Julian at 7/4
Spent yesterday night at the Rio sweating the ‘Irish’ remaining in the main event. Julian Gardner is top of the heap and playing a blinder. He has been whole-heartedly adopted by the Irish supporters…..mainly for his connection with the godfathers of Irish poker, Padraig Parkinson and Scott Gray. The 2 boys have gone the distance before, both main event final tablists.
Frat boys scream and high-five every hand, the place sounds like a football match more than a poker tournament….but amid the chaos, Julian just stares, plays with his chips, shoves, pulls in a 2 million chip pot in silence. This is why Parky has priced him up at 7/4 to win the WSOP. 
Padraig arrived from a nap, walked up to the rail just after Julian’s double up and shouted “so which one is Phil Hellmuth?”
Willie Tann, the other ‘Irish’ player remaining looked to be nodding off at 1am as play was finishing for the day. It’s a reminder of the incredible stamina required to get through this endurance contest. ‘Brain Farts’ are common. That guy in the pot with Julian got all his chips in preflop with KJos. Some people just give up the will to play and youth is definitely an advantage. Despite is demeanour and long list of results including a WSOP final table, Julian Gardner is only 27. He’s been playing since he was 14!
Off to the Rio for me for more railing. There is a lot of excitement in that room with 2 feature tables, endless free beer thanks to MILWAUKEE’S BEST LIGHT!!!!!!
