What was like winning your first tourny?

A few days ago, I enrolled myself into the $1 dollar tourny on pokerstars.
I was doing great, chip leader throughout the whole tournament, then when it came down to 15 players, I let my friend (tourny expert= more than 20k in winnings) take over. He went bust in 20 minutes and I ended up in 10th place.

It wasnt that he got a bad beat or anything, but he was soo aggressive that one time someone called him with a better card.

My point is, I believe that if I stayed and most important believed in my skills, I would have made it to the final table and maybe won?

Anyhow, what was you guys experience?

HC

If you got yourself to that point, you should have played it the rest of the way. You knew the table, and that's paramount to success. When you get to the end, and you've been playing great poker, there's not a better feeling than taking it down. More than worth the time it took, and it's great to look back and think of some of the turning points that helped you get there. You know the song from HeeHaw - "Gloom, despair, and agony on me?".....It's the exact opposite! Take one down on your own, and feel the excitement for yourself! Good luck (unless I'm there, of course)!

How can you learn "more" about the game especially when you let someone else play??
Now I do remember my 1st place win in a tournament. I was more happier then a pig in shit

I never won a tournament but when I placed in the payout, it was thrilling!

Winning my first one was a big thrill. I limped into the final table, watched the other players destroy each other, then caught some good cards. I went final two down about 15-1 in chips. I got this great streak of cards and just took hand after hand. Finally got to where we were about 50/50 in chips. Then I slow played a big hand and busted my opponent. It was about 3 am, and I was trying to be quiet while my wife and kids slept. I was grinning like a maniac.

Nothing beats winning a tourney! Just be patient - it will come.

There is nothing like winning your first tourney, whether it's a 6 person SNG or a 500 person rebuy. I jumped up and down and danced around like and Epilectic on crack! It's a total confirmation that your game is good enough to do it again, wherein lies the problem..... nothing else short of winning will do.

Getting someone to take your game over for you? Well you got your just desserts didn't you! (your friend may have won $20K in winnings, but that was when he was playing with HIS money wasn't it! ).

As a frequent MTT winner , I can tell you that the buzz doesn't get any worse the more times you do it - you're not going to get any bigger thrill in Poker than winning your biggest prize in a big field are you?

winning my first tournie, well what a moment that was, pure elation. I've only been playing holdem for 9 months and won my first tournie at a 10-seater $5 SNG on Ladbrokes back in March, my winnings were a whopping $25!!

Unfortunately my joy so turned to sadness when I didn't win my next tournament, having won one I thought I was the bees-knees and it took me a while to realise my new pastime would bring me many highs and lows!

Nowadays I play holdem with a group of friends on a weekly basis. Another high point was winning a tournie against my "all male" buddies (much to their despair), never underestimate the presence of a lady at the poker table!