football, calcio one love, and honestly, I’m glad people know me for Italian football & tennis!
Yolki motalochki! Tell me who your favorite footballer or at least tennis player is, okay?
At least, ha! David Ferrer, naturally. But since Ferrer (whoever messes with Davi would deal with me ©) has ended his professional career and is just chilling, opening academies, I’ll remind you. My favorite tennis players: Musetti, Berrettini, Tsitsipas. Musetti managed to lose 2:3 to Djokovic in a weird match yesterday (May 7, 2021), and I’m sad about that. And, anticipating your question about the photo of Matteo in the article’s illustration, I’ll say: Berrettini is wonderful. I generally adore everything Italian: you see, tennis too!
Tsitsipas is Greek!
Even more so, Tsitsipas is Greek™ (reserved a spot for the story)! They’re all my boys. You get it? You’d still ask about Argentine tennis, like a kid. Viva la Argentina & Italia, by the way… The new generation playing on challengers — they’re magnificent. I recommend, by the way, everyone follow the C-Tour. There are many interesting moments, especially when tournaments are on clay with strong lineups.
Since we’re on sports, let’s go back to betting… You’ll answer Kava on ‘why bet on every sport with 100500 bets a day?’ ©
To Kava — of course. I like coffee, ha ha, if that was the pun, and I’ve known Kava for a million years and we have a tender friendship. Well, what do you mean ‘why’? As any decent bettor, I tried to chase back the return from the probability field (guess whose quote) and chased it pretty well! But — only in magnitude. I remember developing a brilliant strategy in tennis, where you had to watch the exact number of games when breaking the spread. I think it was masterful, and I even know that many people use those developments now (that’s right to the question about my contribution to modern betting. It was vast. Read ‘tutta strada’ — it’s all laid out transparently, like in a nice book with pictures). So, in other words, I tried, placing 100500 little bets daily, to scientifically justify my losses. It’s simple. I did everything right, but variance didn’t favor me. It happens.
So in the end: what was your biggest loss (% of the bank) in a calendar year, and how many banks did you manage to lose in a year?
How often do you quit alcohol in a year (cleanses, hangovers, etc.) due to age/mood? (can be in hours, if days turn out too few)
I quit and start alcohol often; the joke about days landed. I know how to drink; in fact, I even wrote a manual on it. One person called it a ‘lecture course,’ and that’s basically what it is. As for percentages, I never counted banks in % — only nominal values, and that was ages ago on various forums, I don’t remember. We’re in for an exciting journey into this illusory-real world of Ani’s memories, but not everyone will take it. The most painful loss — 240 nom, but I’ve already bored the whole internet with that story. Sometimes I felt bad from losing 50$, sometimes great from winning 10 hryvnias. It’s all relative: sizes and gradations. As long as, as they say, the weather in the center of the universe is good!
Anya, let’s go for a walk? Just us girls. What will you wear?
Oh, I love female questions. I’ll wear anything: I have a fabulous wardrobe with tons of clothes. This also answers all questions about ‘jeans & skirts’ (also poker and the plant, as well as pushing or kailing). Everyone, excuse the directness, does it how they want. Anya chooses Pepsi; I’m from that generation. Even though I’m 18, as everyone has known for ages. And I don’t know what to do with this world if such simple questions still cause holivars on the internet. If we go for a walk, I’ll wear mint pants and a white top. You’ll recognize me from a thousand, dear!
Why not a skirt?
I can wear a skirt. I’m wonderful in everything; that’s a known fact!
Wonderful, Havi asked if you love reading…
And do you realize that constant gambling and alcohol destroy the personality?
You called me a destroyed personality. How could you? Okay, that’s Anya joking… I’m not in ruins (singing a song about myself, lighting a tasty cigarette). I really love reading and beer (also strong alcohol) too. I see no contradictions (as well as direct correlations) between gambling, alcohol, reading, and certainly between all that and any disorders. Anya is mean, but you won’t find anyone more positive in all worlds (don’t even try).
And for a nice finish to the first part: 42? Is Armageddon the end of chaos or the start?
Oh, my favorite questions. Catbert, 42 doesn’t mean the end. It’s not the last question. Hold on, universe! We’ve survived the coronapocalypse and managed to place bets during it. We’ll survive the post-coronapocalypse for sure. The world will be wonderful, kind, bright, green, and enchanting. It will smell of spring and even wonderfully enchanting sunny summer! Well, if not, then… we’ll make it that way ourselves. That’s the news from the center of the universe. This was overly candid Anya; see you!
PS: if anyone has more questions — send them in a way that’s convenient for you. They’ll go into subsequent interviews. As they say, you know how to connect with me: it won’t be a problem, if u know what I’m speaking about.
