England’s all-time leading poker money winner Sam Trickett told a national newspaper that it’s not just financial swings that have defined his 12-year career.
Speaking to the Daily Star, Trickett explained how living life as a high stakes poker pro comes with some extreme highs and lows. Since winning his first tournament in 2007, the 32-year-old has banked more than £15 million/$20 million on the live circuit and, in his words, a lot more in cash games.
“The most I’ve won in a day is about £7.6 million/$9.9 million. I’ve lost £1 million/$1.3 million in a day a few times. If I thought I was going to lose more than that I’d feel uneasy. So, when that happens I tend to quit so I don’t lose more,” he told the British newspaper.
Success Follows Skepticism
Delving further into his financial affairs, Trickett admits he’s a sucker for material things and currently has four properties, including a villa in Ibiza. Also on his list of luxury possessions are a $118,000 Range Rover and a $361,000 custom-made Ferrari.
Despite being able to afford the finer things in life, Trickett says he’s had to endure some life swings since turning pro.
“My dad was really anti-gambling at the time. I went broke a couple of times and my bank manager sat me down and told me to stop. It was hard because I knew they’d be right in other situations,” reads the Sept. 16 interview.
As well as conflicts of interests with his family, the English pro said that the lifestyle of a high stakes player can take its toll on a relationship. Prior to marrying Mieke Dockley in 2016, Trickett was in a relationship with childhood sweetheart Natasha Sandhu for ten years.
New Focus Eliminates Life Swings
Constant travelling, partying and the focus required to play at the highest level eventually forced the two to split in 2014. Four years on, the Partypoker ambassador says that he’s now achieved some balance in his life, even if he can’t control the swings at the table.
“I can do more things that I enjoy doing such as my charity work, which was always something I wanted to take part in. I never did before because I was a bit more selfish and driven when I was achieving what I wanted to achieve in poker,” Trickett said in a recent interview on the Partypoker blog.
