by Joep van den Bijgaart
First of all welcome to my blog about the WCOOP, the greatest, biggest and best online tournament series in the world. For those guys who were interested in my Supernova Elite Challenge, I will give a short update on that first.

Last week I decided to quit my challenge for two reasons. First of all, because I've been traveling a lot for the EPTs, vacations and WSOP I missed a lot of time grinding online. I was 40k behind pace with only 4.5 months to go. It shouldn't be that hard to get back on pace but because of the EPTs and the Master Classics of Poker in Amsterdam I'm playing before the first of January, I don't have enough time to grind enough to have earn all those VPPs. The second reason has to do with my RSI-problems. My arms and shoulders hurt a lot lately cause of grinding. I have had these problems quite some time now, also way before starting the SNE Challenge. Although I feel disappointed that I can't pursue the challenge anymore, I feel that I made the right decision at this point.

Now back to what really matters: WCOOP! I'm really excited to play this year's WCOOP. I'm especially looking forward to several events. Out of all the events, there is one that I would really like to win. Although you guys might suspect I am talking about the Main Event here, which seems like a logical option, the event I would like to win is Event 26, the $320 Mixed Hold'em 6-max. During the year I am making a lot of final tables on Sunday at the $215 weekly Mixed 6-max. This sounds more special than it is, because only 30 players register. Nevertheless, I like the format of this tourney a lot. First of all it is 6-max, the game I like to play most. Second, most people who are really good at No Limit Hold'em, aren't at Limit Hold'em. I'm not saying that I'm really good at Limit Hold'em but overall I think I have a edge over the other players.

A big difference between this year and the last couple of years, is that the WCOOP doesn't overlap the EPT Barcelona. I am very glad that there aren't any EPTs scheduled during the WCOOP because when you have to play the WCOOP from your hotel you have to depend on the hotel's internet connection which unfortunately isn't good most of the time. It tilts me pretty hard most of the time when I get timed out for the 432th time in one evening and folded my aces again. On the other hand it's very cool to play with a lot of poker players in a hotel lobby and see everybody grind away on the laptops.

I am very happy I can play WCOOP this year at home, although I'm not in the best time zone. Therefore my daily rhythm will be turned upside down which means that I have to sleep during the day and play poker at night. Although it is definitely worth it: how can people ever say that being a poker player is not a hard-knock life?!

Good luck at the table - visit the official WCOOP site for more info.