Back where the "fairytale" started...

Season One's ParadisePoker Tour League winner Toni Merivuori was feeling the anticipation ahead of today's tournament, as he returned to the city that kick-started his PPT adventure twelve months ago.

The amateur player had already admitted that but for his final table finish at the Empire Casino in 2009, he might not have continued on the road to Prague, Madrid and Bulgaria, where he pipped Johnny Jensen to the Tour League title.

Toni won a €10,000 prize for his troubles, as well as entry in all this season's events, and was hoping to make his mark on the second leg of Season Two.

"It all started in London a year ago and I'm excited, but I don't what to expect this time around," mused the Season One Tour League champion. "Maybe the field will be tougher this year but I think I'm a much better player than a year ago.

"I had plenty of luck in the first London event. I won around eight coin-flips in a row having started the second day around 42nd in chips, with only 45 players!

"I was almost down to a chip and a chair but there were plenty of people who were willing to double me up because I had such a short stack.

"It ended up being a fairy tale for me because here I am a year later as Tour League champion, playing these events for free as part of my prize."

This year the ParadisePoker Tour is about more than just poker for Toni, as the Finnish grinder is intent on taking in the sights at each of the six destinations.

"It was my first time in London last year," added Toni, "This time I came for a week so I'm going to see all the sights of the city.

"I'd love to get to Day Two but I chose to play Friday because there's more to do away from the poker on a Saturday to be honest!"