“Going short on Nasdaq gave me a huge head start”, says Emil, the first-ever winner of a Fintokei Trading Race

Hi Emil! Huge congrats on placing first in the very first Fintokei Trading Race! That’s an amazing achievement. How are you feeling?

Hi, thank you! I’m really passionate about financial markets and trading. I’ve joined a few competitions before, but this one feels special. Winning the first-ever Fintokei Trading Race makes me really proud. I’m very satisfied with the result—and being the first winner is a real honor.

You came out on top among over 3,000 traders. Impressive! What was your strategy?

My approach was based on day trading and technical analysis. I used short-term charts to spot trend shifts and reversal points. I also applied position pyramiding—adding to my position gradually as price moved in my favor. That helped me build strong positions early on, which played a big role in the outcome.

Profits are great—but managing losses is just as important. The drawdown limits can be brutal. How did you stay in control?

Yeah, the limits definitely make it challenging. For me, the key was to cut losses quickly. If I saw a trade wasn’t working out, I didn’t wait—I just closed it. That helped me avoid larger losses and keep the drawdown under control.

Was there a key moment during the race? A trade that made a difference?

Yes, actually. One of the most important trades was right at the beginning. I went short on the Nasdaq index—and it worked out really well. That gave me a strong lead early on, which helped mentally, too. I was able to stay focused and follow my plan for the rest of the race.

Any advice for traders who want to join the next Fintokei Trading Race?
I’d say the most important thing is discipline. Stick to your rules and try to stay consistent. The market is always changing, so you have to keep learning and adapting. Managing emotions and risk is also key—it helps avoid impulsive mistakes.

Let’s rewind a bit. How did your trading journey begin?
It started back in high school. I actually won a national trading competition, and that really sparked my interest. Since then, I’ve been working on improving my skills and building knowledge step by step.

What’s your favorite thing to trade?
I like fast-moving markets that keep you on your toes. Nasdaq is definitely my favorite—it’s dynamic and challenging, which suits my style.

Prop trading pushes me to be more disciplined.

Emil

Winner of Trading Race

Did you learn to trade on your own, or did you take any courses?

Mostly self-taught. I’ve spent a lot of time analyzing charts and studying the markets. I also read books on technical analysis. But the most valuable course I took was on Volume Spread Analysis—it helped me understand market dynamics much better. I also watch content on YouTube from time to time.

Besides the Trading Race, have you tried a real evaluation challenge before?

Yes, I have. I didn’t get the results I wanted, but it was a good learning experience. It showed me where I needed to improve. Even though I didn’t pass, it helped me grow as a trader.

Do you trade with a broker as well? How do you see the difference compared to prop trading?

I do trade with a broker, too. One of the biggest advantages of prop trading is access to more capital. It also pushes you to be more disciplined, which is important if you want to improve and get consistent results.

What’s next for you? Any trading goals?

My goal is to keep improving—especially when it comes to discipline and building consistent strategies. Working with Fintokei is a great opportunity to grow further and develop both skills and mindset.

The Fintokei Trading Race runs every month—are you ready to claim your spot?

Just like Emil, you can secure your place in the Fintokei Universe. Keep your eyes on the next round—it’s free to enter!

Each month, the top 20 traders who generate the highest profit on a $100k ProTrader account will win prize money, free Fintokei challenges, or exclusive discounts.