Well, what a ‘practice’ tournament it turned out to be in Manchester!

True to my word I mixed it up from the off and got rewarded with an early double up when my set of deuces were paid off by top two pair.

From then on, I got through the first day and down to the final 10 of the 55 entries, without ever dipping below average.

What was most pleasing, was that I had played my ‘A’ game all day ensuring I was in front in every single showdown throughout the day.

A big pot won just before the end of the night had left me in 3rd in chips and in great shape going into Day2.

Day 2 didn’t start to plan though, when the 3 short stacks, lying outside the payouts for the top 7, all double and trebled up making for an infuriating 4 hour bubble!

When I missed with AK in a big pot, all of sudden it was me that was the shortest stack with 9 left and fearing a real blow to the confidence just before the WPT appearance.

Somehow I managed to summon up the courage to move all in 3 hands on the row with not much and it was that subsequent stack jump that would prove pivotal as the bubble burst soon after.

With a big scare fully behind me, the shackles were off and I proceeded to run over the table to take a slight chip lead with 3 players left.

Sensible deals were done, locking up a prize of £7k and I went on to clinch the GUKPT Summer Series title, the trophy and the bonus Champion of Champions seat with the Doyle Brunson hand…10 2!

What a confidence booster and reward for Freds faith in me, just the night before the big £5k WPT event!