It was exactly this present day last year that Team PokerStars Pro Matthias de Meulder busted out of the 2014 WSOP Main Event. He was the last Team PokerStars Pro left by and large Event.

"I remember reading that somewhere," he said. (Again, he read it here...) "It wasn't that much of an accomplishment, though. I BELIEVE we underperformed."

Today, he doesn't look in jeopardy in any respect. In fact, he's so relaxed, he's trading eyeglasses along with his tablemates and sitting behind a stack almost anybody else within the tournament would need. Exploring through the De Meulder lens is to take a look at future that goes far beyond Day 4 of the WSOP.

De Meulder plays a large number of deep-stacked cash games, an experience that might partly account for his ability to make back-to-back deep runs within the WSOP Main Event.

"I'm really in my comfort zone," he said. "I UNDERSTAND HOW to play the deeper-stacked game."

Unlike a large number of tournaments out there, the structure of this event is person who doesn't always reward people without patience, something that De Meulder has in spades.

"The Main Event is more or less unique, and also you do wish to adapt your approach. It'll depend greatly on who you might be playing with," he said. "You do see lots of people rushing, maybe going somewhat too crazy, while the structure offers you such a lot room to play."

With that understood, within the first two hours of Day 4, De Meulder managed to double his chip stack and, unless the day gets clear of him, likely seal an afternoon 5 berth.

"It actually depends in your table," he said. "Sometimes you'll play like a whole maniac and break out with it. Adaptation is key."

With his glasses sitting back firmly on his nose, De Meulder is now poised to guide the PokerStars team so far as he can, and this time, he can see a future where Team Pro doesn't underperform.

Brad Willis is the PokerStars Head of Blogging. Photography by PokerPhotoArchive.com

Read More... [Source: PokerStarsBlog.com :: World Series of Poker]