888poker Qualifier Talks Short-Lived 2018 WSOP Main 8-Team Experience

July 05, 2018

Chad Holloway PR & Media Manager

The 888poker “8-Team Competition” kicked off on Day 1C of the 2018 World Series of Poker Main Event with three teams of seven. Each representing a different country and comprised of a team captain, wingman, and qualifier.

Eventually one team will win seat into the 2019 WSOP Main Event, though right now Team Canada is facing an uphill battle down a man. That’s because online qualifier Jonathan Schaler, 30, was one of two participants to fall on the opening day.

Schaler, a 30-year-old insurance agent with a wife and a small dog, began playing the game around 2006 ago around his ex-girlfriend’s kitchen table. In 2017, he qualified for the WSOP Main Event via a $160 satellite on 888poker, was selected as the online qualifier for Team Canada alongside captain Parker “Tonkaaaa” Talbot and wingman Mike Leah. Unfortunately, he wasn’t able to get anything going.

Schaler: "I’m never going to be able to do this my whole life and travel and have a family, so I decided to get a job."

“I had like 80K for around 80 percent of the day,” Schaler told PokerNews. “I had a great table, but a pretty aggressive PLO player sat to my left. The only other player that was super competent at my table was Mohsin Charania, who was there the whole day but playing super ABC. This PLO guy sits to my left and it cold three and four-betting with king-six off, ace-four off.”

Schaler then went on to describe a big hand that turned his good fortune to bad. As he told it, Charania raised to 1,100 at the 250/500 level. It folded to Schaler in the small blind and he three-bet to 3,700 holding AxKx. The aggressive PLO cold four-bet to 11,500 and Charania folded. Schaler ripped it in and the PLO player snap-called off for 48K with AxAx.

“I lost that one and then a short stack had sevens while I had aces,” Schaler continued. “We got it in and he hit a seven. I was down to 20K. Then I got tens and a tight player opened. I flatted and I came Qx10x4x. We got it in and he had AxAx. I held to get back up to 43K.”

Schaler then picked up queens but doubled another short stack who held fives and spiked another five. In the end, Schaler busted to Men “The Master” Nguyen. He explained that Nguyen limped with Ax10x and Schaler shoved 15 bigs with AxKx. The player in the small blind flatted and Nguyen raised.

The other player folded and the flop came down KxJx4x to give Schaler top pair. The turn was a 2x brick but a Qx on the turn gave Nguyen a Broadway straight to send Schaler to the rail. The hand took place with five minutes left in Day 1C.

Despite failing to survive Day 1C, Schaler still enjoyed the experience and being a part of Team Canada alongside Tonka, who he’s known for a while.

“I played with him a bit in Ottawa and a couple of my friends are friends with him,” Schaler said. “For the 8-Team they asked ‘What would you do to represent your country” and my answer was that I would carry Parker around for a day wearing nothing but a Canadian flag. Like I would carry our team in the Main Event, which I did not do. Except they had 30K all day and I had 80K, but they’re still in and I’m not. They’re doing something right that I’m not.”

Schaler, who lived in Miami for a while and played a lot online before Black Friday, will remain in Vegas for a few more days. In addition to cheering on his Canadian counterparts, he plans to fire a tournament over at the Wynn.

“It’s been pretty cool,” Schaler said of the 8-Team experience. “So many people are here. Moorman is here. It’s been great.”

While player used to play poker for a living, he’s now take a 9-5 job while playing poker on the side. That’s because he hopes to start a family soon with his wife.

“We’re just practicing having kids for now. I’m never going to be able to do this my whole life and travel and have a family, so I decided to get a job,” he said. “I still play on 888poker every once in a while. The satellites are great.”

For more on the 888poker 8-Team competition, including a look at the teams and current point standings, click here.

_{Lead photo courtesy of 888poker}

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