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The No. 1 online poker player in the world once had to take a 9-to-5 job at a call centre to please his family.
One night he'd won $130,000 by 7am and still clocked in for work at 9am.
His dedication paid off. Today he has $15.6 million in winnings.
Here comes a thread
One night he'd won $130,000 by 7am and still clocked in for work at 9am.
His dedication paid off. Today he has $15.6 million in winnings.
Here comes a thread
1 / 13) Conor Beresford grew up in York
and started playing online poker as soon as he turned 18.
âI got off to a firing start,â he says. âI intended on taking it very seriously."
But he tried to hide poker from his family.
"I didn't want them to see it as just a 'gamble'."
and started playing online poker as soon as he turned 18.âI got off to a firing start,â he says. âI intended on taking it very seriously."
But he tried to hide poker from his family.
"I didn't want them to see it as just a 'gamble'."
2) By 2012, Conor Beresford was living with his aunt. She was well aware of poker stereotypes and made him go out and get a job instead of grinding all day.
So he did what she asked.
"I was working in a call centre from 9am to 5pm, then coming home and playing poker," he says.
So he did what she asked.
"I was working in a call centre from 9am to 5pm, then coming home and playing poker," he says.
3) Sunday is the biggest day of the online poker week, and as a Sit & Go grinder and tournament specialist, Conor Beresford would settle in for a Sunday session every week.
At 6pm on April 8, 2012, he registered for the $215 Sunday Million on PokerStars.
As did 8,224 others.
At 6pm on April 8, 2012, he registered for the $215 Sunday Million on PokerStars.
As did 8,224 others.
4) At 7am the next morning, Conor Beresford finished 5th for $130,000.
As he was staked at the time, that meant Beresford banked half of the prize money for himself.
âIt was an insane amount of money to me,â he says.
But that didn't stop him going to work at the call centre.
As he was staked at the time, that meant Beresford banked half of the prize money for himself.
âIt was an insane amount of money to me,â he says.
But that didn't stop him going to work at the call centre.
5) After the biggest win of his career to date, Conor Beresford still respected his auntâs wishes.
"I went in to work at the call centre around 90 minutes later," he says. He was there until 5pm.
But afterwards, he found time to celebrate.
"I treated myself to a Rolex watch!"
"I went in to work at the call centre around 90 minutes later," he says. He was there until 5pm.
But afterwards, he found time to celebrate.
"I treated myself to a Rolex watch!"
6) The huge score gave Conor Beresford the financial freedom to leave his job at the call centre with his aunt's blessing.
It also motivated him to continue improving his poker game and climbing the stakes.
He did just that, and in 2017 he became the #1-ranked player in the UK.
It also motivated him to continue improving his poker game and climbing the stakes.
He did just that, and in 2017 he became the #1-ranked player in the UK.
7) Not that Conor Beresford keeps track of the rankings.
âBecause of the variance in poker, thereâs no true way of setting up a leaderboard that is based on pure skill alone," he says.
So he never stopped working. In 2017, he had $3.8M in online winnings.
Today he has $14.6M.
âBecause of the variance in poker, thereâs no true way of setting up a leaderboard that is based on pure skill alone," he says.
So he never stopped working. In 2017, he had $3.8M in online winnings.
Today he has $14.6M.
8) Conor Beresford is now the #1 online tournament player in the world today. He's crushing the biggest buy-in tournaments.
So what happened over the past few years to elevate his game to such a high level?
Some say it's the company you keep.
"I couldn't agree more," he says.
So what happened over the past few years to elevate his game to such a high level?
Some say it's the company you keep.
"I couldn't agree more," he says.
9) Conor Beresford believes talking to others is the best way to improve your game.
âI'm not saying you wouldnât make it on your own,â he says. âBut when you can go over spots with the different opinions of different people, it really makes you think about the game a lot more.â
âI'm not saying you wouldnât make it on your own,â he says. âBut when you can go over spots with the different opinions of different people, it really makes you think about the game a lot more.â
10) Conor Beresford was coached by successful high stakes pro @BBZPoker (âItâs unlikely Iâd still be playing if it wasnât for him.")
And he's close friends with crushers like @tonkaaaap.
But what we donât see are the countless hours of hard work and studying he does alone.
And he's close friends with crushers like @tonkaaaap.
But what we donât see are the countless hours of hard work and studying he does alone.
11) In July 2019, Conor Beresford won the Sunday Million (the same event he came 5th in when working at the call centre) for $112K.
And he's cashed for millions across 2020.
In Jan, he came 2nd in a $2K event for an enormous $611K score. He's dominated the high rollers since.
And he's cashed for millions across 2020.
In Jan, he came 2nd in a $2K event for an enormous $611K score. He's dominated the high rollers since.
12) This year Conor Beresford has won:
A second SCOOP title ($85K)
His first WCOOP title ($162K)
3 High Roller championships including the $10K Main Event ($798K)
A Powerfest title ($70K)
As of today, he has more than $2M in pure profit across the major online sites.
A second SCOOP title ($85K)His first WCOOP title ($162K)3 High Roller championships including the $10K Main Event ($798K)A Powerfest title ($70K)As of today, he has more than $2M in pure profit across the major online sites.
13) Not to mention the $1M that Conor Beresford has won in live events across his career.
It just goes to show what can happen when you follow your passionâeven under difficult circumstancesâand have the work ethic and persistence to achieve your goals.
And heâs still only 28.
It just goes to show what can happen when you follow your passionâeven under difficult circumstancesâand have the work ethic and persistence to achieve your goals.
And heâs still only 28.
Thanks for reading!
If you enjoyed this story donât forget to scroll back to the top, like and share the first tweet, and follow for more.
I interviewed @1_conor_b_1 for @PocketFives in Feb 2017: https://www.pocketfives.com/articles/uk-grinder-conor-beresford-im-really-just-here-for-the-money-592856/
(Thanks to @MannyDaxwell & @renevelli for the photos!)
If you enjoyed this story donât forget to scroll back to the top, like and share the first tweet, and follow for more.
I interviewed @1_conor_b_1 for @PocketFives in Feb 2017: https://www.pocketfives.com/articles/uk-grinder-conor-beresford-im-really-just-here-for-the-money-592856/
(Thanks to @MannyDaxwell & @renevelli for the photos!)
