2022 Year End Review

As per my blog's tradition, each year I will review my year based on the resolutions I have set for myself and look forward to the new year with great expectations. I am also pretty happy that I've kept this blog going for 7 years without fail, documenting my journey as a poker player and my involvement in the industry. I hope I can keep going and somehow I have a feeling the best is yet to come. 

Kirstenbosch, Cape Town South Africa

The first resolution I had for 2022 was to be hyper disciplined. I can't say I did that earlier in the year. As the economy started to falter, I felt the pressure to seek alternative sources of income and during that time I definitely deviated from my plans a bit. However in June/July I gave myself a wake up call and turned it around. I am proud to say I have been quite disciplined since then. For more than 1 year now I have stuck to my one-meal-a-day diet 95% of the time. I've not made a degen bet even with the World Cup nor table game bets even though I am often bored and stuck near a casino. I am more aware of my mental state during games and I've stayed patient and controlled in later tournaments in the year. 

Hanoi, Vietnam

In the beginning of the year I've set myself a goal to seek alternative sources of income. I did rely on crypto income for a while but when the whole economy started tanking I felt kind of lost. However later I did land a couple of additional sources of income, not a lot but enough to stop me from panicking and potentially doing something stupid. 

Montecasino, Johannesburg South Africa

I wanted to play more poker in 2022 and I definitely did compared to 2021. But I started traveling for poker after May. Some selfish idiot decided to call the cops on a juicy regular game so I had to seek alternative games. Maybe it was a blessing in disguise after all. This year I travelled to Manila, Hanoi (3 times), Ho Chi Minh, Genting Highlands, Phnom Penh (twice), Hoi An, Johannesburg and Cape Town. I played in 9 main events in total and cashed 4 of those. Final tabled 4 times at side events including two 2nd place finishes. Cashed a Mystery Bounty event for the first time in my career whilst picking up my 8th Hendon Mob country flag. Not too shabby for just 7 months of part time grinding. South Africa was extra special because it was the 20th country I've played poker in and now I've covered all 5 continents in the world. 

Danang, Vietnam

Health wise I didn't do much exercise but I have lost 9kgs from my highest weight and kept it off the whole year. The trick is simple, just one meal a day, a more aggressive intermittent fasting technique. It is not hard at all and this VIDEO is where I got the inspiration. Apparently it is not just to lose weight. It comes with plenty of health benefits. I want to live a long life and I think I can contribute to the world more if I get the time and opportunity. I encourage you guys to watch that video and try it for yourselves.

View from Signal Hill, Cape Town South Africa

This year was not a financially great year for me. Although I did make money through poker, I've lost my net worth from other things. We are still living in a recession and due to family reasons I can't be playing poker full time, so that limits my income and financial security. However this year was probably the happiest I have been in my life. I've learned to appreciate the blessings I have in my life that are more important than money and material needs. My poker buddy recently passed away, and over the years I've also lost two other poker friends, one to COVID and another who took his own life. It made me appreciate life more than anything else, and the importance to be happy and contented. I see some of my friends making millions, driving fancy sports cars but I doubt they are half as happy as I am. I would not trade the path I'm on with anyone of them. 

Hoi An, Vietnam

2022 was a year that I grew up a lot. Sounds funny coming from a guy my age, but I've learned so much about myself, my life and how I want to live it, what's important what's not, and what I want to do when I do reach my financial goals. Some people might think my faith is dumb but if they knew how happy I am, they would envy me. Everything that I have is from God, especially my positive outlook on life. However I feel my time to shine is coming, (trophy number 5? or my first ring/bracelet?) but even if it doesn't, I will continue to live happily in faith.

I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (Phil. 4:11–13)

POKER GUIDE TO : Poker in South Africa

Never did I think I would ever play poker in South Africa but surprisingly I had a great time. The South Africans are a super friendly and hospitable group of people. Even before landing in South Africa I have already made a few friends and they offered me plenty of suggestions and advice making my trip much smoother. I met with most of them and they were just as nice in person as they were online. 

I landed in Johannesburg so I spent a few days there exploring the local cash games. According to most of the people I've met, COVID has pushed the cash game scene online and to private games. The only casino game anyone knew was at Montecasino. Typically it starts at around 7-8pm every night and game ends at 2am when the casino has to close. The only game is 10/25 ZAR (roughly USD 0.6/1.50) but I usually sit down with 10k ZAR (USD 570). Rake is 5% capped at 150 ZAR. There is a bad beat jackpot that's slightly easier to hit than others as one card plays. Most drinks are free and some days there are 2 tables. One thing I didn't like was they played up to 10 handed but otherwise the game was fun and reasonably soft. I've heard of many private games (most of them USD 3/6 or higher), some hosted by my newly made friends, unfortunately I didn't have to chance to partake. I hope to be able to try them out if I get to visit again.

Montecasino, Johannesburg

The tournament I joined was called Monster Jam Poker Tour (MJPT) or also known as the Sunbet Poker Tour. They have 5 stops all over South Africa every year but I think I probably chose the best one for my first experience. Cape Town is an amazingly beautiful city. I was truly mesmerized by the natural beauty of the cape. Johannesburg was not bad but Cape Town is in a league of its own. Table mountain stands majestically in the middle of the city surrounded by world class beaches that lined the coast, shades of clear blue water and clear blue skies, almost everywhere you turn is like a screensaver or wallpaper-worthy scenery. The tournament was brilliantly run as well. I have been regularly playing tournament poker since 2013, and I know how hard it is to please everyone. But not every organizer has the players' experience at heart. MJPT I felt was passionate about building the industry in the region and genuinely wanted everyone to have a good time. The atmosphere felt more like a extended friendly home game rather than a competitive tournament series. Almost everyone knew everyone else, players were chatty and friendly on the table, pros and recreational players all had a great time. They also had a world class live stream to boot. There is another brand of tournaments called ShuffleUp Poker or South Africa Poker Open, but I had an unpleasant experience in my limited interactions with them. Based on the data on Hendon Mob, MJPT has better turnouts and prize pools so no loss there I suppose. 

Camps Bay, Cape Town

One of the people I met on the tour was South African Poker Pro David Rosenthal, affectionately known as Bozo because he was the class clown in school and that nickname stuck since then. We were fortunately seated next to each other in the SHR and we quickly hit it off. We shared a similar sense of humor, love for poker and travel and even though we've just met, it felt like we've known each other all our lives. He made me feel at home and my trip was much more memorable because of his friendship and banter. We had the opportunity to have dinner together too and made plans to link up in Morocco and Taipei next year. I want to dedicate this article to him as only a few hours ago I received news that he passed away suddenly. We were just on a phone call a couple of days ago planning our hotels in Morocco and to hear that he's gone is hard to take. I told him in South Africa I have a feeling we will be lifelong friends and he agreed. Most of the people I met in South Africa were really kind and nice but David was a level above. Reading the comments on his Facebook now confirmed my impression of his character. He was well loved and respected, a truly wonderful human being, one of the rare ones. Till we meet again my South African brother. 😢

Till we meet again brother 👊

The lack of public cash games is a worry for the industry and a hinderance to the development of new players. David was very passionate about growing the poker industry. We discussed starting a Poker Association and poker school in South Africa and I might do that in his honor. Overall I had a great time in South Africa and gained so many friends including a life long brother only to be taken away so quickly. But it has only reinforced my passion to travel for poker. Win or lose, you might meet and make the most amazing friends, and the chances of doing that in friendly South Africa is just that much higher. 

Cape Town Monster Jam Poker Tour (MJPT) Report

South Africa, the 20th country I've played poker in, and I must say it's probably the most interesting, eye opening, most surprising trip I've had. Before taking the trip I've been told plenty of things about South Africa, so I had formed some preconceptions about the place and the people and boy was I wrong. Mind you there are places that are dangerous, and so far every house I've seen comes with a high fence and some even electrified, but if you're not street smart, there are dangers in any city or country. But the land is definitely blessed. Beautiful ocean, majestic mountains, wide open plains, incredible flora and fauna, it's hard not to fall in love with it. 

I could see Table Mountain from my hotel

But what surprised me the most is the people. Strangers still greet each other politely, hold doors open, apologize for being in the way or bumping into you even though it's not their fault. I was giving way to a lady from an opposite direction on a narrow path, she took the time to say, "thank you for being a gentleman". Everywhere you go, people greet each other, "how's it" is the most common, but also with sincerity. I've made so many friends from this trip, some I know will be lifelong. The organizers kept mentioning the Malaysian guy, so random people would walk up to me, say my name, shook my hand, gave me fist bumps, offering compliments and congratulations, it was such a nice feeling and I felt a bit sad for it to end. 

Did you know South Africa has Malay culture

It's hard to run a perfect tournament series, and Monster Jam had it's share of hiccups and challenges. But overall it's run with passion, a willingness to further the industry in their region, and a super friendly family-feeling vibe which I loved. If you've watched the livestream production it's definitely the best I've been on. (and I've been on WSOP and WPT streams) And if you're wondering, yes I turned my AJ into a 5-bet bluff and got lucky. There were dead money and I thought I could get the cold caller to fold..... 

Kirstenbosch Botanic Gardens

First event of the series I felt rusty, and maybe overly excited. When it was blind vs blind, sb opened 8x so I jammed with KJcc only to be snapped off by AA. Who opens 8x with AA on the sb?!? But the next one I did well to finish 2nd for my biggest score this year. Could have won it had I not been 2 outered but that's poker. I followed that up with my first mystery bounty ITM for a small profit but fizzled out in the main busting 2 bullets. Overall a profitable series and I made money for my friends who bought action as well so can't complain. A multiple cash series and a sniff at a trophy, 2/5 ITM rate, I'll take it. 

Blue ocean market indeed

Will I return? Given the opportunity you betcha! One thing other players need to learn from the South Africans is to loosen up on the table. Not your ranges, but your mouth. Poker is a social game, not a prostate exam. We were cracking jokes at every table, making friends, having a good time. It made recreational players enjoy the process and feel less intimidated. If you want to grow an industry you have to reduce the hostility, and increase the hospitality. This will forever be one of my most memorable poker adventures. 

Slap a mat on it and let's play poker

Beautiful market and produce