I am a fortunate man, in fact, a very lucky man, my significant other is very understanding of my sports fixes. But, for some poor folk this weekend, a dilemma awaits, as it is World Cup opening weekend and the World Series of Poker is continuing at a steady pace. Also, adding to the mix is America rocking up at the World Cup with the small hurdle of England to overcome first up. It all adds up to some serious banter at the tables over the next few weeks, and I will miss none of it. Hopefully...please.

In England the country is reaching fever pitch excitement that the World Cup starts this weekend. In America, judging by news coverage and poker forums, the country is also starting to show an interest in a big way. On the poker tables in the WSOP, it is rumoured that some hefty wagers are already passing around  on the outcome of the England v America opener. A no-brainier for me, England all the way I'm afraid. Quite a battle on the felt is also emerging in Las Vegas, with the Brits starting to threaten their best ever performance in the World Series, with two wins already and the unlucky Neil Channing taking a runner-up spot. It promises to develop into an enthralling clash of the Britain vs America.

There is nothing quite like the experience of the WSOP for the British, I have been twice and the looks on the faces of all the British players who attend paints its own picture. A picture of dis-belief and excitement, over the sheer scale of the operation in Las Vegas, which I have to say is by some distance the greatest poker tournament in the world. Americans, however, have been attending for years, since its early days when numbers were few, and it gets the juices flowing like no tournament.

The Brits kicked off with Praz Bansi and James Dempsey notching up a bracelet each. Both very talented players and very popular figures in the UK. Praz for his previous success and HitSquad connections has been a real flag bearer for UK Poker. Dempsey has an iconic status on the popular Blondepoker forum and on the UK circuit. Every UK forum is going nuts, player’s Facebook walls are getting hammered and every card room back home is talking about it. The rail at Dempsey’s final table resembled the banter we will see in every pub up and down the UK this Saturday for the England vs USA match and the excitement is reaching fever pitch in Vegas.

Forums on American sites have gone into meltdown, as soon as the word Football, or Soccer as the Amercan's call it, is mentioned in jest. Poker and Football, my ideal weekend and luckily enough no-one disagrees in my household, although it is going to cost me a packet. Oh well, "here's the credit card, dear, don't hurt it too much."  Come on England !! and America to qualify too.