I won a seat in the World Series of Poker!!!!!!

Last night I played in a double shootout tournament. The format is 81 people at 9 tables. Each table plays down to 1 player and then each of those 9 goes on to the final table. For $160 entry fee, first place was a $12,0000 package to the main event of the World Series of Poker.

And I did it!!! I had been playing pretty exclusively online for the past few weeks trying to win a seat, and this was my last chance. Literally. This tournament started at about 11 and the final table didn't start until about 12:30. PokerStars was ending these satellites at midnight, so this was it.

I was pretty confident that I was the best player at the final table, but luck is a factor, and I was the short stack when we got down to 3, but I stayed calm, kept breathing, and didn't do anything stupid. And the next thing I knew it was over and I was the winner.

I went in to wake Karen up. It was about 2 in the morning, but how could I not? You should have seen her pop out of bed when I said "I'm going to Vegas!"

Ok. Now I gotta actually make my travel arrangements. Wish me luck!!!