I was recently asked by my gaffer to choose the top five poker players that I thought would make a big splash in the 2014 water, and amongst them was Shannon Shorr. I won’t go into the reasoning’s behind my decision – you can read all about them here – but I’m delighted to say, that after speaking to him in Prague this week I am even more excited about what this young man can do in the poker world in 2014.
I get the impression that Shannon Shorr is a work in progress, and the stuff he is working on is the good stuff. A man who recognizes areas of his life that need to be improved, and gets on with it – a man full of gratitude and a lover of life.
“I wasn’t always this way but I have been spending a lot of time on self improvement – to bring more focus into my life; and that’s the most important thing for me right now, with poker coming a distinct second.”
So how was 2013 for Shorr?
“My main goal was to have new experiences. I wanted to run a half marathon and did that, I went to a lot of cool sporting events, and also did a lot of traveling and checked off a lot of countries from my list. Traveling was one of my main goals this year.”
So is Shorr a bucket list type of guy?
“I am a bucket list type of guy. I really want to go on a South African safari, I am going to go to the World Cup in Brazil, this year, and want to see a lot of South American countries while I am there.”
And in terms of poker – what were his poker goals for 2013?
“It’s hard in these live tournaments. I don’t focus on the results – I have been doing it for long enough to understand the variance – instead I just try to turn up and do my best and hope it will take care of itself. I guess the one knock that I do have in my career is I have never won one of the big three.”
Of the big three, which one means the most to him?
“I guess it’s a bracelet. When I was 21 I had the opportunity to be the youngest ever bracelet winner, and that was a goal; but it didn’t happen and after eight years I still haven’t won one so I would really like to get that off the list.”
And has Shorr had any major life goals in 2013?
“Not necessarily. I have read the Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle and that really changed my life. I am trying to get the most out of every situation, and being open minded and accepting. It’s not like that where I grew up in Alabama. Poker is a very liberal community and that’s why I love it and continue to do it. “
How does the teachings of Tolle influence his poker?
“It makes me love it even more. Every day I wake up and play one of these events I am thrilled. I wasn’t always like that, but now I sit down and just focus on the one thing that I am doing and everything else blends into the background.”
And his plans for 2014?
“I am going to go to the PCA and bring in the New Year with some of my best friends from LA. I am going to go to the World Cup in Brazil and also visit the WSOP-APAC and spend some time in South East Asia and Australia.”
And make me look good by winning one of the big three obviously…
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