How a lot cash does a high event excessive curler with eight-figure cashes truly make?
That is a query Stephen Chidwick, extensively thought-about among the many better of one of the best within the high-stakes scene, answered throughout a Reddit AMA on Monday. The British poker legend and Octopi Poker ambassador gave random poker followers a glimpse into the lifetime of a grinder who routinely performs in 5 and six-figure buy-in tournaments.
How A lot Does Stephen Chidwick Make?

Daniel Negreanu, in a tweet final yr, referred to as excessive curler event earnings a “mirage,” implying the large scores do not truly show a participant is making a living. Chidwick, some of the constant event gamers on the planet for years, has turned a revenue. However he admitted the winnings aren’t practically as massive as many might need anticipated.
A Redditor requested Chidwick how a lot of his $76 million in The Hendon Mob cashes is revenue. The longer term Poker Corridor of Famer, answering questions from the Octopi Poker Reddit account, estimated someplace within the $5-$10 million vary, though he admits he would not know the precise quantity.
Match professionals have plenty of bills that do not issue into The Hendon Mob outcomes. That features journey prices, complete buy-ins, swapping motion with different gamers, taxes, and cash owed to backers. Chidwick, and different excessive rollers, not often play 100% on their very own dime and sometimes swap motion, which suggests a proportion of the money is paid to another person, and it is typically a big quantity.
Many gamers with eight-figure profession earnings, as Negreanu identified, are both dropping or break-even gamers as soon as all bills are considered. If Chidwick, maybe one of the best on the planet, has solely technically made round 10% of his cashes, most others who’ve put in comparable quantity have possible received even much less.
Chidwick has received two World Sequence of Poker (WSOP) bracelets, 16 stay PGT occasions, and three Titon Poker titles. He ranks second all-time in stay event cashes, trailing solely Bryn Kenney, who grew to become the primary participant to hit $80 million in cashes final month.
Daniel Negreanu Says Excessive Curler Poker Match Earnings ‘Principally a Mirage’
Poker Star Has Extra to Say
Chidwick answered many different questions requested by dozens of poker followers, one being, “As somebody who’s performed earlier than and after widespread solver adoption, what necessary ability has turn into undervalued in fashionable MTTs—and the way ought to severe gamers prepare it as we speak?”
“Good query. Most likely the ability of placing folks on ranges and pondering by means of the hand from first ideas/incorporating instinct into your technique. It’s simple to search for the ‘solutions’ in a sim and never go deeper into how individuals are truly enjoying/modify for the myriad elements the sim doesn’t bear in mind. I prefer to problem myself to place folks on particular arms once I’m watching them in pots I’m not concerned in and seeing how typically I get it proper or am utterly stunned by what they present down,” Chidwick answered.
One Redditor requested the professional what the his pregame rituals are, which he defined he likes to “prioritize sleep” and to “get train earlier than I play.” He additionally stated he’ll undergo his notes previous to a Day 2 session to “formulate a normal plan” to face his opponents. One other Redditor requested him to call the poker excursions he prefers to play. Chidwick stated that Triton Poker occasions are a “nice expertise” and PokerGO occasions at Aria are “very comfy and really enjoyable.” However he did not converse extremely of enjoying on the WSOP.
Chidwick is trying to catch Kenney this yr atop The Hendon Mob leaderboard. He has been closing in on the lead the previous few years and solely trails the New Yorker by round $4 million.













