i am pokermax
My name is Vic de Guzman. I am an amatuer poker player from the Philippines.
Though I play a lot of poker, both tournament and cash games, I still do not consider myself as a professional player. However, I consider myself a student of the game, eagerly learning and appreciating this mind-blowing card game. I am known in the Philippine Poker scene as POKERMAX.
Why POKERMAX? A lot of people say that I bring so much action at the tables.
I've had some Poker Tournament success in my 5+ years playing poker,
namely, Champion of the 2nd season of the POKER BAR TOUR (2006), 2009 Filipino Poker Tour Champion wherein I bested a field of 667 (the biggest field in Asia) with a prize pool of 6 Million pesos, Champion of the 1st Rotary Charity poker event, 48th place in the 2009 Asia Pacific Poker Tour in Cebu, and several other tournaments wherein I placed in the money. I am currently a regular player at the Manila Bay Poker Club at the Mall of Asia and The Big Ace Poker Club in Mandaluyong.
tweets
videos
You Make The Call - World Series of Poker 2008 WSOP
Daniel Negreanu is the Poker God?
Funny All-In - World Series of Poker 2008 WSOP
Poker - Insane first hand!
You Make The Call - World Series of Poker 2008 WSOP
Daniel Negreanu is the Poker God?
Funny All-In - World Series of Poker 2008 WSOP
Poker - Insane first hand!
recent posts
Poker is not just Texas Holdem
A really, really bad day at the office
Fresh start, Same ol' grind
Barry Greenstein, 5 6 of hearts, KK & QQ
Tweeks and Fixes before the Big Dance
Lost my cajones!
Play to win!
3 Million Tournament - DONE!
Mega Million Tournaments
Straight Flush....No Good!
Showing only 10 of my recent posts,
click the dropdown button for older posts
Poker is not just Texas Holdem
A really, really bad day at the office
Fresh start, Same ol' grind
Barry Greenstein, 5 6 of hearts, KK & QQ
Tweeks and Fixes before the Big Dance
Lost my cajones!
Play to win!
3 Million Tournament - DONE!
Mega Million Tournaments
Straight Flush....No Good!
Showing only 10 of my recent posts,
click the dropdown button for older posts
links
Life is like Poker For this post, I will be writing something about my life's adventures and how my life growing up has influenced my game. Just like in poker, one doesn't need to be dealt good cards in order to win in this game called life. I found this out early since I come from a poor family. My dad always preaches how important a good education is in order for us to succeed. Unlike my siblings, I was never the disciplined one. I was always out in the streets playing with my friends. I was not a good student in school. While my siblings were getting honors in school, my mom was just content that I passed. However, I always assured my parents that I will be entering the best university in the country. Of course, they don't believe me, as all of my siblings failed to make the cut in their attempt at the entrance exams. When it was my turn to try, my dad refused to give me money for the entrance exam. He thought that it would just be a waste of money as they were so sure that I won't make it. I had to sell some of my stuff, including my favorite sneakers, just to get a crack at the entrance test at the Univeristy of the Philippines, the premier school in the country. To add to the pressure, I chose one of the toughest course to get into, Economics. I did make it. I also remember how passionate I was about basketball. My mom won't allow me to play 'coz I was asthmatic. I was also very thin and stands only 5'6". But that didn't stop me from learning how to play. I would go to the basketball court at 4am while my mom was asleep. I worked on my defense and ball handling, as everyone of my friends loved to shoot. I less than 6 months, I was already being invited to play in various local leagues. I even had MVP award when I was 19 yrs old. After college, I joined a real estate company that developed golf courses. Having access to several golf courses, I was intrigued by the game. Not having access to golf books and videos, as well as my inability to hire a pro to teach me, I went to the driving range 3x a week. I would hit balls and eavesdrop on pros who were teaching around the range and apply what I would pick up from them. In less than a year, I was winning amatuer golf championships almost every month. I was constantly being nominated as the Team Captain or Manager of my home club's golf team. When I started working, I was just a clerk in the office, receiving minimum pay. In 4 years, I was able to move up to senior management position. It even reached a point that I would ride a helicopter to attend my meetings, I would have access to a yatch for my vacation, and take a private plane for my out of town meetings. The once poor boy is now on top of the world. I even had a chance to become a Chief Operating Officer of a big real estate company. I retired from the corporate world even before I reached the age of 40. Then I started to play poker. I self taught myself. I didn't buy any book on this game. I relied on my management skills and the one book that have guided me in my corporate career, Sun Tzu's The Art of War. In less than a year from picking up the game, I won my first poker tourney championship, The Philippine Poker Bar Tour. I won several more events before I finally won one of the biggest event in the Philippine Poker scene, The Filipino Poker Tour. I did NOT come from a rich family. I do NOT claim to be the greatest golfer. I am not an excellent athlete. I am NOT the best poker player in the country. But I am a champion in the game called LIFE. Notwithstanding having bad cards or being short stacked, I didn't let that stop me from succeeding in accomplishing everything and anything that my heart desired. My blog is not for recognition, nor to brag about what I have accomplished. My blog is for myself, my children and my family. Its for the people who are searching for inspiration. Its for anyone who wants to learn. Life has been good to me and my family. My blog is my celebration. |
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