One man's remarkable journey to the PCA (free of charge)

Perhaps it's understandable that once presented with a narrative almost impossible to believe, your first thought may well be in line with obscenity. That was the way it worked for one reader of the PokerStars Facebook page this week, who on hearing news that a 24 -year-old from Edinburgh had completely freerolled his approach to a PCA package, simply wrote: "Bull****".

Putting aside the dearth of couth, they'd some extent. For a package to the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure starting next month, including flights, accommodation, expenses and naturally a first-rate Event seat, is worth $16,000. Surely that cannot be free? Surely there has been some mistake? Surely there has been no less than some nominal satellite fee involved, even one who may well be paid for in coins found down the back of the couch?

No, it was free.

But then whilst you assess the hardship involved perhaps free was the one logical ticket. For not just did Luke "Pokergeist99" Stirling have a freeroll to beat, which included some 24,231 players, he then discovered there has been another obstacle within the way, four actually, arguably tougher than anything he'd faced as much as now.

For real: Luke Stirling

Standing between a winter in Scotland, or at the beaches of the Bahamas were four Team Online Pros, waiting to play a chain a heads-up matches with Stirling to figure out whether his dream would ever become a reality.

Thinking about it Stirling had just a little experience on which to draw, a 55 cent tournament he once won worth $840. Now, after ten hours in a freeroll, he had two days to attend for the heads-up matches that will determine his mood, no less than for January.

Up first was Lex Veldhuis, followed by no lesser foe Isaac Haxton.

"Haxton was hard and that i was struggling until I got queen-ten, and he called my all-in with queen-three," said Stirling. "The very hardest match though was with Alex 'kanu7' Millar. It took 27 minutes to defeat him as either one of us just wouldn't lose."

After that arduous slog Stirling still had Andre Coimbra to dodge. Buoyed perhaps by his success so far, Stirling took it to the Portuguese, finally moving all-in with a couple of sevens. It was not a nasty shove, but ultimately, as Coimbra turned over king-jack, he can be racing for a seat to the PCA.

"The flop was a king and so I BELIEVED 'Oh well, that's me lost the PCA!'"

Stirling is on his way here next month

For a second it appeared the entire exertions were undone by a single card. Some 24,000 players defeated, let alone three Team Online Pros, all of which was now set to be jinxed by an uncaring flop. Stirling might also have been forgiven for yelling that very same B-word on the top of his lungs. Lesser men have. But then from out of nowhere the miracle seven.

"Well, then I just went mental and began dancing around!"

Bull****?

Don't be ridiculous, these items happens at all times on PokerStars. Well sometimes.

If you fancy joining Stirling within the PCA, perhaps so that you can poke him within the arm to look if he's real, then there's a lot of time to win your seat in a single of the countless satellites you could find within the PokerStars lobby. For as low as a couple of dollars you too might be flying out the Bahamas in a month's time. For all of the details about the PCA, take a look at the PCA homepage.

Stephen Bartley is a staff writer for the PokerStars Blog.

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