[PWHerman]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
After keeping up this pace for even as little as a few years, he's going to be unbelievably wealthy. Factor the supplemental income from the inevitable endorsements, what's to stop him from retiring at 25? 23?

[/ QUOTE ]

This is an important question, but to be honest, I'm not worried about Madsen retiring any time soon. I've never met the young man, but I have looked at several pictures. And, it's clear to me that he has what we in the poker industry call "The Eye of the Wolf." Some also call it, "Being Hungry Like the Tiger." Suffice it to say, men of his ilk never get bored with dominance, just like hunting carnivores never get bored with devouring elk. Poker Tournaments = Elk. Proof was seen yesterday - the man already has a bankroll in excess of a million pre-tax dollars, yet he goes out and dominates some kind of tiny buy-in tournament to make his 4th final table. Sure, he could have played the $4k-$8k game at the Aladdin and won his weight in gold bullion, but he wanted to play a tournament. This bodes well for his future.

Also, another note. I saw a lot of calls in this thread for Stu Ungar. I wasn't familiar with his play, so I looked over the moneylist for the last few World Series. Mr. Ungar was nowhere to be found - has he retired from poker? If not, he's definitely had a few bad years - imagine the amount of money he's lost in buyins! (I'm assuming he plays most events) He appears to be krill to Mr. Madsen's Whale Shark.

[/ QUOTE ]

I know. I've had a night to think about it and I may not now feel the same way I did yesterday. I don't have the guts to admit I was wrong, but if you offered me even money on an over/under of 50 bracelets in 10 years, I'm taking the over every time.

El D had a great point, too. Just because he'll win 4 or so this year is no reason to believe that this is his pace. He a) is just starting out, and b) missed the first few events this year. He may well win 6-8 next year and possibly even improve from there in the future.

Edit - as an aside, I don't watch a ton of poker on tv but I don't recall hearing of Umger either. I just have to believe if this guy was really that good, I would've heard of him by now.