Bodog Poker Pro Evelyn Ng at the 2008 WSOP

by Evelyn Ng | Jul 25 2008

The five or so weeks of summer which occupy the World Series of Poker is a pretty exciting and hectic time for thousands of poker players. Many travel from around the world to make Las Vegas a temporary home for the series of tournaments, but for local players like me, it can be just as difficult to adjust to the busy schedule and the duress of non-stop poker action. With over 50 events, satellites and cash games to choose from, it can be very easy to suffer from WSOP burnout. 

As stressful as it can be, there is also a very social atmosphere going on as well. Whether it's old friends reconnecting or internet friends meeting for the first time, it can feel like a high school reunion or, being at the Rio, even Carnivale. Some people choose to stay in constant poker mode, but having fun and some rest and relaxation with good friends can be a welcome and even necessary break from the grind.

In past years, I felt like I was under pressure to play as many events that I could, but I found myself struggling to stay sane and sharp by the time the main event came around. I've now learned that the time I spend away from the poker table is just as important as the time I spend at the table. I'm somewhat envious of some of the newer poker players who have the enthusiasm and stamina to play over 30 events or those who play more than one tournament per day or even at a time. 

Back when I was still a relative "newbie," I pretty much ate, slept and breathed poker for a couple of years. But as a poker veteran, I don't quite have the endurance that I used to. I sometimes feel like an old lady getting lapped at the gym by all these young punks! Playing the WSOP is kind of like competing in the Olympics, and when it's all over, the final event is like running the New York City Marathon right after it!

I've found that I play best when I have some downtime in between tournaments. I tend to lose focus if I'm not getting enough sleep, and it can be especially hard to do so with these kinds of structures. Personally, I think it is inhumane to have to play more than 10 hours of No Limit Holdem per day. Since the surgeon general has not yet done anything about this health issue, I decided that I would limit myself to only a few events and have ample time to rest in between them. 

I also thought it was best for me to forgo the $1,500 buy-in events this year. While there is really good value in the smaller buy-in events, the fast structure and low starting chips made early play too much of a crap shoot for my taste. And in previous years, I also found it really unmotivating to bust out pretty consistently by the second or third level, and surviving until a dinner break felt the same as making a Day 2.

This year, I played in five WSOP tournaments, and I cashed in two of them: 48th place in the $1K Ladies World Championship and 238th place in the $10K Main Event. I also played in the $5K No Limit Shootout, and although I did not win my first table, I made a deal with Mats Gavatin, a young Swedish player whom I got heads-up with (he was really good!). I showed a decent profit this year, although I do regret not playing a few more events than I did. Overall, I felt very calm and happy throughout the series, and perhaps as a result of that, I was pleased with my play as well. It was nice to not be completely stressed out and tired, and I was lucky to get to spend some time with friends who live abroad and whom I don't get to see often enough.

I felt very confident and prepared for the Main Event. The structure was even better this year than ever before, so my plan was to play patiently and avoid any trouble situations and play small pots. I stuck to that strategy pretty well and managed to have a pretty steady climb, making my first Day 4 ever. I felt like I was playing the best poker of my life, but the rigorous tournament schedule may have gotten to me, because I made a crucial mistake where I called off $75,000 in a situation where I was very unlikely to be good. I was very upset after the hand because I had just given away a big portion of my stack. I felt like I was able to keep my composure and not go on tilt, but I ended up busting out an hour later when I found myself shortstacked with 10s against kings. 

My biggest regret is not looking into the tournament structure before choosing my starting day. The surviving players of Day 1 A&B got to have a day off to rest while the C&D players played on Day 2B, but there was no day off before Day 3 for us. I can't blame my bad play on that, but I think that being extremely tired on Day 4 definitely clouded my judgment. I might regret making that call for the rest of the year, but I am still very proud of my performance this year and I had some respectable cashes as well. I learned a lot from my experience at the 2008 WSOP, and I'm already starting to prepare for next year!

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