The happy year

Now that 2022 is all done and dusted with, I wanted to take stock on everything that transpired. While on a day to day basis things appeared to move slowly, a decade later this would perhaps be considered a whirlwind of a year at a personal level. So a quick post is in order:

Poker

I won my first live tournament in a year that was my best financially. More happily, my skills achieved their peak. While I am not at a liberty to disclose actual numbers, I can reveal some interesting statistics and where I see them going in 2023.

I played about 250 days last year, and 85% of this was online. I see this number reducing to about 170-200 days this year, and a pronounced shift to live poker. 40% days played were profitable in 2022, at a weekly level I was profitable for 65% weeks, and I closed only three months in the red. I am guessing I ran slightly above EV (expected value).

Average ROI across games was 38%, average buy-in about $120. I feel that online, ROI will perhaps reduce, but because I will play a lot more live this year, overall ROI will stay about the same. Average buyin will increase and so will variance. Poker gods, I hope you are kind!

Health and Fitness

I feel my fitness levels plateaued sometime in late 2021, and I did not make any major improvements to my mind or body in the last twelve months. I can already feel this having an impact on me (lesser calmness and focus, body feels a little heavier, poorer sleep). One area which I would like to significantly invest in 2023.

Early 2022 I went completely off the grid (no Whatsapp, social media) and had experienced an improved sense of well being. Will do this again for a couple of months.

Relationships

Big big personal development, I hit the proverbial one-outer on the river at least in this aspect. I am getting married to my closest college friend and batchmate. We know each other really well, she is a nerd like yours truly, and we plan to solve puzzles to kill time. Only catch is she is a shade more intelligent than I am, but you know what they say about talent and hard-work eh?

Reading & Writing

I spent a lot more time reading last year compared to 2021. If 2021 was mostly fantasy highlighted by Tolkien, in 2022 I dived into history. Books I enjoyed immensely were Guns of August, The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich, The Silk Roads and East of Eden.

Writing was non-existent last year, something that I will consciously improve in 2023.

In summary, 2022 was the happiest I have been in the last 5-6 years, thanks mainly to the people I play and the game I love people I love and the game I play. Wishing everyone a lot of runs, books, mad laughs, stimulation, and peace in the year to come.