Once you give up, it’s the end

Asian Poker Tour 2017 Main Event’s semifinals.

It was a wonderful match yesterday.

Well, that’s more so for guitarist TAKUMI than it is for me.
The previous day, he only had 100,000, and last night his mind was plagued by the question 「How can I put up a fight…」.

But at the end of that day, he remarkably caught up to end with 1.19 million.


What made me happier than him winning more than 10 times his chips was that he put what I always said, “Don’t give up until the end!”, to practice.

Never give up. Once you give up, it’s the end.

This, too, is a big life lesson.

You should never give up no matter what.

You have to fight with a strong will until the end, until the very end.

At the end of the semifinals (3rd day) I had 720,000, while he closely followed behind the 1st place player with 1.12 million. I think so.

It’s nice to have 3 Japanese players left in the final table.


What’s a pity is that now, the Chinese and Korean players are much stronger than we are.

One of the reasons for this is due to an inability to raise the overall level because there is no market in Japan.

I’m happy that because of us managing to proceed into the finals, lots of people are beginning to have an interest in poker as a brain sport, and I was hoping that this would happen.

That said, yesterday a reporter from Shukan Shincho came to the venue.

As he turned out to be more gentlemanly than I expected and left an impression that he was serious, I agreed to have an interview with him.

It would be hilarious if we spoke like this and they still write up something different but he took the effort to come all the way here. It makes me want to at least have a meal with him. He, like me, is a Japanese and an Asian anyway.

After going overseas, I’ve become aware of a variety of things. Weaknesses, strengths, and kindness too.

Well then, it’s about time to start training! It’s already morning.

It’s finally the finals today! The finals!!

Let’s get as far as we can with all our might without giving up!

Osshaー!

Source: GACKT Blog

Translation: GACKT ITALIA Team

Translation © GACKT ITALIA