I think most people start playing poker with the hope of winning a big prize in a tournament. However, along the way, many of us end up falling in love with the game itself.
Even when I play very low buy-in tournaments or freerolls, as the tournament progresses and stacks get shorter, the emotions become intense. Being close to the top spots, every decision feels important, and that mix of nerves and excitement is what makes poker such a rewarding game to play.