Mike McDonald: Poker, Education, and Recent Achievements

Mike McDonald, the youngest winner of the European Poker Tour (EPT), has had an impressive career in poker. At just 18 years old, he won $1.4 million at EPT Dortmund in 2008. Despite his young age, he quickly became one of the most successful players on the 2+2 forum. However, in April 2010, he announced his retirement from poker to pursue a business program at the University of Wilfrid Laurier (WLU) in his hometown of Waterloo, Canada.

After a year at WLU, Mike McDonald decided to return to poker. He found that the university program was not as appealing as he had hoped, and the idea of returning to poker became more attractive. He now plays poker only on days with attractive compositions and in a good mood, a significant change from his previous intense schedule.

Mike McDonald primarily plays tournaments instead of cash games. He participates in Skype conferences with top MTT players to discuss hands, which he finds motivating. He has also taken up rock climbing as a new hobby, which he describes as the most intellectual sport he has ever tried. Despite his recent success, earning a total of $1 million in the last six months, he attributes his achievements to his natural talent and hard work, rather than any specific changes in his approach to the game.