DAY 1

KARA’S STACK: 20,000

I find my seat just in time to hear the famous words, ‘Shuffle up and deal!’ The room erupts into applause as we enjoy the buzz of sitting down in the biggest tournament of our lives. I pick up some big hands on Day 1, but it’s the timing that works in my favour. I wake up with A-A and K-K in a single level, both times after another stack has pushed all-in. And whenever someone thinks I’m being too aggressive and pushes, I either have nothing (and can easily get away) or the nuts, so that I show down big hands.