And on the third day he spunked again...

After some rather tiresome e-mail shenanigans, a very nice man from the Rio finally told me what day I start on in the WSOP. Joyfully, it's the third (Saturday). This is utterly wonderful news. Last year I had to start on the first day and I absolutely hated it, especially when I played like an eejit and made a deserved early exit. The next day was probably one of the most miserable of my life, as I had to mooch around absorbed in my own self-pity / self-loathing, watching 1200 excited faces just starting their own poker adventure. Wankers.

The Bahamas was even worse. Alice and I got royally screwed by some inept fool at Heathrow who had cocked up our connecting flight (we realised, all too late, that when we landed at Miami our connection had already left). Considering that we were both due to start on day one, at 12 the next day, this was an ill omen, especially when a rather unconcerned airline employee told us: "looks like that was the last flight of the day". Marv. Eventually we squeezed onto a dangerous-looking twin-prop operated by Bald Eagle, or something like that, and arrived in Nassau at 3 a.m. only to discover, of course, that our luggage would not be joining us. We both busted in time for supper on day one.

But now the shoe is on the other foot. This year I'll have the luxury of kicking around in bars and bowling alleys for two days, listening to Nick Persaud's 5-3 suited "bad beats" and inwardly gloating over the fact that thousands of tosspots are out, while I haven't even fired a chip in anger. Also, if by some extraordinary bad luck I bust out early, I'll only have to endure a few more days of dice and despair before going home.

I know a lot of people think it's a disadvantage not to get a rest day, but I really couldn't disagree more. Sure, Dan Harrington was the only day one player to make the final last year, but I think that was a fluke. This year I'm betting there'll be an even spread on the final (including my good self, bien sur). I hardly ever find poker exhausting - perhaps that means I'm not concentrating hard enough? Obviously I'm not in a position to comment, having never made it beyond day two, so maybe I'm wrong. Hopefully this year I'll find out.