blonde poker forum

Heat 2 of the William Hill Poker Grand Prix is aired tonight, listed below is the complete line up. There are aspects of this heat that I love, watch out for Roland puffing out his chest in a constant battle with Tony G. A big laydown and a huge call and in seat one we have the forum sage Andrew T who qualified online. He is a nice guy a great player and good looking........something for everyone to enjoy there.

Also, watch out for one of the biggest tells I have ever seen on a TV poker show, im no expert but this stood out like a beacon and from one of the best poker players too.......

Enjoy it guys.


Seat 1 Andrew Tracey 
Age 31
Nationality British
Profile Online qualifier for this tournament

 
Seat 2 Donnacha O'Dea 
Age 57
Nationality Irish
Profile Winner Poker Million 2004
Winner WSOP $$1,500 Omaha Pot Limit 1998
 
Seat 3 Roland Edge de Wolfe 
Age 26
Nationality English
Profile Winner WPT Paris 2005

 
Seat 4 Roy The Boy Brindley 
Age 35
Nationality British
Profile Winner Dublin Pot Limit Omaha 2003
Poker journalist for The Sun newspaper
 
Seat 5 Pascal Triple P Perrault 
Age 46
Nationality French
Profile Winner EPT Vienna 2005

 
Seat 6 Tony G 
Age 31
Nationality Australian/Lithuanian
Profile Winner European Poker Championship, London 2005
2nd in WPT Paris 2004
 
Seat 7 Voitto Rintala 
Age 28
Nationality Finnish
Profile Online qualifier for this tournament
Plays guitar in a band
 
Seat 8 Thuan Scotty Nguyen 
Age 42
Nationality Vietnamese
Profile Winner WSOP Main Event 1998
Has won 4 WSOP bracelets
 

So that's why you were buying me drinks in the hotel bar afterwards.... :)

Anyway, a bit of scene-setting for you. It was quite a miserable looking day in Cardiff, rain clouds hung heavy in the air and the sky was fit to burst. Our cars arrived at the hotel and we were off to the studio on an industrial estate somewhere in the Welsh capital. Vicky Coren was in my car and, true to form, she made the driver find a newsagent so she could buy some cigarettes. Roland de Wolfe chatted about his poker (and sports betting) luck whilst the other internet qualifier Voitto sat smiling, doing his best Chris Ferguson impression.

Upon arrival, Voitto and myself got chatting whilst the production staff busied themselves around us.  I was ushered into make-up and had my microphone fitted. There were pre-tournament interviews conducted by Vicky C (Sample question: "What interests do you have outside poker?" Me: "Er, um, well..... er, let me see, hmmmm (silence)").

Scotty Nguyen looked every inch the Las Vegas pro with trophy wife/girlfriend in tow. Backstage areas are prone to drabness compared to the set itself, but ours was lit up by Pascal Perrault's shirt (never has the phrase 'explosion in a paint factory' been more apposite). Tony G was quite quiet, but did an interview for someone writing a book on poker pros. I nearly didn't recognise Roy Brindley as it was the first time I'd seen him without his glasses. Self-professed world's-worst-bookmaker Jesse May was on hand to provide a bit of backstage action - I had a cheeky £20 on Roland at 9/2. Some bets were larger - someone even put £200 on me to win  :o

After a little while (these things never start on time) we were ushered into the very impressive set (they'd obviously gone for the make-it-look-like-we're-playing-in-Frasier's-living-room look). The poker table was huge - I almost felt like Tony G would have to phone his bets through to me so I'd know what was going on. A photographer took fantastic photos of us all (see avatar). There was some chat whilst we waited for the techies to sort stuff out. Scotty, sat with his Ultimatebet.com medallion round his neck was asked if he plays much online poker. "I haven't played online in two years" he revealed. :)

After a quick clarification of the rules from Thomas (we were playing with TDA rules, except for the ones which were different...) he uttered the immortal phrase "Shuffle up and deal"...

Yes i am ready for another week of great action!

I travelled down on the tuesday so never saw this heat, i can't wait what a lineup...

Bumpity bump - nearly time.

Tape set and ready to go, sounds a great line up.

Sky Plussed!

Well ive not spotted it :(  .. having said im juggling 3 cash games at the same time as watching... anyone else??


Jim

http://wonkyjim.blogspot.com/ (http://wonkyjim.blogspot.com/)

I have to say I'm loving Lucy's commentary (and not only because she called me young :) )

You are coming up fab in this Andrew... really well one.. enjoying it :)

Nice comeback on TonyG as well :)

Spectacular cock-waving from Tony and Roland on that hand as they tried to outbluff each other - this is great telly.

Interesting story about my pass of the KQ to Roy's AQ reraise. As seen, he'd done it once before with A5 and made me lay down A8. There may even have been another one I'd laid down.

In my first live poker tournament (2004 Ladbrokes Poker Cruise), I went out when I called an all-in reraise with KQ (from Lucy Rokach, oddly enough). My one real plan going into this TV event was not to go out by calling all-in with raggy Aces or KQ. Unfortunately, once I got shortstacked, that was the best I got dealt. The AT all-in was a get-chips-or-die move.
 
It's strange how the mind plays tricks on you. In the hand where I made the T9 full house against Tony G, I could have sworn I bet out - I was really surprised when I watched myself check-raise.

wp andrew, it didn't look like you got many favourable situations barring the 9-10 hand...
& that was some pass against roy!

Thanks Julian.

I don't think I got any pairs above 99 during the tournament and got AK twice, once when Roland had it as well and we split the pot. I also never really got any hands in position - anything half decent was in the blinds.

It was really eye-opening watching it on the TV last night. One of Lucy's comments about Tony G was spot on - the fact that opponents always seem to think he's bluffing. I know I never believed any of his bets.

In the T9 hand, I put him on two spades, but I never thought they'd be 83 :)

I know I mentioned it before, but I thought Lucy's commentary was outstanding. Not afraid to criticise plays, or players (except Donnacha :) ) she really helped make it a great programme to watch - she's a great foil to Jesse.

For anyone who missed it last night, its about to be repeated on sky sports 2 in 25 mins after the masters pool!

i agree andrew, lucy & mr black are two very good choices.

ps, i expect at-it to get flamed next week, lol

I expect me to get flamed!

I hope its andy black lol... Tho it will be bad either way!

something which confuses me....

Roland de Wolfe had the World Series of Poker logos covered up on his cap, which maybe understandable as WH dont want to show a rival poker tournament.

So why was Roy Brindley allowed to show the "ladbrokes poker" logo on his shirt, I would expect laddies to be the biggest rival to WH.

i can only assume it had something to do with the 'WSOP TM'

and nothing to do with WH or Laddies, this can be the only explaination mate.

although if someone else has the correct answer, i would also be interested to hear.

It was no logos on caps

Later on you will see a few covered up!

Yep, players were allowed logos, but only on their shirts and only of a certain size.

well played Andrew. you were unlucky not to get paid on that full house. looked much more at ease than you're average qualifier.  ;applause;

I missed the game as i don't have sky and i was in a game of my own, who won? it seemed like a great game.

Thanks Adam

If that last ten hadn't fallen, I'd have doubled through Tony. He'd have raised with his flush (thinking I just had trips, but not the house) and then I'd have gone all-in, with not enough chips to make him fold, even if he suspected I might have filled up.

Chopper, Pascal Perrault won the heat, beating Roy Brindley heads-up.

Who was commentating on this? I only ask is that jesse may is one of kind but his co commentator seemed to mis call alot of situations.

Oh and the table? How on earth do they cope? The dealer is almost lying on the table to reach the chips sometimes!

Lazaroonie,

The players were all allowed to wear sponsors logos but due to the possible constraints of TVadvertising the players were not allowed to wear sports brands as this can lead to problems in some countires re advertising rules and regulations. If you remember watching the early US poker shows on TV you will remember that the adverts in the middle of the table used to be covered up. Sportswear logo's such as Nike and Addidas needed to be covered up as did one players sunglasses that had a small logo down the side.

TV advertising rules seem to be different in many countries and these regulations were in the t&c's to minimise the chance of breaking the rules in some areas. Presentable told me that one of their earlier shows had to be touched up(very expensive) to remove a branded name on a pair of sunglasses as it was feared this would cause problems.

I hope you enjoyed the show

Thanks

don't worry at-it, my turn for sure the week after...
hope to cu at the welsh champs in a fortnight

Wizard, the table was on the big side but to be honest Marina is on the small side!

Lots of good players in wales! And Killer of a journey... We'll see tho.

I could be in hiding after the commentary, There will be no hiding places!

you in the 15k, if so get me on your table... i need an early double through.

Good show again booby1, baby!

Lucy Rokash did try to guess players moves but you can't get them all right and you can't take into account the sort of "moves" some of them were making.

I really liked her doing that, it's great to see someone stick out their neck and guess what will happen next when it's not clearly obvious, most commentators will only do it if they're guaranteed to know that one person will fold, or both players will end up all-in.

Is this repeated later in the week on Sky sports? Missed it last night :(

I guess so. Go through your Sky Planner for the week and I'm sure you'll find it.

Most comms are done after the games and the commentators know what is going to happen, Lucy has a style of her own and it is great. Jesse said it was like working with your mum, everytime he says something daft Lucy verbally slaps his wrists.

On NTL not sky. Personification of unplanned :)