Last week, as the World Series of Poker 2010 Main Event kicked off in Las Vegas, I made a decision. Or rather, my fat mate Murali and I did.

We are GOING to qualify for the WSOP 2011 through online satellites, we're GOING to Las Vegas next July and we're GOING to win it. Well, I am. He'll be too busy stuffing his face with burgers.

I have calculated that this is not only possible. It is a mathematical certainty.

Ever since I started playing poker online regularly, which was about six years ago, my game has been steadily improving.

First I cashed in big but very cheap sit & gos, then I won a couple. Gradually I started playing in $10 and $20 tourneys and a few cash games. Nowadays I'm regularly winning small amounts of money in cash games and cashing a fair bit in mid-size, mid buy-in events.

But what's the point? I love it, sure, but I could make the same money backing Manchester United or Chelsea in a home double banker with Rangers or Celtic every week (if my idiot colleague who writes The Bad Beat Blog is reading this...that's how it's done).

No, to mean something really significant poker has got to be life changing. For a decent, improving player like me, it could be - it has the power to change my lifestyle and my bank balance...and it will.

So, as soon as the 2011 WSOP satellites kick off, I'll be fighting. And I won't stop until I'm in Las Vegas, sometime after the bubble next July, with a smile as wide as Murali's gut on my face.