Liv Boeree has been one of the success stories of the year for UK poker, and now the model turned cards pro is set to open the world's largest poker festival. Poker in the Park begins in Leicester Square on Thursday September 2nd and Liv will be there to cut the ceremonial ribbon and doubtlessly set pulses racing. Fans, of which there are plenty, will be able to get up close and person with the Manchester University graduate (she studied astrophysics, proving she's not just a pretty face), with photo opportunities and an autograph session. Liv has pocketed more than £1 million during her illustrious career and has several other strings to her bow, including the some nifty guitar skills and lots of presenting experience. Her victory in the European Poker Tour event in Italy's San Remo elevated her to another level and she is now one of the most instantly recognisable names in the game. The two-day Poker in the Park festival is expected to attract more than 20,000 poker enthusiast to the capital. Published by James Bourne

Top poker players are used to having it all: money, cars and the high-life, not to mention the fact they can easily attract members of the opposite sex. For Alec Torelli, it's given him a different perspective on life, and one love in particular. In his latest blog, he reveals that the concept of monogamy makes no sense to him. He goes on to detail the "open relationship" that he has with his Swedish girlfriend. It's all very interesting stuff, and enough to make most red blooded males quite jealous. But for a man of his means and lifestyle it's little wonder that he lives his life by different rules. Every other week he's jetting off to a different country to play high-stakes poker tournaments, surrounded by all the temptations imaginable. If a young man in his twenties, earning thousands of pounds each week can't enjoy himself, then who can? Published by James Bourne

The world of poker blogs is populated by a few unwanted trolls who like to say nasty things about the pro players who write them. Jason Young attracted a few of them when he went on a mad rant in one of his latest entries, with a host of people questioning both his ability to play poker and to construct proper sentences. Though he didn't take too much issue with the second accusation, the first one got him a little hot under the collar. But he's come up with an answer to all those taking pot-shots from behind a computer screen – those who think they know it all should go and challenge him to a game of poker to settle the dispute once and for all. Young even named the time and the place, making a proposition bet for the forthcoming Borgata series. Not only that, but he also said whoever posts the funniest comment underneath his latest blog entry will get a paid-for place in that tournament in Atlantic City. I wonder if he's heard the one about the chicken who crossed the road? Published by James Bourne

A poker player's checklist for as trip to the World Series of Poker (WSOP) might include a deck of cards, a pair of sunglasses and a snazzy shirt. But it's no good having all that stuff if you're travelling from outside the country and you don't have the visa you need to get in and take part in the tournament. Roy Brindley nearly found himself in that very situation after getting snowed under a mountain of paperwork. The Irishman confessed on his blog that the sheer volume of forms and red tape involved in the process was enough to make him consider staying at home. In the end he filled in all the right boxes and said all the right things in an interview at the US embassy in Dublin so he could take part in the WSOP. And thinks didn't turn out so bad once he was there, but perhaps he'll be better prepared next time. Published by James Bourne

The World Poker Tour's (WPT) first visit to London is set to be a star-studded event, with some of the biggest names in the game signed up to play. Kicking off on August 30th and running through until September 4th, the £5,300 buy-in tournament is drawing poker hotshots from far and wide. Pros confirmed for the event so far include: Tony G, Phil Ivey, Sorel Mizzi, Barry Shulman and Dave 'Devilfish' Ulliot. The WPT London Poker Classic is shaping up to be one of the biggest tournament's in UK poker history and it will follow a great year for British poker talent. Back in April, University of Manchester graduate Liv Boeree claimed one of the most high-profile victories of the season when she won the European Poker Tour event in San Remo Italy. She pocketed £1 million in the process, but it wasn't just her bank balance that received a boost, as her professional reputation skyrocketed too. Posted by James Bourne

Phil Hellmuth admits that he went to the World Series of Poker (WSOP) fully expecting to at least win a bracelet. As it transpired, he didn't achieve that goal and it just goes to show you that even when all the omens look good and you're on top of your game, sometimes it's just not meant to be. Hellmuth has enjoyed remarkable success in his glittering career, winning 11 WSOP bracelets and a WSOP main event back in 1989. Of course, he is also well-known as the 'poker brat' for his temperamental personality at the table which has left him with a few enemies along the way. His habit of putting other players down and questioning their ability, especially in the aftermath of losing to them, means he's been ticked off a fair few Christmas card lists. So although he may have been surprised to leave the WSOP empty handed, you can guarantee that some people were delighted about it. Published by James Bourne

The old maxim 'everything in moderation' definitely applies to poker, and there can be little doubt that it also applies to alcohol. But Nick Heather seems to have forgotten that on a recent holiday in Spain's Puerto Banus, where he and four friends combined both but not without consequences. He is back home now and has updated his blog to let the world know that he's still struggling with the affects of his late-night antics and the numerous games of 'drinking poker'. I wouldn't encourage anyone to try it, but just to set the scene, here's how it works: instead of using money to bet, you stake a certain of drink each time and if you lose you have to consume the lot. If you're no good at poker, it's certainly a game to avoid. Given that Heather is a pro poker player and he is still trying to recover, it's fair to say that you're best of remember that old maxim...everything in moderation. Posted by Charlie 'Chips' Peterson

In the build-up to a game of poker, you might weigh up your opponents and think you have the edge, but the pros will tell you that one mistake can change everything. Andrew Brokos admitted on his blog that he's been enduring a tough run on heads up games recently but on each occasion he felt he was up against people he should beat. But throw in some bad calls here and there and suddenly your opponent has the ascendancy and it can turn into an uphill task. It would seem it's not sufficient simply to be better than the people you're playing against, you need demonstrate at least the same level of concentration and try and avoid making any errors in judgement. But there's a happy ending to Brokos' story, because after losing a hand he should've won against an opponent, he returned to beat the same guy by steering clear of any mistakes and playing the perfect game. Published by James Bourne

They're a crucial part of poker and you can't play a tournament game without one - nope, I'm not talking about cards of poker stars, it's the dealers. You might think, given their key role in the grand scheme of things, that dealers might get a fair amount of respect from the players, but apparently not. According to Padraig Parkinson's blog, players complain non-stop about dealers and it's enough to drive even the most tough-skinned of them mad. The poker pro revealed that he never blames the dealers and that if he could play a tournament of poker where he makes less mistakes than them, he'll definitely win it. For those dealers without the good fortune of finding Parkinson and others like him at their table, they can only resort to keeping their head down and getting on with it. I think that's made up my mind for sure on the debate about which side of the table I'd rather be on. Posted by James Bourne

The new generation of online poker stars are a fearsome bunch, just ask Marty Smyth. Belfast-born Smyth is a World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelet winner with some big-money cashes under his belt but he admits that some of the "young internet whizzes" that he came up against in the last WSOP scared the life out of him! He made the candid confession on his blog amid the rather more promising news that he came up trumps in a couple of one table sit'n'gos. Smyth reveals that the whole atmosphere and razzmatazz surrounding the WSOP puts him off his usual game and detracts from his usually aggressive style. But he is grateful to be back on top form after enduring a hit and miss tournament in Las Vegas. He is one poker star who can claim to have hit the heights as in 2008 he won the Poker Million VII and took home a $1 million (£629,000) paycheck. Published by James Bourne