Many small-stakes players struggle to move up to higher buy-ins. The competition gets tougher, mistakes become more costly, and the strategies that worked at lower levels don’t always hold up.

That’s exactly the transition PokerCoaching is designed to help players navigate while learning how to beat lower-stakes games and develop the skills needed to move up.

Now that process is being documented in real time through Hero’s Journey, so make sure to check it out!

A new PokerCoaching series in which high-stakes professionals Justin Saliba and Brock Wilson coach and back two dedicated grinders, Shaundle “CrazySixes66” Pruitt and Jarred “GodsBigToePoker” Gabin, as they attempt to reach $100,000 in profit playing online tournaments.

Every step of the journey is documented inside PokerCoaching, giving members a behind-the-scenes look at what it actually takes to succeed in modern tournament poker.

The Coaches

Hero’s Journey is guided by two highly accomplished tournament professionals, Justin Saliba and Brock Wilson.

Justin has over $11 million in live tournament cashes and is widely respected for his deep understanding of modern tournament strategy. Over the years, he has become one of the lead coaches at PokerCoaching, where he shares his insights with students.

For Saliba, the project is also personal.

“I think my motivation mostly comes from wanting to give back to two guys who helped me a lot early in my career,” he said. “I’ve watched them over the years be consistent winners, but just have a few things holding each of them back from moving up stakes.”

Joining him as a coach is Brock Wilson, another elite tournament professional with more than $12 million in live tournament earnings and extensive experience navigating high-stakes fields.

Together, they provide both strategic guidance and mental game coaching as the challenge unfolds.

The Players

The players taking on the challenge are long-time tournament grinders who have already built solid results at lower stakes.

Shaundle “CrazySixes66” Pruitt and Jarred “GodsBigToePoker” Gabin are both active members of the PokerCoaching community and have spent years studying the game and helping other players improve.

They also regularly run study groups inside the PokerCoaching Discord, reviewing hands and discussing strategy with members.

Now they’re putting their own games to the test.

With backing and coaching from Saliba and Wilson, they are grinding online tournaments across several platforms while working toward the $100,000 profit goal.

What You’ll Learn From the Series

The series gives PokerCoaching members a behind-the-scenes look at how elite tournament players approach real decisions as they climb through the stakes. 

For players currently grinding small-stakes tournaments, it also highlights the strategies and adjustments needed to consistently beat those games and prepare for tougher competition.

Throughout the episodes, Justin and Brock break down hands with Shaundle and Jarred, explaining the reasoning behind key decisions and showing how strong fundamentals translate into long-term profitability.

Viewers will learn how to approach the types of spots that regular tournament players face every day, including:

• When to move up stakes after winning
• Short-stack strategy and survival
• Adjustments during deep runs
• Final table decision-making
• High-stakes ICM situations
• Profit chops and late registration strategy

By following the journey, viewers can see how modern tournament strategy is applied in real-world situations and learn the skills needed to consistently beat lower-stakes games as they prepare to move up.

Why Moving Up Stakes Is So Difficult

One of the biggest themes explored in the series is how the game changes as the stakes increase.

According to Saliba, players must balance simple strategies that work at lower stakes with more complex approaches required against stronger opponents.

“As you move up stakes and your opponents improve, simple strategies like c-bet small with everything don’t work anymore,” Saliba explained. “You need to identify when those simple tricks can be used and when you should play a more complex strategy.”

Another challenge is mental resilience. “As you move up, your win rate naturally goes down,” he said. “You have to fight through the swings and stay resilient.”

Follow the Journey

Several episodes of Hero’s Journey are already available inside PokerCoaching, with more content being released as the challenge continues.

Members can watch the full series to see:

• the coaching sessions
• the strategy adjustments
• the wins and setbacks along the way

If you’re working on improving your tournament results or planning to move up stakes, Hero’s Journey offers a rare look at how top players approach that process.

Follow Shaundle and Jarred as they attempt to reach $100,000 in profit with coaching from Justin Saliba and Brock Wilson.