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Michael McDonald, aka “Timex,” is a classic example of a young poker pro who peaked well before most players even consider pursuing the game professionally. By the age of 19, McDonald had racked up a veritable trophy room of accomplishments – a European Poker Tour title, money finishes in tournaments spanning the globe, and millions of dollars in live and online poker profits. And not to mention a lucrative position as one of the chief instructors at CardRunners, one of the world’s largest poker training sites.

Suddenly, McDonald shocked the poker community when he announced that he’d be retiring from poker to focus on something new. Although the story was reminiscent of other young pros (Peter Eastgate comes to mind) who retired prematurely, McDonald’s was especially surprising. He was still a teenager and wasn’t yet old enough to participate in the World Series of Poker. One year later, McDonald was a business student at Wilfrid Laurier University, and it seemed as though his poker talent would officially remain on the back burner indefinitely.

Fast forward another year and McDonald is back in the game. He’s now 21, just old enough to participate in the World Series of Poker, and he’s taking advantage of the opportunity. Thus far, McDonald has broken the money bubble at two events and entered the final table at a third, giving him $73k in profit with several events remaining to be played. He has described the World Series of Poker as a “great experience,” and one that has “helped [his] motivation.”

McDonald also reflected on his EPT title, a win that came in 2008 and brought a whopping $1.4 million along with it. He said that, at the time, he didn’t fully comprehend the value of the money. Now, with tuition bills arriving at his door, McDonald plans to keep poker around as a profitable hobby, albeit not a full-time job.