Suuuper frustrating week on the whole, and only had one evening worth of poker.

Start of the week found out I had managed acquire not 1 but 2 speeding tickets, feeling like a total idiot for getting these (50mph in trivial 40s but not the point). On top of this my car needed some work doing to it, which resulted in more costs.

On top of this, played five-a-side on Tuesday, as I took a swing at the ball someone tackled just before I kicked it - connected with his shin which didn't move at full pelt. He seemed unscathed by the impact, same couldn't be said for my foot which left me limping around.

Obv constant connection issued which had me in two minds about deciding to grind throughout the week, on Thursday decided I would grind, once I had picked up my gf from her workplace. On the way over I get a flat tire resulting in a 1.5hour delay, meaning it was too late to be regging tonight.

Finally did grind tonight, not bad on the whole but left feeling fairly bitter having pure bubbled the 215 pko on party, followed by 4th in the marathon - on the face of it sounds a nice result but 3b jammed roughly 35bb over an open and a flat, opener folds, a very well known rec takes 5 seconds before figuring calling off is the play with KJo leaving himself 8bb behind, finds the K vs JJ and gg us.

Wouldn't usually feel hard done by in these situations but after this week feeling super fed up and exhausted by the stuff I've been put through daily.

In other news had two great 1on1 session, onewith Graf one with BenCB where in both I picked up loads of notes on how I should be pushing my game to the next level. Hoping to slot a 1on1 in pre WCOOP with Pads and this will certainly be the best (pokerwise) I've prepared for a series, feeling confident rolling into it, looking forward to seeing what the God's have instore for us.

Obviously a huuuuge day tomorrow, very excited.

I've often heard people repeat "there is only so much you can learn in the build up to WCOOP a month in advance, you've done the hard work prior to this" but I somewhat disagree. I've had my most productive month I can remember and feel like I've learnt so so many new things in this period. One month ago I was worried about how I would be heading into WCOOP, but I'm not sure I've held this level of confidence pre series in the past.

I feel super positive and have the belief something special can occur here, whereas usually I'm looking for damage limitation opportunities (not ideal obv). Have a football game before the grind in the morning which I'm able to rest well for tonight, on return will be ready to go.

Good luck lad!

Thanks man, you too <3

Started the morning with a football match, we had narrowly lost all friendlies up to this date, however despite a 20 minute appearance (we have 6 subs, 4 of whom all play left wing including myself) I managed to bag myself a goal in a 4-0 win, hopefully a sign of things to come...

WCOOP - Day 1

Unfortunately it was not a sign of things to come. Built a bunch of stacks, in a load of tournaments seemed to continuously lose that 1 flip guaranteeing you move into the money with a really decent stack.

Did however build up some sweats and didn't have a total car crash of a day, ended up 27th in the BB109 on stars running 99 into 10s, roughly 10 minutes later whilst in the money of the $1k 1mil Powerfest ran 99 into Jacks vs the one guy who had opened 60% of all hands over a 40 hand sample - still just shy of a 5k payday in that event, damage limitation does come into mind in this situation.

Move onto Day 2 tomorrow, doesn't look like I will take any days off until Friday (potentially Saturday based on Day 2's), in a good place mentally, not a bad opening day all things considered.

WCOOP - Day 2
Bunch of fun tournaments (fair few 530 PKO's) which did not disappoint, managing to run up stacks in a number of them.

Made our first Day 2 of the series outside of the phases, however came in the $55 rather than the $530 - Still 450left, but sat on a comfy 60bb or so. Picked up minimal bounties so far but actually profited in the 530 bounty builder and the 530 WCOOP events yesterday despite only mincashing 1, managed to find a number of decent sized bounties.

Again flips were the cause of my undoing, but that's going to be the case for the most part when busting these events.

Day 3 today, managed to get in a 1 hour gym session today despite really not feeling it (felt a lack of energy throughout the day) but feel much better for it now, much more awake and alert heading into my session. The $1k Super Tues to come along with a 530 and the day 2 mentioned previously, some nice opportunities on the horizon.

yep IN. gl !

WCOOP - Day 3

Had a car crash when it comes to the Super Tuesday $1k very early doors - I open A3 on the button, sb who is a well known aggresive reg calls.
Flop - AQ2r
I bet flop, get xr'd and peel. Turn = AQ2-3
Face a pretty big bet, close to 80% pot, call again.
River = AQ2-3-6r
Villain bets roughly 115% pot - has a very aggresive image, figure he can have 22 at full frequency, 54s at low frequency (expect these to get 3bet at a reasonable frequency pre). Don't block any broadway draws, he can still potentially have A2 also, make a call and get shown 54os - crushes is down to roughly 1/4 starting stack.
Not long later get QQ in pre vs KK for 30beebs or so, showers for us long before late reg closes.

In the mean time had manage to build quite a stack in the $55 Day 2 WCOOP. Had 200bbs at one stage, then lose chunks with AK vs QQ. Continue to then lose chunks with AA vs 33 where 3bet gets peeled pre, I bet flop/jam turn on 942-3 which was a pain. Find no hands, run 88 into AA and get showered in 33rd position - a deep run and great ROI, but a $1k cash total is pretty underwhelming given we managed to burn through that in under an hour.

An earlyish start tomorrow with the 530 WCOOP Deepstack coming, an event I always enjoy along with the 4max and multiple Powerfests.

GLGL for the series btw solidthought, hope to see you crushing

sounds pretty rough in those big ones. still plenty of time left to pull a Gilly heater, so fingers crossed

gym really does wonders. I am sooooo much more focused and relaxed when I play on days I went to the gym. pitty one would prolly burn out after going to gym every day though. wondering myself what activities to pick up before grind on non gym days for same effect

nice update! glgl mate

Yeah not ideal start but obv super early still

I'm probably going to buy myself a static bike shortly to use on off days from the gym - not for an intense workout but more for recovery and build up a little bit of a sweat, just so muscles aren't so stiff 1/2 days after a workout.

glgl buddy!

That’s a spicy sb peel with 54o...!


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I have a rower in my bedroom for this, I recommend


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WCOOP - Day 4

Not really looking forward to writing this but here goes...

Most likely the worst day I've had this year - not in regards to amount of $$ lost (although it stands at a pretty hefty figure) but the way I've run. It's not as frustrating if nothing really gets going all day, but managed to find numerous stacks in a bunch of good tournaments (215bb, 530 WCOOP and 530 Powerfest) just to bust them all in pretty spectacular/head scratching fashion.

Made a couple of mistakes, but just been getting ran over by the deck all day, everyone fancying getting underpairs in vs me pre and finding sets for fun, including a spot 25 away from the money in the $530 psko on party where I open, 3 flats behind, BB decides to rip 40bb effective with A5s, I call QQ, no good.

Later start time tomorrow at 5pm UK time for the 530 Powerfest, little more time to chill and will be going to the gym.

WCOOP - Day 5

Managed to build up 2x starting stack in the Thursday Thrill $1k which was nice, however from there it all went down hill. Kept losing plenty of pots, and didn't get going in any tournaments other than the 215 powerfest, which I ended up finishing 30th or something.

Ran almost as bad as the previous day but remembered to do headspace before this session and felt much more at ease with the beats after being extremely frustrated on Wednesday.

This morning I had a session with mental coach Dan Heskett, where I explained my key issues, described my background and suchthen had a 30 minute long hypnotherapy session. Was very similar to meditation, but felt pretty weird for the first 5 minutes knowing there was someone I could interact with on the other side of the call. Helped me refocus on some areas and improve confidence which I think is my biggest leak currently.

Later start time again today, hopefully will be grinding tomorrow due to a Day 2 appearance but failing that will be kicking back before the Sunday session.

hehe i have headspace too.... i stopped using it tho cos the YouTube adverts for it tilted me somehow ahah even tho i enjoyed the little bit i tried.

What was the hypnotherapy like? was it your first one?

Sounds like your really focused on doing your best so seems your in a great spot to have a really top year best of luck this coop and il be following closely get em gill

Yeah my first ever hypnotherapy session - at times felt like I was kind of giving the answers that I was expected to give because I couldn't look past them, but expect to probably have some more in the future - it reinforced the habits that you know you should have, but can't be arsed to apply due to distractions/lack of motivation, really helped refocus the mind.

GLGL, enjoyed your streams btw, I think lots of streamers feel the need to show how good they are at poker and not portray any doubt in their decisions and become a little close-minded/start stating opinions as fact, but to see your mind work in real time, asking all the questions and challenging yourself is great to see, refreshing imo.

WCOOP - Day 6

Following the hypnotherapy chilled for a little bit then got into grinding. Recognised I needed a bit more aggression/arrogance in the way I play (little ironic after what I just suggested to solidthought I know) and instead of putting my chill music playlist on decided to rock out to my skiing playlist which I feel had a positive impact.

More success when it came to results, and still ran pretty bad in a bunch of high stuff - I'm continuously putting myself in these positions to have a shot at tournaments, if it's not winning my flips/losing to 2 outers pre that result in weak finishes I have to find comfort in that - knock on the door enough, eventually someone will be home.

Actually busted the $530 PKO very quickly in a standard iso spot, got the green light however to re enter due to it looking like a sizeable overlay was on the cards. Faired better this time but crashed in around 40th for about a 2k payday.

Score of the day came in the Stars $109 Bounty Builder - ran a sizeable bluff 5 handed or so on 6K10ddx-Ad-5h where it went limp pre/check, jammed river with Jdx, villain took his full 60 second timebank before calling AA which I'm certain wasn't a slowroll - if that hand comes close to folding I think the bluff has to be printing. Ended up 4th for roughly 5k total, meant I finished the day roughly +5k.

Day off today, helps that friends are back in the area who are yet to see the flat so will be chilling with them. No football game tomorrow so probably hitting the gym pre grind.

WCOOP Day 8

After having a really nice chilled Saturday with friends and no football game on the Sunday morning scheduled, I was ready to get stuck into the grind.

In all the bounty events I seemed to make a good amount in KO's, whether I cashed or not. In the first tournament of the day I regged (the $1k WCOOP PKO) managed to find a day 2 which resumes very shortly, lost a big flip with just minutes to go until the day ended but 16/21 with roughly 25bb is looking solid, we at least have a sweat.

Also ran up a stack in the $530 Powerfest F/O just to be eliminated in 23rd place having ran AK into AA pre, roughly a $2.4k score. Great to have two solid Sunday's in a row, with the chance of making large amounts of money today although I've learnt over time not to get my hopes up too much - been crushed by many a championship event day 2.

VAMOOOOOOOO <3

ayyyy gg bud

WCOOP Day 9

Originally scheduled to start grinding at 5pm UK time, however with the restart at 1pm I decided to stick to this plan and 1 table until I busted. Stack was pretty swingy although didn't really have chunks at any stage. As we closed in on the final table I was one of the shortest.

Final Table

I was very fortunate in that when I was around <15bb there weren't other stacks I had to be aware of due to ICM, with the majority chilling on 25bb+ - this made my game plan a little easier to implement happy to take a spin when required. Managed to get some doubles along the way without taking any bounties for the entirety of the final table.

4 Handed

There were some strong dynamics going on 4 handed. One player seemed to be approaching it pretty solid, avoiding getting out of line on the whole and was the chipleader which was a relief, given I wasn't getting pressured so hard. Then there were the other 2 - playing preeeetty aggro, lots of inspired hands, with this being on my favourites:

https://www.boomplayer.com/28708008_277299921F

For those unable to see, sb decided to look him up with T2os in this situation - little ambitious perhaps.

We then moved on to being headsup somewhat even with villain who had been big stack for majority of the tournament, unfortunately the tournament was over relatively quickly as I managed to lean it off - happy with my play in suggested hand, villain certainly had hands that were capable of folding all streets, unfortunately he did not end up with one of those hands, meaning we came 2nd for $57k



Obv being a PKO a huge jump between 1st and 2nd (along with winning just the one bounty myself during Day 2) but super happy with the payday and has me out of makeup comfortably for the first time since February.

Back to the grind tomorrow from an early 2pm start after a gym session, lots of fun ones happening all day, likely taking Wednesday off unless I find myself a Day 2 appearance. VAMOSSSSSS

congrats! do these multiple long periods of being in makeup and not having income not stress you out a ton? Cash game pro is already stressful enough, idk how you full time mtt pros stay sane.

lol indeed +1. I play full time cash and fire up some MTTs during the series and on a casual sunday and those mtts drive me NUTS! XD

Gratz buddy !!!!!!! to the next !

+1 also haha. I literally gave up mtts and hired a cash coach as I couldn't hack printing EV and losing over a 1 year period.

So it's nice to sweat some of the legends!

nice job gilly

Thanks for all the love guys <3
When people are asked what the most important thing to do when looking to play MTT's full time, the majority of answers are about game selection. Obviously it's very important, but I never see the most important aspect given as a response - and that's being a bit of a life nit at times. So many past top mtt regs no longer play because they were too impulsive with money, focusing on high end materialistic things. year long downswings are pretty standard and you need to plan for that being a possibility, easier said than done as you find yourself a $20k+ score and want to go mental with it.

WCOOP Day 10

An early start today due to the $1k PKO kicking off at 2pm. Unfortunately too early for me to end up getting a gym session in as I had to run some errands, but managed to get to the gym after the grind (obv day didn't go as planned based on this).

Ran up a stack nicely in the $1k, unable to find a day 2 but I did cash for roughly $3k, pretty much paying for the day. Bricked just about everything else apart from a couple of $55's which resulted in mincashes.

Day off tomorrow before grinding all the way through the other end of this coming weekend.