Yeah yeah, everyone has read this one before – and usually around the same time of the month… but it’s finally at the point where I’ve just about had enough.

I have more monthly trophies under my name (11, soon to be 12) than any other player. I have held #1 longer than most players have/ever will. I am listed currently #4, and may end up being #3 “all time” when the rankings are adjusted. Lastly, I have seen my niece become a top level player who should finish top 10 if not top 3 or more.

The past few months, starting with how September ended through today, makes me realize I will never finish at the top no matter how I try. In January soon after I take the top spot mid month, a massive “scoring change” changed a win at the top tables from 500/800 to 1500-5000. After an argument about the change, my score was reset at over 40k – “restored” fast enough after a weekend when I was already 20k behind.

This month, the day after I take #1 again, I am suddenly considered a “PGA” player under the detection program and banned from multiple players with high scores – effectively "banning" me from playing consistently at 2500 tables or above - until I am once again too far behind make any real run at the top.

The last straw though, is being “watched” all day yesterday, followed table to table multiple games until after a decent run, I literally had to stop playing before my play gets any other players into trouble. I am really tired of not only being the running joke around here – “Dan Marino” if you will - but of being held back from even the "real" shot anymore of ever leaving in the #1 spot. This negative attitude is affecting not only my play but my behavior playing/communicating at the top level, and is not fair to either myself or the players whom I play against.

I am not retiring for life, so no need for a massive shoutout of not only the over 150 people who I have been privileged to have on my friend’s list, but for the many players who I couldn’t even “fit” on my list that I have enjoyed playing both with and against. Gl to all of you, and I will probably be “around” next month, but I think it’s best for everyone that I take a break from the game. Take care and gl, Eddie ;)