“Administrator: Welcome to the 2007 World Blogger Championship of Online Poker! Before the night is over, one of you will have a seat in the 2008 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure. Play hard and we’ll see you at the final table. –The PokerStars Blog Team”

In years past, when you registered for the tourney, you had a seat and chips, even if you were a no-show…that was me last year, I planned on playing and then just spaced it. But this year you were given a tournament ticket and had to use it during a three hour window to be given a seat and chips. Nice! It removes all the dead stacks from play and believe me, those dead stacks really screw up your game plan.

1,337 bloggers signed up for the event. I got the button and 8-2 off suit for my first hand.

I made a horrible call UTG, with 6-8 S, blinds 25-50. Everyone, including the SB folded. I flopped top pair, 7-8-2, bet 50 got a call from the BB, turn was a deuce H, putting two hearts on the board, BB checked, I bet $500, got a call. Yikes! The river was A-D, check, check, BB held K-J H. I won. Now I’m settling in to see what I can do in this tourney.

More Later