Recent graduate/"professional" poker player – want to pivot into trading, but no direct experience. Realistic?

Hey everyone,

I’m a recent economics graduate from a semi-target UK university and I’m at a bit of a crossroads.

My academic background is fairly quantitative (econometrics, stats, finance modules), and I’ve done internships on the commercial / client-facing side of a large tech company. I understand markets conceptually, but I don’t have any formal trading experience (no desk, no prop firm, no prior trader role).

Over the past few months, I’ve realised that what actually excites me is decision-making under uncertainty, risk, and markets, rather than advisory or back-office style roles. That’s pushed me to seriously consider trading as a career path now, rather than drifting into something adjacent and regretting it later. I've been player poker "professionally" and profitably since ive graduated but realised its not a good permanent career path for me.

My questions are pretty blunt:

• Is it still realistic to break into trading after graduating with no direct desk experience?
• Are there specific geographies (Europe, Middle East, etc.) where this pivot is more feasible?
• For someone in my position, what’s the most credible first step: graduate trader roles, trading analyst roles, prop firms, commodities, something else?
• If you were starting again from this position, what would you focus on learning or proving first?

I’m not under any illusion that this is easy or guaranteed — just trying to understand whether this is a bad idea full stop, or whether there’s a disciplined way to approach it without wasting years.

Would really appreciate any honest takes, especially from people already on desks or who’ve seen late pivots work (or fail). Should i mention being a poker player on my CV?

Thanks in advance.