Right now, I'm really inspired by players like Maria Konnikova, Doug Polk, Jonathan Little, Daniel Negreanu, Phil Ivey and after listening to some recent interviews, Phil Helmuth.
Maria Konnikova: she's a brilliant writer who was interested in luck and probability as a topic to write about, and ended up becoming a beast of a pro poker player having come into the game knowing barely anything about it at all.
Doug Polk: Smart guy who has some pretty entertaining videos on youtube and has solid results that speak for themselves. What inspires me the most is he was at one time in the place that I am. Frustrated and unsure about his future in the game. With a genuine, burning desire to persevere and eventually become not only a winning player, but a really successful one at that.
Jonathan Little: brilliant mind and no-nonsense approach to the game. He's realistic and conveys his thoughts in a blunt, straight-forward fashion. If/when I can afford coaching his team is the team I'd go to first.
DNegs: his playstyle, table chat and "TV persona" made him fun to watch. Kinda hard to watch him stream when he plays online because he gets to be his "true" self. On the one hand, it shows he's human and has a range of personality. but on the other hand he comes off as a huge ***** in contrast to what we're used to seeing on TV.
Phil Ivey: certified bad-ass. The way he keeps is cool in all high pressure situations, while also being the cause of such pressure for others at the table. Incredible reads and solid playstyle inspires me to just play the game and be better at it.
Phil Helmuth: I still maintain he looks like a goofball and comes across as arrogant to a degree, but the man is a solid player with some of the most impressive results in poker history. After hearing his interview on the Cards Chat podcast I have a newfound respect for the man.
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