Archive for July 4th, 2007

The World Series Of…. Brighton!

Wednesday, July 4th, 2007

We interrupt this broadcast of frivolous and trivial poker game play to bring you news of a far bigger, more prestigious event, happening currently in the pink capital of the United Kingdom…….

Oooh give us a spin luvvie!

Hardened PPP criminal Nic is having a gay old time in Brighton at the paddypowerpoker.com Summer Breeze Poker festival. We asked Nic if he would like to go to Vegas instead and he replied, “oooh no, those flashy lights give me migraine and the air-conditioning gets inbetween me chaps!”

Erm nice one Nic, keep it up!

Grave results in event 52!

Wednesday, July 4th, 2007

In an event that saw 2007 WSOP main event champion Joe Hachem bow out first shorly followed by the venerable “poker brat” Phil Hellmuth you could be forgiven for having every thought a rebuy tournament was tantamount to a crap-shoot.

Micheal Graves couldnt care less as the cards have clearly fallen in his favour and he sits in pole position at the final table of this $1,000 buyin event. A mere 100k in chips seperate him from his two closest contenders, Michael Graves in first with 1,233,000, Isaac Haxton 2nd with 1,226,000 and Theo Tran in third with 1,132,000 in chps.

Graves was at the lucky end of a coin flip earlier on when he called a pre-flop allin raise with AJ against his oppenents pocket tens. His opponent Shawn Hatten pushed him to elimination on the river where a jack washed up, doubling his stack and putting him right back in contention.

A few hands later Graves called another coterminous allin and pitted his pocket sevens against the A T overcards of Alex Bolotin. The board came low and Bolotin was sent to the rails while Graves promoted himself to pole position. Players are now on break and the action will resume at around 8pm this evening.

“Expectations” – brought to you by Ross & MS Spell Check.

Wednesday, July 4th, 2007

Apparently, and often sentences beginning with apparently really mean that “the following is bullsh1t”, the human brain is a prediction machine. Based on our experiences or gained knowledge we predict things.
Before arriving in Ross Vegas, I had bundles of expectations loosely based on what people had told me and what I had seen in various films based in Sin City. Clever me decided to avoid the potential wealth of information available online, sure the internet’s for losers, and I dear reader plan on being a winner while in Vice City.
What follows is my attempt to accurately portray common, no, not common, I meant popular opinions of the big V. I have run out of metaphors for the place, so lets all just go back to Vegas for convegaience. This portrail (or poor-trail wha wha) of Vegas will be a great reminder for those of you who have been here, an efficient disappoint for those of you who have yet to arrive here and a moderate distraction for those who have no intention of ever coming here but are just bored in work and thought they’d have a quick gander at this blog.
Context: hotel room in bally’s, 1.30am my time, 9.30am your time, July 4th for both of us, wow we’ve so much in common, what are you doing Friday? Sort of sobering up, hungry, sleepy.
My god it’s got so long and I haven’t even started on my first impressions and expectations theme, which leads me in to my first point which is size. The place is foking huge. So people tell you, its foking massive, you’ve seen photos, you know it’s big. Not until you are on the street and attempt to get to the casino or hotel across the road do you realise how big it is. While dodging American’s in their billion-litre *takes sip of vit c drink in attempt to combat sore throat* *doesn’t care if you simply hate people who still write actions inside asterixes* one can potter (it’s warmer than piss outside, I will not be running, zipping or nipping whilst here) across the street and realise the casino that one could see from one’s hotel room is in fact a mirage (remember we are in the desert here, mmm dessert) and is ten taxi journeys away.

These giant buildings seems so small and close, they’re bigger than everything you have ever seen combined, stuck together with flashy lights on top. They are a mind trick. They are ten taxi journeys away.
Hot so bloody 7uck!ng hot. Ah Ross FFS do you have to curse so much? Yes, yes I do, non cursing would give you the impression that the heat is tolerable. Without air conditioning I would be dead. Such a dependence on electricity, is both depressingly claustrophobic and er, eh, pressingly sobering. Lets face it, if there was no electricity we’d all be pretty much dead within a wee while anyway, in Vegas on the 4th of July when it’s 200degreesthat’swhytheycallmemisterFahrenheit your death will just be a bit quicker. Death Vegas style. So turn off that light champ, respect the energy dude.
Apologies for unnecessary interlude, please see context paragraph above. Sometimes it’s not so easy being me.

Anyways, back to AC. I have no idea whatsoever how people survived in this heat pre-AC. I feel like a Chinese dinner that has been passed from the tolerable icyness of the fridge to the arid yoursweatevaporatesimmediately heat of the oven one time too many. Lips cracked, nose and lungs achey, throat sore, skin failure imminent.
Time for Vegas Theory Number One me thinketh, so you have these air-conned casino’s the size of small planets pumping their hot air out on to the streets, I think the streets are artificially hot. Which brings me on to my next point, “eh where was the first ‘point’?” I hear you ask, okay, my next thing I will be tumbling away on: Artificialisation. Do not be fooled reader, everything there ever was started in Vegas. A conservative estimate would put Vegas at being approximately 6,000 years old. Caesar himself has a palace here, them crafty iTalianos robbed the idea for Venice from here, the Brazillians (the people of Brasil, not the pubeless) borrowed the entire concept of Rio from a casino just off the strip (oh there’s a fantastic pun in there somewhere) and even the Eygptians were in on the ripping off vegas game, they got the idea for the pyramids from our Nevada thinkers.
Las Vegas truly is the centre of the universe where all the great ideas of planet earth were first implemented. Don’t be fooled when you visit these seemingly older but artificial cities of Europe or deserts of north Africa, it happened here first and I’ve the photo’s to prove it.
The only mystery is how Las Vegas happened to be here long before the original and thus owning first white settlers arrived. That’s a question for some scientist and does not require your further thought sir, is the response I got from my friendly customs official. And sleep.

And back in the room. One of my fav creations of LV’s Founding Fathers is Paris which is just down the elevator and through the labarynth (spell check to be abandoned if I have any hope of posting this tonight) that goes between bally’s and “Paris”. Features include a metal tower type structure that looks a lot like the tower in blackpool and some crazily creative names included Le Café, Le Reception and Le Restrooms. SO clever are the LVFFs – they could have the fun of speaking like an eejit while keeping it accessible. The Real French meanwhile oh la la and ooh la bof at [interactive feature: finish this sentence yourself!]
Aside thought, there’s no homeless people in las vegas. How odd.

Poker
So I guess since you’re reading this far you’re really really bored. Man, go do something with your life, just work out what you want to do, focus on it and it can be achieved! Go for it!
But no, you’ll keep reading, this has to stop, billions of pages online and you’re the sucker, probably the only one left reading this rant. Think about it. Is this how you wanted your life to be? When you were six did you think you’d grow up to be a reader of the banal? A student of the mundane? A literary garbage disposal? Yeah? Really? Great, read on, lots more garbage to come.

Went to the Planet Hollywood poker room last night. Real slick casino, huge, lovely food, what feels like a six story feelings inside, eh that was meant to say ceilings, but why not have a six story feeling? I liked it that much. The dizzying carpet (so you’ll look at the gaming machines) and I-cant-get-out-of-your-money-robbin’-casino design not as obvious as the older casinos – real classy wood panelling and brown and cream carpets etc. very pleasant.

The poker room has giant, really low tables with funky comfy chairs that apparently, ahem, cost $750 each. We ended up at PH because bally’s and paris cancelled their tournaments because all their dealers were over at the WSOP. We also ended up here because it was the closest place, a quick zip zap boing over the hot coals from the door of Paris.
Played a $60 tournament, well the buy in options were $50 for $1,500 in chips or $60 for $4,000 *rubs moustache sarcastically* - answers why this is so, the buy in, not my rubbing to be posted below hombre.
106 runners, came 15th just outside the cash, made two mistakes, had some nice cards. Really enjoyable venue, nice staff, good atmos, clearly very weak players if I got as far as fifteenth. Overall gets a five stars and two thumbs up from me.

Tonight, well earlier tonight, or yesterday for you, after a very fortunate run of roulette at the Rio, yes my 30 red system is in full effect *watches vegas quiver and cower* we cabbed over to Caesars Palace to play the $120 (that would be $90 plus $30 reg fee, Ahem ahem ahem) was a bit tipsy and tired, NO FOOD available apparently (smells of BS to me in this case) in this 1000 room plus resort. Blood sugar low, K3 looks like good hand, cookie jar seems open, puts hand in cookie jar, puts other hand in cookie jar – gets bitched slapped. Stands up. Walks away. Donates money to roulette table. Walks back to bally’s experiencing insta-evaporating-sweat. Starts writing this muck.
WSOP
There’s also a larger poker event taking place in town called the Wasp. World Series of something, not sure, I hadn’t heard of it either. Just so happened to be a good few Irishes I know over there.
Rather nice decorated room, better than what you’d see in photos, giant place, cool atmos.
Bumped in to Brendan TV Murray from Card Player Europe, who was secretly delighted to have some paddies to listen to his whining about having to cross the road to buy a box of cigarettes (only kidding Bren I LOVE these stories)

Then met Andy Black who’s been playing every tournament and cash table in all of las vegas and some of the games at the bicycle in LA non stop for the past ten years it seems. Apparently there was what would be best described as a kafuffle earlier. Andy phsyichally threatening another player, dammit I missed it sounds interesting. Andy’s line on it was that it “was not a headlock” interpret as you will.
Then the familiar heads of separated Siamese twins Padraig Parkinson and Scott Gray were seen bobbling along through the main hall. Bit of banter with them, both seem in good spirits and relaxed, the perfect combo for a ginosauras tournament, I’ve decided they’ll both cash at the Wasp Main Event this year. Good for them.
On the way to the tilted kilt bar, we endured a card trick (although I use trick sparingly) from Mad Marty Wilson.
Discombobulated me sleep now, wont even read thru this – sorry that you felt you had to read this far. Please now turn off your computer and go for a walk. Rain is not an excuse, oh how I’d love some rain! Me gone. Manana peace out.

A tumble is a typed mumble, some buildings actually have the word mirage written above them, do not be fooled, they are real. McClarren airport is right beside the strip, did not expect that.

Alan Smurfit fires a second shot!

Wednesday, July 4th, 2007

Event number 53 begun on the 3rd of July in the Rio Suites Las Vegas. 142 players started in the $1,000 buyin Limit Holde’m Shootout event, but only 46 remain. In 31st none other than our very own Alan Smurfit sitting right on top of Ram Vaswani in 32nd.

Play has now ended for the evening but we will keep you updated when play resumes. Do we really think Alan needs more money? Answers on a postcard to Smurfit paper mills…

Smurfit Paper Mills

Mizrachi takes gold!

Wednesday, July 4th, 2007

It has been quite a year for Robert Mizrachi. He started off the year taking forth place and $409k in the WPT Carribean Adventure, two weeks later he got his expenses back at the WPT in Tunica. Not satisfied with this he travelled to Vegas, took 6th and $32K in the $2,500 HORSE event and 5th ($49K) in the $5,000 HORSE event.

One could be forgiven for asking where his first place finish at the WSOP is, well folks he has finally done it! Today Mizrachi hit the big time winning the WSOP World Championship Pot-Limit Omaha (Event 50). And for his troubles? A mere $768,889 in prize money.

The final hand saw Mizrachi move allin with a set of nines which was called by Rene Mouritsen’s diamond flush draw. There was no help on the turn or river for Mouritsen who took second place and $464,877 for his efforts.

Very much worth note was Patrik Antonius third place and $311,394… So Orla that will be pints of Champaigne for you then :)

Our 1st full day in Vegas - 3rd July

Wednesday, July 4th, 2007

And now for the weather report - its a wopping 115 degrees today and it’s expected to be 116 - 120 tomorrow? I don’t know how people live in this city with the heat! God bless air conditioning!

We ventured over to the Rio Hotel to check out the action at the WSOP! On arrival there was a nice touch of class (and I’m not talking about me this time!) with a 100 metre red carpet laid out, 3 giant fans blowing fresh cool air and a huge white canape over the entrance displaying “Welcome to the World Series of Poker!” (grand job, task one complete - we found the right place).

First thing that struck me was the lack of directional signage showing players and spectators to the main hall and given I have serious jet lag and this building is pretty large (to say the least), you’re bound to get lost (no female jokes thank you). Luckily I heard alot of noise down one corridor so decided to head down that direction. In the distance there were stalls selling merchandise, girls giving massages and two large, ceiling high, glass cases blowing millions of dollars around inside (wonder if I could jump inside and try grab a grand to help my bank roll? hmmm?) The most bizzare sight was this guy hooked up to what looked like some serious medical contraption up his noise and this girl giving him a massage???? Sounds bizzare eh? I soon found out these medical contraptions were oxygen tanks!! Madness, but sure we’re in Vegas

The first player we met was Mel Judah who was rushing back to sit down and play another tournament. Always the gentleman (!!) Mel stopped and chatted to the PPP team and showed us into the main hall. I must admit I anticipated the room to be much bigger in size. Don’t get me wrong its huge but I guess from all the hype, I had this visual in my head of not being able to see the end of the room because it’s THAT big! The place was practically full with alot of action going on from satellites to the main event, cash games and final tables.

We met another familiar face but yet a new face to this years Irish Open - the lovely Thor Hansen. Thor was in great form (and on form at the tables too!) although he himself who rarely has critisim to offer mentioned that the organisation of the tournament was not that great and the Irish Open was the best run poker tournament in the world! (and he said we can quote him on that one - Bless!!). After talking to Thor for a few more minutes (and paying him $50 for that quote! - joke) I see out of the corner of my eye this man with a large cowboy hat! Doyle Brunson. Everywhere he walks, players and spectators alike turn their heads and acknowledge Doyle with some serious respect and he graciously acknowledges it.

The WSOP wouldn’t be the same without the Irish contingent! Who else did we see or rather hear!! Padraig Parkinson and Scott Grey having some banter in the middle of an aisle bloking up the walkway! Both as usual were full of chat and jokes and entertained the other players (and ourselves) for a good while!

Other players we saw were Andy Black (who looked pretty tired but still full of energy!), Roland De Wolfe (also tired but hey, tanned!) and last but not least my mission man on the TV table Patrik Antonius - but I’ll not go into that right now, you’ll just have to wait until tomorrow to get the gossip! (or rather give me more time to get working on this mission!). Over and out.

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