Aliaksandr Shylko on Climbing to the Top: “You Just Have to Believe You Belong”

If Monte-Carlo is where dreams are made, they are the dreams of aspiring poker players the world over.

A familiar face to many, Aliaksandr Shylko is in action here at PokerStars European Poker Tour Monte Carlo, playing in the €100,000 Super High Roller.

While many recognize him from his victory at the 2023 PokerStars Players Championship (PSPC), it’s his more recent foray into higher buy-in events that perhaps signals the next chapter of his career.

The EPT Monte Carlo €100,000 Super High Roller marks his second-ever six-figure buy-in tournament, and says that the experience of playing in his first was a special one.

“At first, I thought it would be very emotional for me,” he told PokerNews about playing in his first £$100,000 tournament. “And it was. But after playing some 25Ks, then more and more 25Ks, you start to get used to it.”

Eventually, he says, the dollar amount fades.

“Whether it’s $25K or $100K, it’s the same players. And when you understand that these top players are also human, it becomes easier to believe in yourself. Everyone can make mistakes.”

“You never know how your career will go”

Just over five years ago, Shylko was playing sub-$1,000 buy-in tournaments across eastern Europe. Now he’s rubbing shoulders at the tables with some of the biggest players in the word. Before breaking through with his PSPC title, Shylko says he never assumed he’d find himself regularly playing six-figure tournaments.

“You never know how your career will go,” he says. “But for sure, I’m an ambitious guy. I’ve always aimed higher. I’m investing so much time in the game, and I want to play the highest stakes possible.”

But stepping into the elite $100K fields isn’t just about having the bankroll. It’s about preparing for battle against the best minds in the game.

“It’s not only about the skill,” Shylko says honestly. “If it was only about skill, I wouldn’t play these tournaments, because some of these guys are too good.”

What separates Shylko’s mindset is his focus on the intangibles: discipline, presence, and belief.

“In any particular tournament, if you’re more focused, more in the zone, if you go deep into every hand, then you have an opportunity to win,” he explains. “Even if your opponents are more skilled in some areas.”

For Shylko, competing at the highest level isn’t just about trophies or money. It’s about growth, and Shylko is quick to acknowledge that he’s early in his high-roller journey.

“You have to be in there to play against the best and learn from the best,” he says. “A lot of my friends play 100k tournaments, and I’m really grateful to share information and experiences with them. That’s helped me grow.

“I need more time to prove, first of all to myself, that I really belong here.”

Based in the United Kingdom, Will started working for PokerNews as a freelance live reporter in 2015 and joined the full-time staff in 2019. He now works as Managing Editor. He graduated from the University of Kent in 2017 with a B.A. in German. He also holds an NCTJ Diploma in Sports Journalism.

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