New UK poker book

If you don’t know your Devilfish from your El Blondie, your Yo-Yo from your Crazy Horse, then help is at hand with the imminent release of a new book, dedicated to the UK professional poker scene.

While there are plenty of poker books out there, coaching manuals, strategies guides, that sort of thing, there is yet to be one that concentrates on the UK scene and the colourful personalities that make up this unique world.

The British poker community is eagerly awaiting the publication by Macmillan of Swimming With The Devilfish – Under The Surface Of Professional Poker by Des Wilson, which will hit the stores on June 16 this year.

PokerPlayer will be bringing you a review of the book before it comes out and giving you the chance to win copies nearer the release date, so look out for that.

The author spent six months following the professionals around the European circuit and to Las Vegas for the World Series, and he has chronicled all the ups and downs of life as a British professional poker player.

Included in the book are in-depth profiles of all the well-known names – Dave Colclough, Willie Tann, the Hendon mob, and some 30 others – and the book contains a powerful and revealing 20,000-words biography of David ‘Devilfish’ Ulliott.

He describes life on the tour circuit, the world of professional cash games, action from the Vic and other casino card rooms, and the rise of poker via the back alley clubs to the big tournaments and internet poker of today.

And he sets the stage for the “battle to the last chip” between the old school pros and the internet young guns.

Advance readers have been enthusiastic. Tony Holden, author of “Big Deal”, says: “Des Wilson has done what no-one has attempted before and got under the surface of British professional poker. He tells the players’ stories with humour and uncompromising honesty.”

Praise also comes from former Poker Million winner and director of the EPT, John Duthie, who describes it as “a wonderful insight into the multi-layered life of the professional poker player” and top Irish player and tournament director ‘Gentleman’ Liam Flood who says “it is the best book on British poker ever written.”