My Poker Journey in 2018

Before the end of 2017 I set myself some goals for 2018 and here'e a look back to how I did.

In February I officially ceased my employment so I guess you can say I "turned pro" in Feb. However I feel a more accurate description would be I was unemployed between Feb - June and decided to pursue poker as a career at the end of June.

My poker this year - looks good but pretty shaky when inspected

I started the year really strong and final tabled the APPT Platinum Series Main Event. I also cashed in the APT Vietnam main event and I was on a roll. Then I had a series of bad results. Red Dragon, APPT Incheon, APT Seoul, honestly I look back and I knew I wasn't playing well. My head wasn't in it and I wasn't focused. I took time off poker for a couple of months and started playing again in June. Still I didn't do well. I felt I was being impatient and trying to make moves that had low chances of success. It wasn't till the end of July I told myself I played so badly I deserved to lose, and I bucked up and the results started rolling in.

Sorry APL, ugliest trophy I have ever seen but I'll take it

Before the year I set myself a goal to cash at least 10 times and win my second trophy. I managed to do just that. I cashed 11 times, including 2 trophies, making 8 final tables, finishing 2nd and 3rd once each. I had a great run from August to October but fizzled out in November and December where I bricked everything I played in. On one slight bright side, I was on the feature table twice at the WSOP main event where I played decent. I bluff jam with ace high, max value 3rd pair, max value a full house but also made 2 calls that were questionable. Lol. I did also win 4 other trophies in OFC as well.

On the feature table

4 OFC trophies

I put some money into Crypto in the 3rd quarter and as you all know what happened after that. It has been a rough year for me financially. Having lost the safety of a stable income, playing poker professionally can be really frustrating and stressful. At one point I was doing okay because there was a cash game I was consistently doing well in. But that game got busted and the people involved were thrown in jail for 6 months. That was a wake up call for me.

To be honest, 2019 is looking bleak. Bricking tourneys is not fun and it is a huge blow to the bankroll. But I am proud to say despite not having the best year I gave the most this year to charity. I am not trying to toot my own horn but I believe in doing what I do with integrity and purpose. Maybe the Big guy upstairs will have mercy on me and give me a second chance.

I don't even dare to set any goals for 2019 as I am not living month to month. But if possible I hope to better my results from this year and hopefully have some traction in my financial life. But whatever it is, for those who know me, I will always have a smile on my face, willing to help others whenever I can, and be the best I can be.