Young McDonald warns poker wannabes

Author: Simon Dexter

Poker babe Annette Obrestad is not the only youngster tearing up the poker world and the new kid on the block, Mike McDonald has a warning to would-be future champions.

Fresh from his success at the EPT Dortmund event, McDonald an 18-year-old, who hails from Canada, believes the only way to succeed at the game is to practice, practice and more practice -oh and read a few books as well.

McDonald began playing the game, like Ms Obrestad, at the age of 15 and claims it has taken endless hours of study and playing poker online to hone his skills. He reckons he plays online for up to 25 hours a week, will read for 50 hours and spend the rest of the time talking about playing poker with friends and fellow professionals

His warning is to youngsters who believe there is an easy route to becoming a star player.

“It’s like when you see these people who win million buying lottery tickets,” he said.

“On average, you shouldn’t buy lottery tickets because most people lose money in the lottery. It’s the same with poker.”

“Tonnes of people think it’s a get-rich-quick scheme. Most people aren’t really willing to try that hard at the game, and that’s why they’re not successful.”

“If you approach it like a game of skill and you’re constantly analysing your decisions and stuff like that you most likely will end up being successful, but 99 per cent of people who play this game just play.”

His comments have been welcomed by his home state’s Responsible Gambling Council whose spokesman Jon Kelly told the Orleans Star: “It’s a godsend that McDonald is smart and level-headed and isn’t telling the world to foolishly follow his lead.

“His success seemed to be the worst case scenario for problem gambling prevention.

“Not because there’s anything bad about what he did, but he’s now a role model and he’s going to be influential with many, many other kids who won’t have his skill and talent and discipline”.

Is Mike McDonald really interested in the welfare of fellow poker players or is he just scared there will be someone else coming along to challenge him? Whatever, he is still an exeptional talent who should be around for many years to come. Personally I think he should mind his own business. Who wants to be preached to by an 18-year-old.

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