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Back to the den of iniquity that is Las Vegas where poker players flock every year like floundering wildebeest, scrambling over each other eager not to be the last to have every last dollar fleeced from their pockets.

The wholesale fleecing that goes on is not really a problem for most of the gamblers who simply do not care.

Most poker players have an almost obscene disregard for the value of money that makes them appear like decadent playboys or girls.

The money that is thrown around among poker players is mind-boggling and the games available, even here, can sometimes fall short in terms of the adrenalin rush the high rollers seek.

To satisfy the need they make up random bets to amuse themselves.

One top American player was bet $350,000 that he could not complete four consecutive rounds of golf each with a score under 100 and completely on foot in the searing heat of 110 degrees.

Results

Meanwhile, Stuart Fox from Birmingham had yet another great result, winning almost $450,000 for second place in the $5,000 No Limit event.

This followed a second and third place last year and it can surely only be a matter of time before he returns with a winners gold bracelet (the jewellery awarded to all WSOP event winners).

The main event was, much like last year, pretty much a waste of time for me as I completely failed to get going in the game.

All in all the main event of the WSOP must be the world’s worst tournament in terms of cost of entry in relation to general standard of play.

It is an enormous field including a very large number who cannot judge or do not even try to judge the strength of an opponent’s hand.

A British player, Jon “Skalie” Kalmar was eventually fifth, winning over $1.2 Million and had he won a “race” with AK versus JJ I believe he would have won the whole thing for the UK.

Skills

He was playing superbly with measured skill and timed aggression and was one of the few players at the final table capable of making it happen for himself.

When involved in a serious pot he would pray out loud reminding the Lord that he had a special purpose for him and that he would glorify his name should he win the pot. (I may try the same at a tournament in Newcastle.)

He ended up winning the event and having promised a significant portion of his winnings to charity it is nice to know that many deserving causes will benefit from his success.

I am sure he will make a great ambassador for the game.

Signing off from Las Vegas, Paul Jackson.

Jerry Yang took home $8.25m (more than £4m). Paul also managed to make some money during the WSOP, reaching the final 36 of the “Omaha” event, and winning $22,137.