Readers of the best-selling Danish newspaper Ekstrabladet have been at a significant advantage in their attempts to qualify for EPT Copenhagen this year. Allan Baekke, a PokerStars Supernova known online as “Sifosis”, has been writing a regular column containing strategy tips on how to make it through the steps satellite qualification system, where players can join the fun for as little as a $7.50 or a few hundred frequent player points.

Most commonly seen tearing up the high stakes heads-up tables at PokerStars, the newspaper column took Baekke out of his comfort zone and charted his attempts to climb the steps, a number of single-table sit n go tournaments, and make it through to the main event here at Casino Copenhagen. Good to his word, Baekke qualified at a canter, winning his first-ever attempt at a step six match.

Allan Baekke

And the roll continues. At the end of day 1a, Baekke was high among the chip leaders. Three levels into day two, he has consolidated that position, moving up to more than 100,000 after clashing, most notably, with Rasmus Nielsen in a bluff against bluff, ace high wins, clash. Baekke shoved all in on the river, Nielsen folded, Baekke said: “I guess I was good with ace high?” Nielsen said: “Yes. I only had 10-high.”

That’s poker.

Baekke today is wearing a T-shirt from the PokerStars player bag from the 2008 PCA, for which he qualified online. He also played this year’s Caribbean Adventure, as well as a handful of other EPT events, all part of the benefits of being a Supernova. Now he’s also a poker journalist, he might well be writing about his continued adventures through Dortmund, San Remo and Monte Carlo.

Grab a good dictionary and a copy of the paper and learn how you can do the same.

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