Zen Poker Mentoring Makes Its Presence Known at the 2015 World Series of Poker
Earlier this year, Zen Poker Mentoring launched their new training program, which was cofounded by two-time bracelet winner Brian Rast. Along with a team of guest instructors, Rast set about showing players a path to success, one defined by aligning the mind, body, and soul.
At the 2015 World Series of Poker (WSOP), Rast and company showed they were onto something special as they broke several records. First, they did something that had never been done by a live poker-training program – they hosted six one-day mentoring sessions and a dozen private two-hour sessions during the WSOP. Never has a live poker training school had such a large presence at poker’s most prestigious series.
Rast on Cash
Zen Poker Mentoring kicked things off with an “Advanced Cash Session” on May 26. Rast, who served as lead pro, was a bit late showing up, but with good reason as he had been invited to a big cash game at ARIA. Rast, who did quite well in the game, took a few minute s to regale the group with stories from his high-stakes exploits. Details and the amount he won were exclusive to the group, meaning this was truly a “you had to be there” moment.
Rast proceeded to question students about what they were looking to get out of the experience, which was scheduled to last nine hours. Before long, Rast challenged them to set higher expectations and strive for more ambitious goals. After a very short dissertation about what he wanted the group to accomplish, Rast delivered an advanced cash mentoring session that left everyone mentally exhausted.
“That’s exactly what I wanted was to be challenged,” one student admitted after the session.
Roe and Ahmed Prepare Students for the Record-Breaking Colossus
Just three days later on May 29, Zen Poker Mentoring was back with a Colossus Tournament Hand Lab Tune-Up, which proved extremely popular among players. The morning started off with a talk from poker mindset coach and hypnotherapist Elliot Roe, who was making his second appearance with Zen Poker Mentoring. Roe’s presentation impressed so much that afterward attendees sought out his business card in the hopes of obtaining private one-on-one consultations. Fortunately for them, Roe readily offers both MP3s and private Skype sessions; something even Rast has taken advantage of in the past.
WSOP bracelet winner Owais Ahmed, who served as the Lead Pro for the hand lab, followed Roe. Not only is Ahmed a gifted speaker with a grasp of the game that rivals any poker savant, he is a regular at the Bicycle Casino in California where he often does commentary for the popular “Live At the Bike” live streamed cash game.
“Owais can tell you that you’re wrong and that you make bad decisions, but his delivery is so graceful he makes you feel good about yourself despite him basically calling you a donkey,” one student said after the session.
A Look at the Summer’s Other Training Sessions
The next session was scheduled for June 4 with Layne “Back to Back” Flack serving as Lead Pro, but when he found himself as the chip leader deep in a WSOP event, an audible had to be called. Such possibilities are taken into consideration, so Zen Poker Mentoring’s , Arthur “Ace” McFarland, stepped up to the plate. Having a second place finish in circuit event #1 at Caesars in 2013 playing poker for 25 years and doing these live classes since 2010 working alongside the biggest names in poker gives him the credentials and ability to perform at this level.
Like Ahmed, Ace found it difficult to tell students in a pleasant way that their particular decision-making processes were flawed, but his bluntness was balanced out during the second half of the day when David Redlin, who has $849,768 in live tournament earnings, made his mark on the group by instilling strong fundamentals.
On June 14, just before the wildly popular Seniors Championship, Zen Poker Mentoring was honored to welcome 2014 Seniors Champion Dan Heimiller, who has $5,405,269 in live tourna ment earnings, and 1986 WSOP Main Event champ and Poker Hall of Famer Tom McEvoy.
Heimiller’s morning session proved to be a truly sincere and passionate look at poker, and he began in earnest fashion by allowing participants share in his poker success. Heimiller reached inside a velvet bag and showed off its contents – his two WSOP gold bracelets and a pair of WSOP Circuit rings! Needless to say, those in attendance were all smiles and eager to snap pictures, but Heimiller did them one better by allowing them to actually try them on.
From there, Heimiller gave inquiring minds the answers they craved, and everyone agreed he had so much insight and information that it was a pleasure watching him work. Ever the gentleman, Heimiller even stuck around during the lunch break to answer questions.
In the afternoon, it was McEvoy’s turn, and despite more than three decades having passed since he took down the Main Event (did you know he was the first champion to ever win after qualifying via a satellite?) he was on his game, or as one student put it: “Tom still has his fastball.”
The four-time bracelet winner, who has authored several poker books and is largely credited for the non-smoking movement in poker rooms, shared his decades of poker knowledge with the group, and they gobbled up everything he had to offer. With an infectious smile and a great verbal delivery, McEvoy made sure everyone had a pleasant learning experience and left with valuable knowledge they’ll be able to use at the poker tables throughout their lifetime.
A week later, and a day before the Ladies Championship, Zen Poker Mentoring offered students the opportunity to learn from one of the most sought after poker pros in the industry, Maria Ho, who has more than $1.7 million in lifetime earnings and knows a thing or two about going deep in tournaments (she was the last woman standing in both the 2007 and 2014 WSOP Main Events).
The session may have been focused on the Ladies Event, but men were welcomed to attend. As it turned out, Ho had something to offer for everyone, and it showed as students waited with bated breath for her to share her wisdom. Prior to Ho taking the stage, students were also treated to a talk by Alan N. Schoonmaker, author of poker books such as The Psychology of Poker, Poker Winners Are Different, and Your Worst Poker Enemy, just to name a few.
Finishing off the afternoon session was Melanie Weisner famously known for bluffing the godfather of poker Doyle Brunson with his own signature hand 10 2 on Poker After Dark. But seriously Melanie is a fearless poker pro don’t let her infectious smile fool you, her love for teaching the game is very evident and shows right through. Melanie is a veteran of these type of hand-lab session working for the WSOPA in the past so she brings a very powerful hand lab experience for the whole group one of her signature teaching tools and the students loved it was her preset-up hands.
Rast Makes Poker History
Zen Poker Mentoring wrapped up the 2015 WSOP on the Fourth of July, which proved to be a wild day as the night before Rast made history by topping a field of 43 players to win the inaugural $500,000 Super High Roller Bowl at ARIA for $7,525,000, the largest cash of his career.
The win was also Rast’s fourth seven-figure score – 2011 WSOP $50,000 Poker Players’ Championship for $1,720,328; sixth in the 2012 Big One for ONE DROP for $1,621,333; and $1,083,500 for winning the 2013 World Poker Tour Doyle Brunson Five Diamond World Poker Classic High Roller. Thanks to his big win, Rast vaulted to 11th on the all-time money list.
The Zen Poker Mentoring family was clearly stoked for Rast, but there was still a session to be had, one featuring 2009 WSOP Main Event champ Joe Cada, who has $10,331,766 in lifetime earnings and became the first former champ since Carlos Mortensen to follow up his Main Event win by capturing a second bracelet (he took down Event #32: $10,000 No-Limit Hold’em Six Handed at the 2014 WSOP).
Cada wowed the class with a young man’s perspective of the game, and to say he is well versed on poker theory would be a gross understatement. Cada came highly recommended by Rast, and it was clear to see why as he prepared students for the looming Main Event. While that session closed out the summer, Zen Poker Mentoring isn’t done yet!
From November 7-8, Zen Poker Mentoring is offering a November Nine Experience at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino. Rast’s birthday is November 8th so he is offering a special deal where all students who purchase Saturday and Sunday, Rast will buy them into the Sunday 8 p.m. nightly Rio Deepstack , so they can practice what they have just learned.
For more information about November session or to sign-up click links below:
Sign Up Saturday 7 th ” Brian Rast’s All Star bracelet winners” $497.00
Sign-Up Sunday 8 th “Brian Rast” $697.00
Sign-Up Both Days INTRODUCTORY OFFER till end of August or first 20 students $997.00
Sign-Up Both Days only 3 easy payments of $333.00
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