blonde poker forum

Bonjour et bienvenue a Paris!  Il fait beau, l'hotel est magnifique, et le poker commence dans une heure!

Bonjour Tikay
Est-ce toi qui parle français comme ça ?

There you go, bet you never knew I was multi-lingual & could speak fluent froggish.

Jen & I are here in a stunningly hot Paris, & the action starts in an hour or so. We will be leaving our Hotel & ambling across to the Aviation very shortly.

You have got Jen in charge all week, with me in the # 2 seat today & tomorrow, & then, from Wednesday onwards (this is a 5 day affair with 2 Opening Days) we revert to the A-Team of jen & sloppy. By the way, BIG up to Floppy Homer - what a great Updating debut by him yesterday.

Slopps is on the Subs bench today, as Jen thought it was unfair to expect him to Update Walsall then go straight here without a break, & she's not wrong, hence you got me for 2 days, for better or worse......

But of COURSE! Would I lie?

And a Big Hi to you Surprise, it was lovely to meet with you in Monte Carlo.

To those new to blonde, "Surprise" is none other than Isabelle Mercier's Mum, & she's really quite adorable, we hooked up in Monte Carlo - Jen's Mum too, & it was all rather lovely.

We bumped into John Duthie & Joe Beevers at Waterloo this morning, & Monty Burns & Thewy are both  here, but sadly, Rob & Chubbs have decided to miss Paris, as they are wrecked, but there will be a whole heap of blondes here.

Ok, we are off to the Aviation to get set up, see you shortly.

A bientot. (Hehe.....).

Hi Tony wish i was there

Hi tikay, looking forward to the slightly easier task of reading the updates than typing them. I'm impressed by your french, take a bow. :D

Oui Madam, quesque c'est que ca? La casino elle mon il ya tres bien que la france de la Paris en la deux temps quelle mon amis. Donc demain ou la train de la pays dans les matins pour ooh ah ooh ah Cantona. Bonjour comprende.

I have absolutely no idea what I'm saying.

Where am I?

Its not fair! Enjoy guys - I will shortly be serving fish and chips in a 40 degree heat in the chippy  ;tk;

Now i want to be in paris eating fish & chips thanks chilli

I think he has sunstroke that beagle of ours - here is the translation:

Yes is Madam, quesque it that Ca? The casino it my it ya very although France of Paris in two time which my friends. Thus tomorrow or the train of the country in the mornings for ooh ah ooh ah Cantona. Hello comprende.

I have a funny feeling this comp is gonna be Dave C's.  In a weird fashion aswell - I dont mean his dress sense!!

get the wine on ice tk, me be over about 7ish

tikay, are you playing any of the support events or risking the Aviation cash game again? I remember reading about your exploits last time!

And, as per usual, my questions go unanswered.  :(

C'est la vie.

Say you will, say you won't, say you'll do what I don't

(http://www.mtv.com/news/images/b/bewitched981228.gif)

i guess the locals don't go big on sandals or male handbags...both got the full on frown, maybe i'll be gettin a refund tomorrow if i can't get past the guy on patrol...
i entered about 2 hours ago & was no 188

They just don't understand fashion, do they Jools?

Prynhawn da Tikay a Jen, gobeithio fod pawb yn mwynhau a phob lwc i bob blondite.

 :D Is it on your ipod next to Russ Abbot?

Live updates, world cup on the telly and internet poker- do Monday afternoons get any better than this?
My tips for the week will be Yoyo, Roland and Bruno.

Sadly, it's unlikely I will manage any Cash Games on this trip, I head home Wednesday morning, & it will be 100% Updating until then.

I have had many enjoyable Cash Sessions here, but I'm buggered if I recall writing about them. It's a memory thing....

Meanwhile.....

I think you remember the dauville (sp?) cash games Tighty, was it there that Red, Matt, Snoppy and Tikay shared a room?

 :hello: AHHHHH PARIS

the wine, the women, the food, the poker, ....  joie de vie (i'm envious)

Good Luck All

It's Tom Carney's Circus here.

Play was due to begin at 4pm, but there is no sign of action yet, far from it in fact. Peeps wandereing about aimlessly, French folks shouting & waving their arms, incredibly crowded, no room for oir Lappies, nightmare. Welcome to Paris!

But Bruno - surely France's Mr Cool - has been magnifique, as ever.

I have sent Jen out to get some food, her tank is on low.

Let's have a wager - what time will it start? It was due to staart at 4pm Local (10 mins ago) & the smart money seems to be on 5.15pm Local......

Monty Burns & Tony Chessa have just wandered in.

That was Vienna a couple of months back.

IFM, that was Vienna but on previous live updates from Paris there where posts in live update threads on the cash games there and tk and jen playing in them

No problem, I just have an elephantine memory for such trivia.

Yes, that was Vienna, & Jen roomed with us too. Amazing Cash games there......won a fortune over 3 nights, lost a fortune 4th night.......

I bow to your elephantine memory.
So were they playing cash games in Vienna or am i even more confused than i thought?

Amd some great news for the DtD Fan Club - following a number of calls from Rob Yong, who'd previously decided to give Paris a miss, I've just sorted it with Bruno & Sabine that Rob & Chubbs WILL play Day 1a, tomorrow, & Bruno has accepted their entry from me.

Whahoo! What a DtD double THAT would be, eh?

You are probably showing signs of old age Ian. How old are you - 60, 62?

NameChecks - seen around so far.....

Ramzai - he chopped the Helsinki main Event on Friday, & won the €1,000 in Barca. 2 years too young to play WSOP.....! Good guy, good mate.

Paul Testud.

Sverre Sundbo

Pascal Perrault

Padraig Parkinson

Rob Hollink

Joe Beevers

Tony Chessa

I'm half your age Tikay.......:D

Achilleas Kalakkis.

Alan Smurfit

Jim Kerrigan (well, a Kerrigan, not sure which one).

Boy Band Devilfish

Brian Johnson

Nottingham Nick Gibson, aka Gwibbo - on the same table as Marc "Mr Cool" Goodwin & Sverre Sundbo!

Unlike Tikay, I have my laptop well trained to pick up the Aviation Club's excellent Wifi, and I am sitting here on an unused cash table since the journalists have multiplied since last year and the whole atmosphere is pretty frenetic.

I think that what was just announced in French was "shuffle up and deal!"  so what great timing I have - only 45 minutes off schedule and I return just as the players are filling in the gaps on the tables.

At the risk of repeating Tikay's Names And Faces, I spotted Phil Hellmuth walking down the Champs Elysees (although it was away from the ACF so I don't know if he's playing today), and in the super-crowded bar area Johnny Lodden, Henning Granstad, Padraig Parkinson, Jan Heitmann, George Danzer, Ramzi Jelassi, Kiril Gerasimov.

I overheard an estimate of the total field being about 240, so  bigger than last year, and the ACF is positively heaving.

More great blonde news - just seen Matt Tyler, aka b4Matt - here! Last minute decision, he plays tomorrow. How wonderful.

And PLAY HAS BEGUN! 90 minute Levels, 15k Starting Points, blinds start at 25-50

Yes, I just saw Johnny Lodden, boy HE has game.

And I spotted Phil Hellmuth, but he feigned not recognizing me. Jealousy, I guess, he's aching to do the Luton Triple Bill Treble.

I think you need help with your Maths as well as your Memory.

Long-time buddy & foe, Mark Bartlog - Demian on PokerStars - has the most extraordinary daft hat on. Photo later.

He has Brian Johnson to his left, & Paul Testud to his left.

speaking of Yongsta and Chubbs, here's a news report and a couple of cool piccies from last night's fun and frolics...

http://www.blondepoker.com/index.php?q=node/2652 (http://www.blondepoker.com/index.php?q=node/2652)

 :hello:

Howdy ho

enjoy!

Wow, that's great adventuring spirit from B4Matt - says he decided on this trip at 8am this morning!  And what a great place to be adventuring to at this time of year - sunny to the point of discomfort, but what a beautiful city. 

All the best bloggers are out here, Rolf, BA, and the Norsemen's own - and despite the lack of space we're getting good access to the ever-so-slightly air-conditioned pleasant rooms here.

Joining Gwibbo and Marc Goodwin on table 547 are Henrik Olander and John Duthie, should be interesting...

I'm sure there's another room here besides Corridor, Lounge and Parlour - back in a minute.

I think I had that injury once.

Just to let people know we do have a $10 event on blondepokerleague tonight at 8PM.

Thanks guys - great updates so far, keep it up!

Hefty Action already. Norway's blonde friend Sverre Sundbo takes a 9k Pot with the K flush against Marc Goodwin, who could well have been out if he had followed through with his total bluff, fortunately he thought better of it on the end - methinks he had sweet fa.

Marc Goodwon down to just over 10k.

Goooooooooooo Mr Cool and Gwibbo, wish them luck from me if you get a chance (and tell Nick I wasn't organised enough to get over there and play).

Great updates, keep em coming...World Cup and Blonde updates all at the same time...luv it, luv it, luv it luv it luv it 8)

I failed to spot John Duthie sitting quietly in the seat between Sverre Sundbo & Marc Goodwin, but he sure is there.

And on Padraig's table, I spy Kirill Gerasimov.

Interesting times ahead on the table to my right - Phil Hellmuth & Jan Leitmann, now that could get interesting!

Meanwhile, on the same table, we see a 20k Pot between Matey Boy & Rob Hollink.

Board came  6s Tc 8h 7c 6c

Matey Boy bet his  Th 6d every street, but the wily Hollink was milking big time with  8d 8c

I may have overestimated the number of tables - there aren't 547, there are just 12, some with 9, some 10 players.  So the total figure will probably be around 220. 

Some more people you may be interested in playing the Day 1A -

Juha Helppi - last year's WPT runner up right here in this very club
Angelo 'Le Sucre' Besnainou
Tim Anders - remember him from last year's final?  Big white hair, big hat?
Isabelle Mercier

And all on the same table - Tony Chessa, Mark 'Get me a coke' Teltscher, Noah Boeken, Frode Fagerli.

I'm on my way.

Can I get myself one again?

OK, I'm gonna see if I can get some pics. Any requests? (Colchester Kev is barred from asking).

A full frontal of Angelina Jolie please

and make it snappy!

No need for me to ask .... you KNOW what we want !!!!

Norkage?

Hi guys. Bon chance with the updates, not that you will need it with Jen at the helm.

Please Tell matt 'Ne s'est pas arrrrreeeetteee!!!!

I would like a panoramic over-view of the pokerroom please, hopefully from height giving us the scale of the Aviation


A chandelier picture would be nice too

OK, all Pic Requests noted, I'm on with it.

Just spotted Ed Giddens, but he played the Super Sat & lost, so he's a non-runner.

doesn't quite have the same ring to it in french does it?  :D

Norkage swing from a chandelier would be best.

Good shout rob.

"Down to just over 10k" gives you an idea of the fabulous structure of this event - with 25/50 blinds there is all the play in the world, per 90 min level.  Great great great. 

Just met a young man named Edward Rhee (playing tomorrow) who qualified on Upper Class Poker along with 14 others, but has been left behind by the Upper Class Crew.  You'd think sites would kind of put an arm around their qualifiers, but it is surprising how often they're just kind of left to their own devices - even to wear their own clothes. 

How many runners are there each day?

Hugely Monstrous Massivre Hand News Now -

An early Double Takedown by John Duthie:

On a 7h 2h 3c 4h board, the action went bananas - John Duthie betting, Marc Goodwin calling, and then an all-in from Henrik Olander.  Call from John, and a head-in-hands kind of dwell from Marc.  A huge huge pot already, made huger when Marc called all-in too!

Showdown:

Henrik showed Qh 8h
John showed  Ahrt Th
Marc showed Kh 9h

Wow - and Marc's not the happiest of bunnies, saying he could have got away from it as the river was the pairing 4s, but the re-raise with the Queen flush made him take that ultimately fatal decision to call for all his stack.

The nonchalantly competitive Johnny Lodden is here, and all tanned.  I asked him where he'd been on holiday and he said Norway.  Man, England pulls the weather short straw.

They've got these portable air-conditioners working full blast in the card rooms, which is stopping the players from boiling inside their logoed T-shirts.  It's still fairly warm,  as you might gather from the photos which the diligent tikay is even now resizing for your viewing pleasure...

Between 100 and 120.  So pretty big in scale, all in all.  I have a feeling we may well be here until tomorrow morning...

A much better turnout compared to last year, but the timing then was not perfect, just after the end of the WSOP when many bankrolls seemed to be low and a lot of peeps were "pokered out".

So who's looking healthy, and whose chips are taking an early downturn?

Well, John 'EPT' Duthie is the early chip leader with around 45,000 (as one might expect), while George Danzer has 20k.
Henning Granstad looks to have had an early accident, down to 4,600 (either that or he's hiding his 5,000 white chips)

Mark Bartlog    17,000
Nick Gibson     13,400
Padraig Parkinson  15,450
Pascal Perrault   15,475

End of Level ************************15 min break*******************************

Already been an hour and a half...actually finding this one really fun to watch and time is flying - but ask me again at 1am.

Some more counts gathered before they started trickling out of the main rooms:

Juha Helppi    12,950
Angelo Besnainou  17,075
Tony Chessa    10,000
Noah Boeken    11,175
Frode Fagerli      8,750
Devilfish           18,500
Isabelle Mercier  18,850

And here is Mark Bartlog, in the "hat", with Brian Johnson sat right next door.

The players are on a short break now.

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This rather splendid looking American Gentleman Finalled in this Event last year - who can name him?

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Stevie Wonder

Here's one for "Surprise",...... who is this young ladies Mum.

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Anders?

Yes?

Tim Anders

What do I win?

Well may John Duthie look pleased after that Nut Flush v 2nd Nut Flush v 3rd Nut Flush Coup. You'd think he'd won a million, eh?

The white chips are 5k each, the yellows 1k, greys 500, blacks 100.

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Aaaah, with youth comes speed.

You win a most-expenses-paid trip to Paris to cover this event This Wednesday!

How lucky are you?

He looks a bit like that evil sorceror from Ghostbusters 2...

OK, you are all so damn clever with the answers, so whose legs are these?

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And the answer to the mystery legs is........



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You mean Viiiiigoooooo?

 Vanessa Rousso (http://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/player.php?a=r&n=43135)

Hello everyone,

 Hope you guy's are having a nice time in sunny France !!.

 Good luck to all the Blonde's out there.

Her name is Vanessa Rousseau, according to the helpful WPT Americans who kind of set up camp on the table next to me earlier today.  She cashed (7th) in Bellagio recently, and is a promising US-based newcomer.  Shall I give her a Vic brochure?

It's great that there's someone here who can identify pretty much any player - the press information-trading makes the whole thing much easier.

Someone wanted background pictures, and although the one I took of the chandelier just looked all blurry and white, this one of the Corridor (being used for cash games rather than tourney tables now that there are two start days) gives a pretty good idea of the elegance (if crowdedness) of the surroundings.

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:D

"He is Vigo, you are like the buzzing of flies to him."

This one's for Anna.

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hey jen good reporting girly :)  now can we have some cute bloke pics please

its too hot here ;)

And this one's for Kev.

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That Nick Gibson is one good looking bloke .............. :D

20 minutes ago, Hellmuth bet out on a 7-7-2 Flop. Local Smart-Boy Re-Raised. BIG Dwell from Mr Hellmuth, who eventually scowls & then folds. Local Smart-Boy shows J-4.

Just now, same Local Smart Boy bets 300 into a 200 Pot. Hellmuth says, in a flash, "20,000" & moves 20k in the middle. Smart Boy dwells & folds. Hellmuth says "I never forget - don't mess with me, eh?".

Lovely stuff!

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No bloke pics yet - hang on, they're resizing in my computer - but a big hand:

Stripeyshirt raises preflop to 300 (blinds 50/100).  One out of position limp-caller.
Flop: 9h 8d Aspades
Matey checks to Stripey, who bets 450.  Call.
Turn: Jh  Now Matey bets out, 1050.  Stripey raises to 4,200.  Call.
River:  7s.  Check to Stripey, who bets a big old 7k, not all-in but very nearly.  A lengthy think (as you may expect) and Matey eventually calls, leaving himself just 2k.

What did Stripey have?  Only the nuts - Tc Qs.  Nice bet on the river, looked a bit desperate...

Carfeful Cupcake, if Anna is watching, you are DEAD.

This guy can play, so they say. (Tomorrow we shall see).

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Here's George Danzer, fresh from Barcelona success, accessorized to the nines with his summery neckwear.  And comedy 80s headphones.

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I'm off for a 5 min break, Thewy is at the bar & he needs someone to buy him a glass of Red. That Chili is never here when she's needed.

Very, as I got  the full name first. Where do I get my tickets and which hotel?

And speed-globetrotter Ramzi Jelassi whom I last saw lounging around in Helsinki (after chopping the comp there)...

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that summery neckwear could be dangerous if hes sat on phil hellmuths table ;)  
hot weather, heated discussions  woo hoo    hehe  sorry its the weather

Hi All!

How is Brian Johnson getting on?

He took an early bad beat with  Aspades Ac V  Ks Kc and was down to 4,000. Any recovery???

She was also at Foxwoods where we nearly witnessed her being crushed by a chinese players suitcase on the bus that wips you round the complex. sadly due to Bradley's choice of seat I couldnt save her from it and start up relations! Still a week after seeing me she final's at the WPT championship - coincidence, I think so!

Brian Johnson's recovered to 7,700 or thereabouts.

Briefly worried that Isabelle might be out, but simply moved due to the first table break...

Elsewhere Nick Gibson reports that he'd bet on a 10 9 2 board holding Ks Ts.  A bloke he describes as "mystery Norwegian" throws in a 5,000 chip in a way which implies it was definitely the wrong colour... Nick says, "I think you didn't mean to raise and just threw in the wrong chip.  You have JQ?" and passes his top pair.  Yes, the Norwegian did have JQ, had misinterpreted his chip, and his name?  Sverre Sundbo...

Quiz - guess what Rob Hollink and Noah Boeken are looking at?

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.

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Are the pic`s for use on other publications?

If you give accrediatation to www.blondepoker.com, then yes, that's fine.

Welcome to blonde, Doctor. Doctor Who?

Are they staring into each other's eyes?

Here's a bunch of Reprobates I encountered in the rather swish & laid-back Lounge here.....

Left to right, Thewy, Ian McDonald, Ed Giddens, & Matt Tyler, all of whom except Ed play tomorrow.

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I have not forgotten Tighty's request for some "overview" pics of the Aviation, give me time, but here's another view of the gentleman's Club type Lounge here.

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LOL you should get a prize for that, but no, it's this (I think, now I'm not so sure):

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One of the nicest men in Poker, WPT Winner Mr John Gale. Choose your own Caption, needs a song title methinks.

"......I Love Paris in the Spring"

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Achilleas Kallakis has had a bumpy ride, down to 7k at one point, but he's Yoyo'd back to 18.4 now. He's aiming for 30k by close of play. Don't bet against him.

Here's the hand which was predominately responsible for getting Ramzi up to a nice 31,500:

Under the gun+1 he finds 99 and raises to 300.  Vanessa Russo calls, and two more.
Flop: 7 7 Q.  He bets 600, she raises to 1,500.  The rest get out of the way and Ramzi re-raises to 3,600 (putting her on AQ and expecting a fold, perhaps).  She calls.  The turn was a low rag, checked round.  The river is a Nine bringing a sneaky set and a call of Ramzi's 6,400 river bet from Vanessa's KK.

In return for a scrap of paper and a biro, the successful Swede is letting me read his tourney notes, written in the handwriting of a 5-year-old, with the insight of a much older player.  I do think it's a bit worrying that he doesn't remember his hands, though...

One our to go for the blonde $10 bounty comp guys. I hope to see a few of you there. :)

************************BREAK****************************

Here are some chip counts:

Padraig Parkinson    16,150
George Danzer    9,450   ("I am getting bad cards, playing bad, losing my chips.  On a good day I can tell what cards they have and what they're going to do.  It's not a good day.")
Mark Bartlog      5,075
Isabelle Mercier  20,000
Martin Wendt     14,450
Juha Helppi        14,000
Joe Beevers      22,600
Angelo Besnainou  22,425
Tony Chessa       7,600
Mark Teltscher    8,500
Noah Boeken     19,500
Frode Fagerli       9,275
Devilfish              9,100  (just took a pot with 7s 4s against a river bluffing Aspades Jd, with the usual "I knew you had a King or nothing at all..."
Tim Anders          9,200  (this is the guy with the AJ)
Johnny Lodden     6,250
Achilles Kallakis     18,200  (Just hit the A A 4 flop well with AJ, then the J turn better - got payment from the other guy's case Ace...)
Phil Hellmuth        32,000
Rob Hollink          22,300
Jan Heitmann      10,450

Bet you've never seen players look like they're having as much fun as Mark Teltscher (right) and Tony Chessa.  They're both under 9k.  Earlier, Noah Boeken stole a 2,225 bet from Mark by raising all-in (a further 6,275) on a Ts 9d 6s 3d board.  I don't think Mark liked releasing that hand, whatever it was.

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And here is my good friend Achilleas, doubtless doing some shopping. "Asda, Sainsbury's, Tesco, I'll buy the lot".

He's been smashing to me, helped me see how the other half live, but treated me as an equal. Top Bloke. Got a tidy little boat, & he took me to Annabelles a few months back. Usually, he has Robert Cooper with him, but I've not seen him today.

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It looks like John sneezed so hard his glasses fell off.

Man checks into the priory to because of his compulisive disorder where he cant stop singing the green green grass of home. They tell him he has tomjonesitis and he asks if its common, doctor replies "its not unusual"  :D

Devilfish is OUT - he said it was a combination of his playing dodgily, but more that his opponents couldn't play right - like when he moved all-in for 10,500 with 5s 8s on  a 6 5 7 board, and the Ks Kd he was up against "just couldn't put the hand down."  He missed, and he's now at the bar.

They're playing five 90 min levels today - so that's 3 hours post dinner break, which I reckon is coming in 45 minutes.

Here's Joe HendonMob FullTilt Beevers, with a pretty discreetly logoed sweatshirt thing.  He started off well, and looks pretty comfortable at the table.  As ever.


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And the Defending Champ Roland de Wolfe has arrived, with the Milkybarkid - apparently they played Chinese Poker all the way over.  So nice and calm frame of mind for their day one tomorrow, then.

Continuing with Tighty's commission to get a "feel" for the Aviation, here's the view from the Champs Elysses of the entrance.

The Card Room, well, everything,  is on the first floor, & is accessed by a circular staircase with no disabled access at all, so thats the Aviation ruled out as a blonde Bash Venue.

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And especially for Jac Arama, Brian Johnson tells me he is up to 14,400. He's just busted a cigar-smoking American, Ameer? somebody.

Here's the convenience store across the road from the Aviation, Louis Vitton. Handbags start from as little as €7,000.

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Thanks Tikay, I am updating live for www.vimenn.no but need some pics.. :) Doctor no i guess.. just my nickname, been for years befor poker..

I stood behind him for 20 minutes or so in Monte Carlo and he was not protecting his cards at all just lifting them up with one hand so I saw all his hole cards. Thinking about it now I probably should have said something but at the time I was just excited about seeing how such a good player plays his cards. He busted out when I went to get a beer and I didn't see him again, so I was not able to suggest he might want to be a bit more careful.

Perhaps one of you guys might mention it?

Stand outside the Aviation & look to the right, & this is what you see, France's answer to Marble Arch, framed against the setting sun just 5 minutes ago.

Carry straight on past the Arc de Triomphe, & you eventually reach, some 4 miles along, La (Le?) Defense. Le Defense is famous for Le Grande Arch, (translated "Grand Arch"). The Grand Arch is an extraordinary structure, architecture of an imagination way beyond anything ever conceived, designed or constructed in the UK, it's just breathtaking. Even better, it's surrounded by THE most awesome collection of modern office buildings, each & every one world-class in design & build-quality.  Blows Canary Wharf out of (or is it in to?) the water.

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That's a cracking photo, more of the same please.

Look to the left, & this is the view, which the camera has not done justice to.

A mile along is the Place de la Concorde, & you do not wanna try crossing the road there, it's over 200 metres wide, or seems it. Beyond that, a beautiful park, & beyond that, is The Louvre. The Champs Elysses runs (sort of) parallel with the Seine, & if you stroll down the Champs, the Seine is generally only a few hundred yards to the right. A magnificent City, truly, second only, in my personal "Best City" list, to St Petersburg.

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I will, thanks.

More & more "names" are drifting in, Day Two-ers.

Roland, Ben, Johan Storakers, John Gale, Thewy, Matt Tyler, Marcel Luske, Ian McDonald, Dave Colclough, boy, we are set for a good day tomorrow.

Thanks Tikay!

Brian is on great form!

He won the 50 st James event last week (18k) - Then came 4th on Fridays event in Paris (7K), then won a ticket on Saturday in Paris (10K).

If he gets chips, he can win this!!

No sign yet of The Camel - I do hope he shows up. Though, somehow, I don't think he'd "take" to the French.

Have they run out of beer??

10 minutes, then a whopping 105 minute dinner break!  Civilised or deranged:  I don't know, but I like it.  Just to warn you we'll be Off Air for that period while we get some well-needed sustenance.

A couple of counts before we beat the break rush:

Vanessa Rousso  6,800
Martin Wendt    24,500
Juha Helppi       17,000
Joe Beevers      18,400
Johnny Lodden  11,000
Ramzi Jelassi       27,000
Kirill Gerasimov    3,000
Henning Granstad  11,500
George Danzer      18,300   (looks to have calmed down a bit)
Isabelle Mercier    16,625
John Duthie        35,000
Fabrice Soulier      26,000
Nick Gibson         16,000  (and he looks ecstatic - it's the most he's had all night)
Phil Hellmuth       42,000  (your chip leader, ladies and gents)

Still 98 players remaining - whatever happens in the last two levels, we're looking at a hefty return for Day Two if Day 1b runs a similar course...

Please could you tell Phil Hellmuth good luck from his buddy snoops

He'll know who it is...

Here's our defending Champion, looking relaxed, & maybe sending a message? He's put a little weight on since last year, but a lot of water has flowed under the bridge in that time, & he's a SuperStar these days. A genuinely engaging personality, & that earlier brashness & arrogance has given way to self-assurance & confidence.

Hard to dislike him, it really is, & he reminds me in many ways of Rob Yong, both of them "talk through" their hands, but not in a malicious or belittling manner.

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Here is Mr Ben Grundy, though Nick Gibson does not seem to be listening. By the way, I have just seen John Kabbaj lollop in.

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OK, it's Dinner-Break time, so Jen & I need to get some din-din, but hang in there, we wll be back.

Jen, by the way, is wearing contact-lenses today, but I never noticed, oops! Currently, she's getting a little het up at some of the Caption Comp Entries - sloppy, you are in trouble, sunshine!

Tony Chessa, down to the felt early doors with 3,600, has 27,000 now!

Ramzi's little piece of paper has made it back here - his loss of a few chips came as a result of a "good bluff, bad call" scenario:
With two limpers, he limped on the button with Ac 5c.  Flop Q Q 7 (two diamonds).  It checks to Ramzi, he bets 500, two callers.
Turn: Td (so three of 'em now)  It checks round.
River: 7.  Under the gun bet 700, it gets called, and Ramzi raises to 2,100 - the middle caller guy decided to go for it with his Ac Ahrt.  Not enough, perhaps?  Or is it, as he says, a case of pure non-folding fishiness?

WOWZERS!! Who is that sexy bit of beefcake???   

Hi Tikay & Jen

Love the service as always. Just spent 30mins catching up rather than jumping to the last page (find it is bit like cheating and reading the last page of a book first)... now a bit gutted as have to wait for 1hr 45mins whilst those hard working poker players stuff their faces & quaff a bit of vino!! so much for the planned entertainment for a Monday night :-)

Send love & luck to Gwibbo    ;cheerleader; ;cheerleader;

LOL

Anna xx

Someone call me?

No-one has asked for the guns to be brought out - yet.

Thanks for getting me and Chubbs in for day 2 TK. We were so knackered after the weekend but couldn't resist a comp like this so close to the UK. See you tomorrow, please tell DC we get in at about 10am, we should be in the bar in the Marriot at about 12 ish. Cheers Rob

tikay, thanks a bunch for the excellent Paris and casino pics. Much appreciated

I worked for a couple of months in the La Defense compex when I started out all those years ago. It is unpopular with all those who work in it...remote to where a lot of the workers live and lacking in some facilities.

As you say though, architecturallly unique and really striking.

A fantastic city, even more so at this time of the year. 

I agree. A truly beautiful, amazing city.

Hi SAnna,

Play has just re-started.

Nick says he will call you tomorrow.

He, Jen & myself wandered out at the break, found a Pavement Restaurant, & had a lovely meal as Nick's guests. Spag Bol x 3, Apple Crumble & Vanilla Ice Cream x 2, & Jen had a "Florida Fling".

Now we gotta do some work.

OK, here we go.

Hiya Tk

Glad you escaped for a bit. Will keep watching till sleep takes over.

LOL

A xx

Well, we've just had a truly beautiful dinner courtesy of Nick - sitting outside is actually hotter than being in the Casino... really not used to being able to wander round outside without at least a hoody for warming comfort. 

I had this ice cream concoction with all exotic flavours - but that's enough of my dinner - play has restarted and 92 players remaining have to worry about their blinds having risen to the enormous 100/200 ante 25.  So much play...so little time...

Actually, quite a lot of time - 5 whole days before we know who will be WPT Champion in Paris.

For once, Mr Tikay, you are incorrect. I absolutely love playing at the Aviation. And the French guys are, almost 100%, great. Eli Marciano, Patrick Bueno, Pascal Perrault and Xavier Lascelles are excellent players and great guys. I also like propping up the bar will Padraig, Tom the tank and Ashley Alterman.

But, we moved house at the weekend, and dashing off to Paris to play poker while all our posessions are still in cardboard boxes would be a teensy weensy bit offside I think.

Aparte of from a small chance of playing the first event at the Vic next week, you won't be seeing much of me playing poker in the coming months I'm afraid.

I look forward to keeping up to date with the successes of Messers Thew, Burns, Kelly, Shipley and Bush on blondepoker!

 :hello:
Have a great time all you blondes

Hello Jen and Tikay,
I''m back with you , for the whole evening.
And thanks for Isa's picture, and the reports.

Jen  are you not playing at all  ?

Keep up the excellent job.  You're our eyes out there.
I'll be reading every line.

Hi guys... And Anna... ;) ehh... Lodden is out. I guess he could not wait to get to the cashgame tables. If anyone sees him there, please post if there is something big going on. Ciao

Kirill Gerasimov, who's stack was looking a little thin post dinner break, just doubled up courtesy of what was certainly a generous river, but also a generous player.
The board came 8h Th Ks 3d 9d.  When his opponent bet on the river, Kirill moved in for about three times what he'd bet - between 3 and 4k; call.
Kirill showed 7s Jd
His opponent showed Kh 4c.  So he's back up to 10k or so after that rather inexplicable pot - I missed the preflop and flop betting but rather expect there was some as there was more than the 450 from the blinds and antes in the pot...

Voila Pascal Perrault with a pretty healthy stack (25k or so at a quick estimate) next to a slightly shorter stacked Nick Gibson, who literally seconds before I snapped this insensitive picture of him with his diminished chips, laid down a hand in the big blind preflop, after he'd re-raised a late position raiser by 1,300, and found the guy doing the dwell-then-push-all-in thing.  So he's got under 10k now, and I'd really like to know whether he had any kind of a hand right there, or if it was one of those "I'll have a go at your raise" raises which he then had to release...

Oh I'll just ask him in a minute.

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There are definitely quite a few large cash games taking the place of the tournament tables as they diminish... Tikay said something about a €300/€600 limit game...I'll have a look when the crowds thin out.  If they thin out.  Oh, OK, probably tomorrow.

:hello: Surprise!  Lovely to have you online, as always - here's the most recent pic, taken less than two minutes ago!

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Thank you Jen,

Despite his recent double up and breathing space creation, Kirill here is taking on Juha Helppi (right) for who can look the most intense.  And winning.

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Hi Your Camelness & Jake,

Happy to stand corrected, if "for once", I'm incorrect.

But may I make so bold as to correct you, too.

I quote you......

I look forward to keeping up to date with the successes of Messers Thew, Burns, Kelly, Shipley and Bush on blondepoker!

Forgotten someone, have you? Modesty forbids me to mention the name, of course. Ahem......

God. How embarrassing...

I missed out Flushy!

Good luck James!

you're too much of a celebrity to actually bother with playing now Tikay.

Agreed - in fact he almost counts as a Celebrity Guest Updater now... :)

As the cash game players filter in, and the oxygen feels less concentrated, and we all get a bit stuck to our keyboards, and a rumour circulates that there may not be any more ice, here's a little competition to keep everyone's enthusiasm up: 

Name That Back:

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Erik Sagstrom?

thewy

Woodius Deckus?

x22

Flushy. FLUSHY? OMG. I'm hurting here.

OK, some Chippy Counts, with 81 left, & blinds still a measly 100-200, 25 ante, for another 16 minutes.

Phil Hellmuth - VERY focused. 58k.

Ramzi 47k. "Playing".

Paul Testud, 18k

Achilleas Kalakkis. (Kalakkis - Greek for small but beautiful). 13.5k "I'm preparing for an all-in "blind"...."

John Duthie - 23k. "Going backwards".

Nick Gibson 19k - "I'm going forwards".

Tony Chessa 23k, apparently asleep.

Joe Beevers, 12k, actually he looks a little bored & "out of it". Dreaming of those twins I guess.

Padraig Parkinson 25k

Henning Gradstad 15k

Isobelle Mercier, 20k. Staring the table down a treat. "Don't even THINK about stealing my blinds".

Brian Johnson, 14k. (Next to Isabelle, to her immediate right).

Jan Leitmann, 15.3k.

Tikay, does the running ante slow down play much? I'm not a big fan myself.

Bingo!

I thought I recognised the back but couldn't remember his name...

It's Henning Gradstad's rearview!

i think u right camel wdone 8)

The Avistion's Wifi has dropped out, so nobody here - nobody at all - is online now, not even our Jen.

Except me, God help you all. The Wifi would not load on my Lappie, so I'm using my Vodafone dubree.

I can tell you that all those"name that back" entries are way, way, off mark.

By a bokking coincidence, the "shirt back" has just busted out, & the Tourney will continue sans Henning Gradstad.

Jen on telly 121 on sky

Oi!

Wow, I bokked myself - The Camel, for once, is correct. Henning Gradstad it is. Or was.

Well played that man.

There is a huge throng round Mr Hellmuth's table, they are ignoring the ropes & really crowding him, & his table. To his credit, he has not complained, or got tetchy-wetchy once. He is intently studying every player, every move, very much in the zone. He's looking very middle-aged, I note.

How good is your memory? Can you remeber what middle age was like?

Just been catching up on the updates. Many thanks for all the hard work everyone. Well done!

Cheers.

Granissimo is out! :( any idea on the hand?

Jen says "please don't watch that".....

OK boys, a nods as good as a wink.

We are on a break here now, 15 minutes, which will be followed by the last level of the day.

The back with the sport shirt belongs 2 mr granstad!!! or? :D

How many levels more to day?

Sorry.. tired TK.. last level .. thansk

Can you remember how many "m"'s in remember? Don't mess with me Mr Hawkins. I'm a celeb - I even had dinner with Gwibbo tonight. Does it get better than that?

Gwibbo, 22k.

Achilleas 14k.

Tony Chessa 36k. "I got very Thewy - sorry - very lucky". He ran his AA into KK. Nice.

Mark Teltscher 8k.

Any sign of Sverre Sundbo?

Yes, it was Henning - and here he is before he got knocked out just before the current break... he's had a rough old day, hitting three of a kind with lower kicker twice, but remaining in despite his earlier knock to below 4k.  He'd built it back to 14,000, but something happened a minute ago which he reported in a language which I do not speak and then promptly disappeared.

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Speak of the devil - he's back, and still in a pretty good mood, despite the horrific ruling made against him in the €2,500 and his rather frustrating exit:
A raiser made it 700, Henning re-raised with 10 10. 
Flop 3 5 8.  Henning bets around pot, and his opponent thinks for about 4 mins before moving all-in
...On the basis of who it was (Henning says it was still possible to fold) he calls for the 5,900 he has left - and finds a dwelled-up old 5 5.

And now my card is growing sluggish in the late-night warmth...but here's a quick picture of Sverre before he, too, exited.  His rather dismal mood will surely lighten fast as ever, but it's never nice to feel that you may not have played your best: "I wish I could blame it on bad luck".  Let's remember his Paris experience how he looks in this photo.

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1 hours play left for today, & that's that, the end of a pretty long day. Jen only had 3 hours kip last nighht, & I had none, & I set off at 0415  from Derby, so end of play will be welcome.

Blinds 200-400, ante 25, 70 players left.

Any of the norwegians of to day left? Frode Fagerli, Alexander Strandli, Kenneth Strandli ?

It does not need to slow the play down if the dealers are good, as they were in Helsinki last week. And are here, he quickly adds....

I love playing with Running Antes, it adds a whole dimension to the game in my opinion.

Frode & Kenneth both still in. Alexander is, sadly, out. Nroweigans Rule? Not any more, this one is coming back across the English Channel.

TY TK ;)

Achilleas Kalakkis is OUT.

He's gonna jet off to Monte Carlo first thing in the morning.

This site has by far the best live tournament coverage ever. GW

John Duthie, after rocketing ahead at the start of the day, finds himself dwindling as the leaders approach 80k.  But he just took down a few thousand when an early position raiser made it 1,600, he called (sat on raiser's left) and two more players decided to see a flop.
Flop:  Js 7s Th  Check; John Duthie bets 4,500 and after different length dwells, they all pass.  So not just sitting back, but being overtaken in chips in many places.

Meanwhile, in the "back room", now entirely devoted to Cash Games, there is an obscenely large cash game going off.

Players include Bruno, Devilfish, & David Benyamine. The last-named has over €100,000 in front of him, most of the others are inthe €30k to €50k range.

By the by, it was suggested earlier today that Devilfish, with his recent Boy Band hair-do, bears an uncanny resemblance to Beavis, of Beavis & Butthead. Can anyone do a Google Image jobbie for us?........

Some counts while I was action-scouting:

Nick Gibson      7k (he made that 'not-so-good' grimace when I watched his table)
Ramzi Jelassi    41,300
Vanessa Russo   8,000
George Danzer  29,000 (he must have turned it round in the last level and be paying attention now)
Frode Fagerli     25,000
Isabelle Mercier  12,700

Phil Hellmuth, after getting close to losing the renowned temper before the last break, has been moved to a table containing Isabelle, Joe Beevers and Kirill Gerasimov.  Maybe a change of scenery will have calmed him down.  Maybe not.

Does Devilfish have any eastern european tottee in tow?

Padraig Parkinson    23,400 after a very interesting hand went off:

Padraig was sandwiched between two other players who'd seen the board come:  Ac Th 6h Js
Earlymatey bet 8,000.  Padraig dwelled in an intense sort of way and then passed, finding Latematey moving all-in, with an instacall.
One shows Qd Kd
The other shows  Kc Qh

River: 8h    Padraig says, "Thank you God!" and when asked what he'd passed, said a set of Aces...

Apologies to anyone who has sent me a PM in the last 4 or 5 days, I have not been near them since last Tuesday, but I'll have a bash at clearing them tomorrow. I need enough time to clear the lot, I cant handle doing just some of them, it's all or nothing. A good night's kip tonight will do the job. Sunday was supposed to be "clear the decks" day, but it all went horribly wrong when my PC's Broadband fell over, & my Lappie was at Walsall.

beavis ;)

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Nick Gibson is OUT -

His little stack found a double-or-bust hand in Ac Js, and the button raiser called with his 8s 8d.

The K K Q flop could have been worse, but the 8 turn sealed the deal and Nick says, "I may well be home tomorrow."  Not a sad message home though - he looks OK.

The very thought.

LOL Mel the likeness is uncanny!

Great updates guys, been too busy to post, but Ive been lurking.

You were on the cruise weren't you Tikay!

when i saw his hair in barcelona it was like a boyband kinda style ;)  made me giggle a bit ;)

Great with some action from the cashgames as well. Let me know if u c lodden how he`S doin. He is the best on internet, but i dont know live

I'm one of the three wise monkeys. I know nothing.

Hello Red!

Heard about your Walsall result (and, er, exit) and congratulations and commiserations in equal measure.

good night peeps ;)

gl tomorrow to blondites xx

Just under half an hour left, blinds 200/400 ante 25.

62 players remaining.  Not bad knockout rate, honestly.

Yes, a big up to Red for that Walsall effort, and a lifetime's memory at that extraordinary exit. But you are not the first to be Mallu-ed!

Tonight we saw the arrival of the American sub-teenage Brat-Pack that so upset everyone in Vienna with their uncouth & ill-mannered behaviour. The Pack Leader - remember him from Vienna, Red? - marched up to me tonight brandishing a handful of €5,000 denom chips in a very "look how big my willy is" style. Ah well, children will be children.

Returning to matters at hand, & grown-ups, Rob Hollink is down to the felt - things have gone badly for him since his heady start with boat over boat.

It's Direct-From-Ramzi Update Time Now -

He's been folding to re-raises for a while (for real - including Jacks twice) and then makes it 1,100 to go in middle position with JQoff.

The French small blind calls, flop  8d 8c 6c.  He bets out 3,000.  Want to know Ramzi's thought process?  Well, here it is - he puts him on little pair and makes it 7,500.  Gets a call, but Ramzi's already planning to go all-in on the turn.   But the Aspades came, and he bet 10,000 - resulting in the fold nonetheless.
He shows.  "They think I'm on tilt." 

There you have it.  He now has a lead-challenging 47,000.  Well, at least leadslightlythreatening.

any news on Hellmuth? chipcount?

Or Frode/Kenneth

Here's a special Bud, who looks like he's had a few Buds tonight. Matt "b4Matt" Tyler, who plays tomorrow.

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I remember. Tell me, does he still have front teeth?

At the moment, yes.

But it might get interesting if he ends up on the same table at Matt tomorow......

And with less than a minute to go to close of play on Day 1A, it looks like Isabelle Mercier has exited the comp. Her body-language as she marched briskly past Updaters Corner on her way out suggested as much.

guys how many runners is ther 4 this event

Just under 50k I believe - and that's the last info I can gather tonight, as play has officially ended!

What a day - and there's another lined up tomorrow, starting 4pm.  Many more brits, blondeites and further well-knowns packing the ACF to the rafters for your Poker Enjoyment.  Oh, and a pile of money.

We are not entirely sure, as there were many "late entries" for Day 1b. We will know at around 5pm Tuesday.

We will not be able to bring you Chip Counts before we close down for the evening. These may take a while to prepare, & we are a little tired. We will have them before play starts tomorrow though.

cheers tikay

GN :)

Tony Chessa, Comeback Kid - he ends Day 1a with 40,850!

Frode Frageli has 30,000.

Final Ramzi Jelassi count before we drift off into the night - 46,000.  What a month already for him, and now a lovely day off to go see the sights before heading back to join whoever makes it through the gruelling tomorrow.

Night Night!

Just chatted with Padraig. He assures us he DID pass AA on an A-J-T flop, & that both the player to his right AND the player to his left had KQ. The board never paired.

OK Guys, I'm outa here. This Updating lark is a young man's game. Fortunately, I am. Young, & game.

Sleep tight, Jen & I are gonna wander back to our Best Western Hotel now, a quick Ovaltine, & then it's uncle ned.

xx

see you tmorra, gn.

Great updates - thanks guys.

What a pass by Padraig!

:o

goooo team hink's ramzi!

and the muppet tony chessa lol.

Great updates folks. I have just caught up with all this.

Can you tell me if Yevgeny Kafelnikov is playing this event please? 

What is the food like there? 

Thanks. Keep up the good work   :)up

   rotflmfao

I have not seen Yevgeny, though he be playing today, which would be Ace.

The food here is quite dreadful, almost all of it is French.

lol   Nice use of the word ACE.  It is fitting because he was a tennis star.   I am not keen on French food either.  Do these big poker tournaments not cater for different cultures and nationalities? 

The French only cater for the French. Trust me.

unlike Wales, where we cater for lots of nationalities, chinese, indian and kebab predominantly  :D