We’ve witnessed the epic $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. tournament in Las Vegas twice now. And it’s clear that beyond the Main Event it’s the tournament all the pros dream of winning. In terms of poker superstars per square inch nothing else comes close.

Cut to London early September and as we trudged towards Leicester Square past the familiar lunchtime crowd we couldn’t muster the same sort of enthusiasm for the inaugural London event.

Then we turned the corner onto Dean Street and bumped into Chris Ferguson in full trenchcoat and hat regalia. Even by Soho standards he looked out of place, but it set the scene perfectly… Because as we entered the Empire casino, it soon transpired that although the surroundings were cramped and more Blackpool than Bellagio, the field was going to be every bit as tough as the tournament many call the ‘true world championship’.