A while back I described Chris Ferguson, a popular pro that is sponsored by the Full Tilt Poker download. That entry skimmed upon the fact that he once went from a $0 bankroll to a $10k bankroll. This accomplishment is notable as a lot of people complain that they simply cannot afford to play poker. The Chris Ferguson Challenge demonstrates that anyone can earn thousands of dollars on their Full Tilt Poker download with a lot of work and dedication.
The goal of the Chris Ferguson Challenge was simple: get the Full Tilt Poker download, start with an empty account, and eventually finish with a $10,000 bankroll. Ferguson decided that he would donate the entire $10k to the Save the Children Foundation when he was finished.
A smart player will know that if they wish to conquer the top Texas Holdem sites, they will have to be cautious with their bankroll. Because of this, Ferguson had a few rules for his challenge:
1) Download Full Tilt Poker and participate in freerolls until a real money bankroll is established.
2) Do not enter a Sit&Go for greater than five percent of the total bankroll (except for $2.50 and below).
3) Do not enter an MTT for greater than 2% of the total bankroll (except for $1 and below).
This challenge went on for a very long time because earning money via freerolls on money poker sites usually means beating massive fields. You might even be shocked to know that it was over 7 months before Ferguson had a steady bankroll of $6.50! Understanding the need for patience, Ferguson simply continued with what he was doing. His first major breakthrough came with a runner-up finish in a 683 field. It was a $1 tourney and he won $104.
This significant increase in the bankroll did not mean the end was close by, however. It requires a huge amount of luck to turn $100 into thousands in a short time period, even on the best US poker sites. It took him an additional nine months before he finally reached the $10k mark to complete his own challenge.
An important fact to note from the Chris Ferguson Challenge is that it is almost impossible to accomplish such a feat while lacking knowledge of bankroll management. You should be able to find a useful poker video about bankroll management if you need some help. If you have been in the game for a while, you probably know that protecting your bankroll is essential for long term success.
11/06/2010
