Cowboys ride in for quick-fire win

WAKING up to pocket Kings is always a joy.

But multiply that by a hundred in a heads-up situation - then add a few noughts when it's to win a tournament with a $3,200 first prize.

Yet I found myself in that glorious position after entering a £16 super turbo knockout on Full Tilt.

I really like these STs, but they're a complete lottery for the first few rounds. With just 300 chips, you're pushing for your life straight from the off.

A big slice of luck is needed to double up early on, but double up again and you can start picking off the small stacks around you.

Half an hour into the tournie and things plays very much like a standard MTT, although with a rapidly reducing field.

I reached the final table with second largest stack after encountering few problems, aside from once lucking out with AQ against AK in an all-in pot.

I ducked most of the trouble at the final table too by bullying the blinds and picking off the smaller stacks, three and four-betting when in position, and with a few timely squeezes.

I eventually found myself heads-up and level on chips with diapersniper14.

Then, after more too-ing and frowing than a tug-o-war match, my cowboys arrived. I raised against my aggressive opponent - who, thank the Lord, re-raised me. An all-in and he called with his K10 - which never looked like holding up.

Just two hours and 14 minutes after starting off with 300 chips, I had close to 370,000 - and a very decent payday.

And in all time to watch Match of the Day... result!