Josh Brikis Has Worst Poker Year Of His Career

US player Josh Brikis has made a very nice living out of poker since turning pro back in 2006. Since then the card player from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania has amassed $1,297,299 playing live, and a further $713,942 online under the screen name ‘brikdog.’
Nevertheless, 2011 is one year Josh Brikis will be glad to leave behind after suffering the worst results of his career. Brikis’ plight was further exacerbated by the Black Friday indictments back in April, which rocked the US online world and forced many a pro out from behind their computers and to turn their attentions more fully to the more expensive live arena.
In the past, subsidising his online income with live tournaments was a nice way to top up his bankroll, but having to rely fully on live tournaments to support his family has been a lot more stressful and demanding for the 31 year-old pro.
Josh Brikis won $756,106 in 2009, and $390,267 in 2010, but the mere $69,062 he has earned this year has forced him to review his approach to the game. As he explained to cardplayer recently:
“I learned a ton this year. I learned that I should be cutting my expenses because when you have a losing year there is nothing to write off so it’s just more money spent! I learned I can’t handle tournaments like I used to be able to because I never had a 12-month downswing, and this will cause me to cut back volume big time!”
Josh Brikis graduated with a business degree from Penn State, and in 2003 got a bank job in Delaware working for MBNA America. It was during this time he was introduced to playing poker by a friend and after a few years studying and variable results found he could make a decent living from the game.
The poker landscape has changed since then in America and Josh Brikis says he has two main career aspirations for 2010. Firstly would be the legalisation of online poker in the States, and second would be some higher live tournament finishes. As he explains:
“I really just hope that I can get a few top 3’s next year and get back on track. It is really hard to not make any money for this long and it has gotten pretty stressful. I have worked extremely hard at this game and I am truly hoping I get rewarded once again for that like past years.”