Among the many faces you’ll see at the felt next week during Mixed Game Festival IX and the 2024 NAPT Las Vegas festival will be that of our Social Media Director–and poker superfan–Chad McVean. Though he’s been to numerous prior festivals, his attendance at this one certainly wasn’t a given, for Chad lives in Ontario, Canada, and has a full-time job and a host of responsibilities at home. How Chad ended up “punching his ticket” to Vegas this time around is quite the story, indeed!
Despite facing multiple setbacks in his attempts and eventual failure to secure a coveted NAPT Gold Pass, Chad refused to give up. Instead, he set himself a new goal, disciplined himself to build a bankroll, and, with the support of his wife, just willed himself to the finish line. Chad spoke with me at length about how he forged his path to Las Vegas. I’m sure you’ll enjoy learning of the insights, challenges, and lessons he learned along the way, as he shares his inspiring poker story.
What was it that first got you thinking you wanted to make the trip out to Mixed Game Festival IX? Was it the added collaboration we have with the NAPT this time around?
I always want to attend the Mixed Game Festivals, but financially it isn’t always possible. Combining the NAPT and MGF IX at the same time at the same location made this a must-attend in my mind.
In pursuit of finding a way to attend, you’ve tried on multiple occasions to win an NAPT Gold Pass specifically via the online “Steps” route. How close have you come? What has that process been like for you?
Step 1 was a 3-player $0.50 Spin ‘n Go that ran all the time.
Step 2 was an 8-player $1.50 Sit ‘n Go that ran all the time.
Step 3 was a $10 MTT with hundreds of players that ran once a day.
Step 4 was a $100 MTT with hundreds of players that ran once a week.
Step 5 was a $1,400 MTT that ran once or twice a month.
I unfortunately never made it to Step 5. I could only manage to bubble Step 4, and did so at least four times; I had a few more deep runs in it, too. I probably played Step 3 a couple times a week and was about 50% at getting a ticket. Steps 1 and 2, I played a lot and definitely won more than my fair share.
You’re no stranger to winning. In fact you’ve won a Platinum Pass before to attend PSPC II in the Bahamas. But winning a Gold Pass to attend the NAPT just wasn’t in the cards this time around. Can you describe the emotions you’ve gone through while making your many attempts? What’s it like vacillating between hope and disappointment? At what point do you – if at all – ever allow yourself to believe “this is it, it’s happening”?
The first time I bubbled the Step 4, I won $250 as the last player out without a ticket. That was early in the qualification process and really felt that I was going to make it. As the calendar turned to September, I began to realize that I might not be able to make it. I really didn’t want to get ahead of myself in thinking that I would definitely win but until September I really considered that it was still a possibility.
So “Steps” didn’t work out for you, but you wouldn’t give up. You decided to try and build up a bankroll and take the “hard path” towards Las Vegas. When did you make that decision to start with $100 online, what was your strategy for growing that, and what monetary “finish line” goal did you set for yourself?
First off, I really hadn’t ever played online poker in any serious fashion. It had always been more of a time filler to splash around. When I found myself playing the $10 Step 3s, I decided to play more MTTs to get some reps in.
I found myself doing well and then decided to put together a financial goal that could get me to Vegas should I fail to win the Gold Pass. I had around $100 on my PokerStars Ontario account and set a goal of running that up to $3,000 if I was going to be able to make it.
We’ve known each other for many years now and we’re good friends, so obviously I’ve been rooting for you to succeed and make it out to Las Vegas. Plus, it’s always great having Cardplayer Lifestyle’s Social Media Manager on-site when a Mixed Game Festival is running. At some point, you showed me your graph and it demonstrated that you had managed to 18X your initial $100. Tell us about that upwards climb.
Aside from the Gold Pass Step system, I played Spins and MTTs. I started with $5 Spins and $5 MTTs and set goals to move up in stakes. I made it to $25 Spins and $20 MTTs, which managed to 18x my initial bankroll.
I’ll note that I had done some extra study using Alex Fitzgerald and PokerCoaching.com courses, and that really seemed to focus my play, but I definitely had a lot of rungood, too.
To what degree do you feel that having the predetermined monetary goal (of $3,000) and making it out to NAPT and MGF IX played a part in your playing online with more discipline?
Setting rules for myself to keep my play disciplined and then having tangible results really emphasized that the process was working. I was motivated to keep at it so I didn’t fall back into my usual “splash around online” style of play.
Unfortunately the tide turned and your upwards trend eventually began dropping below that $1,800 peak. Yet, despite not hitting the magic $3,000 mark, you’ll still be making the trip out to join us in Las Vegas. What happened?
My wife and I had discussed that playing my way in was really going to be that only way it made financial sense to go. Rhiannon was very supportive of my play and she even tried the Steps program herself! When variance hit and my progress stalled, it really looked like I wouldn’t being going.
About an hour after I had messaged you to let you know that it was going to be very doubtful that I was going to attend, Rhiannon called me at work to say that she really wanted me to go, to keep my Vegas streak alive (I’ve gone at least once a year for the last 17 years) and to attend Mixed Game Festival IX. Using airline points, I managed to get a flight that worked to keep the costs down.
Chad and his wife Rhiannon
It’s obviously not the same thrill as finding out you’ve won a Gold Pass, but considering all the time and effort you put into “trying to get there”, can you describe what you felt when you booked your ticket and hotel for the upcoming trip?
The feeling of booking a Vegas trip is always a great feeling. When I booked this one, I immediately sent you a screen shot of my trip booking as I was super excited to be able to get there.
Five days……#pokerlife #MGFIX #Vegas30 pic.twitter.com/CxLoy8T14u
— Chad McVean (@Veaner85) October 28, 2024
You booked your travel on October 10th, so you’ve now had more than a couple weeks of buildup towards the trip. What have you been looking forward to most? Have you continued playing poker online to try and boost the bankroll a bit?
My online play has slowed a little bit as I still seem to be in a variance funk, but I have been playing a little more of the mixed games available as a warm up for MGF IX. I am looking forward to your birthday celebration, calling Razz on you and all the fun to be had at MGF IX. Plus checking out what the NAPT schedule has to offer is a big bonus.
Since setting goals has obviously proven helpful, have you set yourself any goals for the upcoming Mixed Game Festival? Do you have your eye on any of the NAPT tournaments in particular?
Currently, I am just looking at playing the Dealer’s Choice Cash Games at MGF IX but I am keeping an eye on some of the NAPT events, too. When I arrive on Saturday, I will probably hop into a No Limit Hold’em cash session to see what I can build for an NAPT buy-in.
The path of least resistance for you would’ve been to just give up on your dream to attend the 2024 NAPT and MGF IX, but persistence, effort and love from your wife helped you get to the finish line. What words of wisdom can you share with other folks out there who have big poker dreams?
Just stay present. Don’t get too ahead of yourself, but also never rule out possibilities.
Setting a goal and then setting benchmarks to reach that goal will help you progress.
Most importantly, rungood is very important.
And for new Mixed Game Festival players, Calling Razz on Robbie is mandatory. 🙂
📢 Here’s this week’s Trivia Tuesday answer! 👍
👉 Obviously, @JonathanLittle called RAZZ on @cardplayerlife!🥳
♠️♥️♣️♦️#PokerLifeMedia #TriviaTuesday pic.twitter.com/JIkfvQJRGA— Cardplayer Lifestyle (@PokerLifeMedia) October 9, 2024
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