Mike 'Timex' McDonald: Poker Pro Shares Insights and Anecdotes

Mike 'Timex' McDonald, a prominent figure in the poker world, recently shared some of his experiences and insights during an interview. He recounted an incident where he and a friend stood behind Phil Galfond in a queue at the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure (PCA) but didn't dare to start a conversation.

McDonald also shared a story about Phil Ivey's cold reaction to a massage offer from a beautiful masseuse during a tournament. According to McDonald, the masseuse approached Ivey and offered a massage, but Ivey's reaction was less than enthusiastic. He instructed her not to touch his head or neck and even asked for a sandwich without mayonnaise, sending the masseuse on a quest across the room.

McDonald has had a successful career in live tournaments, winning approximately $2.8 million. However, he also mentioned a net loss of around $850,000-$900,000 in buy-ins. He played in the EPT Dortmund and finished as the chip leader on the final table, highlighting his skill and experience in high-stakes tournaments. McDonald started playing poker in high school and was mentored by Steve Pol Embryse, who helped him transition to tournament play. He began buying stakes in various online tournaments and made significant profits, including sponsoring half of the known MTT regulars on 2+2.