Scott's humble beginnings
From Customer Services Executive to professional poker player, Scott Shelley fills us in on his life changing story and massive poker win
To most people, poker is a glamorous, mysterious game where wierd and wonderful characters - from rich business types to Stetson-sporting OAPs and 18-year old millionaire whizz kids - casually battle for obscene amounts of cash under the glare of the TV studio lights.
The people you see playing on your screens are there for a reason - they're the superstars of the game, well known personalities who make a good living from their legendary skills.
So it's a million miles away for us mere mortals, right? You might think that it's a long ol' path to their kind of success. Winning life-changing sums just doesn't happen to the average Joe...
I'm living proof how wrong that is. In September 2010, after a few years of recreational poker, I turned £100 into £133,000 after winning a £100 poker game with colleagues at PKR.com to win a $1,000 seat in one of Europe's most prestigious poker tournaments, the World Series of Poker Europe (WSOPE). As I took my seat at the Empire Casino in London's Leicester Square I was ready to test my game against some of the greatest players from around the world, which included professional poker player and former bracelet winner JP Kelly who I went heads-up against to claim my WSOPE 2010 victory and coveted bracelet.
Five crazy days later, and I'd made it passed 570 other players to reach the final table. With my friends, family and workmates looking on, I went on to achieve one of my dreams, taking down a major live poker tournament and a juicy six-figure payday.
From being a huge poker fanatic working in the Customer Support team at PKR.com, I'm now a member of Team PKR Pro, PKR's stable of rising young stars hoping to become one of those wierd and wonderful characters on your TV screens.
In the coming weeks, not only will I be talking about the latest happenings in the poker world, I'll also be looking at different aspects of the game to help you improve and hone your own skills and who knows - maybe you'll be the next big star on our screens! Stay tuned and be lucky...
Check out the Nuts Poker room here!
