Most people won't see it.
They’ll glance at the headline — 23rd place out of 16,301 players in the WSOP Colossus — and think, “Damn impressive.”
And it is.
But what happened inside that result?
That’s the real story.
Poker doesn’t just test how you play the cards — it tests how you ride the wave when the chips don’t come your way. Ashira Lavine rode it all the way to the final three tables… on instinct, presence, and what she called her “100% feel game.”
She stayed cool when her chip stack was below average, which it was most all the time.
She paused when the table sped up, so she could stay in sync with her energy.
She reminded herself: You can’t chase it. You’ve got to align with it.
That’s next-level play.
➡️ She didn’t get there on tactics alone. She got there by letting go — of forcing, of trying to make something happen. She allowed.
And when it was over, after she went out at 4:33pm Las Vegas time on June 9, 2025, in 23rd place, we sat down on Zoom for what we call an After Action Review. I mostly listened. I always learn when I do. (Click here for a brief overview of her last hand in the Colossus.)
Here’s what surfaced during Ashira’s Zoom debriefing session:
She didn’t play safe — she played in flow.
She caught herself speeding up near the end. Her words? “I would not have gone out if I had paused.”
Her biggest lesson? Timing. Energy. Alignment.
Next time? She’ll work on measured aggression — but without breaking her flow.
Ashira said something I treasure.
“There’s no way I could have gotten this far without you, Donna.”
That struck a chord on a visceral level for me.
And somewhere in the middle of holding space for her, I reaffirmed it was unnecessary to be near the table to make a real difference. Presence doesn’t need proximity.
Rather than holding her hand, I was creating a safe space for her to guide herself back to center and remember her power.
The game tested her. She stayed true.
And when she briefly forgot? She found her way back.
That’s what poker can do — when you let it.
And me? I’m more certain than ever that I’m doing exactly what I came here to do.
Sometimes, what looks like “23rd place” is really first place in competition with oneself.
Where presence beats pressure.
Where alignment wins over aggression.
Where you don’t just survive, you expand.
That’s what I witnessed.
She didn’t need a bracelet to prove it.
She knows now.
And I do, too.
How I Coached from 2,279 Miles Away — and Why PokerNews.com Matters
To coach effectively during a high-stakes tournament, without being in the room, takes precision. Real-time updates. And zero interference with the player’s zone.
That’s why I’m deeply grateful for PokerNews.com. This may sound like it’s a paid infomercial because it's so rah rah, but it's not. It's me being a fan girl on a mission to give credit where credits due.
They’ve been covering the World Series of Poker since 2003, and they make long-distance coaching possible. We’re able to track chip counts, player movements, and table shifts — all without disrupting the flow.
Navigating the site can feel overwhelming (even for seasoned players), but here’s a tip:
In the upper right corner of the PokerNews.com site, look for the small white button that says LIVE EVENTS in red to the left of the “hamburger” 3-line menu.
The number indicates the number of tournaments currently active and being followed. That’s your fast lane.
In case you're curious, here’s the direct link to the coverage of WSOP Event #19 — The Colossus — including updates, chip counts, and the final winner.
In the poker world, when you follow someone from the sidelines, it's called railing. It comes from leaning against the rail, trying to catch a glimpse of the action.
These days? I rail and coach with a smartphone, Zoom, and alignment with Spirit.
I’ve always told my clients to remember: “I’m on your shoulder, only a thought away.”
When Ashira busted, she didn’t need saving.
She just needed to feel seen — and shift her self-talk. To remember she’s still whole, loved, and deeply appreciated, even when the chips say otherwise.
That’s when being the MindShift Mechanic matters most.
When the story in your head needs a tune-up, so the loss becomes a lesson learned.
And instead of hitting rewind over and over again, you finally exhale, “Aahhhh,” as the replay slows and stops.
100% Feel Game
This is the perfect place to pause and thank you for reading, for listening, for being my sounding board, and for subscribing. For letting me know that what I share gives you joy, resonates with you, and touches your heart.
Ashira finished strong in her “100% feel game.”
And for me, feeling and sensing are how I coach, how I write, how I play, and how I love.
With that, please know that I love you just the way you are, even when we disagree.
Consider yourself hugged and cherished,
Donna, the MindShift Mechanic
This post was just as Ashira climbed to the final 103 players, and it was my invitation to become a virtual member of her “Energy Team.”
The Face of a Poker Champion
If you’ve ever wondered what the face of a poker champion looks like, just take a look at that winning smile on Ashira Lavine.
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