The Big Dance

I know it's been a long time since my last post here on LandoNation, but there's been a lot going on with school lately, most of which I'm trying to catch up on this weekend before I head overseas.

It's been a while since I've left Australia (the last trip was to Cebu, The Philippines in 2009), but this year, if I'm only going to be taking one trip, it would be this one.

The rumours are true - in exactly two weeks' time, I will be heading to the "big dance" that is the 42nd Annual World Series of Poker (WSOP) at the Rio All-Suite Casino & Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA!

It's my first time to the WSOP (and indeed, America) - and also the first time that I'll be celebrating my birthday outside of Australia! I don't think I've been this excited about an overseas trip in a long time, but at the same time, I'm preparing myself for what will be the hardest job in my career as a poker journalist.

58 events across almost three months in the midst of the Nevada Desert, at the height of summer, where the average temperature is above 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Sure, we'll be inside the casino all day, but that's where the other extreme comes into play - from what I've been told, you'll need to rug up in winter clothes if you sit in the wrong spot. Industrial-strength air-conditioning FTW!

Also, the experienced campaigners have told me to expect an average day of about 14 hours - and I know one of my colleagues was stuck covering a final table for almost 24 hours! Of course, this is to be expected - after all, this is the WSOP. The one time of the year where anyone and everyone migrates to the hallowed felt for their shot at stardom. There's no other event like it - where else are you going to see the Average Joe and the Big Name Pro shoulder-to-shoulder, each with an equal chance of winning millions of dollars and the coveted gold bracelet?

I can't even begin to tell you just how big this event is, so I'll let this video do it for you.

I promise you, citizens of LandoNation, that I will endeavour to update you on all the goings-ons while I am in Las Vegas - assuming that I don't either collapse from exhaustion (or be hospitalised for alcohol poisoning when June 25 comes around).

In the meantime, I'm trying to make sure that I have all my assessment tasks up-to-date for uni before I leave, so I probably won't be able to post again until before I leave (and/or after I arrive). As for the videos, I'll try and get at least one up on the YouTube channel before I go, but with all that's happened (and still happening), I'm just taking it one day at a time.

I'll leave those random thoughts for another day. Right now, it's back to work!