Pegger heads to world-class poker tournament

WINNIPEG ? A Winnipeg man is on his way to Monte Carlo to play in one of the world's top poker championships.

Will Clarke won his way into a paid spot at the table at the European Poker Tour's Grand Final by playing poker online. Normally, the entry fee into the tournament is 10,000 euros ? about $17,000 Cdn.

Clarke will battle with more than 200 of the best players from around the world for the first prize, which is more than $1 million Cdn.

All players start with $10,000 in chips, and every 90 minutes, the ante goes up. However, Clarke will be trying not to think about the money.

"Just always see it as chips ? even in a live cash game, always see it as chips," he advises. "If you start thinking about the money, that's when things can go bad for you."

Clarke says other keys to doing well include intuition and mathematics. There's also a lot of practice; he spends four to eight hours a day playing hundreds of hands of poker, mostly online.

The local poker star says he won't make the mistake of being cocky: "The thing about poker is that if you think you know it all, you're gonna lose. It's a game you've constantly got to be learning. I mean, a year ago, I thought I was good, but now, today, I look at myself and I'm like, I can't believe I thought I was good a year ago."

Clarke says five other Canadians might be playing with him in the European championship; surprisingly, one other player is also from Winnipeg.

Clarke will be travelling in style; his trip includes his flight to Nice, France, where a helicopter will give him a seven-minute lift to Monte Carlo. His five-night stay in a five-star hotel ? worth about $3,500 ? is also included.

The poker competition begins Thursday.

News Added: 15 March, 2005

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