| Game Type: | Limit |
| Buy-in: | $10,000 |
World Series of Poker Series
Harrah's Atlantic City
17th January, 2005.
So I jumped on a plane at Heathrow, and of course was sat right next to three quarters of the Hendon Mob, who just happened to be going the same way. Anyway's, I managed to thumb a lift from Philli to Atlantic City in the Mobmobile, and we all just about survived Barney's driving.
We arrived just in time to play the super satellite, which I couldn't resist. I was too tired to play well though, and out of luck. Not a good combo. Although I exited early, I had tasted Atlantic City poker. This is not Las Vegas. There had been some very strange calls with second and bottom pair at my table. So I wondered down to the registration desk for the main event. Just when I am second in line, 10 large in my hand, a very drunk Surinder catches me. Now Surinder is a very superstitious animal. He is losing at blackjack and decides my ten grand is 'lucky money'. Before I know it he has $500 a box of my money on three boxes. I can't stand to watch, so it's back to the safe for another 10 large, and back of the line to sign up again.
Next morning, my starting table wasn't too bad. I recognise Tom Franklyn (4 bracelets) and Carlos Mortenson (2001 World Champion), but the rest are locals. Amazingly, Tom and Carlos are the first out. We are joined by WPT finalist Andy Bloch, but he doesn't make the first break either. All the chips are with the right people, although it's not so easy to put the players on exact hands.
Talking of starting tables, this event produced probably the toughest starting table I have ever seen : Phil Ivey, Steve Z, Eric Seidel, Men the Master, Layne Flack, Jim Miller, David Singer, Ted Forrest and Mrs. Bill Gazes representing the fairer sex. The organisers immediately moved this table to the main viewing area. I just hope that there was no draw manipulation to facilitate more viewing interest here. I believe Marcel Luske has been given his seating assignment over dinner in Barcelona for the EPT TV starting table. Let's hope TV isn't starting to push the borders of the integrity of the game.
I reached the dinner break after 4 levels with 13,000 in chips. It had been a pretty uneventful day so far, and I had an average chip stack. Things improved after dinner though when I doubled through with Kings. Tony G was now also on the table, and was very unlucky in a couple of large pots. Tony and another WSOP Champion Brad Dougherty were the next stars to fall at my table. I was surrounded by unknown faces.
The big names at the TV table have been giving the tournament director a lot of stick, and surprisingly the table becomes a break table. They are disbanded, and Steve Z joins us at table 30. Another multi bracelet holder, Billy Baxter, is also now at our table, but they aren't getting any respect from the locals here. In fact, I doubt they are even recognised. Anyway, I continue to progress well, and manage to finish the day with 44,700 chips, which is well above average.
249 hopefuls had been whittled down to 83 by the end of play. Second chip leader is mob hero, Ram Veswani with 85,000 chips. Barney is also in the top ten with 55,000. Unfortunately, Ross had been a casualty, but Ivo Donev and a couple of the young Swedes also survived.
Day two turned out to be a major disappointment though. Ram was all over the place and crashed out in 28th place. Unfortunately, I didn't see a playable hand all day and probably missed the couple of stealing opportunities that presented themselves. I was eliminated within sight of the money shortly after Ram. Barney is still battling on at the time of writing this article.
Harrah's Atlantic City
17th January, 2005.
So I jumped on a plane at Heathrow, and of course was sat right next to three quarters of the Hendon Mob, who just happened to be going the same way. Anyway's, I managed to thumb a lift from Philli to Atlantic City in the Mobmobile, and we all just about survived Barney's driving.
We arrived just in time to play the super satellite, which I couldn't resist. I was too tired to play well though, and out of luck. Not a good combo. Although I exited early, I had tasted Atlantic City poker. This is not Las Vegas. There had been some very strange calls with second and bottom pair at my table. So I wondered down to the registration desk for the main event. Just when I am second in line, 10 large in my hand, a very drunk Surinder catches me. Now Surinder is a very superstitious animal. He is losing at blackjack and decides my ten grand is 'lucky money'. Before I know it he has $500 a box of my money on three boxes. I can't stand to watch, so it's back to the safe for another 10 large, and back of the line to sign up again.
Next morning, my starting table wasn't too bad. I recognise Tom Franklyn (4 bracelets) and Carlos Mortenson (2001 World Champion), but the rest are locals. Amazingly, Tom and Carlos are the first out. We are joined by WPT finalist Andy Bloch, but he doesn't make the first break either. All the chips are with the right people, although it's not so easy to put the players on exact hands.
Talking of starting tables, this event produced probably the toughest starting table I have ever seen : Phil Ivey, Steve Z, Eric Seidel, Men the Master, Layne Flack, Jim Miller, David Singer, Ted Forrest and Mrs. Bill Gazes representing the fairer sex. The organisers immediately moved this table to the main viewing area. I just hope that there was no draw manipulation to facilitate more viewing interest here. I believe Marcel Luske has been given his seating assignment over dinner in Barcelona for the EPT TV starting table. Let's hope TV isn't starting to push the borders of the integrity of the game.
I reached the dinner break after 4 levels with 13,000 in chips. It had been a pretty uneventful day so far, and I had an average chip stack. Things improved after dinner though when I doubled through with Kings. Tony G was now also on the table, and was very unlucky in a couple of large pots. Tony and another WSOP Champion Brad Dougherty were the next stars to fall at my table. I was surrounded by unknown faces.
The big names at the TV table have been giving the tournament director a lot of stick, and surprisingly the table becomes a break table. They are disbanded, and Steve Z joins us at table 30. Another multi bracelet holder, Billy Baxter, is also now at our table, but they aren't getting any respect from the locals here. In fact, I doubt they are even recognised. Anyway, I continue to progress well, and manage to finish the day with 44,700 chips, which is well above average.
249 hopefuls had been whittled down to 83 by the end of play. Second chip leader is mob hero, Ram Veswani with 85,000 chips. Barney is also in the top ten with 55,000. Unfortunately, Ross had been a casualty, but Ivo Donev and a couple of the young Swedes also survived.
Day two turned out to be a major disappointment though. Ram was all over the place and crashed out in 28th place. Unfortunately, I didn't see a playable hand all day and probably missed the couple of stealing opportunities that presented themselves. I was eliminated within sight of the money shortly after Ram. Barney is still battling on at the time of writing this article.