Main Event Memories.

Wages Mama!

It took longer than expected but after some 15 years of trying I finally got to play the $10,000 main event at the WSOP.

I was already having a great trip, coming 2^nd in the first tournament I played at the Bellagio on my first day then having an amazing run at the daily tournaments at Caesars, winning one and also coming 4^{th &} 5^th. I was winning about 20k on he trip but hadn’t considered for one second putting up the entry fee, it’s still too much to me relatively. I did play a super sat and lost a 50-50 for a seat, gutted I didn’t think it would be my year but then the three wise men made me an offer I couldn’t refuse and finally I was going to the show. Not only was it nice to secure some financial backing, it was awesome that it was from 3 players I respect higher than most and are not known for making bad investments, it certainly helped my own self belief. I’ve been making a lot better decisions recently in generally every area of my life, it’s actually nice to grow up a little as one gets older and karma rewarded me with a dream fulfilled. Now the next dream was a share of 9 million.

I used to watch the event at Binions; the first year 1998 saw me marvel as the names of the entrants were hand written onto the wall. Some 350 entrants took their seats back then, little did I think I would play the event 12 years later, get further than over 6,000 runners and not receive a penny for my efforts. One of best mates came 2^nd in 2002 but I’d already gone home skint so didn’t get to watch. The following year moneymaker won it and from then on the main event become not just the dream of a handful of poker players in Europe/America and a small smattering of others but the dream for millions across the planet.

I found out 12 hours before I registered that I was playing but was so knackered from another final at Caesars that I went to sleep soundly without any nerves. I woke up an hour before kick off and decided I better go and register quick as the queue was sure to be massive. In fact there was only 2 people in line before me, the other 7318 entrants were a little more organised.

Day one. Track http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Q0d_z4hBUI

10 handed 30,000 starting stack and blinds at 50/100 I wasn’t looking to go broke quickly. This became doubly true when after 15 minutes I realised I was the only non pro on the table. Table draws are massively important; for years friends who had played it explained how it was the best value tournament in the world. I realised how true this was after looking at the table opposite me. One drunk player, 2 players in their 70’s who were obviously just there for the craic but the star was the gorgeous Asian girl wearing love heart glasses and laughing herself stupid whilst playing every pot. My table however was mostly Californian pro’s and a couple of internet kids. The table also held one Bill Elder, a full tilt pro and a thoroughly nice man who started the table talk and got a few of us involved in conversations to help the atmosphere become more relaxed; I’d played against before and he was thoroughly nice then. It’s important to me that people remember it’s just a game and you can have good fun at the table even if your cards and play are rubbish. I was disappointed to see so many players in hoodies, earphones, cap, sunglasses, basically a poker burka.

One internet kid raised the first pot, I looked down at KK and put in a small reraise, the table folded and now I was table chip leader (sadly this never happened again). Things swung back I forth, I probably bluffed too much when in pots but I had come to play and I never heard of anyone passing their way to victory. The first break had me rushing for a cigarette and an update from one or two friends who were also playing on that last starting day. Tim C had won a seat on Boyles, 2 years previously he had also won a seat and was railed by moi in my capacity of poker manager for Boyles, now we were discussing wayward bluff’s chip counts and rival players on our respective tables; it was much more fun be a player than a railer.

Level 2 saw me go all-in much earlier in the tournament than I had expected to but you don’t concern with things like that when you think you have the best hand and might get paid off. I had flat called a raise as did 2 others swelling the pot to over 12k; I had about 22k at this stage. The flop was 10 high with 2 hearts, I reraised all in on the flop to protect my 2 kings and scooped the 16k pot without having to sweat the outdraw (if in front obv). I bobbed along playing a lot of pots when we were broken and all reassigned to new tables and it was here I was to experience the biggest regret of the tournament.

The table was much younger and much quieter and in about the third lap without a lot of info on my opponents I decided just to check in the big blind with 7-7 to try and catch a big flop; a 7-6-4 flop was considered by me to be a very big flop and on the turn I was making a 12k bet into a 14k pot which my opponent passed. I had overbet and tbh that was from inexperience; I learned so much during the tournament I think it was worth the 10k in itself. All this poker stuff though has nothing to do with my big regret. The opponent who had passed looked about 17, wore a hoodie and a fake fur Kangool baseball cap/hat thing. He hadn’t spoken a word since I had sat down; his first words were “What did you have?” This happens all the time at the poker table as people are always desperate to know others secrets and often leads to banter, bullshit, exaggeration, chest thumping, lying and more. I choose for the lying option and said I had 7-6, he said he had 4-4 for bottom set. It went on for a while and in the end I 100% believed he had passed bottom set and was a bit sick he had made such a great pass. The table broke again some 2 hours after I had joined it and this time we were moving to the Amazon room, the main room. This meant we had to bag our chips and be escorted through a staff only shortcut and of course enabled the players to have a little bit of last minute banter or just wish everyone luck. The kid rushed to my side and asked for the last time if I really had top 2 pair and I smiled saying yeah of course I did and thought nothing more off it until after play had finished and then I felt a real rush of dread and disappointment in my actions. He had played the hand great (albeit if by my playing the hand a little poorly) and deserved to be told. It wasn’t going to make any difference to me if he was bullshitting or not but karma does make a difference to me these days and I had just been caught up in the emotion of the event to think clearly. I searched for him for the remainder of the time I was in the event, just looked around other tables on intervals, moving etc. I hope one day he finds out and realises how well he played the hand and if he didn’t have 4-4 karma will fuck him!

Moved to my last table of the day and then played pretty well imho. Was again all young internet pro’s and LA pro’s with more banter than on the previous two tables. Funniest hand began with me raising, being reraised twice before moving all in with AK. The LA pro showed me QQ and passed, inside I chuckled at his lay down). I said he could see one card, he was shown a King. The banter exploded on the table as to what I had without me saying one word until I joined in the fun and declared I had Kings. A bigger inquest than went into Watergate followed and then a sartorially explosion of colour in the form of Paul Parker sat down, purple trilby yellow waistcoat pimpin baize strides the lot. As Paul was unloading his chips the first thing he did to a stunned audience was to point at me and declare “ I have known that man for over 25 years playing poker and not once have I known him to lie about his hand, there sits one of the most honest men in poker”. I smiled at his performance and knew I owed him one and was looking forward to a glass of red with him later, a long time friend and opponent.

I bagged and tagged a healthy 49.5k and went to meet Tim at the hooker bar. The hooker bar is named as the hooker bar as it’s historically been a meeting point between poker player and hooker. More relevant to me was it’s also the bar where historically Euro Pro’s have met for a beer after battle and to share war stories, gossip and rounds. The crowds got smaller over the years and the cab rank is more conveniently located for the players but its always great craic and of course you get a side show going on all around you Vegas style. I could only stay for a quick one as wanted to join the wedding reception for Jules and Kez at the MGM as quick as possible. It was a great night to end a great day and with not having to play gain until Sunday I could enjoy some time off to play golf and relax and remind the backers how wise they were.

Viva Las Vegas.

Just extended my stay till Sunday making it a whole month inside my loved one. Like 2 star crossed lovers changing flights/travel plans it’s just delaying the inevitable departure. I’ve always found it difficult to say goodbye to the things I love and I know the goodbye just becomes harder. Honestly it’s because I know in all probability there’s a good chance I won’t see her again for a long time; a 43 year old man single & jobless doesn’t work for Vegas, she needs a little more prospects.

Vegas has been good to me this year, met up with all my friends, made new ones, won money, played golf, ate ridiculously well but to top all of that I got to play the main event for the first time, a truly special moment for me. I got to day 4 of the thing and will do an old fashioned monster blog on it all when I return to Ireland; I need time to put the memories into words.

I think staying at the Bellagio was the first lucky break I had. I used the $20 technique at check in and was rewarded with a view everyday that reminds me how lucky I am. For the last few years companies have paid for my Vegas accommodation and I’ve always demanded the Wynn, (it’s the best hotel Vegas has ((until this http://www.mandarinoriental.com/lasvegas/images/molas_ebook.pdf))

And catered nicely for the Spillane luxury check list). The Bellagio though is a different beast and was the original Wynn (link to Vegas heartbeat http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Wynn_(entrepreneur) ) done on a massive scale. I had a great day today checking out City Centre and PH, Vegas never stops exciting me, but the Bellagio has it all, the best Steak house, the best noodle house, a great sushi place, great swimming pools, ­­­wonderful spa fantastic staff and a busy poker room. The view from my room is a Vegas spectacular, the fountain show with the Eiffel tower lit up behind the sprays, who would in there right mind would want to leave this.

So many highlight’s during the trip. Jules and Kez got married, wonderful stuff for two special people I cherish dearly. Tristan got his moment (wsop blog) after weeks of Vegas pain and then I got to see him beam with pleasure in a truly special poker moment. I sent him giddy outdrawing him at backgammon and beating him at golf over the trip and that combined with his poker form led to a few ‘silent moments’ but there’s no better guy to be with than Tris when he’s on form and to be there when he got a shot was fantastic fun. Watching Marty on the golf course is worth the entrance fee trust me; yesterday I saw him hit 3 balls into water and three times they came out, he actually complained once when another didn’t return from the water. It was the near the end of his honeymoon and he was off for a last night of romance with the lovely Karen, he beamed more than Tristan. Badbeat got a nice result both on and off the poker table. Nicky and I never got the rematches we all wanted but he shared the day of my ‘golf moment’ of the holiday and then we kicked onto UFC, awesome scenes. Young Corbett was over and on sparkling form including winning a seat in the main event for someone else. I hope my wsop blog convinces him never to win a seat for anyone else but himself.

Meeting Camel later to enjoy some late night banter, beers, betting, open golf and gossip; like I say only a fool would want to leave this town.

Lesnar v Carwin

Our man on the right.

Been having a winning trip so decided to have an old fashioned Vegas blow out Saturday night.

I have heard about UFC from a variety of friends but hadn’t paid much attention to it as I’m a boxing fan. It’s a combination of various fight styles, I found out the only thing they can’t do is head butt each other (well not on or behind the head but in the face is fine). On Saturday Las Vegas hosted the world heavy weight title at the MGM Garden arena and it was time to pay my first visit. Julian fresh from winning 95k said leave getting the tickets to him. 2 hours later 2 ringside tickets at a blood curdling $1,000 each arrived and we were off to the races. We met up with a few of the lads in a room they had booked at the MGM and let the party begin. Too really get a buzz we both decided to have a bet on the fight to try and win the price of the night out and tickets, the only problem was who to bet, the challenger was unbeaten, both fighters didn’t go more than one round historically. I was happy to toss a coin but after some discussions I followed Jules in on betting Brock Lesnar, the defending champ.

Early beers consumed we took our most excellent seats for one of the warm up bouts and I was about to find out why so many people follow UFC. The gloves have very small padding, unlike boxing where it often will take a multitude of punches to win; in UFC getting hit by basically a fist in the face has a very different effect which results in blood and unconsciousness, I loved it. This must be the closest thing humans now have to the good ole days of throwing innocents to the lions & gladiators in the coliseum for the entertainment of the public. We could hear every punch landing, watch the arc’s of blood spurting without getting covered in it whilst consuming more beers.

I was already fully revved up by the time the main event started. When the challenger Carwin entered the ring I was starting to think I wished I’d backed him; that was until our man entered the ring. When he took of his ‘death clutch’ tee-shirt I wanted to run to the sports book and have more money on; luckily I didn’t, in the first round Carwin got our man to the ground and proceeded to pummel the shite out of him. As neither man had gone over a round we sat in silence and preyed for the bell which duly arrived. Round 2 was the last round of the fight, our man got Carwin to the floor and the fan sat next to me claimed its all over. I had no clue what he was on about but then our man followed up on his tee-shirt promise and we were screaming with delight when Carwin submitted. The rest of the night is a bit of a blur and I woke up feeling I had been caught in a Lesnar death clutch myself.

Memory bank bogey.

Las Vegas finery, the National.

I may have been a bit harsh on England. Its shit watching the WC over here because of the time difference, you try going on for a night on the tiles with Vegas in her high heels then come back fit to watch the match in anything other than a passing glance. The bad decision changed everything, we never got our chance to be a bad team and win a WC, (Italy in everything they win?). The time difference in Brazil in 4 years is far more suitable wherever I am, move on.

Played Nicky at Las Vegas National, his current local course. On Nicky’s advice I bet shooting under 90.5 off the whites in a breeze with golf bookie Marty Smyth who was in his bed, eating caviar and betting on Wimbledon (Tennis, dogs, football etc). I took an 11 at the first, an 8 on the next and 51 for the front 9. Marty was texted the news and purred with delight in his response, motivation if ever I needed it. The target to shoot was a mind boggling 39 on a par 35 back 9. It wasn’t just the fact I did it, it was the way I did it. I was a 25-1 shot after my second shot but to add to it all, the hole, the 18^th, where this miracle happened is iconically famous in Vegas. “The scene in ‘Casino’ where the Feds have to land the plane on the golf course? Yep that one, house as well. If ever there is such a thing as a brilliant six, mine was it and another special memory stored. Nicky got his own back on Marty and I at Bali Hi, (the golf course is next to LV airport and well worth a visit if you’re a golfer). The planes taking off overhead are distracting as they are so low you can see up the stewardess’s skirt. Jumbo’s private Jets and helicopters intertwine every few seconds, amazing.

Poker going very well and it’s paying for the trip so far and more but the expenses are horrible. Golf, Massages in Bellagio Spa, ruinously expensive meals, room service, Champagne etc but mustn’t grumble. Won a tournament over here but it meant I missed watching one of mate's, Julian, at the 5k Omaha WSOP final so it’s not all gravy. He didn’t win it so I can be there next time he makes a final at the WSOP and wins, hopefully in about 4 months.