Parker Talbot aka ‘tonkaaap’ is a high stakes player from Canada, often hailed as the best high stakes tournament streamer on Twitch. His rapid-fire wit and energy make him highly watchable, but don’t let his enthusiastic nature fool you: he is a poker-savvy player who knows the ins-and-outs of the game like the back of his hand, and he takes his game seriously.
Who is Parker Talbot?
Parker got his start in poker at a young age, playing poker with his parents as a child. Watching re-runs of old World Poker Tours and playing against his father every night sharpened his focus and deeper understanding of the game.
He spent his 18th birthday playing legally in Quebec’s Lac-Leamy Casino for the first time, and was hooked. He went from playing two or three times a week to spending 6-9 hours a day at a table, six days a week. Eventually Parker dropped out of university to focus on poker professionally.
He built his game up playing low stakes No Limit Hold’em, eventually building up an $8000 bankroll. His success grew, and he ended up winning $50,000 on a medium stakes heater. After this, he moved onto sit n’ goes, playing in high stakes games online for big figures. All the while, he was streaming his games online through Twitch, with players flocking to see his game.
As his game developed, so did his online presence, and he eventually garnered a considerable following online. It didn’t take long for 888poker to notice him, and in January 2017 he was picked up as an ambassador for the casino.
Credit: YouTube
Parker Talbot joins 888poker
Parker’s career with 888poker has taken him all over the world, commentating at a range of 888live events. He also plays a range of tournaments, including the Crocodile, the Mega Deep Turbo, and the Whale. Parker credits 888poker with keeping poker alive and viable, providing platforms for both new and old players to step in and play.
Team Never Lucky
Parker plays under his personal brand, Team Never Lucky, sharing live streams of his online games, often with a glass of scotch somewhere nearby. As well his as Twitch streams, Parker also coaches on Upswing Poker, passing on his hard-earned lessons to players wanting to emulate his massive success. Head to the Upswing Poker YouTube channel to stay up to date with his lessons.
His enthusiastic manner belies his keen awareness of every play, and it’s clear that he is a man who knows his game. He is a savvy player who lives and breathes poker, and his videos are full of sage wisdom and advice.
What can we learn from Parker?
Despite his relatively young age, Parker speaks with a sage wisdom, no doubt hard-earned during the games he played against his father in his youth. In a 2017 interview with Doug Polk, Parker gives listeners his advice on keeping your head in the game, even when the game is against you, and it’s surprisingly Zen. Speaking about a recent downswing, he says:
“This is gonna happen in tournaments […] Just, you know, battle through. Realise you’re not special and other people go on these downswings as well, it’s not like the world’s not out to get you, and keep grinding”.
He reveals he once lost 100 buy-ins in a session, and says that most days in a tournament are losing ones, not winning. Ultimately, his advice for players wanting to keep a strong mindset boils down to this: play a lot. Keep grinding, keep playing, and keep learning.
Parker can be found on Facebook, Twitter, and Twitch, and his website, Team Never Lucky.
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