Nick Holbrook is a familiar face at the Fox Poker Club and on the UK poker scene, he represented the club admirably at the Asian Poker Tour in the Philippines earlier in the year by winning a side event after being eliminated on Day 2 of the Main Event. We caught up with Nick this week just after he had returned from playing in the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas…
FPC: You just got back from the sun baked desert of Vegas to be welcomed UK by the rain… How it did the trip go?
Nick Holbrook: Vegas is always a great experience. After having cashed in a WSOP event in the UK, on this trip I played my first WSOP event on US soil… Event 56, a $1,500 No Limit Hold-em event.
There were 3389 runners and for a large part of day two I was battling for the chip lead. With about 150 players left I lost two races that put me on around average stack and went out in 111th place after flopping top two pair versus an over pair. The guy caught a runner runner to put me out… “Marv!”. Still, it was a cash of $4,500.
I also managed to make day 2 of the Main Event [the $10,000 buy-in World Championship], it was a day where everything I tried went wrong and my opponent always had one hand bigger than mine. I have no bad beat stories and don’t feel sorry for myself. This is such a grueling event, every decision seems intensified and draining. As I said, it was a great experience, though next year I’d play differently!
With all the partying and poker out there it was a very enjoyable trip, though I’m hoping next year will be more profitable. I won a small tournament at Caeser’s Palace which finished the trip off nicely.
FPC: You won a package to go play in the Asian Poker Tour at the club after qualifying for £45 – that must have been another great experience…
Going to Manila in April was fantastic, so a big thanks to the Fox and the APT for sending me to a great event. The resort itself was beautiful, everything you could need in one location. The hotel you get put up in is swish, good food, gym facilities, pool and entertainment on your doorstep.
The main event was again a tournament where I made day two, but I went back short stacked. I had been rivered on one of the last hands of day one: that was one where I felt sorry for myself.
Sometimes its just meant to be though… the next day I won one a side event and felt I had represented Fox Poker Club with class. I would recommend everyone to enter the satellite coming up as the Manila experience was very enjoyable and highly recommended…
FPC: Assuming you don’t win a package again, do you have any tips for the qualifiers to take with them?
1. Try to get on Manila time as soon as possible. I suffered jet lag for the first few days, so I’d recommend playing the second of the start days, just to give yourself a little extra time to adjust your body clock.
2. Play Your Game… don’t feel pressured, or feel expectation upon yourself. You may be representing Fox Poker Club and UK poker to a degree, but you are also representing yourself. I have played events before where I have played tighter or cautiously as a result of not wanting to let anyone down. So, just Play Your Game… remember you won the satellite and yes, you may have been lucky, but you also did something right. What shall be shall be.
3. Remember the usual advice to eat well – breakfast in the hotel offers a great range of fresh fruit and cereal but you could also treat yourself to pancakes and french toast. Try to exercise… one of the best ways I found to get rid of jet lag is to use the gym in the evening to tire myself out before bed. Or alternatively you could go party in the club at the resort!
4. Enjoy the experience – You’re in Manila for God’s sake, soak up the experience!!
If anyone wants further advice on the trip just ask me next time you see me in the club…
Wednesday August 10th you can win a package to go to the Philippines and play the APT Asian Series. The £2,000 packages include flights, accomodation and tournament entry. Read more about how to qualify here:
www.foxpokerclub.com/apt
