blonde poker forum

Say what you like about the man, and of course most people do..but he has a sick amount of talent.

beats 400 runners to $450,00k first prize

Other finalists included Jeff Kimber form the UK and Lee "Kill Phil" Nelson

He donated half his prize to Asian and Australian charities and the trophy to the Singaporean runner-up, to allow it to stay in the host country.

315 runners I believe, and I still don't like him  ;starwars;

dito

lol, what a rubdown

"Here, you can take this piece of shit, I don't want it. You can put it on your mantlepiece to remind you of the day you were bested by Tony G"

maybe it is such a big trophy that he would have had to purchase an extra seat on the airplane for it.

Bloke just showing a bit of class and paying deference to the locals in a new market for poker IMO. But you believe what you will. 

Am I the only one here who actually likes the guy?

Fair enough, his table chat is sometimes crossing that fine line between entertaining and offensive, but have you ever seen him loose a hand? He comes across as a horrible winner, but at the same time very polite when loosing and doesn't hand out more than he can take - but that's only my limited youtube experience of this guy..

Oh, and he makes poker much more fun to watch ;)

wp that man

He railed me on an  MTT online final table, took the time out to point out where I was going wrong and I learned a few key lessons!
Why would he do that ? He had nothing at all to gain and know one would have ever known!
Top bloke as far as I'm concerned.

There are plenty of people that use the chat to their advantage, but you have to admire the results that he has achieved and he will win more in the future.

If he wants to give me a few hours of his time in mouthing or his thoughts on the game I would glady accept

Would be nice to see him getting a bit of credit, he had been panned for some of his antics and quite often this has been deserved. But when he makes a nice gesture people should respond to the act in question and not be blighted by previous impressions of the man.   

I had a bet on him on betfair  and am still waiting for them to pay out.   He is a world class player and proves it time and time again.   He said in his blog before the Tourney that he was feeling very confidient and could win.  Thats why i put

the bet on.     :) ;tightend;

Cheers Tony G

even though I like Tony G and believe this gesture to be genuine, you cannot and should not forget the things he had done in the past, thats why there are differing opinions, he does not help himself.

I love the guy.

Too many folk in this game lack personality and are put off by loudmouths, its a skill.  I love the table talk.

Sure he hands out a few rub downs but I am sure he would take it back if given it.

I like Tony G, when he was a part of Blonde I shared a few PM's with him.

To donate half your Prize to Charity is a very generous thing to do.
Having a chirp or giving a rub down does not mean your a bad person.

We all cheer when our team wins with a bit of luck without thinking of the opposition.

Without personalites any game would be boring.

 :respect: To TonyG

The guy is class.

Regards

M



   

Well said M ,
Well done Tony !! , he may be classed as a big mouth in poker , but obviously he has a big heart to go with it.
How many BIG poker pros would do what he has done ???   

 ;cheerleader; ;cheerleader; ;cheerleader; ;cheerleader; :respect: :respect: ;cheerleader; ;cheerleader; ;cheerleader; ;cheerleader;

I also like him and try not to read anything more in his jesture of goodwill.

I thought i might find a wholly (sp?) positive thread for a minute there................

Well done Mr G, unquestionably an excellent pokerist.
Giving half the prize to charity is a fantastic gesture, kudos to him.

I'm sure he still lurks on here from time to time so it's about time he was commended for his good points.

 :)

let me see...barry greenstein, behaves with some class and credibility and gives to charity.

or tony g , some bum that wants to improve his image maybe by making a gesture - yuk.

You spoke to him or those who know him at great length and depth to ascertain his motivation for this act....
...or you merely impose your preconceived notion of "why Tony G is a selfish bum" on anything he does?

I can understand the controversy surrounding his table actions, but when he makes a charitable act and gets slammed for that too, then it's just transparant victimisation. Not that Tony will give a toss i'm sure but it sure is a bad attitude.

Nice one Tony, congratulations for the great result and your generosity.

 ;iagree;

too much agreeing going on here /:-| now move along please

 ;iagree;

 ;iagree;


Bugger, too slow again.

The same guy who got banned from a hotel chain for smashing up his room when Farha beat his aces with kings on high stakes poker ?

Maybe the room needed redecorating and he was just doing them a favour  :dontask:

Sandy

 ;iagree;

I don't think the charity cares if the cash came from a classical gentleman or not.

Mixed feelings about this one. Obviously he is an excellent player but he didn't half run well on the second day. I was on his table for two hours, and he had a lot of nice situations, and won nine out of nine hands at showdown, as he said so himself at the time (including two races against me, the second of which knocked me out  ;frustrated;). I guess though that even the best players have to run exceptionally well at some stages of the tournament to win a 300 runner multi. I think with regards to some of his table antics, basically he gets a bit over-excited and emotionally involved, and that's all there is to it.

I watched the final table live and he was on his best behaviour. At the end he was very keen to publically announce in front of the cameras that he was giving half his winnings to charity. Yes it is a fantastic gesture but there is without doubt an element of self-promotion within this. After all there is nothing to stop him donating it anonymously. We all know he is a businessman aswell as a poker player and good luck to him.

Well played Toni....and a nice gesture giving half your dosh to charity...that's all there is to it....I quite like his table talk...although he has gone a tad too far sometimes.

I had him one to my left for most of the afternoon on day 2.   He talked to everyone, gave advice to some of the guys who were obviously going deep in their 1st 'big comp' .     If I'd not seen some of the stuff on Utube u would not believe it was the same guy.   

great result tonyg, dont understand why everyone is having a pop.

it seems as soon as somebody does something good like give to charity it is only done out of self interest. anyway even if he does get good publicity then its a win win situation.

Absolutely agree - if someone gives a big lump to charity, I don't see why they shouldn't get a pat on the back.  Also let's not forget that this is good PR for poker in general which benefits us all.

Hi Jim,

Have a look at Tony's blog, he basically says what you wrote here, and his conclusion was "I butchered this helpless table to full submission"

The thing is with Tony G nothing is ever black and white. With regards to his conduct on the WPT Paris final table with Surinder Sunar, apparently at the time there was some history between the two which rarely if ever gets mentioned.

Just found a short clip of Tony winning the event if anyone is interested

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a92FNmagKjU&mode=related&search=

The guy doesnt know what class is mate.

With the money he gets from other ventures 225,000 means fekk all to him.

still a nice touch, but he's trying to buy his way out of his poor reputation, and i just aint buying it.

I had the pleasure of his company for a while before I was knocked out.  I found him to be a lovely man and a superb player.  Very well done to him. :)

Nice to see you again too Rob :).

if being an obnoxious clown is a skill, im George W Bush!

there is no denying he's an idiot who should be banned form the game IMO

its a forum and people are entitled to there opinion, and to debate.

i agree with Pondy on this one, he's trying to buy back some dignity IMO, and he's gone far to far to start that!

Ill stay off this thread now, as its bad blood over charity donation, but ill still not change my mind on him.


ok one last comment (im a chatty bassa lol)

You say this but what if he had murdered someone, then donated to charity, would he deserve a pat on back?

i know they are two totally different situations, but im just trying to illustrate that just cos he did something publically that others do in private doesn't mean we should all forget the disgusting things that he has done in the past in the same game.

Just had a lookRob.  He's prob spot on there.  There were 2/3 at that table who almost refused to play a pot with him and almost told him as much.  He didn't mention the pot where he donked off half his chips with 67 on a 789 flop into TT though :)

I could think of 1,600,674 people I would rather share a beer with.  He is a great player though and I wish I had his skills one day

Dave, please don't take this the wrong way but its got to be the most ridiculous comparasion i can think of.

the guy gave a few people a rubdown obviously when he had had a drink, have you never done something out of line, said something you probably shouldn't have when you've had a beer or 2.

Dave have you played football and tried to wind somebody up on the pitch to gain an advantage. well thats my comparison to what tonyg has done playing poker, not quite as bad as killing someone

Tony in Singapore ??  absolute quality.

I spent quite a bit of time with him over the week ...only at the tables, not socially.

Me and Flushy spent ages winding him up from the rail in the 300 limit comp, and he was fantastic value... he took plenty of stick from me as you can imagine, and he gave a bit back.. at one point he was begging flushy and me to stop because we were destroying him, but it was all good natured and his behaviour towards the other players was exemplary.

In the main event he was sat right behind me on a different starting table and was very quiet until the tv cameras came on their rounds ... despite him being right behind me, i knew when the cameras were on his table... because the yapping started.

To be honest with you, Tony was a credit to the game throughout the week, he was one of the lads and had no aloofness or superior attitude ...

He mentioned blonde quite a lot and said he still pops in now and then to check the updates and have a peep around.

I havent been his greatest fan due to clips of him acting like a twonk that i have seen posted on the net. However after actually spending a bit of time with the bloke, My opinion has changed and i genuinely found him to be approachable, friendly and entertaining.

As for the charity donation, well Tony is one of the most generous players on the circuit .... in fact i was talking to a few dealers and they were praying for Tony to win because he is the most generous tipper in the game, and you dont earn that reputation overnight.  I am sure he knew that his donation would get him some extra publicity in an emerging market like Asia, but just winning the event would have given him more than enough publicity, so I accept that his offer was genuine and I for one applaud him for it.

Colchester Kev   when I saw your post I had to log inn and post I really appreciate your nice comments.

I do swing by here to see what is happening I think you guys are a great community and I respect every ones point of view no matter of what they think of me.

In terms of the donation I was lucky enough to be in a position to give some away but it still hurts
believe me if you don't you all should try it. I wanted to give enough so that it would sting its a  nice feeling and yes sure I want people to know I did it and that I will do it again. To me poker is a sport a game of skill and something that I found in life that I could do well its not about the money its about poker being what it is that is why I feel great for giving some away.

Important note about Surinder this is a fact:
Me and Surinder had no history and have no history I truly respect the guy he is a deserving champion he took what I had to offer he beat me I respect him, we are friends we had dinner in Paris on day one of WPT 2006 we talk to each other we have gone to Sauna together at he Bellagio the guy is top notch one of the best players there is.

Hope you guys let me post here every now and again and everyone play good poker I am after all of you in a big way when I meet you in any tournament I play, I will surely rip you all appart and take everything you have.

Tony

Very well done for your win. However, I am MORE impressed with your donation. Its an amazing thing to do, and I hope you get invited to see the good work the donation will do

....yeh you and whos Army ??? ;D.....well played in Asia....see you at the tables.

I prefer to respect the views of people with 1st hand knowledge of a person rather than those gained from a few tv's clips.

Strikes to me a double standards tbh, far more dodgey characters are welcomed into this blonde community but none have recieved the critiism from people Tony has.  Unwarrented or not, lets says gratz to the win and the donation.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSsIq58ZF8I

If the fat lad thinks you are sound then you can't be the ogre people make you out to be . So well done that man and good stuff with the donation, don't give a monkeys about the motivation a lot of money went to people who really need it. :respect:

Only other point is that it's obviously been a while since you updated that avatar. From what i have seen you haven't been a stranger to a fish supper since then.   ;whistle; :)up

Hense the reason why i said "i know they are two totally different situations"...maybe you should read all my post next time.

Please dont take that the wrong way, i just dispise what he does, it really gets to me when people try to justify his disgustingness!

we have different views, both valid, but well never agree on him mate.

Scotish your to harsh on Tony G

Regards

M

Gotta agree here, Dave OTT

When I started this thread I merely expected some congratulations both for a victory in an important new series and for the donation and an acceptance that despite the negative views about his antics in the past his gestures this time should at least be applauded.

How naive I am. This place is certainly more complicated than it ever was!

yeah but did you know naive backwards is a dodgy french water?

L'eau and behold, it made me chuckle

Sorry to say but the forum is currently populated with people who think just because you can offer an opinion on something they feel the need to do so without thinking if it is appropriate!

1) Regardless of its negative connotations; 

2) Having no relation to the actual thread in question;

3) Setting a bad vibe on the forum and others.


Solution: delete posts that are simply posted to stir crap and hijack threads. You cannot say “thank you” or “well done” now without some clever **** being funny.

What about if someone keeps on making the same point over and over and over again in numerous different threads?

bully

Dunno, depends if you want everythead to turn into a flame fest or not byron by these people?

Twice i have made this point, and both times its at the end of a thread that turned into a stupid negative thread as a result of people showing no respect.

me??? I couldn't bully my way out of a wet paper bag.

LOL not you mate.

The BBFC are always looking for new staff you know.

 ;sleep;

bacon butty fan club?

I need something to read while i eat my popcorn :)

;popcorn; ;popcorn; ;popcorn;

It could be argued that blonde mods are already too censorious.

Imagine what the "job" would be like if we did this?


p.s if this thread is now turning into a debate on this issue, please don't fall out about it.

Thanks (frazzled, again)

True I do like a bit of drama myself tbh. Tended to watch prison cell block h for that tho :)

I miss old vinegar tits.................

Was talking to the Nun about this few weeks back how we missed it and the theme tune, old queen B :) v. tits was nasty

Prisoner cell block H was one of the best programs ever, Bee Smith, Vinegar Tits... excellent stuff.

Now what were we saying about hijacking threads? :)

ou have all left out old Lizzie!

She used to crack me up.

I actually bought the theme for my mom *cough*.

She used to give me roses...............................

I wish she would again....

but that was on the outside......

And things were different then...

i have a tear in my eye, Lizzie Birdsworth..........LOL

Frankie was a big favourite along with Bea Smith.............

Hijacking for the inane is probably ok, hijacking for the controversial, when it's already been discussed ad nauseum elsewhere is probably bad.

Get yer hankies out lads


He used to give me roses
I wish he could again
But that was on the outside
And things were different then

We build our world together
With a love so clear and strong
But that was on the outside
Where did I go wrong?

On the inside the sun still shines
And the rain falls down
But the sun and rain are prisoners too
When morning comes around

Last night I dreamed we were together
Sharing all the love we've known
Till I had to face the nightmare
Of waking up alone

On the inside the sun still shines
And the rain falls down
But the sun and rain are prisoners too
When morning comes around

On the inside the roses grow
They don't mind the stony ground
But the roses here are prisoners too
When morning comes around

He used to give me roses
I wish he could again
But that was on the outside
And things were different then

Scratch that, hijacking for the inane is probably bad too 8)

Inane?

shame on you!!!!!!!!

If that was allowed then Sark would never be allowed to post!!



ahhh   the penny drops.

 ::)

Most memorable line?

Jock: 'Now then Judy, lets see what those years in the massage parlour taught you'!

Hell of a programme. Chrissy Latham :)

and 'Mad Frankie' (atleast I think that was her name...creepy character)

Good old wentworth, http://www.wwwentworth.co.uk/charindx.htm

always worth catching up on the characters you forgot.

This just isnt true, I remember him pledging half of his winnings to charity if he won a televised shoot out that was held in England a couple if years ago, I think it was a party poker touney, and this was BEFORE the two infamous incidents of bad etiquette.

having just read through all this ,i feel i need to have a say.
last year in Barcelona i was having a meal with Simon now ab,  burley john ,Kevin O'Connell ,George Garry ,etc etc etc when tony g came walking in the restaurant ,we invited him to join us ,all i can say is you lot who are slating him down for his actions on the tables have never met him .
                                                             hes a propper gent offered to pay the bill ,but we wouldn't hear of it we gave that honer to George g .his actions on the table are all for show ,look at mike the mouth hes ten times worse than tony, any way well done tony ,the result says it all.

I was on a table with Tony G right near the end with Jani Sontula, when he sat down I was expecting a few players to recieve abuse but he was very polite and seemed to warm to the Singapore players.  This was my first big tournament and I was hoping to learn a fair bit but it was mainly raise pass pass and I didn't really get much information.  He raised my blind a couple of times but he showed me his pairs when I showed my rags, I was actually thinking how to respond if I made a bad play and he started giving me a slating but I never even got any half decent hands to get involved with!

there is a very important man, running America, that shares your views on withdrawing people civil rights.

I cant see any post on this thread that has been started by a known troll, to try and shir crap. Would you like to point some out? Or would you rather just delete my post instead?



Respect is a very good thing to bring up in a Tony G thread.....why should he be shown respect, when he shows very little to others on loads of documented occasions, treat others as youd like to be treated yourself mate.

Miaow Miaow Miaow Miaow

Lol, who just launched that hand bag at me?

I forgot to say Poker on tv would be much more boring without people like Tony G, Mike the Mouth and Phil Hellmuth I always look forward to it when these are on for the play and the banter.

"The ultimate response to the 'free speech' argument is this: while we may have the right to say more or less whatever we want, we do not have the right to say it wherever we want. You may feel strongly about the fact that your neighbour has not mowed his lawn for two months, but you do not have the right to berate him in his own living room."

I would not offer an opinion on something if I knew it would stir up trouble. Something to think about. (As M8boy's response to you was deleted I cant use it as reference but based on your logic open irrelevent attacks on people are fine).

I have to say I think it's rather funny that everyone who's met him seems to think he's a nice bloke and people who haven't are the only ones calling him all sorts. something to think about maybe?

 ;whistle;

 ;applause;

 :goodpost:

Hmmmm do you?  I would advice you to invite yourself to your neighbour for cup of coffe and suggest politely to mow the lawn.  Alternatively, you could mow it yourself, and send the bill through the door. ;ifm;  Or report him to the police, smear his door with graffitii....


Or just ask yourself why the fact, that your neigbour's lawn is not mowed bother you so much   ;angel;

Why to get winded up about someone most people do not know?
It started as a simple well done post, and a lot of pple jumped on the wagon to criticise/congratulate/deffend/offend a person that not many know in person. 
The guy did not commited any crimes as far as we know, he only won a tourney and from time to time from what I understand winds up pple at the poker tables. 

Well he is right, judging from some of the threads on this forum many pple have thin skin, so knowingly exploiting that fact at the poker table is a not bad idea.  Poker tables are not dating agency, they are not called 'mother theresas'.  Poker rooms are places, where people come to exploit other's weaknesses.  Some choose to employ some bullying techniques, but c'mon only fools should take them personally, others employ charming techniques that fools fall for it as well.  It is a subject of preferences.  But if you sit at the poker table to win money, u have to remember it is a bussiness like any other, and only the strongest will leave in a long term with their coffers full.







. 

 ;iagree; :goodpost:

I had Tony at my table in Singapore for a while, and he happily joked along with the table, it was ALL in GOOD humour. I also have to say he took far more than he dished out and never got narky about it in any way.

I also watched him for a good portion of the main event and never did I hear a comment that was harsh, funny as hell at times, but not harsh. I'm not saying the guy is an Angel, but maybe not as bad as the edited tv clips may have made him out to be.

But what about after you've eliminated someone?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvCn_KbLpLY (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvCn_KbLpLY)

why act in that way ?

 for good or bad, he wants to be a  " poker personality"....and he had the ammunition this time:

1) lithuanians dont like russians.

2) it was a bad call

You've never ever done or said something to make another person feel or look bad or stupid?

I have, a lot of times but i dont get scrutinised for it.

Tony G doesnt care, he just cracks on, we're the only mugs that seem to give a shit about it, continually banging on about how immoral it is or how it reflects poorly on the world of poker or conversley how the rights of the individual shouldnt be affected by Influences independent of poker, meanwhile my mans just destroying everyone living a comfortable life from his poker earnings, crack on tony g!

The problem is that perhaps Tony loudly vocalise  his thoughts, that all of us have when playing at the poker table....
Perhaps, on that day, he left his poker table manners in Australia?

Very skillfull manipulation is going on there, which I am sure works for him at the poker tble.  Just think what kind of effect this rant is going to have on his other opponents?  And as most likely people still play with him, he creates the need for other men to beat him at the game, and he knows it.
I am not excusing his behaviour, but just trying to explain that, when money is involved various people take different tactics to muddle their opponents.

I am afraid as long as he is not going racist/sexist/biggoted/homophobic i can't really get too emotional about his performance.  In a cruel way, I suspect that he is using Perry as a way to warn remaining players and to intimidate them so they will not be able go back to their game so soon after this rant.  

Intimidation can be very powerful tool which is pretty nasty when witnessed.

But one can learn very effective techniques to diffuse this kind of behaviour by getting better in giving the intimidator what they deserve.  Instead of just saying he is rude, players should learn how to beat Tony at his own game.

What if he is saying these things?

He's critics are such good people that they've never said such things in their lives? bollox!!

if he did, he could be charged and sent to jail....

I dont care what the ramifications are, i'm incredulous that any critic of tony G has'nt behaved in a similar fashion at one point in their lives.

Lol,
I agree with you, so why are u picking on me?

I know and i'm not, i'm using some of your points as a platform from which to propell my own

yes it is good to use someone's wisdom for their own platform, feel free....., the amount of quotes you can use can not be bigger then 10% of the text in one thread.

For you I will do an exception, your avatar looks cool.

 ;tightend;


Its a portrait BTW, but the artist only brought his green pencils that day!

nice hat

I have just caught up with all of this. Sorry to bring it to the top and refuel it, but I had only seen one side of Tony on the TV. I am always prepared to give someone a chance and he was an absolute gent to everyone all week.

Congrats to him on the win and whether there were any motives or not, it is a tremendously generous offer to give 50% to charity.

Adam, i think even Tony has said he does it because it makes people think twice before moving in on him. They know they are going to get one hell of a rubdown if they lose.

Amazing that one person can stir things up so much.There seem to be 2 schools of thought on this  .1, those that know him personally.  2,those that dont. I have known him for 5 or 6 years long before he became notorious and always found him to be in order and a good friend all he does is get a little bit passionate and he has a heart in there somewhere and will help anybody if he can.  Telly is telly and does not accurately portray the real person or the real world for that matter.  They all have their own agendas,   Telly to make watchable poker programes, Tony to become a marketable player.   Who wants to watch 2 rocks glaring at each other  for hours on end. It reminds me of the Wrestling on Saturday afternoons before the footy results , 1 guy was the baddie and the other the goodie and the little old ladies loved it but it was still a sham     congrats  tony.                     

I couldn't disagree more

Ive heard a selection of arguments and opinions from both

:D

I've met Tony (very briefly) and as everyone has said he's a proper nice bloke but I'm not sure that that is relevent to how he sometimes acts at the table. If we consider a hypothetical Mr X for example who is just as nice a person as Tony but occasionally steals a sweet or two from the pick n mix display at Woolworths. We could have a 23 page thread on whether or not stealing a sweet once or twice a year is such a terrible thing or not but the fact is that Mr X is a thief.

The fact is that Tony G is a rub down merchant, whether or not he's bought me a drink or you a Ferrari is irrelevant to that fact. So what is left to discuss? Is Tony G good for poker in that he's interesting for Mr Potential Fish to watch on TV? If Tony G is good for attracting new players to the game then why don't we all act like that? I'm looking to start playing some festival events next year should I start rubbing people down? Would that be good for the game? I know for a fact nothing will be done about it, some guy was apparently calling half of the casino divey c**** the other night and with all their staff, security and what at least 2 ex boxers playing the event nothing was done about it. I'm not saying that the ex boxers should have done anything, personally I think security should have sorted it, I'm just saying that the fact is that you can act like this while playing poker tournaments and nobody will do anything about it.

What about if I don't act like that when there's no TV cameras around but really act up big time in front of the cameras? Good for the game? Good for my bank balance?

Do we try (or at least argue on internet forums that we should try) to keep poker as a gentleman's game or would it be in our best interests to turn it into some kind of wrestling or game show kind of event? If Tony G can get rich rubbing people down WTF shouldn't everyone else? What will happen if everyone in a tournament is shouting and screaming at each other like a bunch of 4 year olds?

My view is that it just seems like the wrong thing to do to me.