As I prepare to attend and cover the 888poker LIVE Glasgow festival next week, I’m excited both for the poker action I’ll be witnessing (and taking part in!) as well as for the vibrant experience I’m sure to have in Scotland’s largest city. Having covered and attended numerous live poker events over the years, there’s always something special about experiencing a new destination through the lens of both poker and culture. Here are five things I’m particularly looking forward to on this upcoming poker trip.
1. My First 888poker LIVE in Five Years
I had to double-check just to be sure, but incredibly it has been five whole years(!) since the last time I attended and covered an 888poker LIVE festival in person, specifically Madrid back in February 2020. Since then, I’ve of course been to many other poker events around the world, but there’s a uniquely enjoyable flavor to 888poker LIVE festivals. While the competition at the felt is of course plenty fierce among the players, as befitting a well-regarded mid-major circuit, the festivals themselves have a fun, welcoming atmosphere that truly emphasizes the joy of poker.
Moreover, it’s always special to see an international ingathering of poker lovers, which is something you don’t always witness at US-based poker events. While I’m sure the Glaswegian locals will be littering the playing field, there will be plenty other ambitious poker players present from the greater UK and Europe battling it out at the felt.
READ MORE: 2025 888poker LIVE Glasgow Preview
2. Exploring Glasgow for the First Time
I traveled to Edinburgh last year to cover the UKPL event there. There was plenty to do in the city, but a tiny voice nagged at me that I ought to also make the 1-hour journey to Glasgow and “tick that off my list” as well. Who knows when you’ll be back in the area, right? Well, in retrospect, I’m sure glad I didn’t try to cram that in, as I’ll now have a whole week to explore Scotland’s largest city and surrounding areas.
Glasgow’s reputation as a lively, architecturally stunning, and culturally rich metropolis makes it all the more exciting a place to visit. A two-hour guided morning walking tour of the city is quite literally the first thing on my agenda, which works out great timing-wise, as the poker action isn’t set to begin until noon each day at the Grosvenor Casino in Merchant City.
Time permitting, I’m also hopeful that I’ll have the chance to take an excursion outside city limits, perhaps to the legendary Highlands or Loch Lamond, which I’m told are stunningly beautiful. While due to my kosher dietary restrictions I can’t indulge in the traditional Scottish foods (haggis? really?!), Glasgow is a pretty vegan-friendly city, so hopefully we’ll find some good eats, too!
3. Playing in My First Ever 888poker LIVE Tournament
As fun as it is to cover poker events around the world, there’s nothing like sitting down to actually play. Since I don’t often get the chance to play in live tournaments, I’ll be embracing every chance I get. I’ve got a personal goal to “put in the volume” this year, so I’m going to follow through on that and try my hand at the felt during the festival.
While I’m partial to mixed games, the challenge and excitement of competing is something I can get from “the two-card game” as well. Having looked at the schedule of events, I’ve decided to hop in to Event #8, the £200 buy-in “Rumble Turbo” on Wednesday March 19.
This will be my first 888poker tournament, and perhaps I can add a second result (in Texas Hold’em, who’d have thought, lol) and Scottish flag to my brand-new HendonMob page. With 20-minute levels, anything can happen! You can be sure I’ll be writing up what the experience will have been like. Good luck to me!
4. The Glasgow International Comedy Festival
It’s not every day that a poker festival coincides with a world-class comedy festival, but sometimes the stars align just right! The Glasgow International Comedy Festival runs from March 12-30, featuring a diverse lineup of comedians performing at venues all over the city.
Much like poker players have to work on balancing their ranges, it’s critical to have “life balance” as well. After a long day of providing event coverage, I’ve found that there’s just nothing like sitting back and taking in a great comedy show. While I don’t yet know which venue I’ll visit or which comedians I’ll get to see on the mic, I have high hopes for lots of laughs in Glasgow.
To prep for the experience, I’ve been watching some great Craig Ferguson bits and Billy Connolly clips over the last few days. Very highly recommended! 🙂
5. Sharing the Experience with My Wife, Miriam
On a more personal note, there’s nothing like experiencing something special with your life partner. Over the years, I’ve traveled to so many poker events solo (they ARE work trips, after all), but every once in a while it works out that my wife, Miriam, can join me. This is one of those times!
Miriam doesn’t play poker, but it’s always invigorating for me when she “sees me in my element” and takes in a live poker scene in person. It brings “what I do” to life and, I believe, helps her understand my love for the game that much better. Plus, since I know so many players and have so many colleagues traveling the poker circuit, it also offers the rare opportunity for her to get to meet “my poker friends”.
In the past, Miriam has joined me on work trips in Malta, Bucharest, the Bahamas, and Las Vegas. It’s been just over two years since she has joined me for a poker trip. Now, it’s time to add Glasgow to that list!
About The Author
