I played poker with a former world champion boxer, an ex-Chelsea footballer and two poker pros...here's how it went

Following welcome drinks and a chance to interview the poker pros and sportsmen, we were put on two tables of eight and informed that the final nine players would then form a final table.

I was assigned to the table with Carl Froch, Charlie Carrel and True Geordie in addition to four other players. Carl was sat directly on my left while Charlie and True Geordie were on the opposite side of the table.

Each player was given a total of 20,000 poker chips. My initial thought was: 'Make sure you do not get eliminated first'. After a few hands went by, I decided to play with Jack-Ten suited in a hand against Carl.

After hitting nothing on the flop, the turn and the river, I bet 1,300 as a bluff to try and win the pot. Carl turned to me, looked me in the eyes and asked: "Do you have a good hand?". I replied: "Yes" in a tone that could certainly have been more convincing and after a short period of deliberation he called, revealing he had an Ace as high card which beat my Jack.

As he collected my chips, Carl joked that during our interview before the tournament, he could see in my eyes that I was going to try something cheeky.

The next hand I played was also against Carl. I won with a low pair, beating his high card for roughly the same amount I had lost with my previous bluff.

Carl gave me a fist bump and congratulated me on the win. As the next few hands went by with neither of us playing, we chatted about his experiences taking part in tournaments around the world in exotic locations such as the Bahamas. Carl also gave me a few tips as he could see I was basically a beginner in comparison to some of the more experienced players at the table.

As the game continued two or three players were eliminated from our table including True Geordie. In an eventful hand, Charlie Carrel said to the player sitting to my right: "If I go all in, will you call?". They had both bet a notable amount of their chips following the flop.

The player agreed and after calling Charlie’s bet to put him all in, he revealed a pocket pair of Aces. However, Charlie showed a pocket pair of twos that had become a set of twos on the flop. A third Ace did not come on the turn or the river and the player was eliminated.

I wondered whether Charlie, who I had seen before playing poker on TV, had used his vast experience at the highest level to manipulate the player to go all in or whether with pocket Aces it was inevitable. Either way, I thought it best to avoid getting into a pot with him.

The next hand I decided to play was a pocket pair of twos. As everyone folded, only Charlie called. We had barely interacted prior to this hand, however, before the flop came, the poker pro asked me a couple of questions regarding what I do for a job and if I played poker regularly.

I had just about finished explaining that I had not played much poker, other than with friends and family when I noticed the flop included a two.

I bet 2,500, with a remaining stack of 10,000 chips. When all five cards had been dealt, Charlie put me all in. I called and showed my twos, winning a much-needed pot.

The next hand I played was Ace-Three of hearts against Charlie. The flop was two-two-four with two hearts. As a result, I had the possibility of hitting a straight, a flush or a straight flush. I bet and Charlie called. The turn card was a dud for me so I checked to Charlie who bet a sizeable amount of his remaining stack.

As I was contemplating my next move, Charlie said: "You have a very expressive poker face". I decided that calling was best and hoped to see a heart on the river.

However, there was no heart to make a flush, no five to make a straight but there was an Ace to give me top pair. I checked to Charlie not knowing if he was going to bet the rest of his remaining stack but he chose to check. I showed my Ace and won the pot.

Following that hand, we were told it was time to form the final table. Between the two tables, seven players had been eliminated. Nine players remained.

I was excited to see that ElkY, the French poker star, was on the final table. We all drew cards that dictated where we sat at the final table. Once again, I was next to Carl, with the British boxing legend on my left and Tony Cascarino, another ex-Chelsea footballer, on my right.

I started the next round with 39,000 chips, almost double the 20,000 chips we had initially received. The final table’s first notable event was Carl knocking out Charlie, who now had one of the smallest stacks.

The first hand I decided to play at the final table was an unsuited Ace-Ten. I paired my Ace on the flop, my opponent bet 5,000 and I called. The turn card came and I was met with a further bet of 7,000. I called again but began to feel that my pair of Aces was not the best hand. Following the river card, my opponent went all in. We had roughly the same size stack.

I had 24,500 chips left. I knew that if I folded I would have enough to remain competitive. However, I had invested a third of my stack in this pot. I started to consider what I could beat with my pair of Aces which was any other pair and a pair of Aces with a kicker lower than ten.

On the other hand, I would lose to two pairs, three of a kind, a straight which was possible if my opponent had a four and crucially an Ace with a higher kicker than mine.

I took my time making the decision but eventually folded, figuring the other player had a stronger hand (he told me later in the evening after I enquired that he had Ace/Queen).

I folded the next few hands, knowing that losing another pot would most likely result in my elimination. As the last cards of the round were dealt the floor manager informed us that a 20-minute break would take place after the hand.

I thought it would be an ideal time to fold and wait for my chance to double up after the break. However, when I peered down at my two cards I saw Ace-Ten and a chance for redemption with the same hand with which I had just lost a big pot.

Carl, Tony and I all wanted to see the flop. It came ten-eight-six. This looked to be a great flop for me as I had top pair with top kicker. Tony bet, I called as did Carl.

The turn card came and Carl went all in. Tony called and so did I, knowing that with the smallest stack, if I did not win this hand I would be eliminated.

We all flipped our cards over, I dominated had Tony's unsuited Ten-Seven hand as his paired ten had a worse kicker than mine. However, he could still make a straight if a nine came. Carl had two hearts, the highest being a Jack, and was looking to make a flush on the river.

I was on track to win the hand but there were plenty of cards that could eliminate me. In the end, it was a Jack that came giving Carl top pair, a huge triple up and knocking me out.

I stayed to watch the rest of the contest. Carl and Tony were the last two players standing with Carl having a large chip lead and winning the heads-up battle relatively quickly.

Overall, I had a fantastic time rubbing shoulders with poker pros and sporting stars and I am grateful to GGPoker for the invitation. Their hospitality was first class and the evening was full of fun, good vibes and interesting people. An event as glamorous as has certainly left me looking forward to playing poker again...but just not with the hand Ace-Ten.