Nick is a cash game player, content creator and part of 888poker’s Stream Team. Each week he shares his thoughts and experiences as a player dedicated to the daily grind. This week he looks forward to the WSOP, and back at his first time playing the Main Event…
In just a few weeks, I’ll be heading off to the World Series of Poker (WSOP) to play my third Main Event with 888poker. Nothing comes close to the intensity of the biggest tournament in the world, and I couldn’t be more excited to give it another go.
Last year ended in disappointment late on day 2 as I succumbed to some devastating wounds, but the story of my first Main Event is one that I’ll happily tell until I’m blue in the face. It’s a good story, but one that needs a couple of these columns to do it justice, so first let me set the scene for you.
The anti-sweat
In my first year at 888poker, the company decided to run a competition between all the members of the Stream Team, with the winner winning a package to the coveted WSOP Main Event.
It was a 6-player sit & go format played over the course of six weeks, so naturally as a cash game player I felt my chances were slim. After the first two battles, AndreiCoz found himself in a commanding lead, and it looked as though the dream was over before it started. But after back-to-back victories, I pulled myself back into contention.
Heading into the last week, to secure the package I just needed a) to avoid a last placed finish, and b) for Andrei not to come first. After a horrendous beat with aces knocked me out first, I was starting to fear the worst as Andrei made his move. He got tens in against pocket fives and I turned a very worrying shade of white, before a miracle 5 turn put me on the plane. An absolutely exhilarating gauntlet was complete, and I was off to play the Main Event.
Fighting for my life
Since the Main Event is the deepest structure in the world, I was feeling pretty confident. Almost all my study for cash games is done at 100 big blinds and above, so I felt there was a real shot I’d have an edge in the early stages. After a tough first day and some extremely rough spots, I managed to bag for day 2 with a workable 42,000 chips from 60,000. Now down to 50 big blinds, I was feeling a lot less confident, but the whole experience of just being able to take part was incredible.
I didn’t give myself much hope, especially when I was drawn alongside US pro Sam Soverel, who has a measly $20m+ in tournament earnings. I thought it would be fun to check my Hendon Mob while I was at it, and it showed a massive £150 4th place finish at my local casino as my crowning achievement.
After a brief resurgence, I dwindled down to a measly 16,000 chips, and I found myself all-in with 
against 
. Fortunately for me, I lived to die another day, and got a much needed table change shortly afterwards. Another 11 hours of fighting for my life later, I managed another underwhelming bag, but a bag nonetheless.
Selling a story
With 20BB and a fading dream, I entered day 3 with little to no hope, as is customary for my brand. I soon learnt that my table was one of the worst in the room, with seemingly very solid regs in every seat. Luckily I picked up 
very early on and managed a double against 
, and from there I had one goal in mind: the money.
I had to survive the day with my 40bb stack to secure a $15,000 pay day, and I knew what had to be done. It was time to fold.
After another lucky seat change, I landed at my new table and decided to sell a story. I complained about how few hands I was getting, and lamented that I couldn’t wait for a remotely playable hand to shove all-in and look for a double. In truth, I had no interest in playing any of them, as we were now only about 100 away from the money. I actually managed two walks in the big blind, which I like to tell myself was down to my little act, but who knows?
But soon the mask was off, and I was left exposed as we crawled towards the money.
What transpired next was the most stressful and mentally taxing three hours of poker of my life, and next week I’ll be telling you all about it in every detail I can remember.
You can read part 2 here.
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