It's a new year, and my brother Matthias and I have decided for 2014 to challenge each other and both go for Supernova Elite on PokerStars. We're really going to have to put the pedal to the metal and put in a lot of hours online -- a lot more than we have in the past -- as well as be a lot more professional with our schedules.
In the past we both essentially only played online whenever we felt like it. But when you're going for Supernova Elite you have to have some kind of schedule or routine in order to keep pace and ultimately achieve the goal of earning those 1 million VPPs. That will require earning an average of 83,333 VPPs per month, which is quite a lot.
To give you an idea of the challenge we're facing, I believe the most VPPs Matthias ever got in a single year previously was around 300,000. Meanwhile the most I have ever accumulated was a little over 200,000 last year. That means I'll have to play five times more this year to reach Supernova Elite. And already I had considered myself a grinder!
Obviously I'll have to commit to staying physically fit and healthy as well as mentally strong to reach such an ambitious goal. I just got a new subscription for the gym nearby, and plan to work out regularly. I also plan to build a schedule that includes days off -- say play four or five days, then rest for a day, and so on -- while also including the Sunday tourneys which always offer the chance at a big score. I'll likely be playing a lot of six-handed cash games plus those majors on Sundays, and I'll keep track of everything on an Excel spreadsheet to help me see where I am along the way.
I just moved in with my new girlfriend and we have a set schedule already in place including eating lunch every day between 12 and 1 and dinner every night at 7. I think having all of these routines in place will help me stick to my schedule of playing.
The fact that both Matthias and I are going to be going for Supernova Elite should provide some additional motivation, too. We may come up with some sort of bet between us -- perhaps something for the one who makes it first, or something we'd have to do if we don't make it. We'll also report on our progress on social media and in blog posts along the way, which should also keep us inspired to keep working.
I've been talking to my fellow Team PokerStars Pro Lex Veldhuis who was able to make Supernova Elite last year, getting some advice from him about ways to keep mentally fresh as well as to find time to work on my game, too, in order to minimize leaks and continue to maintain a profit. I anticipate my win rate going down some as I build volume, but the bonuses that come with making Supernova Elite will more than make up for that.
I'd recommend all regular players to set some sort of goal for themselves like this, especially at the start of a new year -- not necessarily Supernova Elite, but something challenging that you think you can achieve so as to motivate you to play.
Okay, time for me to sign off now and get online and start catching up with Matthias. He already has a head start on me!
Christophe De Meulder is a member of Team PokerStars Pro