Contributions
Tuesday, 14 September 2010
Hurray! I won the “Contribution to Poker” thing at the British Poker Awards! Thanks very much, if you voted. Jesse May (a fellow nominee, author of a brilliant poker novel, columnist, podcaster and the voice of poker on British television since it began) was sitting on my right, just next to the aisle, and I enjoyed literally climbing over him to pick up the prize. STAND ASIDE, MAY! TOP CONTRIBUTOR COMING THROUGH!
But of course, these were the 2010 awards, for the past year, and my book came out in the last twelve months so I’m assuming it was a kindly award for that, in the knowledge that I won’t get another chance, while Jesse (and other great nominees Anthony Holden, Marty Wilson, Simon Trumper and Tony Kendall) will continue to be glorious year after year.
Either that, or it’s a prize for the fact that I make a contribution to poker every time I sit down in the Vic cash games *sigh*.
But I’m really pleased with my new little trophy, and mainly I hope that it will encourage a few more people to read For Richer, For Poorer; it’s no Girl With A Dragon Tattoo, but hey, it’s sort of won a prize…
Comments
Clyde at 11:06 am on September 14th, 2010
Congratulations!
MDW at 11:30 am on September 14th, 2010
Congats, it’s always nice to win something - I’m sitting on a beach all next week reading books so I’ll pick up For Richer, For Poorer and give it a read, I know nothing of the game you call poker so if it is poker heavy please let me know and I’ll avoid it
Phil at 11:49 am on September 14th, 2010
Congratulations! Well deserved. I accidently bought two copies from Amazon and it was well worth it. Top read for anyone who likes poker or an interesting life story alike. My brother (the beneficiary of the surplus copy) was also mighty impressed, and his reading doesn’t usually extend beyond college textbooks and cornflake packets
jane at 12:28 pm on September 14th, 2010
Congratulations. Great book, great show, a source of great pleasure to us all (especially the hieroglyphs). You deserve a prize - so well done you.
Victoria Coren at 2:13 pm on September 14th, 2010
Thanks very much! MDW, it is definitely intended to be an enjoyable and accessible read for people who don’t play poker, as well as those who do. If you look at the Spectator quote on the “For Richer, For Poorer” page of this site (a link off the “Books” page), maybe you will find that reassuring…
Rob King at 3:27 pm on September 14th, 2010
The poker book is on my christmas list, With the current economic climate, and the fact that it seems that every set I get is beaten by another better set, I’m going to have to wait for a kind member of my kith and/or Kin to buy it for me, or I might have to leave it for santa to pick up the slack…
MDW at 3:42 pm on September 14th, 2010
thanks, I’ll buy the book tomorrow - if after reading your book I end up playing poker and being:
broke, sleep deprived, counting cards like rainman, having my hands broken by pit bosses in Vegas, married to a hooker, growing a mustache
it will all be your fault
Tom Gibson at 6:09 pm on September 14th, 2010
Well done on your award, it’s about time your far-reaching positive contributions to poker were recognised. However I wonder if you gave much thought to the reference regarding the Girl with a Tattoo?!
Victoria Coren at 9:16 pm on September 14th, 2010
Lol. Thanks very much Tom. No, I hadn’t given that quite enough thought…
MarkP at 9:34 pm on September 14th, 2010
Congratulations on the award. As a non-poker player I can say that my lack of knowledge didn’t stop me from enjoying the book. If the book has one failing it is that there are no witty, clever anecdotes about Brian Cant in it, other than that I would recommend it to anyone.
AndytheDealer at 9:57 pm on September 14th, 2010
At last, a worthwhile winning vote!
I have to confess to voting Liberal Democrat at the last election. Once again it was a wasted vote, a Labour MP was elected in my constituency. However, I’m still having sleepless nights about voting for a party that’s actually in government, betraying its manifesto.
Iain James Drummond at 7:28 pm on September 15th, 2010
Well done Vicky, loved the book ( sorry but I handed it out to other poker junkies and haven’t got it back, losing you money no doubt) Saw you at the Edinburgh UKIPT, hoping to be on your table (alas not) but then I thought I would be able to speak to you at some point, but you donked off your chips and I missed my chance. Ah well maybe next time.
King John II at 10:01 pm on September 15th, 2010
There are now poker awards?
I think FRFP should always be labelled to indicate that this particular book contains no sex or violence whatsoever.
King John II at 11:55 am on September 16th, 2010
Poker junkies? the www has a lot to answer for. Oh for the times when those who wished to play poker did so in order to make a few bob and avoid working for a living ( VC not included, who I understand is gainfully employed elsewhere in addition to being loaded )
Mike at 9:17 am on September 17th, 2010
Hi Vicky,
That’s great news about your award, and I was glad to be one of your nominees. Happy for you.
I think you should be given an award for making people smile with your witty Observer columns. I would vote for sure.
Have a good weekend.
andy sinclair at 11:00 am on September 17th, 2010
Hi Victoria,
Congratulations on your reward. I have just finished your book and I would highly recommend it - inspirational. I especially enjoyed your thoughts on aces with low cards - a dilemma I am often faced with - I positively hate A7. I could also empathise with you about knocking out nice people - only this morning I suffered a enormous bad beat that nearly put me out, I clawed my way back to a good position and was congratulated by the person on my right for a great recovery and then knocked them out the very next hand!!
Anyway good luck at the tables
Andy
Rog at 9:41 am on September 18th, 2010
Wow, congratulations,-I even voted for you so am soo pleased, still I did think i was voting for top 100 women in FHM…
As for ‘Girl with dragon tatoo’ reference, I am now waiting for you sequal to FRFP and third/final installment….
x
Bob Guscott at 8:11 am on September 19th, 2010
Hi Victoria, congratulations on your well deserved award, it’s wonderful. Loving the new series of “Only Connect”, hey I actually completed a wall on line the other day!!! God bless, Bob x
Lawrence at 3:23 pm on September 21st, 2010
I loved For Richer, For Poorer. It may not have sold as many as Girl With A Dragon Tattoo, but it’s a better read - just as unputdownable as Holden’s Big Deal, honest and touching.
Dustin Rouse at 8:41 pm on September 21st, 2010
Hello. I think that you are a very good poker player, and I would love to know if you are single or not. I would love to meet you one day if you are single!
Addicted at 8:58 pm on September 21st, 2010
Hi VC, I’m not a poker fanatic or a ‘sicko-fan-t’ and yet somehow I’ve become thoroughly addicted ..damn!
Jeanette at 4:59 pm on September 22nd, 2010
Dear Vicki Congrats on ur win ! :-D ! I’m VERY happy for u ! :-)
I dream of one day becoming an awesome poker player like u and the other. :-D ! But well so far it’s just a dream ! :-)
Hope u r well ! :D
Lots of Love from me, Jeanette.
Ps I’ve just started following u and some other players on twitter so I’m looking forward to see what u have to say about all the exciting things u experience :-D