Over the past few weeks, I’ve shared some pivotal moments from my 2024 WSOP Main Event run—like the wildest bluff and biggest fold of my life. But through the course of writing those reflections, I stumbled upon something unexpected:
I might not be as terrible at this game as I thought.
If you follow any of my content, you’ll know that about 90% of it is self-deprecating. I roast myself more than the poker Twitter trolls ever could—and for good reason. I don’t study enough, I cut corners, and there are obvious holes in my game.
One area where I’ve been especially harsh on myself is tournament play. I don’t dig into MTT theory much and instead fall back on old (probably flawed) concepts I picked up grinding cash games. My short stack knowledge? Let’s just say it’s limited to the basics and vibes.
The WSOP Structure Saved Me
Thankfully, the WSOP Main Event plays deeper than any tournament on the planet. That meant I got to navigate a ton of deep-stack spots—where I’m way more comfortable thanks to years spent battling in live cash games around the UK.
I barely found myself short-stacked all tournament, which probably gave me an inflated sense of confidence. But for once, I’m choosing to run with it. Why not?
Changing as a Player
This year’s Main Event threw me into some really awkward spots—especially in Level 1. I did my best to work through them, then broke down the hands afterward with players I respect. The feedback? Surprisingly positive.
Yes, I folded kings preflop on Day 1 and yes, people thought I was mad—but it wasn’t fear. It was calculated. And that’s not something I could have said about my play a couple of years ago.
Back when I started playing live post-pandemic, I was anxious at the table. My decision-making was rushed, and my thought process foggy. Comparing that version of me to who I was during this year’s Main Event is like night and day.
Noticing My Own Progress
What hit me hardest was this: I’ve spent so much time tearing myself down, I never stopped to realize I’ve actually improved. Maybe not in every area, but definitely in a few key ones.
I’m more composed. I recognize my opponents’ mistakes. And I’m starting to exploit them in real time. For the first time, I feel like a better player—not perfect, but undeniably better.
A New Mentality?
When I zoom out, it makes sense. I’ve played countless live events with 888poker, grinded nearly full-time for the last three years, studied with top-tier coaches, and had access to the best resources out there.
If I hadn’t improved even a little, that would be a much bigger issue.
I’m not where I want to be, but for the first time in my poker career, I don’t feel like a fraud. And that feels like progress worth celebrating.
They say the key is to be honest with yourself—not just about what you’re doing wrong, but also about what you’re doing right. Improvement deserves recognition too.
So who knows? Maybe this is the beginning of a new mindset. One that brings real results. Or maybe I’ll completely punt off my stack at 888LIVE Manchester next month and go back to being my own worst critic.
Either way, we keep showing up.
