No degree, no problem!

Making more money than he could have imagined in his lifetime, John says he has no regrets quitting school to explore the thrills of online poker. It was while doing so that the 28-year-old began honing his skills to perfection to become the best player in Trinidad and Tobago according to www.pokertableratings.com.

Putting in close to 110 hours per month, John has his own rags to riches story, amassing a fortune in this unconventional method.

“When I used to go to UWI we used to lime and play cards a lot. First we played All Fours, then we began playing poker for ‘play money’ then I noticed some people playing for real money and joined. It was kind of addictive, I used to win and lose but I wasn’t that good.

“The same guys I used to play with told me of Poker Stars website and there I played some free entry tournaments and I came like 111th out of 10,000 players and got 80 cents. I built it up (my fortune) from that.

“I never deposited money because I didn’t have a credit card or anything like that. I can’t tell you the exact figures but last year I made approximately US$75,000,” he said, smiling.

John is forced to live somewhat of a secret life, though, as he has to hide his job from the rest of his family who he feels will not approve of his “job”.

“They don’t really understand it and as it is poker they would consider it gambling and with gambling there is always a negative connotation. I try not to let them know because I think it would change their view on me.

“But it’s becoming more popular now and you see poker on ESPN and game show networks so people are slowly beginning to accept it but in Trinidad it’s not that popular,” he said.

Despite the riches he has accumulated so far playing poker, John admitted that he faces several problems due to his line of work.

“For one, I don’t have a steady income. I got denied a visa last year because I don’t have a job letter. I can’t really get a loan from the bank because the bank wouldn’t consider it (online poker) a steady source of income.

“Sometimes when I’m not feeling to play I have to play and it’s kind of a solitary job, I don’t really get to interact much with people,” he siad.

On the flip side, he outlined the positives of being a professional player and not having to work an 8am-4pm or 9am-5pm shift.

“I work from home, I don’t have to stick to any fixed schedule. I can work at my own leisure I can take time off whenever I want and basically I’m my own boss. I can make even more money than if I’m working in a normal job,” he said.

John acknowledged that luck plays a big part in the sport which encourages people to play as they feel they have a chance of winning. And the best players almost always find amateurs wanting.
“Definitely there is skill, but luck too. As with golf, an average player can’t go play with Tiger Woods and expect to win but in poker the luck factor is there. So an average player can sit with a top player like (nine- time World Series of Poker champ) Phil Ivey and still have the better odds than if he was playing another sport with a professional athlete,” he said.

Asked if he intends doing this for the rest of his life, John said he has not decided as yet but did say he was already investing some of his earnings to generate income elsewhere.

“Sometimes I get burnout and don’t feel like playing but I might need the money and have to play. I’m trying to diversify and invest in other stuff like real estate so I can have a more secure income. So if anything happens to poker I have something to fall back on,” he stated.

Questioned about how it feels to be one of the best players in the Caribbean, John expressed indifference, stating that it’s all about the dollars for him.

“To me, I don’t really care about being the best it’s mostly about the money. The guys I’m competing with are from all over the world. I won’t say I’m one of the best (in the world) but there are much better guys than me playing at much higher stakes and making much more money. You don’t have to be the best to make money at poker, you just have to be in maybe the best ten percent,” he said.

John’s success, although unnoticed by his family, has not gone undetected by his peers who have acknowledged his rise since turning pro in 2008.

“A lot of people have been asking me for coaching recently. I was approached by a popular poker training site to make videos for them but I declined the offer. The offer was too little for the time I would have to invest. When I make the videos people would get to see how I think and a lot of the players I play (against) would watch the video and get a better insight into my game and learn to adjust and make better decisions versus me,” he continued.

On the view that he was living a life of sin, John was unapologetic and defiant, stating: “It’s nothing illegal. Casinos are not illegal and I would say no one is free of sin.”

Asked if he regretted not finishing his degree, John said the money he has acquired showed that the ends has justified the means.

“I didn’t complete school because of this (poker). Sometimes I wish I did finish school so if it didn’t work out I had something to fall back on but right now I have no regrets because it’s been working out perfect so far,” he declared.

Asked if others should follow his blueprint to success, Frank stressed that his way was too risky and advises that others thinking of playing poker online as a way ahead should stay in school.

“The games have gotten much tougher over the years and in order to make enough money to make a decent living now would require a lot of dedication. If things don’t work out they would have essentially no stable income.

“I would advise if they want to make a living playing poker that they finish their studies first so they can have something to fall back on,” John advises.