Sin City whole other level
Nicklaus, basically. Everybody was giving lots of poker advice but it was more mental at that stage.”
Explaining John’s “lucky jacket”, David added: “John had a barbecue a couple of days before he left for Vegas and we were discussing different poker scenarios. It was a step into the unknown for John and he said, ‘I’d love to get on telly!’. I said: ‘You can borrow my shirts and jacket!’.
“John said, ‘Ooh, that’ll get me noticed’. THE first time I sat down at the World Series I was terrified. I’d played in Vegas before but this is something else.
I usually start shaking when I get a big hand but I knew I had to control myself after being dealt two tens, then He took three shirts and the jacket to Vegas. I had worn the jacket at a poker tournament and I didn’t do that well.
“It’s been lucky for John though and he might not let me have it back!
Unreadable
“We meet regularly a team of nine friends to play poker at our homes. The laugh is he has never won a penny at mine or his house. He doesn’t have a poker face. seeing two more on the table, giving me the best hand. Luckily, the player put in a huge bet and I scooped a massive pot, temporarily becoming chip leader for the tournament.
But four hours later, exhaustion got the better of me. I returned to my room empty-handed but thrilled I had ticked one more item on my bucket list. I think he’s thrown all these professionals who are wearing their shades and hoodies as he turns up in the jacket and panama hat with a big smile on his face, chatting about all sorts. He is unreadable.
“The thing is, there was no pressure on John. He’s gone out to enjoy himself and he’s been lucky.
“Anyone can win at poker but you need luck. He’s had some good cards. We thought it was hilarious he was trending on Twitter. He’s a great bloke and it couldn’t happen to a nicer person.”
Karl Smalley, general manager of John’s caravan firm, said John had planned the Vegas trip six months ago and hadn’t expected to do so well.
He said: “He expected to travel home last week. He had to cancel those flights. He had earlier said on the phone that his initial aim was to get into the final 1,000. But he made the final table, he can’t believe it.”
John is expected to fly back to the UK this week with his family, who all flew out to support him. Proud son James posted: “I get the feeling he is more concerned about what publicity he can bring to our hometown than any money on offer.
“In typical Hesp fashion, he has already started networking big-name pros and companies to bring something from all this back to Bridlington.” And pro poker player Danielle Anderson Tweeted: “What a pleasure to see John Hesp bring fun back to poker’s biggest stage. Hope players follow his example. Let’s grow the game.”