- The 24-year-old from Ontario reached Supernova status 39 hours and 25 minutes into the new year.
- “Over 100,000 VPPs have been earned in a day before, but not on January 1st.”
- Wice’s preparation for the epic run includes losing 20 lbs, a hi tech setup, redundant internet and special climate controls.
- Wice is an accomplished online grinder, with nearly $1.3m in recorded online tournament winnings, and over $600k in live tourneys.
Alex Wice, the first PokerStars player to reach Supernova status in 2013, is preparing for a grueling year ahead, with a goal of achieving Supernova Elite eight times over.
The 24-year-old from Ontario reached Supernova status—accumulating 100,000 VIP Player Points (VPPs)—39 hours and 25 minutes into the new year, just ahead of Ryan “MouldyOnions” Bell.
It’s the fastest anyone has ever reached Supernova status, PokerStars Steve wrote on 2+2. “Over 100,000 VPPs have been earned in a day before, but not on January 1st.”
Wice will receive a 100,000 FPP bonus to spend on VIP store merchandise and will be commemorated in the 2013 PokerStars deck of cards.
But Wice, who goes by AWice on the site, says he intends to take the status much further. He calls it the Million Club—earning more than $1m in rakeback—and he seems to have thought deeply about the path.
“This goal isn’t talk,” he wrote on his blog, alexwice.com, adding:
Over the past couple of months I have been reshaping my life solely to be able to do this. I lost 20 lbs (and will lose more), have very good [nutrition] overall and a very good computer setup. This includes chair, gloves, eyewear, a heated room [I heat the room +3C to increase circulation and reduce symptoms of anxiety], towel, humidifier/air purifier, backup internet, backup power, mouse/keyboard, etc. Every setup inside and outside of poker is perfect. And by perfect, I mean catered specifically towards the goal. Winning over everything.
The self-identified loner wrote that he believes that discipline is the key to achieving his goal. He started playing poker in 2008 and first reached Supernova Elite in 2012, through SNGs, MTTs and cash games.
I wanted to finally accomplish something, and I wanted the world to know,” Wice wrote of the Million Club goal. “But the truth is, the people that are really skilled, don’t play poker. They move on to something better or more fulfilling.”
“That’s when Million Club evolved into so much more,” he continued. “It evolved into a metaphor for reshaping my life. Here, as with most people, my ego is my greatest strength and greatest weakness. If channeled properly, emotions like pride can help you achieve your goals.”
To be sure, Wice is an accomplished online grinder, with nearly $1.3m in recorded online tournament winnings, and he has earned over $600k in live tourneys.
“Most people with a goal here are integrating poker as something leading to increased happiness overall; they aren’t willing to sacrifice happiness for money. I am,” he wrote. “Like a monk, I am willing to give up everything.”