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MTT Poker Academy

Complete Tournament Poker Improvement System

The Structured Training System for Serious MTT Players

Turn solver study, hand reviews, and marked hands into a clear improvement system built around deliberate practice and real implementation.

"It completely changed the way I study poker."

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Gary McDonald

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Watching More Poker Content Isn't The Same as Training

Most serious MTT players don’t lack access to information anymore.

They already have charts, solvers, training videos, hand histories, and more poker content than they could ever consume.

That isn’t the problem. Not even close.

The problem is that most players never develop a structured system for turning all of that information into better decisions at the table.

So instead of building real understanding, they bounce between random videos, line-check spots in solvers, and consume more content without ever building the frameworks and feedback loops needed for long-term improvement.

That’s why so many players study hard but still feel overwhelmed, struggle to implement what they learn, or never feel fully confident in their decisions under pressure.

Over the last 14 years, I’ve refined a coaching system designed specifically to solve that problem. A system built to help serious tournament poker players think more clearly, train more effectively, and improve in a way that actually transfers to real performance at the tables.

I’ve now built that system into MTT Poker Academy.

It combines structured coaching, deliberate practice, live feedback, accountability, training systems, and a serious community of MTT players — all designed to help you improve more efficiently and think more clearly under pressure.

Here’s exactly how it works.

"Gareth will really help you uncover the weaknesses you didn't know you had."

Rod Hall

How The Academy Turns Study Into Real Tournament Results 

MTT Poker Academy is built around deliberate practice, feedback loops, and structured training designed to help your study transfer to real in-game performance.  Inside you get:

🟡

LEAK DETECTION

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CURRICULUM

🟡

FEEDBACK

🟡

EXECUTION

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ENVIRONMENT

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SUPPORT

1

Find The Highest-Impact Leaks In Your Tournament Poker Game

Most serious MTT players don’t struggle because they lack information.

They struggle because they don’t know which mistakes are actually holding them back.

So instead of fixing the mistakes that actually move the needle, they bounce between random spots, study low-impact situations, and consume more content without a clear improvement plan.

The Leak Detection system helps you uncover the highest-impact weaknesses in your game using structured database reviews, solver drills and assessments.​​

This process helps you:

✔  Identify the preflop and postflop mistakes costing you the most EV


✔  Use structured database reviews to uncover hidden strategic weaknesses


  Spot recurring leaks across different positions, stack depths, situations and scenarios


  Learn how to prioritise high-impact improvements instead of studying randomly

✔  Use drills and assessments to test your real implementation, not just theoretical knowledge


  Build targeted improvement plans based on your actual weaknesses


  Understand WHY leaks happen instead of just memorising corrections


  Turn marked hands and mistakes into focused deliberate practice opportunities

The best players don’t improve by studying everything.

They improve by identifying the highest-leverage weaknesses in their game and attacking them deliberately.

2

Learn How Winning Tournament Players Actually Study, Train, and Improve

Train & Play Like The Pros is a structured curriculum designed to help serious MTT players build real strategic understanding, develop effective study habits, and improve in a way that actually transfers to in-game performance.

Inside, you'll learn how to:

  Build overarching strategies instead of memorising isolated solver outputs

 

  Learn how different board textures change your strategy and decision-making

  Develop structured training habits that create long-term improvement

  Build practical frameworks you can apply confidently under pressure

  Learn how to study more effectively and avoid passive “edutainment”

  Use drills and deliberate practice to improve implementation, not just knowledge

  Develop a repeatable process for studying, training, and improving independently

  Turn complex tournament concepts into clear, actionable strategic systems

3

Improve Faster With Consistent Strategic Feedback

Most tournament players study in isolation.

The Feedback system gives you direct access to coaching, implementation feedback, hand reviews, and strategic refinement — so you can correct mistakes faster and improve with more clarity and confidence.

1

Live Coaching Calls 

Ask questions, review spots, and get real strategic feedback in live group sessions.

2

Strategic Refinement 

Identify flawed assumptions, sharpen your thinking, and refine your overall approach.

3

Concept Clarity

Break down confusing spots and understand the "why" behind strong decisions.

4

Implementation Feedback

Identify where you execution breaks down under pressure, not just where your theoretical knowledge is lacking.

5

Decision-Making Analysis

Improve how you think through difficult tournament sitautions in real-time.

6

On-going Refinement

Continue sharpening your decision-making through repeated feedback loops and strategic discussion.

4

Stop Studying Randomly. Follow A Deliberate Training System.

Most tournament players don’t fail because they lack information. They fail because their study process is inconsistent, reactive, and unstructured.

The Execution system gives you a framework for studying, training, reviewing, and improving — so your progress compounds over time instead of resetting every week.

1

Structured Improvement

You follow a deliberate process designed to maximise long-term improvement instead of studying randomly.

2

Deliberate Repetition

Training systems, drills, reviews, and feedback loops help strategic understanding compound over time.

3

Real MTT Performance

The system is designed to help your study transfer to clearer, more confident in-game decisions under pressure.

5

Create An Environment That Supports Long-Term Improvement

Most tournament players try to improve alone.

The Environment system surrounds you with serious players, structured discussion, accountability, and consistent strategic reinforcement — so improvement becomes easier to sustain over the long term.

1

Serious Community

Surround yourself with tournament players focused on genuine long-term improvement.

2

Consistent Exposure

Stay connected to high-level tournament thinking through on-going discussions and shared learning.

3

Accountability

Stay engaged with your study and training process consistently over time.

4

Shared Philosophy

Learn inside an environment built around deliberate and structured improvement.

5

Study Partners & Peers

Connect with players working through similar challenges and strategic concepts.

6

Consistent Reinforcement

Stay immersed in high-level tournament thinking instead of random poker noise.

6

Get Direct Access To High-Level Tournament Coaching

MTT Poker Academy is designed to help you become a more independent, self-sufficient player through structured training, deliberate practice, and strategic feedback loops. But when you want direct support, strategic clarification, or personalised guidance, you can book 1:1 coaching sessions directly with Gareth.

 

Get direct support exactly when you need it, without needing to commit to long-term coaching.

Strategic Coaching

Break down leaks, sharpen your thinking, and build clearer strategic frameworks with direct coaching from Gareth.

✓ Targeted Problem Solving

Get targeted help with recurring mistakes, implementation breakdowns, difficult spots, or tournament preparation.

✓ Accelerated Improvement

Use focused coaching sessions to speed up learning, reinforce key concepts, and improve with greater clarity and confidence.

What serious tournament players are saying about MTT Poker Academy

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Gary McDonald

★★★★★

"I now have a significantly better understanding of the game. I'm able to process, question, and logically think through situations in a way I never could before. But my biggest win is being able to study independently. I now have the tools to study and review my own sessions, identify mistakes, and understand how to improve without guessing. The coaching, content, and community have all been incredible."

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Oleg Go

★★★★★

"All that content won't get you anywhere if you don't recognise your own leaks first and work on them. With Train & Play Like The Pros, Gareth tackles the problems at the roots and shows you through a clear roadmap how you can fix them. Before joining, I was a losing player. Now I'm beating my stakes with an ROI of +23%."

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Kev Corcoran

★★★★★

"The content is laid out methodically in a logical order, so you know what to work on and how to fix it. You can develop a consistent routine to study and improve without wasting time studying randomly. And then the community is what makes The Academy unique: like-minded people all coming together and up-skilling collectively. Gareth will challenge your thinking, help you understand the 'why', and guide you toward becoming a stronger independent player."

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Ant Davies

★★★★★

"I love this community! It combines fantastic content & coaching with a brilliant group dynamic, all of whom are willing to help in order to improve your game as well as their own. After trying numerous products, The Academy is pure gold and incredible VFM!"

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Jonathan Hartsock

★★★★★

"I can highly recommend this membership. I helps you find your leaks, address them with simple breakdowns, helps with accountability and gives you an opportunity to work with others to improve together."

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Kev Monger

★★★★★

"Not only have I gained knowledge and expertise, but I've also become part of a supportive and inspiring community. My game has advanced so much in just a short space of time. TY Gaz! 

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William Dunsire

★★★★★

"I've been a member of the MTT Poker Academy for around two years now, and it's had a big impact on my game. Before joining, one of my biggest struggles was not knowing what I should be studying or how to study effectively. I also found myself guessing in a lot of in game situations rather than having a clear thought process behind my decisions. The Academy has helped me identify leaks in my game and, more importantly, taught me how to find and work on them myself. Having a structured approach to studying has made a huge difference, and I now have a much better framework for making decisions at the table instead of relying on instinct or guesswork. Since joining, I've become much more confident in my overall game and I'm making far more final tables than I was before. The support from Gareth and the other members has also been a massive help. There's always someone willing to discuss hands, answer questions, and point you in the right direction when you're stuck. For me, the biggest difference is that the Academy doesn't just give you answers, it teaches you how to think about the game, study properly, and continue improving on your own. I'd recommend it to any tournament player who wants to take their game more seriously and improve in a structured way."

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Lee Walker

★★★★★

"The biggest eye opener for me was that I was overall just playing too tight. The leak finder showed me to be not opening enough, playing too passively in the BB vs late position opens and not Cbetting the flop enough. I believe trying to remedy these 3 things are what have increased my BB/100 overall from 3.83bb/100 over 128k hands before to 7.79bb over the next 116k hands."

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Thomas O'Neill

★★★★★

"It's fantastic. I really appreciate the structure of the sessions, how they focus on common mistakes and are grounded in game theory."

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John Hayes

★★★★★

"Over a well-structured and highly personalised and interactive course of coaching and study, I've been able to completely transform my approach to MTT play and study."

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Ben File

★★★★★

"It's great to be part of a group who are supportive and keen to improve their own games."

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David Graham

★★★★★

"If you're serious about improving your understanding of tournament poker fundamentals and want the building blocks to take your game to the next level, this is the place to be. More than money, it's the confidence Gareth instilled in me to know my study process and decisions are grounded in logic instead of guesswork." 

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Decky McBride

★★★★★

"I have 10xd my average buy-in and have the confidence now to compete and excel at mid stakes."

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Bhav Ranchod

★★★★★

"Been in The Academy for some time now and it's helped me immensely! The support provided by the community and the bite sizes materials available helped me learn at a pace that is specific to me."

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PR Mortimer

★★★★★

"Gareth offers a rigorous and structured approach that will help you improve your technical skills and learn how to work methodically on your own game, both independently and collectively."

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Rod Hall

★★★★★

"This is the 3rd coaching site I've tried and is by far the best. It's not just access to charts and videos like some others, it's a compelte framework whic helped me discover my own leaks and gave me the tools and support I needed to start fixing them. It completely changed the way I think about and play poker, and finally got me into a structured study routine I know I'll continue."

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Pete Dobson

★★★★★

"Joining MTT Poker Academy has genuinely been the best poker decision I've ever made. Before I found the academy, poker often felt like a lonely journey. I was trying to figure things out on my own, second-guessing my decisions, and feeling lost about how to improve. Since joining, everything has changed. I've become part of an incredible community of like-minded players who all share the same passion for learning and getting better. Being able to discuss hand histories, celebrate each other's successes, and support one another through the ups and downs of poker has made a huge difference, both to my game and my enjoyment of the game. The group coaching sessions and hot seats have given me confidence, clarity, and a much deeper understanding of poker. But what stands out most is the sense of belonging. I've built genuine friendships and become part of a community that wants to see each other succeed. MTT Poker Academy hasn't just improved my poker—it has completely changed my experience of being a poker player."

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Dylan Nyein

★★★★★

"The biggest struggle I had was identifying exactly where I should be focusing my study time. The Academy was a great step forward in understanding the most effective ways to study, and to do so with a likeminded group of peers. Being part of such a great community gives you feedback in a way that stimulates learning. Especially in the group coaching calls, youll always leave having learned something useful."

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Janos Zsolt Kozarek

★★★★★

"I have always loved the game, but I had never studied it seriously until I met Gareth. Having a full-time job while learning poker is challenging, but he taught me how to study the game in a structured and efficient way. I've learned from him not only different strategies, bankroll management considerations, the importance of the mental side of the game, and many other aspects of poker, but also how to effectively analyse our own play and improve independently by focusing on the most crucial spots where the greatest amount of EV comes from. Since joining the community, I have become much more confident in a wide variety of situations at the tables and have learned to focus on the things that I can control. At the Academy, everyone is welcome regardless of where they are on their poker journey. Everyone receives help with any poker-related questions (or even non-poker-related questions 😁), not only from Gareth but from other members of the community as well. I would definitely recommend joining the Academy to anyone who wants to improve their game."

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Paul Griffin

★★★★★

"The community here is great, it's fantastic. Everybody's here to help you get better and better."

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Kris Callard-Williams

★★★★★

"Results so far speak for themselves. Never thought I'd see the day where I would spend a day studying instead of playing either. I just love my routine now."

"Having someone to guide me through step-by-step was the main thing for me."

Ed Latter

"Be part of a community of people spurring each other on."

Trevor Bowers

"In the first few weeks, I learnt so much about what I needed to change."

Elliott Batte

"The members of the group have been fantastic. There's been a lot of support—not just from Gareth, but from the whole community.."

Andy Wallace

"You need to have a community of people behind you... it just makes the whole journey better."

Dan Reed

Member Scores

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✓⃝   MTT Poker Academy Is For You If...

You’re serious about improving as a tournament poker player
 

 You want a structured system instead of studying randomly
 

 You’re willing to think deeply about strategy instead of memorising outputs
 

You want to understand why strong decisions work
 

You’re prepared to study deliberately and improve long term
 

You want practical frameworks that transfer to real in-game performance
 

You value feedback, discussion, and strategic thinking
 

You want to become a more independent, self-sufficient player
 

You’re looking for a serious poker community focused on genuine improvement

  It's Not For You If...

✕ You’re looking for shortcuts, cheat sheets, or “5 tips to win tonight”

✕ You want passive poker entertainment instead of deliberate training

✕ You refuse to review your game honestly

✕ You’re only interested in copying solver outputs without understanding strategy

✕ You expect instant results without consistent work

✕ You aren’t willing to challenge your assumptions or thinking

✕ You want someone to spoon-feed answers forever

✕ You’re unwilling to follow a structured improvement process

✕ You’re looking for a magic formula instead of long-term skill development

"This has been the most effective training I've come across in my 10+ years of playing MTTs. Recommend to anyone who wants to improve their ability to study and effectiveness of said study."

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Eric Fisher

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

When You Join MTT Poker Academy, You Get:

Train & Play Like The Pros Curriculum

A structured improvement system designed to help serious MTT Players study more effectively, think more strategically, and improve in a way that transfers to real in-game performance.

Leak Detection Systems

Structured database reviews, drills, assessments, and strategic frameworks designed to help you identify the highest-impact leaks in your game — so you stop wasting time studying the wrong things.

A Serious Poker Environment

Surround yourself with like-minded tournament players focused on long-term improvement, strategic discussion, accountability, and deliberate practice.

Live Coaching & Feedback

Ask questions, review difficult spots, refine your thinking, and receive ongoing feedback through coaching calls, discussions, and hand reviews.

Deliberate Training

Follow a structured process for studying, drilling, reviewing hands, and improving consistently — instead of bouncing between random concepts and content.

Optional 1:1 Coaching

Book focused coaching sessions directly with me whenever you need deeper strategic clarification, implementation help, or personalised guidance.

"If you play and want to improve your thought process I can't recommend The Academy highly enough! Having access to Gaz and his resources is worth its weight in gold."

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Andy Wallace

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Pricing

Choose your membership

MONTHLY MEMBERSHIP

£60/month

Perfect if you want to start improving immediately and build momentum before deciding whether annual membership is right for you.

 

✓ Full access to MTT Poker Academy
✓ Train & Play Like The Pros curriculum
✓ Live coaching calls & strategic feedback
✓ Private members-only community
✓ Mobile access so you can study anywhere
✓ 14-day money back guarantee

Get instant access

ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP

£600/year

For serious tournament players committed to long-term improvement and becoming the best player they can be.

✓ Everything included in Monthly

✓ Save £120 per year
✓ Commit to a full year of structured improvement
✓ Built for deliberate practice and sustained growth
✓ Ideal for players serious about long-term results

✓ 14-day money back guarantee

Get instant access

Before You Join MTT Poker Academy, What You Might Be Wondering

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Your Tournament Poker Coach

Unlike most poker coaches, I started my career as a teacher. That means my focus isn't just on poker strategy — it's on helping players learn, train, and improve effectively. Over the last 14+ years I've helped hundreds of tournament players identify leaks, build better study habits, and become more confident, consistent decision-makers. Along the way I've won a SCOOP title, published two poker books, worked with 400+ tournament players and coached players from low stakes through to high stakes professionals. Today, everything I've learned about poker improvement is built into MTT Poker Academy.

400+

Students Coached

14+

Years' Coaching

2

Published Books

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MTT Poker Academy

by Gareth James

© 2026 MTT Poker Academy by Gareth James. All rights reserved.

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