As I stood on the outside of the velvet rope, the sound of the chips clattering was nothing short of intense. The huge ballroom was filled with poker tables, each one carrying the hopes of men and a few women all with the same goal in mind. The bracelet? The money? Maybe to some that what it’s all about, but for most, winning is about the accomplishment of becoming a World Poker Tour (WPT) champion. It was November 11, 2007 and the WPT North American Poker Championship was underway. Not too many people understood why I wanted to make the four hour drive to Niagara Falls only to watch the tournament. For me, it was to set a goal for myself; to see with my own eyes what I was missing would give me a reason to continue with my dream. So I stood and watched with the occasional fellow spectator asking if I was playing in the event because they could swear they saw me on TV before. I gave the same answer to everyone who asked: "Not yet." Two days later, I got in my car to make the long drive home to the country, all the while the ...