My girlfriend calls me “Little Prince.” I’m not sure why.
My dad’s side of the family is from a small island off the coast of Lipari in Sicily, Italy. Although the language was never spoken in my household, we did our best to retain as much of the culture as possible.
My moms side is Italian as well.
As a little guy, I loved trucks, particularly the dump truck.
One day, the construction worker let me sit in one while he moved some dirt around. I was very happy.
The first time I remember making a bet, I was seven years old. POGS had just came out and I amassed a huge collection. Unfortunately, they soon went out of style and I was forced to sell it for $20. Business was tough.
Growing up, I pursed various hobbies such as basketball, baseball and guitar, none of which I was very good at.
I found my first home when I joined the boy scouts. I learned many practical skills such as first aid, wilderness survival, shotgun shooting, archery, cooking, knots, rafting and fishing.
In addition, it allowed me to explore places such as: Yosemite, Joshua Tree, Kern River, Catalina, Death Valley and Yellowstone. It gave me my first taste of the outdoors and adventure!
Most importantly, I was trapped in the mountains with a bunch of guys who I could play cards with!
Once a year, my dad and I would take a week long camping trip to the mountains in northern California. It was awesome.
7th grade was my favorite. Middle school at Lakeside meant new friends. I had my first kiss. It was also my first time toilet papering a house, attending a high school football game, participating in a school dance and having an official relationship, which lasted all of three days. On weekends, we roamed freely through the daring streets of Irvine. There was not a care in the world.
My childhood had a few interesting twists. When I was young, my parents got divorced and both soon remarried. My mom moved with her husband Bob to a house in Orange Park Acres. We all got along and I inherited a brother and sister with no extra charge.
If OC had a countryside, this was it. I cried when they told me we had to move, but when my mom promised me a dog, I dried my eyes. Instead, what I got was quite the opposite.
That was my first pet Mutton, a baby lamb.
A year later, another addition was made. His name is Montana.
In 2001, I attended Woodbridge High School in Irvine. My freshman year, I played football, but quit to pursue musical theatre.
People made fun of me, but I didn’t care. While they were tackling men, I was surrounded with attractive women.
In 2005 I graduated from Woodbridge High and attended Southern Methodist University (SMU) in Dallas, Texas.
SMU had weekly theme parties and even provided buses which took students from campus to the bars. It was comforting to see my tuition being put toward a good cause.
SMU had just built a new 20,000,000 sports facility where I passed many of my days. As I laid in the outdoor pool studying poker hands, I realized something; I wanted more. Those moments, the ones that I longed for after enduring a week of class, were too few and far between. The only thing holding me back was fear. I dropped out SMU and for the first time in my life, I felt completely free.
In 2006, I traveled to various stops on the World Poker Tour. In September of 2006, I found myself at the final table of the Ultimate Bet Classic in Aruba, finishing in 8th place. The sensation of succeeding in a tournament with other pros was an extraordinary experience that pushed me to work harder.
Mike, Justin and I in Prague, 2007
Norway, 2009
Night Safari in Singapore, 2007
Lee (Esphegot), myself, Stephen (Harrydebeng)
and Antonio in Vienna, 2009
My insecurities made me think it was cool to flaunt my winnings. I sported a designer wardrobe, expensive jewelery and drove, following a large win in 2007, bought a brand new M6 convertible. She was my baby.
The cards seemed to fall my way. In 2008 I finished 2nd in the $10,000 Heads Up event and the following year won back to back events at Bellagio. I squeezed in a 6th place finish in the 40th annual $40,000, WSOP event and 4th in the Bellagio World Poker Tour.
World Poker Tour Bellagio, 2009
2008 Fiesta al Lago Winner, Bellagio
Somewhere along the way, I had what you might call a quarter life crisis. Up until then, I viewed my poker career as a series of challenges, each one a mountain that needs to be climbed. What I didn’t plan for was what to do if I reached the summit.
I forgot why I was playing poker and lost focus. I stopped trying to improve and playing became more like work and less like fun. It was time for a change.
So in January of 2009, I did the only other thing I found meaning in, travel.
Milford Sound, New Zealand
Queenstown, New Zealand
Unfortunately, she lived in Sweden and I was much too immature to give her the attention she deserved. After two years, we parted ways.
In the fall of 2010, I attended Chapman University, where I took classes in creative writing, psychology and public speaking.
During that time, my grandma died. She was very close to me and her death inspired the speech I gave to the students at Chapman.
Life in Italy was quite brilliant. I studied at the University of Parma, where I exchanged lessons in English for Italian, and spent my days doing what all Italians do, living.
I shopped daily for fresh cheese, meats, fruits and fish. I drank espresso three times a day. I developed a love for wine, art, music and history. But most of all, I wrote.
Gelato Festival, Firenze
Something else also happened while I was abroad. I found myself spending more time with my teacher Ambra.
What started as occasional study sessions in her office soon turned into extended coffee breaks.
Coffee turned into dinner.
Dinner led to dating. Dating led to us traveling together, exploring the regions of Toscana, Lombardia, Emilia Romagna, Liguria, and Lazio.
Following the World Series, I moved back to the charming town of Laguna Beach, California. Living in Italy has changed my perspective of my home town. What I used to take for granted and view as mundane, I gained a new appreciation and sense of gratitude.
Top of the World, Laguna Beach
Currently, I write for the printed edition of Bluff Magazine, which are published here:
http://www.bluffmagazine.com/magazine/writers/alec%2Dtorelli-380.html
and keep a blog for the Epic Poker League:
http://www.epicpoker.com/news/blogs.aspx?q=Alec+Torelli.
Leave a reply
Fields marked with * are required
4 Comments
14 November 11 at 4:19am
1
Alec, I look up to few successful poker players, but you Alex seem to have it figured out. Well done sir. Thanks -Nick
14 November 11 at 9:39am
2
tp'ing was cool. hope everything is well with you.
18 November 11 at 5:28pm
3
I just read your website and wanted to tell you how terrific I thought it was. You are a gifted writer of life and are lucky to have been able to do all that you have at such a young age. I especially liked the video tribute to my Aunt Esther, your grandmother. She too taught me to make those cookies. She was a wonderful Aunt and I miss her. When I was a little girl, I also made those cookies with my grandmother, her mother. How fantastic it is that you have honored her and your family in this special way. Keep writing, cooking and living! Cousin Shelley
10 January 12 at 1:31am
4
Hi Alec, I am Lilli Torelli looking for our ancestors. We are originally from Switzerland and emigrated to Australia. Our last eliable information about our ancestors is one of a Filippo Torelli from Cerentino Ticino Switzerland. The population tells the story that he was ordered from the pope up there since the Torellis withdrew into Monastries to spread Christinaity after they gave up their `conte' status which was more than just violent in those days. We still have a family crest and wonder if you know where your father was from and if you know names of your ancestros. The Torellis are spread all over the world and there are a few very interessting stories. So if you are interested please contact me on my email. Kind regards Lilli