Dear traders! We already advised you that the First International Academic Contest for Professional Traders was over and showed who the best of the best was. You could read names of the winners in the article 'Who Crossed the Finishing Line in Top Ten of Professional Traders?'. It is gratifying that an independent jury made up of experts of the Masterforex-V Trading Academy and broking company Forex-Trend helped conduct the competition in a format open and available to contestants and observers by rendering it as fair as possible with equal terms, conditions and opportunities. There was a unique innovation implemented for the first time in events of this kind - a special software manager kindly offered by Forex-Trend and allowing to monitor activity of traders real-time, make statistical calculations with guarantees of uninterrupted operation of the trading server. Frankly speaking, the contest itself was unique in its kind by offering support and development of contestants' trading strategies, stimulating their intellectual potential, supporting conditions favorable for profit generation through money management.
Understanding that profits is the main goal for many players, nevertheless, organizers, unlike in any other contest, set a different most important task for them - being eager to work on their own tactical and strategic elements which should pave the path for smart, reasonable, well-grounded, well-calculated trading that guarantees minimum risk to managed funds. Thus, by developing such skills and abilities, the trader automatically approaches loss-free sustainable trading. In the future, he or she will have great changes to get consistently high returns from each trade in the real context of foreign currency and stock markets. You will agree that many brokers not only fail to guarantee but also find this unfavorable in their contests.
Today Market Leader introduces award-winners of the First International Contest of the Academy. So, please meet:
Oleg Opekun
Konstantin Chobu
Artem Bugaichuk
Market Leader: Hi guys! We are sincerely congratulating you on your glorious victory! Let's have a brief interview.
Market Leader: What trading system do you use?
Oleg: My TS is a mixture, so to say. I took a little from all available systems, particularly from information openly available within the Faculty for Scalping and SHORT-term Trading of Magister's Trader Team. I borrowed more from the Faculty of Range Break, Automation, Auto-Trading and, of course, the foundation - Masterforex-V Trading System . I found and read a lot of useful and educational stuff in posts by Masterforex-V, Magister, Yuraz, ATEI, Dr.Key and others.
Konstantin: SACS TS
Artem: In May 2005 I finished beginner courses and started creating my own trading system based on all analysis methods available at that time. The year 2008 became a real test for my TS. A rapid artificial appreciation/depreciation of prices more globally allowed me to see all those drawbacks that had not been detected in a bullish market. I lacked statistics on how Fibonacci levels worked during high volatility in early 1990s. Such indicators as CCI and ATR were added to determine quick market reversals to my TS in addition to the original moving averages. I also got a lot of new information from the MF Academy.
Market Leader: How long have you been familiar with forex in general and the Academy in particular?
Oleg: I first came to the forex in March 2008 and got registered in the Academy in September 2009.
Konstantin: Now I don't even remember when I took up forex. It seems in 2007... My friend and I watched one show with forex commercials. At first we were simply interested what it was. You bring the money, click buy or sell and here you are - happy in the money equivalent... We were even successful. We brought our money, started taking turns to press buttons. But this all usually comes to an end (ruin). But I didn't stop here, started getting to know forex more, surfing specialized sites, looking for signals, tips etc. This is like me - I chanced upon the Academy but at first didn't pay attention at all - just saved among other bookmarks and regularly looked there, unaware why. Honestly speaking, I didn't go to the Academy for about a year looking for my happiness elsewhere. However, in some inexplicable manner I bumped into the Faculty for Visual Training in MEDIUM-Term Trading. This is where it all took off - PROFITS.
Artem: I heard about forex a long time ago - as early as in 1997 (bulls, bears, Soros, pound...). In 2004 I got seriously interested in the market. Working in a bank as a specialist, watching established traders making money by simple watching the price charts, I understood that the market is a regularity and news only servers as a catalyzer for movement; I concluded that one has to survive all trials and tribulations to become successful in any area. For example, you need 4-5 years to get a university diploma. About a year ago I became a member of the Academy.
Market Leader: Is this for the first time you participate in a contest?
Oleg: I participated in Admiral Market contests and won places from 30 to 80 or simply fell out.
Konstantin: Yes, it is for the first time that I participated in a contest of this kind. Indeed, on my mom's initiative - otherwise I wouldn't have for common laziness. She said I should go and try out of interest. I thought - why not? I could see what I know in real battle.
Artem: Of course, no. Each beginner trader tries to participate in a variety of contests.
Market Leader: Do you think you are established as a trader?
Oleg: Not yet, though I have achieved a lot.
Konstantin: I have never thought of that... Let's put it this way: I am not 100% established and on my way to this. I'll start thinking of it when I get consistent profits like our Professor Yevgeniy (ATEI). In three words - I AM LEARNING.
Artem: Anyone might think they are an established trader provided they have appropriate money management in any profitable TS. But only those who can correctly calculate the point of reversal can truly become such a trader.
Market Leader: How did you deal with the psychological factor? Did the competitive nature of the event prevent you from trading well? In general, did you feel any difference between contest trading and usual trading?
Oleg: Psychologically it is I who control me rather than external factors. Sometimes I am more excited during a contest on a simulated account rather than during real trades.
Konstantin: It was no different whatsoever from real trading. I was so immersed in trading that I even forgot I could lose in the contest. I worked like on my own account. This is probably why I did well. Most importantly, I didn't think of increasing the account hundredfold - I made an experiment of myself - will I be able to work like ATEI, without losing trades? As you see, it is possible. The important thing is not to get obsessed, to move away a little, not to jump at every move, clearly work out signals - and profits will come.
Artem: The psychological factor, the competitive nature of the event, trading within a contest - I put all these together into one word - time (February-March). But since the contestants' priority was protection of the account and only then profits, this very aspect made the factors above much easier to tackle.
Market Leader: How did you find execution of your orders by Forex-Trend? Was there any trouble (delays, requotes)?
Oleg: I have nothing to complain about in terms of order execution during the contest.
Konstantin: Execution was OK.
Artem: Order execution deserves Grade A in the contest. Connection was terminated only during a one-minute reload of the servers/internet at the provider's side. I don't think it is a drawback.
Market Leader: Were there any drawbacks or failures in contest organization?
Oleg: I noticed none.
Konstantin: Organization was of top level. Guys that arranged for the contest did perfectly well. Even though the contest of this level was organized for the first time you didn't have to spoil before you spun.
Artem: My respects to the contest organizers!!! The atmosphere was calm, peaceful, and friendly.
Market Leader: Are you going to participate in such contests in the future?
Oleg: Probably.
Konstantin: Why not if they offer such prizes and there's everything you need for trading? It means I got to take the first prize now! The result should be improved.
Artem: I am greatly keen on participating.
Market Leader: How did you benefit from the contest as a trader?
Oleg: Experience.
Konstantin: Confidence that SACS TS works 101% if you meet simple requirements of the Professor - NO SIGNAL - NO TRADING.
Artem: I got sure during the competition that time spent on learning to understand the market was not wasted,
Market Leader: In your opinion, do traders need such events?
Oleg: I think so.
Konstantin: Of course, they do. Anything that doesn't stop you only helps you. Moreover, you've got what and who to fight with and for, i.e. with yourself.
Artem: Surely yes. Competing with the market and your rivals is the best thing that helps a trader to develop/improve.
Market Leader: What would you wish traders who wanted but, for some reason, didn't dare to participate in the contest?
Oleg: They're taking their own path.
Konstantin: I can only wish them profits - it's like wishing a safe trip to a person you are travelling with. Don't be afraid to try. Wish you PROFITS and a friendly FZR!
Artem: Most traders come to a point when they feel like 'quitting' the market and move to a different thing. Don't give up. You'll need a lot of persistence and time to understand it (the market). It is fully regular. Back-test your TS, collect the statistics of trading signals. And don't be afraid to make yourself known by showing what you can. 'The future is only a repetition of the past' - William Delbert Gann.
So, the First International Academic Contest is over. It came off without a hitch which its winners unanimously confirmed. Impeccable organization of the contest was possible through joint coordinated effort of organizers - the and Forex-Trend.
Your first successful experience, like profits, inspires you to continue. We are confident that holding contests will become an integral part of the Academy's activities in turning green beginners into experienced traders.
Wish you success! See you at our next contest!
