Table Of Contents
- Living the Poker Grind
- "Madman Mode"
- Riding the Waves of Poker
- The Loving Madness of Poker: A Chat with Chris Da Silva
"Chris Da Silva Describes His Life as a Tournament Grinder as Crazy"
If you've seen Chris Da Silva at a massive poker table, you know he ain't no greenhorn. The UK pro's been grindin' it out for years, rakin' in near $1.3 mil in live tournament earnings. He's made a splash in the WSOP Main Event twice—99th position in 2018 and 98th in 2022—and last year, he took down the 888poker LIVE Main Event in Coventry for £125k. Lately, he's been at it again, this time at the Kings of Tallinn Main Event, sponsored by OlyBet. Sitting at another final table, Da Silva was all eyes on a big payday. Unfortunately, he had to settle for ninth place and €16,800 while Kaspars Butans snagged the title and €182k. But before the game kicked back off, we caught up with him to talk about the highs and lows of tournament poker and why sometimes, it feels like a flippin' rollercoaster of madness.
Living the Poker Grind
You better believe Da Silva knows what it takes to muscle through big-ass poker fields. But even he admits he can't put his finger on how he keeps goin'.
"In the long haul, the top dogs rise to the top."
"I mean, I'm not entirely sure," he said, shaking his head. "I question myself half the time.
"Recently, I've been savin' my energy and focusin' on main events and higher buy-ins. Saves me from burnout and lets me hone in when it really matters."
He's got a way with navigatin' these fields, findin' himself deep in the mix again and again. "Guess I'm pretty decent at it," he said. "I just try to stay present, play my best poker, and let the rivers roll."
Madman Mode
To the uninitiated, tournament poker looks like the easiest way to make a livin'. Collect a few big scores, and you're golden. But Da Silva was quick to burst that bubble.
"If you tie your emotions to short-term variance, you'll look like a cryptocurrency chart."
"It's a lot of repetition. Sometimes it feels like you're a flamin' loon doin' the same thing over and over, hopin' for a different result," he explained.
"And most of the time, you reap what ya sow—bust out, bust out, BUST OUT... and then, just once in a blue moon, it's like you lit a match and caught a blaze."
The secret? Stayin' tough. "It ain't the easiest way to make a livin', but if your formula's right and you're doin' the right things, then over the long haul, the top dogs rise to the top."
Riding the Waves of Poker
After years in the game, does he still love it?
"The love for poker waxes and wanes," he admitted. "It's like watchin' an unpredictable stock surge and plummet like a wild crypto market."
When he plays non-stop without a break, the passion dims, and poker starts feelin' like an endless grind. So now, he concentrates on playin' quality games instead of quantity.
He's also learned that lettin' results control his emotions is a dangerous game. "A lot of pros let their happiness be dictated by results. They're winners when they're on a hot streak; they're losers when they're on a losing streak," he mused. "But poker is a long game. If you tie your emotions to short-term variance, you'll resemble a cryptocurrency chart with volatile spikes and crashes."
Instead, he's learned to peel himself from the results and focus on the process. "It's easier said than done, but that's the key to longevity in this gig."
Calum hopped on board with the PokerNews team in September 2021, fresh off a stint in the UK energy sector. He took his first poker hand in 2017 and immediately fell head over heels in love with the game. Calum's shaken the tables at various poker outlets, but he found his place at PokerNews, where he's contributed to a variety of articles and live updates, offerin' insights and reportin' on major poker events, like the World Series of Poker (WSOP).
Enrichment Data:
Chris Da Silva's Poker Career:
Da Silva is a familiar face in the poker community, though specific details about his early career and notable achievements aren't immediately available. However, he's made a splash in several prominent events. For instance, he recently participated in the 2025 Mediterranean Poker Party and survived Day 1b with a formidable chip stack of around 1,800,000 chips[2]. Additionally, there's mention of him in a poker update where he was involved in a hand during a tournament demonstrating his active participation in the competitive poker scene[1].
Thoughts on the Poker Grind:
While specific thoughts from Da Silva on the grind in tournament poker aren't extensively detailed in the search results, the general consensus among professional poker players is that the grind can be demanding and requires a blend of skill, strategy, and mental resilience. Tournament poker involves high-stakes competition and significant variance, making it difficult to maintain consistency and effectively manage bankrolls.
To thrive in this environment, poker professionals like Da Silva likely prioritize developing robust strategies, remaining adaptable, and maintaining a strong mental game. The ability to navigate through the pressure and uncertainty of tournament play is essential for success. Furthermore, managing emotions and preserving peak performance under pressure are crucial aspects of enduring the grind of tournament poker.
Without direct quotes or insights from Da Silva, these general observations apply broadly to professionals in the field.
- Despite the occasional setbacks, Chris Da Silva continues to pursue his passion for the high-stakes world of poker. Recently, he participated in the OlyBet-sponsored Kings of Tallinn Main Event, aiming for a major payday.
- As the crypto market fluctuates, so does the excitement of poker for seasoned players like Chris Da Silva. To maintain a consistent level of interest, he focuses on participating in quality main events and higher buy-ins, where he can hone his skills and potentially claim significant victories.
