The Bernard Lee Poker Show 12-10: 2018 WSOP Main Event runner-up Tony Miles

Bernard Lee Contributor

Jul 10, 2019 Last updated Nov 04, 2022

Guests:

Tony Miles

In this episode of The Bernard Lee Poker Show on the PokerNews Podcast Network, Bernard Lee interviews 2018 World Series of Poker Main Event runner-up, Tony Miles. Tony describes his preparation for the 2018 WSOP, including training, exercise, diet, and meditation. He also discusses the 2018 WSOP Main Event run, including the dynamics of the live stream delay and how he gathered the information. Tony describes his erratic sleep patterns during the 2018 Main Event run. Finally, Tony recalls the final table including his elimination of Joe Cada in fifth place and the epic 10-hour, 199 hands heads-up battle with John Cynn.

Show Time Stamps

0:00	Welcome to The Bernard Lee Poker Show as this week’s guest is 2018 WSOP Main Event runner-up Tony Miles.
0:03	Bernard discusses the WSOP Main Event, which heads into Day 4 and the entire field is in the money. The Main Event will conclude and crown a champion next Tuesday night on July 16th.
4:04	Bernard shares the additional events that will take place this week, which include $50,000 Final 50, Winner’s Only Bracelet Event, $100,000 High Roller, The Closer, $10,000 6-Max no-limit hold’em, $3,000 H.O.R.S.E and $5,000 no-limit event.
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6:12	Bernard welcomes Tony Miles to the show.
6:59	Tony joins the show.
8:26	Tony explains the momentum he had entering the 2018 WSOP Main Event. “This was the first year out at the World Series (of Poker) that I really felt like I had some momentum going into the Main Event.”
10:32	Tony explains the contributing factors for his success in the 2018 WSOP. “I was hyper-focused, did a lot of preparation leading up to the summer. Studying a lot of training video, working on tournament theory…I was on a ketogenic diet which is something I felt has helped me with my energy levels and my ability to focus for long periods of time.”
13:04	Tony discusses how tough it is sometimes to have a bad run during the WSOP.
13:40	Tony recalls how he got started playing poker and meeting Jerry Watterson, who created online training videos.
16:03	Tony explains how living in Florida helped improve his poker. “Poker has just been booming in Florida for the past 10 to 15 years…I would attribute a lot of my success and my improvement from playing against other tough players.”
17:18	Tony explain that training videos and fellow poker players are the main methods of his improvement. “I like to surround myself with people who think outside of the box…people who are really honest and open and willing to analyze their plays.”
19:34	Tony recalls his slow and steady beginning in the 2018 WSOP Main Event, starting on Day 1C due to his deep run in the Golden Nugget Main Event.
24:03	Tony discusses the momentum created by a huge hand vs Davidi Kitai on Day 4, where Tony had AA and Davidi had QQ.
25:29	Tony discusses the dynamic of the live stream delay, finding out the hands that his opponent played and how he got the information from his team.
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29:41	Bernard continues his interview with Tony Miles, the 2018 WSOP Main Event runner-up.
30:45	Tony remembers on Day 5 when the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino had a blackout during play. “All the players at our table turned the lights on their cellphones. It was like stadium lighting.”
33:23	Tony attributes his high energy levels throughout the tournament to his ketogenic diet and meditation.
36:38	Tony discusses how he slept erratically during the WSOP Main Event. “I would have a night of nerve-ridden sleeplessness, and then the next night, I was so tired from not sleeping the night before, that I would actually get a full night’s rest.”
39:18	Tony recalls the epic WSOP Main Event final table bubble hand where the players had AA vs KK vs KK. “Is this real life? Is this actually the way we get down to the final table? It was just really unbelievable.”
40:28	Tony discusses whether he would have preferred a slight break before the final table. “It’s probably best for the players to have at least one or two days off.”
42:10	Tony recalls that he didn’t have the best seat at the final table with the big stacks seated to his left.
44:44	Tony talks about the critical hand on Day 9 versus Joe Cada, where Tony held A-K and Joe held 10-10. Ultimately, Tony called and eliminated Joe in 5th place. “It was a tough spot. A huge equity spot especially at the final table with some stacks shorter...Definitely not a fun spot to be in flipping for that many chips.”
48:27	Tony recollects the epic 10-hour, 199 hands heads-up battle. “Honestly, it was a war of endurance…It was the longest, most mentally excruciating challenge I’ve ever encountered in my entire life.”
50:23	Tony discusses the controversy and later apology to John Cynn for his comments during the final hand.
51:32	Tony discusses his future schedule after the 2018 WSOP Main Event including training for American Ninja Warrior.