{"id":1344,"date":"2019-09-16T09:31:53","date_gmt":"2019-09-16T09:31:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.poker-analytics.net\/blog\/?p=1344"},"modified":"2019-09-16T12:20:38","modified_gmt":"2019-09-16T12:20:38","slug":"uk-poker-stories-brandon-sheils","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.poker-analytics.net\/blog\/2019\/09\/uk-poker-stories-brandon-sheils\/","title":{"rendered":"UK Poker Stories: Brandon Sheils"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

With more than half a million dollars profit on Hendon Mob, Brandon Sheils is already an advanced player at 23. We asked him a few questions before the start of the WSOP.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Brandon Sheils, 23, Birmingham UK<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Poker Analytics:<\/em> Hi Brandon! Where are you from and where do you play?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brandon Sheils:<\/em> Birmingham, UK. At the moment no where in particular, I like to follow the live scene when I can and play online as much as I can whilst still enjoying it. DTD in Nottingham is probably my main go to casino.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Poker Analytics:<\/em> How did you start playing poker?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brandon:<\/em> My parents played poker from before I was born, they taught me how to play when I was around 8 years old so I was playing home games and pub poker + watching it on TV off and on for 10 years before I was 18, although I didn\u2019t get the true passion for the game until I could play in casinos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Poker Analytics:<\/em> Are you playing professionally?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brandon: <\/em>I technically do play professionally now and have off and on for years. Officially I\u2019ve been a professional poker player since September but in reality it paid for my degree and supported my life before that too for a couple of years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Poker Analytics:<\/em> Can you take us through an average day?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brandon<\/em>: I\u2019ve been very sporadic with my poker. At the moment I\u2019m traveling a lot and not really playing much \u2014 although still studying. When I\u2019m more \u2018in the zone\u2019 I\u2019ll play quite religiously for example during an online tournament festival or live festival \u2014 I\u2019ll happily play every day. But without reason to I\u2019m more inclined to play 3\u20135 days per week on average. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As for preparation I think it\u2019s pretty key to poker. Getting enough sleep, meditation, going for walks, clearing any residing emotional issues, staying hydrated and eating well.<\/strong> Everything affects your mindset more than people are aware, I know if any of these factors aren\u2019t 100% it affects my game at least a small amount. As for stakes I play roughly the $55\u2013320 online and satellites to bigger $530\u2019s and $1050\u2019s + live comps usually \u00a3330+ up to the occasional $5\u201310k events if I satellite in or feel up to selling for them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Poker Analytics:<\/em> If you had an advice to give to people that want to grind live poker, what would it be?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brandon: <\/em>Don\u2019t do it unless you really love it. This game can be insane, downswings can feel like torture and destroy you if you don\u2019t have that fire and drive to keep going. If I didn\u2019t love playing poker I would have quit by now several times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Poker Analytics:<\/em> Do you have a player you admire most from the poker community?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brandon:<\/em> This varies a lot, for live poker ability Steve O\u2019dwyer \u2014 I think he\u2019s on another level in a lot of ways. Other players that spring to mind are Steffen Sontheimer and Charlie Carrel. Essentially anyone that knows they\u2019re the shit but doesn\u2019t convey too hard that they know it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Poker Analytics:<\/em> What did you do to improve your poker skills?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brandon:<\/em> Constantly ask questions, become like a sponge around intelligent \/ successful players \u2014 everyone has something to teach you. <\/strong>Also volume \u2014 the more you play the more familiar situations become and the more familiar you become with a spot the more you can solve peoples tendencies and make better decisions. Volume trains your intuition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Poker Analytics:<\/em> Have you traveled to play poker?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brandon:<\/em> Yes, Vegas, Bahamas, Cyprus, Ireland, Russia, Macau, Australia. I think the freedom to travel is one of the biggest appeals to being a professional poker player to me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Poker Analytics<\/em>: Are you using a poker tracking app?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brandon:<\/em> I don\u2019t really use bankroll apps anymore, although I did a lot when I was a live cash grinder. Anything that shows me a graph I can succinctly show non poker players (such as my grandparents) to show them I\u2019m supporting myself in a tangible way is incredibly useful. The more stats and figures involved the better. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Poker Analytics: What are you other hobbies besides poker?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brandon:<\/em> Writing:<\/p>\n\n\n\n