Imagine, for a moment, that you've battled through a field of thousands of entrants to reach the final table in the World Series of Poker Online Main Event. There's $3.9M up top and you're the chip leader to start proceedings.
How do you mentally prepare for the spot? What do you tell yourself in the hours and minutes leading up to the final table?
If you're 2025 WSOP Online Main Event Champion Benjamin Rolle, the answer to those questions looks like this:
Rolle's $3.9M preparation
On Tuesday, September 23, Rolle took his seat at the final table of the 2025 WSOP Online Main Event. With the chip lead in hand and a wealth of experience in big-money spots, Rolle had all the necessary tools to close out the victory – and he did just that.
It sounds simple now – and maybe it was in the moment – but with top-heavy payouts, the final table waters were rife with ICM hazards and fierce competition. With so much on the line, Rolle took a moment before the final table to write out a list of thoughts aimed at helping himself to "stay focused on the things that are in my control."
While most players are unlikely to find themselves in the exact situation Rolle was in, the list provides insight into the mind of a proven high stakes poker player, with valuable takeaways for players at any stake level.
- You can grind it up from any stack size.
- Pick your spots wisely, but execute ruthlessly.
- Be aware of who is scared and who is not.
- You ran very well up until this point. You could bust in 9th.
- I don't give a f**k how stupid a play might look like.
- Remember, hero-folding trumps hero-calling – this also applies to turns and rivers.
- All I care [about] is EV. Not GTO. Not blockers. I fold when I am beaten and [do] not make stupid calls because a solver told me so. I will bluff if I believe I have enough fold equity.
Featured image courtesy of CoinPoker/Raise Your Edge
