WSOPE PLO
The build up to the wsope started with the blonde bash in Luton, this was meant flying from Inverness on the Friday getting my head bashed up by Laxie throwing me out my chair, getting drunk playing my usual bad poker, losing in the footy, my team letting me down in the HU, flying back to Inverness on the Monday, then driving all the way to Aberdeen to hand a short to John Taylor so he could get an International badge sewn on it. Getting home around 2 am, was a little tired but a full nights sleep in my own bed sorted me out.
Next day it was a drive through to Aberdeen to meet John and getting my shirt back, then onto the flight, to the hotel and to the casino, was going to buy myself in but the transfer from Indy to my bank hadn’t cleared, so had a look around and went back for an early night as I had an early start in the morning.
Got up early for a taxi to sky poker for an interview, sky had organised this for me. Checked my bank money hadn’t cleared so took some out of my savings to cover the difference, waited outside for the taxi but it still hadn’t arrived 30 minutes after they phoned to let me know it was on the way. Got another automated call letting me know it was waiting for me, lings phone was off so phoned tikay to see if he could find out where the taxi was, then I got a call from the taxi operator asking me where I was I told them at the hotel where I was supposed to be, taxi was waiting for me at Euston. Finally got to sky and the make up artist caked me in make up (didn’t help) then I was taking to the studio for the interview. Having a chat with Matt and Dan when everyone leaves, started wondering where they had all gone when the guys let me know we are about to start!!!!!! WTF!!!!! Where are the cameramen the directors the boy with the clapper etc. Had no idea what they were going to ask or how long the interview was for my preparation was unbeatable as usual, bluffed my way through the interview. Jump in a taxi which takes me too casino. An hour in the taxi while starving and feeling queasy wasn’t the best plus the fact he had never heard of the empire casino, FFS I though these cabbies had to know the whole city. Get to the empire and buy myself in, by now the money sent by Indy had arrived so wasted £25 transferring from my long term savings, and also noticed a branch of my bank round the corner so I could of waited till the last minute (I run good as long as its downhill).
Order some food which doesn’t arrive until after the poker starts (not a good start as I hate eating while playing. My starting table could have been better having Nick Gibson , Roy Brindley, Paul Jackson, Mick McCool, Jerome something or other some young American who seemingly did well in a WPT or WSOP event and a few other players whom everyone knew, infact I was the only unknown at the table and felt like everyone was saying who the F is this sat with us.
They table was joined late by David Benjamin whom I recognised but couldn’t put a name to him and made a fool of myself when I worked out who he was by saying that the reason I didn’t recognise him to start with was cause I thought he was French. FML just FML. Managed to get all in once pre with DS aces via the young American whom also had double suited aces, only other hand of nore I played was when I had Kkxx in the big blind and saw a flop of 9TK, I check called Roy’s flop bet and checked down on the 7 turn and 5 river , didn’t put roy on the QJ when he checked the turn but I wasn’t going to fire the river to fold anyway he 8645 had gotten the on the turn.
Managed to get David into karoke poker for about 5 minutes but he gave that up after he lost a massive pot when he tried to isolate the young American who he thought was short stacked but had taken his 2nd chance and the chip look very much like a 25tc it was only after Nick Gibson asked for a count that both of them realised he wasn’t short Nick folded but David was into deep. I managed to take Nicks shortish stack before he took his 2nd chance with top 2 via bottom pair with some addition outs. But he admitted he was just trying to get lucky, I was sitting nice with about 16-18k at the time when I lost half my stack when I flopped the nut flush and got called to the river which paired the board and I faced an all in. I managed to get away from the hand with just over 8k.
I got moved tables and found myself again on Mick McCool’s table along with Robert Williamson III, everyone seemed to know everyone else but didn’t take me long to get Robert playing karaoke poker, was totally card and position dead but I tried not to panic. Robert was the table boss but didn’t have that many chips more than me. Saw a flop with top two and the 2nd nut flush draw and a opened straight draw I lead out, thinking everyone had folded I wanted to re-enforce my image of a total nit out of my depth so turned my cards face up, FML if player 2 too my left had called but I hadn’t seen him, a ruling was called for and I was no longer allowed to bet but could call, having seen my hand the other player said he would turn his hand over too and we would check it down as he only had the flush draw. My hand stood up (think it was my last ever hand in my poker life to hold). With an hour to go I was feeling very tired and just wasn’t getting anything or any position to play took a quick 5 minute break and was thinking of retiring for the evening worked out I would still have 10k left in the morning if I did, with the blinds going up and the average about 80k I thought I better try and get a double up first. While I was on the break a certain famous WSOP champion by the name of Ferguson was moved to my right. So I introduced myself and tried to engage him in a little chit chat to keep myself awake.
The exit wasn’t pretty and wasn’t clever I really needed a double up and there was 45 minutes of the day to get it. I was on the button with QT96. Robert opened up as usual and its folded to me now this wasn’t the best hand in the world but it was 3000% better than the rags I had been getting and if I could hit a flop a chance to get the chips I needed. Flop came down QT7 rainbow Robert checked I bet out the pot. 6 on turn gave me 3 pair but Robert moves all in FML over half my stack was in there and possibly the best PLO player in the world has put me all in. I tank for a what seemed like 2 hours but was more like 20-30 seconds a few of the bloggers came to the table as this hand would cripple Robert if he lost it.
I called he turned over KKKJ yes that’s right 3 kings in his hand. All I hear is well I have outs and as the case king hits the river he says that’s one of them. And that was my wsope over.
Rest of the trip report to be posted soon
