What Start-Up Founders Should Learn From The World’s Best Poker Player
A Story About The Power Of Peer-to-Peer Learning
By Feliks Eyser and Fedor Holz
The Las Vegas sun usually glares brightly in July, but the casino playing room is so dimly lit that only the poker table and the two remaining players are visible. When the dealer flips the turn card, it takes only a split second for Fedor Holz’ lightning-fast mind to realize what has happened. Holding a 7 and 8 of clubs in his hand, he hits a flush. That makes him the winner of the “Super High Roller” tournament in the World Series of Poker earning him 4.9 million USD in winnings. On top of that, the title makes him the highest ranking poker player in the world at the time. Fedor is 22 years old at the time.
Flashback to five years earlier. Fedor is an unimposing teenager, struggling at university. Below-average grades and lack of purpose make him drop out to travel the world. He plays a little poker on the side, but his results are underwhelming.
From Drop-out to World Champion
To understand this incredible transformation from unimpressive college drop-out to multi-millionaire world champion, our journey takes us to an unusual place in Canada.
