Q: What degree did u get? A: A 2.1., was really pleased. Q So what now, law? My A: Yeah, a year out and then maybe. Real A: Fuck law, poker ftw!!

Happily I luckboxed my way to a 2.1. in law which is exactly what I wanted, really helped by a strong mark in my dissertation which may have just about justified missing out on the sick Pokerstars promotions around the time I was procrastinating my way to completion. The most annoying one to miss was the "play 22 hands and become a Supernova promotion" which apparently can reap extra rewards in freerolls as well (VWP Nath/pg, ridiculously good mate, so pleased for you, definitely deserved that so much!) Another massive factor that allowed me to get 2.1 was the lecturer for my Wednesday 9:00 being so inadequate that enough people complained about the quality of his handouts and tutorials that the exams were generously moderated to give us a good mark. Considering I hadn't been to any of these lectures after week 2 that was an incredible bonus and a massive lifesaver after that exam was probably my worst in 3 years as I sat scrambling through my notes in an open book exam where I wrote less than a page for the last answer...thank fuck for moany people!!!

So I'd have to say that overall Durham was a massive success. A couple of marks less and I'd probably have to say the sacrifices I had to make in terms of time away from my family, Louise and earning wasn't worth it, but the 2.1 is what I need to try to distinguish myself from the thousands of other law graduates when I finally enter the world of work. It was very tough being away from home and Louise at times, but I got through and used poker to keep myself occupied. So, on an academic front I can be proud and whilst I think the 6 hours / week (4 hours / week in third year) was a joke and not very stimulating, it allowed a lot of time for poker which was helped by meeting successful players from Durham Poker Society.

I played many different styles at uni but had plenty of time to learn, and shortstacked and hit and run Crypto cash games for a year whilst grinding 6man turbos before the world of Stars and ideas of bankroll management were brought into my world by Durham nits such as James Skolsuper, Richard Bowburn and Ptevey sm1le. Some loose cannons, i.e. Matt mgamble4456(such a standard fish name fwiw!) and later on Rahl Benjamin Blake recommended all sorts of degenerate antics but I made sure I avoided these bad vibes, and didn't once risk drinking Hannes' "non-alcoholic" beer!!

So, I'd learnt about bankroll management and whilst I preferred to have 750,147 BI for each level instead of around 20-50 I was actually able to play it more as a job. Live cash games were ridiculous at times, and in the third year I made a regular habit of winning and losing close to a hundred in alternate sessions at the mighty £10nl. All the poker I learnt from everybody at Durham helped my develop my own style and on reflection poker was my degree and law was my part time job.

Now, as I have left uni, I have a long summer ahead of me which I hope to play loads of poker, get fit and grow up...I'll try to post how these things come along, with maybe a picture of my ripped 6pack as a post title when I put Peter Andre's washboard abs of the Kiss the Girl era to shame.

Since I've been a "graduate" I have started my "year out to play poker" well and made around $1350 in three sessions, and enjoyed playing so much! I've dropped around $200 at tournies and I'm just not ready to concentrate for several hours yet but I'm loving my poker and can't wait to talk poker and learn more for a year...it's exciting, if not an awkward response when asked what I plan to do with my degree/life or what I'm doing this year. What is almost certain (though nothing is booked yet) is that I'm going to Vegas with a few Durham fish early September and can't wait for that, will be so good and if it goes well may sort out another trip out there to make the most of my freedom whilst I still can. I am hoping that being the youngest-looking person in any casino could act as huge implied odds and really help me rape the fellow tourists and possibly win money from them as well to try to run at a profit for the trip.

Until then, I will post if anything exciting happens, but as I play HU which is very dull to talk about that might be a while away, so I guess next time I post will be when I knock in another hole in one, which must be due soon!!

Goodnight and peace, wish me luck for the year ahead! :-)