A great sense of satisfaction after this first tough day, but the hardest part is yet to come. This monday at noon, we will be more then 300, survivors of the 3 past days, playing together.

This could seem quite benine, but I can assure you that it is really impressive, especially when you see the number of stars and celebrities that were eliminated on sunday: topping the list are Chris Fergusson and Elky...

There will be 100 winners in the money; the adopted strategy is therefore "caution and care until there", well, as long as possible in any case ! Thereafter, if things go well, we'll start attacking on the final table... There, as you can see, morale is high at the moment for this last part of my Las Vegas 2008 run.

See you soon.

While we await being on the final table together, "Baby"...

Perhaps will I get the privilege of being at his table this monday 14th of July, there are only 300 players left of which all those celebrities ... and a belgian !

It was a gruesome battle to survive up till now with 3 bad hands, against frenchman Patrice Soulier ...

Of course, I am far from being ahead of the lot, but when I see Doyle Brunson, the "living legend" of poker, trailing me, I tell myself it will be a great day in my poker life, no matter what happens.

So I do my best to navigate between this storm of poker plays.

Monday, a change in tactics will be needed, and go full steam ahead...
"Make or break" is what I'll go by during the day, wishing on fairies with their magic wands ... and this time round in a good way ... which reminds me that I would please enjoy my first AAs at an appropriate time, after a good 500 hands played ... so!?

Read the full article

Saturday at the Bellagio; phew ! I've survived a difficult day.

Here is the toughest play where I manage to survive an eliminatory shot by the excellent Patrice Soulier.

I hit a straight with my 67 and he hits a full with his 45. Its a big pot lost which makes me lose all I've worked for in the afternoon but I manage to hold on to staying in the game with a simple all instead of reraising on the river ... wisdom is coming bit by bit !

Here is a copy/past of the play on woldpokertour.com:

Straight Can't Catch Fabrice Soulier's Full HouseSaturday, July 12, 2008 06:26 PM PDT

With the final board showing 75453, Fabrice Soulier bets 2,200, and the button calls with 7-6 for a seven-high straight on the river. But Soulier shows 54 for a full house on the turn, fives full of fours, to win the pot.

Fabrice Soulier now has about 63,000.

Wednesday:
Important tournament at the WPT opening;
we will find all the pros and celebrities that were eliminated from the WSOP.

Thursday:
Satellite qualification at the WPT;
220 enrolled, 21 qualified

Friday:
World Poker Tour @ Bellagio

00.45

Elimination of Pierre Neuville

The belgian has put up a wonderful play.
% The board shows JhAcAd8h3s ad Pierre Neuville bets 5000, his opponent immediatly goes all in for a few thousand more and Pierre follows by showing JxJx but his opponent had AxJx in hand.
Pierre Neuville was held by his opponent and ends the tournament on that hand.

00.05

Chop Chop for Pierre Neuville

Pierre Neuville puts down a reraise of 600 in the blinds. 4 plays are in.
Flop: KhAh9d. Pierre checks and his opponent bets 1200, Pierre follows.
Turn: 7d, both players check.
River: 9c, both check again and Pierre shows 6sAx against 10cAx for his opponent.
Both players split the pot.

23.30

No news until here.

I'll give you the information in real time from what I can gather left and right.

Chipcount: 21.500

Here we are at last, the time for the main event has arrived !!

I'm trying to concentrate solely on poker and forget the rest in the objective of optimising my chances of success.

I'm thus playing tomorrow, thursday July 3rd at table 27 seat 7 in the orange area. There will be about 3000 players to eventually end up with about 500 at the end of the day.

Lets hope the cards will be in our favor and that we can continue this through day 2 !

See you tomorrow for more news.