Online poker is more than just a game; it's a realm where lives can change with a single hand. Behind the avatars and stacks of chips are players who've experienced it all"”the exhilaration of big wins, the heartbreak of daring moves that backfired, and the relentless grind to remain on top. Whether they began as curious novices or fearless risk-takers, each player carries a story that immerses you in the highs and lows of the virtual table.
This article will explore the minds and lives of online poker pros who have shared their stories with us.
Xuan Liu: A Promise That Defined Her Poker Career
As told to Business Insider Africa, Xuan Liu never expected poker to shape her life. She shares her story of growing up in Toronto after emigrating from China as a child. She was just a kid playing mock poker games with her stuffed animals. Fast-forward a couple of decades, and Liu had earned $3 million in poker tournaments during a whirlwind seven-year career.
In 2010, Liu was a University of Waterloo student whose grades had slipped because of her growing obsession with poker. After losing her scholarship, she made a risky deal with her mom: She'd spend one-year playing poker professionally. If she failed, she'd settle down and get a "real" job. That year, Liu went all in"”literally and figuratively"”and hit two major six-figure wins within nine months. Soon, she traveled the world, met poker legends, and went head-to-head with players far beyond her experience level. From 2010 to 2017, Liu earned an impressive $3 million from playing tournaments on online casinos under the username xx23xx.
From Rock Bottom to the Poker Table: How a 19-Year-Old Overcame Depression and Suicide to Become a Pro
Here's a story on r/poker, a subreddit dedicated to poker lovers, posted by a user named tbox451, who shared how he went from being a degenerate gambler to a professional poker player. In 2013, at just 19 years old, this restaurant worker saved about $10,000 but felt trapped earning minimum wage. Chasing a dream of poker glory, he began playing poker on online poker sites. Then he became addicted, and within months, he lost his entire savings and another $15,000 over two years. His playing style was reckless"”betting wildly, over-bluffing, and chasing losses. Gambling consumed him. He blew through his paycheck in hours, often going days without eating because he'd spent all his money playing poker. He was depressed and thought about suicide before eventually reaching out to a prevention hotline. He ended up in a psychiatric hospital, where he began to rethink his choices. Rather than quitting, he resolved to approach poker as a skill-based game, starting from the bottom stakes with just $100. This time, he focused on learning strategy and improving his play, basing his decision-making on expected value (EV). Over a year, he turned that $100 into $7,000.
Despite this progress, his family, skeptical of his gambling, asked him to quit. Frustrated but determined, he cut ties and pursued live poker, quickly realizing he had a significant edge. In a month, he turned $700 into $10,000 and soon moved to Vegas while transitioning from online to land-based casinos. Success took work. His struggles with depression and losses resurfaced, but he refined his skills and eventually began to earn six figures annually. Today, he's amassed over $250,000 in live earnings, has a family, and is grateful for the journey. His story isn't meant to glorify gambling but to show the grit, luck, and support it took to turn his life around.
Dan "Jungleman" Cates on the mindset he used to become an elite Poker Pro
Dan Cates is one of poker's most celebrated players with $11 million lifetime earnings and back-to-back Poker players championship titles at the World Series of Poker (WSOP). In an interview with CNBC in August 2022, he shared his journey to the top and how it was full of challenges but was shaped by failures, lessons, and a mindset that transformed him from a struggling teen to a poker legend. Talking about the mindset he used to excel at poker, he shared a story about how arrogant he was growing up and how much he relied on his intelligence to succeed. But his losses at video games and poker taught him the value of humility and its role. In his words, "Arrogance closes you off to better opportunities." Poker involves many things, but a smooth ride isn't one of them. Losing streaks are inevitable, and Cates learned to stay composed under pressure. Keeping his emotions in check and focusing on the long-term game helped him thrive, even when things didn't go his way. Cates also notes that many opponents underestimated him, thinking he was foolish or inexperienced. And that arrogance became their weakness. "The more they thought I was an idiot, the harder they got crushed," he recalls. This mindset taught him that overconfidence often leads to downfall in poker and life.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Can you be good at poker?
Yes, poker is a skill-based game, and just like the 19-year-old who turned his life around, some players fail to realize this at the start of their journey. You must understand the game, including how to set up a strategy, manage risks, and read opponents.
- Do Poker Pros use their money?
Poker pros use their money, but what differentiates them from the average poker player is how they manage risks.
- Who are the best online poker players?
Notable names like Viktor "Isildur1" Blom, Daniel "jungleman12" Cates, and Phil Ivey are well-known in the online poker space. These experienced players have shown themselves to the world and graced with their skill, strategy, and flair.
Conclusion
From these stories, it's clear that becoming a poker pro isn't just about luck; it's about trusting your instincts, learning from your mistakes, and sticking with it through thick and thin. A few of these players even hit rock bottom mentally and financially, but they bounced back stronger. Poker requires mental resilience; these stories prove that it's more than just a game; it's a lifestyle.
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