The best thing that happened to me was getting out of my shell a little bit. I’ve always been an introvert, but through some of my work with Jason Su, who is truly the mental game GOAT, I came to discover the value of self-expression.
I dabbled in content creation and streaming without much of an idea of where it would lead, and ended up making lots of great connections and discovering some exciting new opportunities.
What was the worst thing?
The worst thing about poker in 2025 was witnessing a continued disconnect between what players want and what the biggest operators in the game are putting out there.
At the very core of poker is a communal attitude of wanting to get together so we can play this wonderful game together. Unfortunately, players are often met with a very corporate attitude.
I view this as an opportunity for players to vote with their wallets and support rooms and projects with a more ‘for the players’ mentality.
Did you fulfill your New Year’s resolutions?
I’m not big on specific resolutions, but I’m calling 2025 a major win with regards to relationships, as well as health and fitness.
I’m a believer in everything being connected, and it’s been a year of realizing how much better everything is when I take care of myself and support loved ones.
What are your resolutions for 2026?
I want to continue doing cool things with cool people. I think 2026 will be a major breakout year for Phenom Poker, which is something I am very passionate about.
I view it as an opportunity unlike any other that has ever existed in the poker community. I want to do my best to relay that message and to enjoy it as more and more people catch on and help build a bright future of community-owned poker.
What are you most looking forward to in poker in 2026?
I am most looking forward to my first trip to Melbourne, Australia, for the inaugural Melbourne Millions. I took the opportunity to invest in a new room called PlayLive Melbourne, and I couldn’t be more excited about it.
Our Melbourne Millions Series will be our biggest to date. It’s during that legendary January timeslot — right alongside the Australian Open — that anyone who has experienced Melbourne in the Summer raves about! I look forward to connecting with the staff and local players, and I hope to see some familiar faces make the trip!
What’s your wish for poker in 2026?
I wish for players to continue to reward the companies that treat them best. There is a lot of groupthink in poker, and it can be really easy to just go through the motions with regard to conventional wisdom on where to play or what to think.
I see some major cracks emerging in places where they frankly deserve to be growing. I hope to see continued bucking of the trends that no longer serve us. I think that type of spirit is what attracted a lot of us to get into poker, and I am excited to see it rekindled.
What inspires you to get up most every day and play poker?
I didn’t realize this until recently, but the connection and camaraderie amongst competitors is really special and really pure.
Poker is still a truly unique game in that people from all walks of life can agree on a simple set of rules and just get lost in the beauty of the battle together.
Eric is an ambassador for Phenom Poker. Follow Eric Baldwin on X and his mixed game journey on Twitch.tv.
