In It For The Money
William Hill confirmed my sponsorship for another year last week. How I got the deal in the first place is simply a tale of right place, right time. It all happened at around the time the EPT started up in 2004.
I didn't go to the first event in Barcelona but decided to play the London leg at the Vic. The entry fee was a huge three grand, which at that time represented about a third of my bankroll but I managed to sell 50% of my action and I was in.
After a very slow start where I'd dribbled down to 6k I sneaked a crucial move past Bambos Xanthos in a big pot to get me going. After that everything fell into place and I managed to finish the day as chip leader with about twenty five remaining. I carried that right through until there were nine of us left. I bet you can guess where this is going...
Well if I can't pass a hand now, I certainly couldn't pass one then and the first accident occurred when I ran tens into aces and then a few hands later when John Shipley raised I gave it the big heave-ho with an A-Ks only to see the same two aces yet again.
I felt near suicidal for a fortnight, but now with a little padding to the bankroll I headed over to Dublin for the next one. Early doors I cracked Rob Yong's aces with tens and then two tables out, after sitting next to Xuyen for six hours I cracked her kings with queens; she still mentions it from time to time, titter, titter.
A couple of hours later we were, once again nine-handed and I had a relatively straightforward pass with J-J thanks to my position at the table when the the action went all-in, call. The all-in's A-7 cracked Burnley John's Q-Q and we were all set for a final.
Low stacked I was the second man out for another modest cash, but when I got back into the office the next day I was perusing the Hendon Mob forum, (as you did back then) and I noticed that Steve Vladar had put a post up asking for me to contact him. I called him up and he mentioned that William Hill were looking for a third person to sponsor and that I should call up Phil Quayle, the poker boss.
Well call him up I did and thanks to some kind words from Steve and Xuyen plus a nice mention in a piece the Camel had written I was offered a few months to see how things panned out. To say I was shocked is an understatement, as barring a £100 comp at Sheffield and a sprinkling of £20 and £30 re-buys at Nottingham I hadn't won much.
The main event at the Masterclassics in 2004 was my first outing as logo'd up player and I remember feeling very uncomfortable and imposter-like wearing a shirt with my name on it, when on my opening table were big guns Marcel Luske, Lucy Rokach, George Mckeever and Christer Johannsen.
Over time I of course got used to it and lets be honest it ain't exactly the worst hardship to have to endure.