The countdown to the 2026 WSOP starts here. 100 bracelets. The world's best players. And PokerOrg will be on the floor from start to finish.
Andrew ‘LuckyChewy’ Lichtenberger is one of the most successful and intriguing high-stakes tournament professionals in the game with over $23M in career cashes.
Your life has changed dramatically with the recent birth of your baby girl, Sedona Rose. Is it everything you expected?
Babies are very demanding. They're not very self-sufficient, right? There is just so much more to do, but it’s been amazing.
What's been the most rewarding part of the experience so far?
You get to see what it's like for a human to develop and how impactful everything you do around them is. Obviously, there are some challenges with sleep or allocating time for other things, but I think it's literally the best thing and the most fun I've ever had.
How are you preparing for the summer grind over the next few weeks?
I'm not really playing much at all. Before the series, we're taking a trip to see family on the East Coast.
What events will you focus on during the series?
I’ll focus on the higher buy-in no-limit hold'em events.
What are some of the practices that help you recharge on your days off?
I'm a big fan of hot and cold exposure – saunas and ice baths. I think that helps me a lot. I also like moving around, whether it's doing Qigong, yoga, weightlifting, or rock climbing. I think just staying active is important.
Is there anything else you enjoy in your downtime?
I would say listening to a podcast or an interview. For the most part, I'm seeking activities to be at peace, but nothing unusual, brother. I'm pretty simple, really.
‘LuckyChewy’ on intuition, Khemset and poker
Last year you introduced an app designed to improve your intuition. Can you share more about that?
I created an intuition training app called Khemset. It’s an inspired philosophy built around ancient Egyptian, Taoist, and Stoic concepts, along with the practical lessons and applications that come from them.
You held a ‘Khemset Immersion’ workshop a few weeks ago. Can you tell us more about that work?
My wife and I recently co-hosted a workshop near Las Vegas. It's reflective of the way that I see and perceive the world. It's not really new in the sense that I'm just borrowing what I believe to be ancient knowledge and wisdom from hermeticism, Daoism, Stoicism, Buddhism, Hinduism, and ancient philosophies.
How was your experience hosting the workshop?
I was excited to do a workshop where the focus was not poker strategy. But we did practice some activities to better connect with your intuition, such as some breathing practices, self-reflection, and outdoor Qigong.
I plan to modify it in the future and make it a little bit more focused on poker. But it was fun to do it this way for the first one. Everyone had a great time.
Can you share a specific routine that players can practice for greater access to their innate intuition?
Sure. The first step is to take some deep breaths with your hand over your heart. Become aware of your heart center and then think of a word and an emotion associated with that word, such as gratitude.
Breathe into that energy. Let that be the catalyst to feel more relaxed in your body. Because I believe that being in a relaxed state is essential to being in touch with your intuition.
Andrew Lichtenberger: The quickfire round
You can learn more about Andrew’s coaching and workshops on his website or follow him on X.
The 2026 WSOP starts on May 26 and runs through August 5, when the Main Event champion will be crowned.
