Jon Bryan

Well, I am still buzzing from playing in the WSOP. This was the final day one (Day 1D) of the Main Event. So many people have entered, the first day is staggered. For more details on how this is done, go to http://www.worldseriesofpoker.com/events/eventinfo.sps?eventid=36507 and click on Event 39.

We took a Black Sedan from our hotel to the game. Bit flash, but we were running slightly late :)

Got there in my seat just before the start and settled right in. Freddy Deeb was on the table next to me and attracting a bit of attention. No-one on my table I recognised, but a Russian guy called Edik was getting attention about chip levels and had a lot of photos taken. Think Paradise Poker came to take mine, but haven't seen it yet.

The blinds were small and I only played 3 hands in the first two hours, but I won all 3 of them without having to show my hand down.

First, I decided to raise (3 times the big blind) with pocket 5's. Two callers. The flop was 289 with two spades. I bet and get a caller from the short stack who had been playing loosely. Turn was another 8 and I put a bet in which was about half his stack. He thought for ages and folded.

I get pocket aces when two people call the blind and another raises. No-one calls my large re-raise.

I get KdJd in the small blind and 4 of us see the flop. The big blind bets at an Ace high flop with two diamonds - the Ace is one for them. One caller and I do too. King on the turn and I check, she bets, a fold and then I call a bet hoping for a diamond. I hit the nut flush - the best possible hand available with these cards, I bet, hoping for a call. I don't get one, but I now have played and won 3 hands without showing them down. Couldn't really wish for a better table image.

After 2 hours, I'm up to 12,900 and I meet the Kays to chat about it.

In the meantime, a player was all in after five minutes and knocked out, and Lennox Lewis got a rousing reception as he sat down at his table saying "Let's get ready to rumble!"

Kay had been out snapping poker stars like Chris Moneymaker, while I had been nervous, but excited, about playing in the big game.

Another post to follow....