NewJane: Congratulations on your excellent finish at the Live Tour event! Tell us about the event that qualified you for the Live Tour Final tourney next year.

Baggytrousers: I played the £300 tournament at the Grosvenor Victoria in London. To be honest as far as PSO was concerned there were only Cockney Kid (Dave) and myself there and so it was a question of outlasting each other! I am delighted to have beaten him as last year, although there were more PSOers there, he outlasted me and then qualified. Had he not been there I would have won in last year! But it was disappointing the lack of competition and hopefully next year it will be better planned and promoted.

NewJane: Tell us some interesting facts about your life, such as place of employment, family matters, hobbies, or educational background.

Baggytrousers: Last year I got married for the second time. I married Allie, a wonderful lady I have now been with for 9 years. Its fortunate she is a TV addict, which allows me as much time as I want to play poker! Between us we have 3 children Josh (Allies son) 21, a budding hairdresser, Carly (my daughter) 20, at University and Oli (my son) 17, still at school. Both Josh and Oli love poker, naturally! I work from home trading in all sorts of products from Europe and America, mainly in the textiles and accessories industries. Working from home, I need to keep my discipline and as many of the Bugsyites on PSO will know, I play far too often and have to be careful, as I love my poker.

I also love football (Americans call it soccer but it is the only game they should REALLY call football as we use our FEET most of the time!) I played to a reasonably high level of Sunday League games, but that is nowhere close to being a pro.

NewJane: Give us a little glimpse into your poker background. How long have you played? Do you prefer online play or live? Where is your favorite place to play live? Do you like tournaments or ring games? What is your game of choice?

Baggytrousers: I have played now for about 4 years. The first year was purely for play money and it was fixed limit. The minute I discovered No Limit I never looked back. I simply love the game, but only tournaments. I don't enjoy cash games, especially amongst friends, as I feel that the friendships can be in jeopardy. I enjoy playing both online and live. I have a game at my house every 4 weeks and many people I have met online have attended. It is now a regular 16-18 people every game!

I am very fortunate in the fact that I have lived my dreams in poker. This year I won an entry at Bugsys Club to the WSOP Main Event! What an experience! I made it through the first day and that in itself was fantastic, although I remember at the time it was a really deflating feeling going out. As for my favorite place to play live, it has to be Las Vegas, the Bellagio Card Room is my favorite.

NewJane: How long have you been a member of PSO?

Baggytrousers: On and off for about 18 months but never seem to use it enough as I prefer to play for real money.

NewJane: What do you think was your greatest strength in the tourney? Your biggest weakness?

Baggytrousers: Actually it was a bit of a non-event. I was playing really well for about an hour and a half when I raised up with JJ one before the button. The BB called me, and the flop came down 2/2/10. He checked and I raised up 500 from a 3.6k approx stack. He re-raised me to 1k. I re-raised him 1k and after thinking for an eternity he took me allin ( he had a bigger stack than me anyway). I had to call and much to my amazement he turned over 5/5! I really thought I had outplayed him and then... Yup, u guessed it a 5 hit the river! And I thought it only happened online... lol

NewJane: What are some of the differences you notice in online play as opposed to live play?

Baggytrousers: It's obvious really. Online, in tournaments, there are so many sites and so many tournaments that its easy if you get knocked out of one to go straight to the next. Therefore, many people play cards that they would really not consider in a live tourney when the only place to go when you lose is to the rail. Therefore, it is much harder to bluff someone online.

NewJane: If you could have dinner with any current poker tourney pro, who would it be and what would be the question you would ask first?

Baggytrousers: I think it would have to be Josh Ariah. I would love to sit down with him and ask him why he was such an "Word Not Allowed" to Harry Demetriou in the WSOP 2004. I think dinner would take all of about 5 mins but it would be worth it!

NewJane: What poker books have helped your game?

Baggytrousers: Dan Harringtons "Harrington On Holdem" Volumes 1 and 2 are a must read for all poker players wishing to gain a greater understanding of the game.

NewJane: What new poker games are you interested in learning?

Baggytrousers: I'm not!

NewJane: Here is your chance to address anything I neglected to ask that you are dying to share.

Baggytrousers: I was going to leave this part blank but last night I won a package Entry into the WPT in Bahamas! So naturally I'm dying to share that info. I wanna shout it from the rooftops! I will be there from the 4th - 11th January! I won it playing a $5 rebuy tournament, which took me into a $175 Double Shootout. This, for those that don't know is an 81-person tournament. 9 tables of 9. The winners of each table then play a final table. The winner then gets the package. This is possibly my greatest win so far as I beat some very well known and respected online tournament players!

NewJane: Thanks for taking time to talk with me. Good luck to you at the Live Tour Finale!!