Rob Sherwood’s Incredible Run: From Chasing Six Figures to a $2.2M Payday at WPT World Championship

The poker world recently witnessed an incredible achievement by Rob Sherwood, a dedicated BBZ Poker student from Birmingham, UK. Sherwood turned heads at the WPT World Championship at the Wynn Las Vegas, securing an astonishing second-place finish and walking away with a life-changing $2.2 million. We sat down with Rob to discuss his mindset, pivotal moments in the tournament, and how poker training helped him reach this milestone.

“It Still Hasn’t Sunk In”

Winning such a massive amount is a dream for many poker players, and for Sherwood, the reality of the moment is still settling in.

“It still hasn’t sunk in really. Where I was at in my poker career, I was really chasing a $100k-$300k win, so to bypass that and go straight to $2.2m just feels unreal.”

Mindset and Preparation Going into the Tournament

Poker is as much a mental game as it is a strategic one, and Sherwood entered this tournament with confidence, built over years of experience and study.

“I have played the WSOP Main event 11 times. This year was my deepest finish, 488th / 10,112. When I play the WSOP Main, and this Wynn 10k, I know I’m more studied than most of the field. That gives me confidence which is important. I did feel confident going into this one. Pretty sure this is the first $10k+ I have played apart from WSOP Main.”

Key Hands That Defined the Tournament

Every deep tournament run has its defining moments, and Sherwood’s journey was no different. Early momentum set the tone for what would become a remarkable run.

“Got an early double up and never looked back. Then late on Day 3, won a big one with jacks v ATs, against a guy I had battled with the previous day. That sent me to 5m with the average at 3m. When I won that I felt I had a real chance of doing something in this one.

Also with 9 left, I called off 88 v QTs when I was covered. Winning that flip was obviously huge.”

How BBZ Training Helped Shape His Success

Sherwood has been a dedicated student of BBZ Poker, and he credits the training for significantly improving his game.

“It’s given me two important things; knowledge and confidence. I joined the BBZ  seminars 4 years ago in Jan 2021. At that time I knew I had fallen behind, and if I wanted to continue to pursue poker I needed to study, firstly to catch up, and then overtake. BBZ has given me exactly what I needed. I am still learning, I definitely misplayed some hands, but I’m on the right track and intend to stay on it.”

The Role of Mental Toughness and Discipline

Long-term poker success requires resilience, and Sherwood highlights how years of experience helped him stay composed.

“Very important. 20 years of experience of mainly being disappointed helps to build that!”

Advice for Aspiring Poker Players

For those looking to follow in his footsteps, Sherwood offers some grounded advice.

“Nothing earth shattering, keep studying and playing, try to analyse your own play rather than moan about bad luck or the bad play of others. Be willing to drop in stakes on a downswing, especially online.”

Handling Pressure at the Highest Levels

Staying composed under pressure is crucial in poker, and Sherwood emphasized his ability to focus on the game rather than the stakes.

“I think once I’m in a tournament, I don’t really think about what’s at stake, I just want to do as well as possible, regardless of it being a $300 or $10k. When I was in big spots I just tried to think logically about the hand, and as Jordan says, stay rational.”

What’s Next for Rob Sherwood?

With newfound financial freedom and a major poker accolade under his belt, Sherwood’s future in the game is exciting.

“WPT Cambodia in February. I went deep in the main here last year. And love being in Asia during the English Winter. Then I will be in Vegas in June and July, and of course December again! Some events in Europe too. I see myself playing less and less online, when I’m on the computer it’s going to be mainly study time.”

“Not sure yet, I will certainly be playing more poker though!”

Final Thoughts

Rob Sherwood’s deep run at the WPT World Championship is a testament to dedication, study, and staying mentally strong in high-pressure situations. His story serves as an inspiration for all aspiring poker players, showing that with the right mindset, training, and confidence, life-changing results are possible. We can’t wait to see where his poker journey takes him next!