blonde poker

Late Friday afternoon and I am sitting in a cash Omaha game in sunny Blackpool at The Northern Lights Festival. Been busted out of the first three comps but well ahead in the cash games.

I look around for Actionjack and the Welsh Boyos and remember they have shot off to Monte Carlo for the Monte Carlo Millions no less. I slump in my chair and ask myself why I decided not to play in it. Is it too late 16.45 on a Friday? I ring the office and a mad panic ensues as head office tries to get me in. Monte Carlo will not accept a bankers draft or wire it must be cash. Stuck and feeling down I retake my cash seat and promptly win over £1200 in the only hand I saw whilst on the phone for an hour, much to everyone else's annoyance. I am £8k short of getting in but remember to call Actionjack and Connor who tell me to come over and they will sort it out. Top drawer guys. Tough decision but Blackpool lost the vote. Due to everywhere being full the office has booked me in to The Hotel de Paris no less, well, we all have to slum it sometimes.

I check in and am told the room rate is 390 euros per night, oh sorry I forgot to tell you I wanted the poker rate. “That is the poker rate she replies!!” (720 standard). Don't you love those moments?

Travel over with Elblondie, Tk and Jenny. Get some advice and draw for seats. (Just filmed the European Open for channel Five and sat next to Elblondie, caught him in a massive pot that left him with 10k when the blinds are 5k, 10k. I have 450k and yes you've guessed it he won!) You know what's coming I draw table 15 seat 5 and Elblondie draws table 15 seat 6. What are the odds of that? Don't answer we already know, probably evens. Needless to say I get lucky and knock out my good friend Elblondie. Next I bust out Connor a good friend who gave me the money to enter. Your right I have no friends left!

I finish day one as chip leader, but when you see the quality of players left in the remaining 62 you don't get to think ahead. Phil Ivey is in second place, Chris Jesus Ferguson, Phil Helmuth, Jon Juanda, Scotty Fisherman and Mike the Mouth, are a few of the lesser known names still in. I foolishly announce that it doesn't matter if you win or lose, just as long as you look good, and instantly get given the name Mr Cool by Elblondie. (Nice one) The pressures on and I don't sleep at all. I finish day two in third place with 26 runners left. Now I really don't sleep. I am up to 900k at one point and the realisation of a final table spot kicks in and my game starts to disintegrate into what can only be described as trash. I make the last 12 with 600k in third place and end up as chip leader on table two. What a result! At this point Tony G and Phil Ivey have over a million each.

Back the next day and I scrape through to the final table with 7 runners. Seventh place gets 53k and 6 th gets 100k. Seventh player does not play in the final unless they win the consolation tournament the next day. So as you can imagine it's going to be a long day. They deal the first hand and Tony G goes all in with a call from Actionjack in an instant. (Don't ask me how Tony G only has 120k) Action knocks him out and I have just won 47k in the blink of an eye. God bless poker. Many manly hugs later we get drunk.

At last I get some sleep, which is probably due to several things. One that springs to mind is that my boss for the last 15 years called me during the break in day two, to wish me luck and proceeded to sack me, no less. The wife was not impressed! Poker was meant to be a sideline and I get some grief. On making the final maybe the grief will subside (fat chance) My sponsors USA poker are very happy and I build up the courage to say that from now on I am giving my all to a career in poker.

The setting for the final is awesome wait till you see it on TV. Phil has a slight chip lead by about 3million! I make it down to the last three and go out to Phil. The disappointment is short lived as I receive a check for $325k. I do the interviews and wiz back to support my mate Actionjack. Phil powers on and takes first prize but Actionjack and myself are jumping for joy.

Phil Ivey, what a great champion, but more importantly what a great guy. He takes us out partying and says that that was the best final he has ever played in and has never laughed so much in a tournament. He offered some advice which I wont be sharing and we arranged some golf days, in which I will try to get back some of that cash!!

Everyone is kind enough to congratulate us and Mat Savage the tournament director said we helped make a great final. (Not for our play but for our non-stop verbal) Cheers mate.

I return home for just 7 hours before flying to St Kitts give the wife the cheque and as she looks in amazement at the value. Then with childish glee announce forget that cheque you will never guess what I've got. Phil Ivey's mobile number, no less, look, I pass her my phone. You sad man, I think was the reply but I was oblivious and off into the front lounge to show my two boys Phil's mobile number.

The check is great but the life of a poker pro is awesome.

I am allowed a year off work by the wife but have to win if I want longer she informs me.. The pressure's back on!!!