blonde poker forum

A personal look at some of the characters and stories that have made blonde Poker in 2012. Of course I cannot include everyone, apologies for that....


First then, who will be behind door number 1?....

(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_wlYDdZEKUec/TPR3GIgXSuI/AAAAAAAAAz4/mbrRRsqC36I/s1600/number_one_smooth.jpg)


Find out tomorrow.....

Wiiiii. So pleased this is back. Not as good as stuffing a chocolate in my face first thing in the morning but just as exciting.

Loved this last year.

Was gonna do a Xmas song intros quiz to get people in the spirit but with the reception of my latest quiz i'm not so sure.

Latest quiz can be found here:

http://blondepoker.com/forum/index.php?topic=59579.45 (http://blondepoker.com/forum/index.php?topic=59579.45)

[ ] subtle

[X] Owned by jason herbert

[ ] Love that blue ink.

Quite excited to learn more about fellow Blondes, should be interesting :)

ahhhhhhhh. Now I see why Red has suddenly started posting again. All makes sense!

Loved the advent calendar last year!

Sound interesting!

[X] It's his blonde prefect's badge.

Link to last one so I know what to expect, please?

http://blondepoker.com/forum/index.php?topic=55911.0

                                 
Thanks.

Just cover-to-covered it.

Wish you lot were that kind and funny the rest of the year on here.

Can't wait for this your tightness! Last year was amazing lol

how has it already been a year ffs

behind door number 1 is....

(http://www.newfoundapplique.com/product_images/b/269/christmas-number-1-web__49318_zoom.jpg)

2012 started with a bang for one of blondepoker's biggest characters.

(http://www.pokernews.com/w/articles/4f07/edee757c7.jpg)

David "Dubai" Shallow travelled to play WPT Dublin and, five days later, beat 337 others to the €222,280 first prize, which was to prove one of the biggest scores by a regular blonde member in 2012. It was a very Anglo-centric final too. Finishing in the top ten were Ross Boatman, Stuart Fox, Steve Watts, another recreational player who had got lucky and the runner up Chaz Chattha      

I've never asked what the trophy excess baggage charge was on Ryanair for the return journey home:

(http://blog.worldpokertour.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/dave-shallow-wpt-ireland.jpeg)

We funked for him on blonde: http://blondepoker.com/forum/index.php?topic=56295.285

and he was staked on blonde for it too: http://blondepoker.com/forum/index.php?topic=55771.0

At the outset of that Live Package, Dubai explained "Rarely play live mtts but only got couple months before missus on maternity leave so going to put a shift in. "

So 2012 proved to be quite a momentous year. A big live win and fatherhood. Quite refreshing to see that the man himself hasn't changed much though. After being staked for the DTD CPP just recently, and bombing, this happened:

http://blondepoker.com/forum/index.php?topic=59637.0

and Dave wrote "I behaved, acted and played like a twat during the main event."

Refreshingly honest!

Also Dubai is a significant contributor to the betting board imparting years of expertise on assorted sports, but just as likely to be found writing about recipes and restaurant menus on the lounge, and whatever he is contributing on living life to the full, here's to a successful 2013 for Dubai.

Congrats Dave.

 ;hattip;

Legend, but he is much shorter in real life than you would imagine ;)

Congrats Dave, also just read through last years shortlist! It was before my time here on blonde but great read and looking forward to what comes this time around!

Congratulations

Well played Dubai. You can tell he just does not want to be in those photos :)

Pmsl. Tighty you are just toooooo good. Having consulted the Hendonmob to establish who recreational player who got lucky was , congrats Sean Claypole Conning too.

Incred as I was yet to see the thread where he got "outed"

Amazing honesty

Congrats Dubai!

Legend, well deserved - the man has binked me about £25k in stakes - sure know where that is now - and is genrally just a top guy. Was a a great weekend, and holds lots of memories for me obv, especially as we lost dad the week after. As for Tighty.... 'bout right :)

Congrats Dubai. Great accolade to end the year with.

Any financial prize? Or at least a chocolate? Anything so Claypole can avoid the dreaded text :)

We taking the over on last year's 50 pages?

Yup, you get a free hour of coaching from me, "Punting the tikay way".

You are very welcome. 

PS - Congrats Mr S, been some year for you, eh?

OVER

Roger

Congrats on a great year Dubai, glgl in 2013.

agreed!

god i love that man.

all the best for this year too.

Congratulations Dubai
Any 74 bird Xmas dinners this year ?

Clearance Clarence....

 :respect: ;nipnip;

behind door number 2....

(http://stock-image.mediafocus.com/images/previews/number-2-christmas-tree-decoration-part-sf1122641432.jpg)

Tension is unbearable!

It started out as a bit of a light-hearted suggestion, but it quickly grew into something that was definitely going to happen.  A group of blondes, some who had never run before, decided they were going to run the Berlin Marathon.

The two definites were kinboshi and gatso.  We all know kinboshi has been running for quite a few years now and he's bored us with his tales of previous marathons and running endeavours in the past (almost as much as he's bored us with tales of his poker tournament victories, and disdain for homeopathy, the Catholic Church, Stewart Downing and Internet Explorer) but the idea of gatso running surprised a few who hadn't seen him for a year or so.  I think it's fair to say that those who've met gatso at the poker table or at blonde Bashes over the years wouldn't have thought that he cut the figure of the typical runner.  Here he was at blonde Bash 8:
However, since then gatso has become a very dedicated runner who not only now looks the part, but now manages to clock times for 10K, half-marathon and marathons that are the envy of most club runners.  He still needs a haircut though.

Joining gatso and kinboshi was enigmatically nick-named StuartHopkin (otherwise known to his friends as Stuart Hopkin).  This raised a few eyebrows, as Stuart had previously only ever been seen to move at anything approaching a jog when last orders was called at the bar.  This is a man known for his marathon drinking session, usually involving copious amounts of Guinness rather than his fondness for Lucozade Sport and energy gels.


Anyway, despite the ribbing from the doubters he was stoic: "I've never failed at anything bud".

Joining StuartHopkin (aka Stuart Hopkin) was another n00b, and the token bird on the team - Claw75.  Again, not known for her athleticism, it's probably fair to say that Claire has spent more hours near a bar than she has pounding the pavements of Ruislip in training. 

Here she is doing an activity she's more renowned for:


There were the doubters, but Claire was determined to do it - and so embarked on her training (well, she drew up a plan).

There was one more member of this crack-unit. Again, a surprise to many probably most of all to himself: BAM (aka Brian Martin or Mr Happy):


(we've spared you the APAT trophy photo, which is probably best for all).

So that was the 'team' and with a good year to prepare there was really no excuse for anyone not to be ready for the marathon that took place on 30 September.  Well, apart from injuries, illness and general laziness.

We followed their exploits here:  http://blondepoker.com/forum/index.php?topic=55453.0

All that aside, they all got out there (Brian managed to do his longest training run during the week before the run - not sure that's in the manual) and everyone completed all of the 26 miles and 385 yards of the course.  It truly shows that if you want to do something, such as run a marathon, then if these bunch of reprobates can manage it - so can you.


Now where are my running shoes...


editors note: I would like to thank Kinboshi, God and the inventor of Lycra non rub running support shorts for their contribution to this article

Astounding achievement by all and a well-deserved place in the advent calendar.

I do see it as more of a missed betting opportunity though, can you imagine what odds could we have got this time last year?

Much missed contributors to blonde in that group, I hope they come back.

Dubai is obv a legend, the Honeybadger thread was nearly " who can you trust if you can't trust dubai" moment until the twist for me.

Wow, what a tremendous achievement.

Well done everyone.

Did they all know each other outside of blonde prior to this. Fair play to em.

No, they met through blonde/APAT/poker in general.

Unreal, can't believe that miserable git makes it into the advent calendar.

I also couldn't believe that he gave up the fags and booze for the summer however you will be glad to know that all that good work was ruined last weekend and his body is back to near shambles status.  :cheers:

A fantastic group of people and 4 of them amongst the top posters ever on blonde. Great achievement by all

Very well done guys and gal

Geo

Ahhhhhhhhhhh - THAT explains it!  When his name went into the hat for the trip I was in serious WTF mode.   rotflmfao 

Stu was another WTF moment.  Genuinely reckoned he'd sneak off to the bar on the day.  Well done Lads!

Well done again to Dubai too.  :)

His preparation was...what's the word....concentrated.

Summed up perfectly

Aye a 'full' summer of training in Krakow ruined in 3 days :)

Thanks Tighty - upon reflection running a marathon is all mental strength, I'm pretty sure that anyone who gets to the level of fitness of running 6 miles can run 26 if they are focused.  I cant work out the miles but between 28Km and 35Km I had a total breakdown and went into a parallel universe but soon realised it wasn't the dreaded 'wall' it was my hangover kicking in from the night before. When Claire and I were having a fag on the start line we were convinced were were about to die but no! my only embarrassment was getting passed by a 18 stone 7 ft guy dressed in a wedding outfit in the final mile.

Anyway loose plans are a foot for the Krakow Marathon in April if any of you mentally challenged people want to join in.

An amazing demonstration of the strength of willpower.

Very well done to all of them.

We all know kinboshi has been running for quite a few years now and he's bored us with his tales of previous marathons and running endeavours in the past (almost as much as he's bored us with tales of his poker tournament victories, and disdain for homeopathy, the Catholic Church, Stewart Downing and Internet Explorer



You omitted "endlessly repeated rants about speed limits".

Door number 3?

(http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/64518000/jpg/_64518522_3door.jpg)

I first met Simon Deadman three years or so ago, when updating DTD Deepstacks

A cherubic looking twenty-something, who routinely would amass huge stacks, his boyish good looks seemingly luring gnarled old veterans into giving him chips, and creating an image completely at odds with the laggy lunatic they were in fact playing. Or might have been playing. If anyone ever got to showdown with him, which they rarely did such was the pressure he applied.

His stacks were not always accompanied by garish knitwear like this, fortunately.

(http://www.megapokerseries.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/IMG_4490.jpg)

More often than not, back in those formative days, the stack would be distributed to all and sundry mid way through the final day and though he was in my "one to watch" notebook the big breakthrough was proving elusive. Through to mid 2011 there were six top fifteen finishes in DTD Deepstacks and Monte Carlos, DTD being his main venue for playing live, but no big scoop

This changed with his Deepstack victory in March 2011 followed by 3rd at GUKPT Walsall two months later and a 4th in the Goliath at Coventry after he returned from Vegas.

One good judge, who watches a lot of the DTD Deepstacks, says that the March 2011 Deepstack  win was really Simon's "lightbulb" moment. It just so happened that he finalled alongside two good friends, Tom High and Tom Kugelstadt and, in this judge's opinion, Simon knuckled down on that final table, was determined not to spew off and face the wrath of his peers afterwards. Knuckle down he did, and the rest is geography.

However it has been the second half of 2012 that Simon has really come to the fore, with a second place finish at GPS Stoke and successive final tables at GUKPTs Coventry and London before, on his fifth GUKPT final table in just over a year, his win in Blackpool last month . Just this past weekend Simon cashed in the GUKPT Grand Final, to continue the fantastic run


(http://www.grosvenorukpokertour.com/PageFiles/12866/DSC_0347.JPG)

Now settled in Leeds, with his partner Shola Akindele, 2013 is set to be another big year for this likeable couple

Simon has been posting on blonde this year and (nudge nudge) I am sure we would all like him to do so more going forward.

WP Simon.

Still can't hold his cards up correctly for a winner's photo mind ;)

Well deserved, Mr "I'll final table anything with a 'G' in it" Deadman.

Nice guy, incred poker player.

Not many in the UK crush live pokers harder than Simon does, and definitely one of the good guys, glgl next year.

Captain's armband for Christmas, methinks.

Yeah Simon is a great player and with Shola make up the posh n Becks of poker. Shola is showing some form with some decent finishes as well.

Behind door number 4

(http://www.topiarygarden.co.uk/images/xmas4-640x640.jpg)

In early 2012 The Camel began a thread entitled "Tips for tikay".

Under a year later it has been a runaway success. The second most posted on thread on blonde ever,with the fourth highest views, over 300,000.

Of course the thread principal has worked hard to make that happen. Its helped that the thread has made some money. It has also been fantastic to see so many experienced punters impart wisdom, experience and views from which people reading cannot fail to learn.

However behind the thread is a man who makes it tick, without whom the thread could not operate.

He has recorded over 900 individual bets, constructed and maintained the spreadsheets and, amusingly at times, run the front end of the thread during tikay's Vegas mid year sojourn.

That man is the elusive Mere Novice

(http://www.dreamstime.com/money-problems-thumb2579454.jpg)

Mere, who lives in Nottingham (I am reliably informed he lives exactly 2.03 miles from DTD), orgininally came to us from the Sky Poker forums and a more selfless altruistic man you could not find.

Very much an unsung hero, who does his work behind the scenes. I'd like to let him know, on behalf of everyone who uses that thread (which has taken off in ways no one imagined) how much his efforts are appreciated.

Cheers Mr Vice.

;applause;

Tips for tikay thread you say? 

link plz.

http://blondepoker.com/forum/index.php?topic=56581.msg1497623#msg1497623

An excellent selection Tighty!!!   ;applause; ;tightend; ;applause;  Mere has been a huge help in many threads around the place, but that one has been an epic task.

Well done Mr Novice, utterly deserved. I trust the tennis comatosis has not been playing up.

Congrats, Mere.

Congrats mere. So many unsung heros doing stuff behind the scenes to keep the site running smooth. Ty

;tightend;

Much-deserved inclusion for MereNovice ;hattip;

Brilliant thread.Christmas is no longer about Noddy Holder but real anticipation.

Got a lot of time and a lot of love for the man they call the MereNovice, anything but.

MereNovice entry very well deserved.

He also maintained the spreadsheets for the Fantasy WSOP competitions, including all the substitiutions, which are becoming an annual tradition of epic fail as far as my ability to compete in them goes!

WP MereNovice. Tips for Tikay doesn't half see some activity both posting and punting wise, and there's no doubt that without Mere the ship would be far more likely to creak/sink!

Baron spreadsheet is an absolute boss and most worthy of his inclusion.

Top man. Thanks for all your hard work.

The thread is a goldmine of information and without your efforts I doubt
it would exist because Tikay's always asleep and an ice cream ;)

Congrats Mere, one of blondes vital cogs!

Merry Christmas Mr Mere

Top work Mere, and also well deserved from Simon Deadman.

Thoroughly deserved inclusion, well done Vince, your an absolute legend!

I dont know Mere Novice, nor have I met him.

However I asked a mini favour of him this year, and without hesitation he extended his help for far more than I had asked for, without hesitation, nor request for favour.

This alone, in my mind, makes him a top individual,  for whom I look forward to buying a beer one day soon!

Very worthy inclusion - wp that man!

Thanks for all your work :)up

He's the man you never see, but it seems like he's everywhere. Top fella :)up

Congrats Mr Vince!!!

Top Banana!

behind door number 5......

(http://ris.fashion.telegraph.co.uk/RichImageService.svc/imagecontent/1/TMG8932026/m/advent-day-5_2073721a.jpg)

On and off the felt it has been quite a year on blonde for David "david3103" Amos.

At DTD David, from Teeside, final tabled two successive Grand Prix, winning over €22,000 in the process, and a trip to St Kitts for the Caribbean Poker Party.

There, as pictures came back, it was clear what a trip he was having

(https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/561652_425341890852266_605274607_n.jpg)

which he confirmed himself

"I'm an old bloke with a simple love of poker and you gave me the opportunity to Live the Dream in St Kitts.

I'll post more of my pics somewhere later, but for now, this picture of Lucy and I with both the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean behind us will suffice."

(http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s556/pokerpopscaribbean/CPP082.jpg)


Off the felt, David began one of the most heart warming threads on blonde this year, with the story of his Dad becoming a Chelsea Pensioner

http://blondepoker.com/forum/index.php?topic=58404.0, a thread which if you haven't read it is well worth a look, not least for the immense pride in his Dad and the warmth contained within it

(http://i1236.photobucket.com/albums/ff442/pokerpops/20121020_121529.jpg)

Nice one David!  One of the good guys, who also made one of my favourite posts of the year and had to have it as my sig...

That is a great inclusion.

To my shame, I had never even seen that "My very impatient Dad" thread previously. It's wonderful.

Another well deserved inclusion for a top top bloke!!

Couldnt agree more. David is just a really likeable chap!

Hey congrats at the entry David. Your contributions to blonde are most excellent. You are a decent chap to in real life too.

Never met him but seems like a thoroughly nice guy. Had a pretty sick 2012.

Same :)

(http://www.badhaven.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/shocked-omg.jpg)

I am lost for words

Thank you

One small thing - that's not my Dad above, but this is

(http://i1236.photobucket.com/albums/ff442/pokerpops/20121020_121529.jpg)

You sure?

Oops, sorry!

Apologies for not replying earlier; I've been offline for a few days due to technical problems with a failed adaptor and a flat battery - my laptop, not me personally.

I'd just like to thanks Tighty for the nomination and for all the most generous additional comments. It's a privilege to be included with so many esteemed blondes.

Just for that, I'll let the typo go.

Congrats Dave, well deserved entry.

Congrats both, good stuff.

shaddap and get back to work!!

Thanks Tighty, and thanks to everyone one else for your nice comments.

FISH

well done Dave and Simon, well deserved awards to all as well

behind door number 6...

(http://www.dreamstime.com/christmas-alphabet-number-6-thumb16640077.jpg)

David Nicholson, aka Lil Dave, aka SuuPRlim on here, has been on blonde since September 2009. Which would have been when he was a callow 19 year old.

Over six thousand posts later, and posts most days, he's become one if its most popular characters

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7158/6647420815_78f09b785a.jpg)

Accident prone party animal, as genuine as they come, with a not quite award winning poker blog that details many of his escapades across the poker landscape

http://lildaveslife.blogspot.co.uk/

with this blog having led to magazine columns such as

http://www.pokerplayer.co.uk/poker-strategy/cash-poker/12808/lildave_thinks.html

(http://www.matchbookmedia.com/public/images/snapshots/1350558527-lil%20dave.jpg)

Amidst all the hilarity, its sometimes easy to forget that Dave is an accomplished player, a fixture in Leeds cash games and Online Omaha for several years that have funded all the fun and games he is renowned for. However look through his posts on here. He debates and discusses poker strategy and concepts in great detail and clearly there is a very bright guy behind the blog persona. His results indicate as much too.

Just don't go to Dave for sports betting advice. Look at these two gems from an interview earlier this year

1.  "I had loads of cool bets on the Olympics including a great system on the Badminton.”

Interviewer "Oh yeah? What technically proficient system was that?"

“Just bet on anyone from Malaysia. I was enjoying sitting on the couch watching the games and so I asked Dave Shallow for his advice on Badminton and he said always back anyone from Malaysia so that’s what I did.”

and

2 "“In the British Masters I was on Adam Scott at $200 each-way at 42/1 pre tournament. I was in the Encore in Vegas watching the end, and he had moved to 50/1 on at the 16th hole and somehow managed to blow up. I couldn’t believe that happened. Also one year, at the world snooker championships I bet Ronnie O’Sullivan pre-tournament at 11/4 and Ali Carter pre tournament at 66/1. I think I had £100 on Carter and £200 on Ronnie. Then I found myself in a poker game with the legend that is Steve Davis. I was talking about putting a small bet on a 147 in the first round and Davis said it’s literally impossible, “It’s a terrible price at 20/1 because the cloths are very slow,” he told me. So I decided to leave it. Then Davis said that he flew into Sheffield and saw Stephen Hendry. He said that Hendry had been to China playing pool for three-weeks and was extremely jet-lagged. He set of at something like 13/11 against Stuart Bingham, in the first round, and so Davis said I should back Bingham. So I decided to drop the 147 bet and go hard on Bingham after this golden nugget from the Golden Nugget. Then lo and behold, Stephen Hendry went on to hammer Bingham and also converted a 147 at the same time! So I was pretty raged about that because I had decided to up my stake to a grand thanks to the advice of Steve Davis.”

Wiiiii. Dave is a legend. Most deserved nomination ever

And needs to up date blog again. Been a whore

Edit obv meant Been a while...  He ain't had an update since October. Being a whore is just a malicious rumour

congrats weedave <3

Max will be most impressed with this entry!!

Confirmed Hero!!!

Nice one big man!

LilDave is a definitely deserved inclusion.

I feel humbled to be in such company.

i dont use the term lightly, but confirmed hero.

My first night out with Lil D was one of the last proper nights out I ever had!

Almost 1 year later I had another night out with Lil D (and other poker rungooders - I bought every round in flips) - and slept the night on my bathroom floor waking up at midday

The moral of the story, little daves company is both amazing and addictive and no matter how many times you say never again.......... you know you will

<3 lil' dave

+1

Abs top notch.

I scan through a lot of posts on blonde but when i get to lil dave's I read carefully, he talks so much sense and for someone so young too. confirmed hero and genuinely a really nice guy.

cheers team!

this year has literally nearly killed me lol but I'm still here and loving it!

Got a lot of time for blonde and all the people on it, just recently had a weekend in the Carribean with a lot of the hero's and we had an absolute blast, even though I couldn't speak for half of the trip :D Made some top friends on here.

Big love to you all xx

lol you're welcome out anytime guy (bring plenty of money)

The first night out I had with James Atkin was also a pretty hilarious one - was in Vegas '11 and we got stuck at Green Valley Ranch (is that right?) with him longy me and Stu Rutter (unreal lineup) so Stu arranged us a lift in the back of this guys pick-up truck back to the strip, he graciously agreed to take us, asked for $10 which Stu gave him and then he just snap drove off haha - we got a table in Surrender under the guise of Stu being Joe Hart from Manchester City!! Pete Tong (who's a friend of Stu's) was DJ'ing and Stu insisted we got a bottle of Champagne and toasted to Pete Tong, which we went over the DJ booth to do, a few minutes into the toast stu randomly walks off and we all follow him back

"Stu what's up?"

"Nothing"

"That wasn't Pete tong was it?"

"No."

Haha.

I ended up limo'ing 12 girls and their gay friend back to the MGM to play dice (after attempts to get them to ours for a jacuzzi party fell on deaf ears), managed to spin my last $40 (inc. taxi fare home) into $6k~ and continued drinking until 11am, by which point I was so drunk I couldn't find the exit and ended up having to get a room at the MGM. That was the first night of one of my most degenerate 3day benders ever I don;'t think I slept in my own bed for the next 85~ hours lol

If Carlsberg did lives....

Anywhere but Vegas that story would be completely unbelievable

It deffo happened the pick up truck incident was hilarious.

lil dave is a legend, a mixture of degeneracy and shrewdness that is unparalleled.

I would only have doubted the story if it hadn't been in Vegas.

Brits abroad, eh?

Was a confirmed hero; however a lack of recent blog posts lead me to the concuslion he'e getting lazy in his old age....:)

Thouroughly deserved - top man, enjoy Vegas

I hate to spam my own work, but as far as nights out go if you never read about this one then it's prolly my favorite of all time!! Affectionately referred to as the "Tab;s on Pab" night :D

http://lildaveslife.blogspot.com/2012/06/tabs-on-pab.html

A hilarious addition to the story as well, which I wasn't permitted to include in the blog because of certain readers i have in the UK, the two nights previous I'd spent both in hospital night 1) helping a nameless friend who'd drunk too much, and on night 2) I had to take a young lady to a hospital who'd burst her appendix - I left hospital at 10am and went striaght to the Rhino to meet Flushy and the boys lol

haha alas tales of this trip have no shot of getting to the public platform :( if you wanna hear them you gotta get me by a bar and start getting the rum and cokes in :D

Dave, do you know Paul Spillane?

Think you two might get on pretty well.

ha yh I know Paul pretty well i met him through Julian Gardner, I think he's an absolute legend. (Julian too)

He came out for a night out in Leeds pretty recently actually! We all went to the German Market and he was in unbelievable form, he's not very good on steps after a night out is he :D

Ooh Keith need to send you that money will do straight away.

The expected carnage of a Lil Dave / Paul Spillane night out defies comprehending.

Frankly surprised Leeds wasn't declared an emergency zone afterwards with benefit gigs and Bob Geldorf doing appeals and stuff.

lol, too good.

'Do they know it's LilDave time at all?'

Haha :D

God, if I had any musical and/or technical talent, the urge to do a youtube video would be irresistible!

If you google Paul Spillaine and images, you get pictures of Keith the Camel and Deidre Barlow!  That's all

I don't think you could possibly sum the man up in a more apt manner :D

LilD tho. lol

+ Padraig Harrington and Dwight Yorke!

(AND A FAKE A TWENTY POUND NOTE...)

They know him too well :P

A must read pretty much all the time - entertaining, erudite and educational. Wp

ffs nirvana has to own me at every opportunity, obv didn't know what erudite meant, but i've since learnt it means to have knowledge which is kind of beautifully ironic :D

Such a joke nice guy! Dave has been a great influence for me on blonde, a really nice guy and always has time.

Hoping to be buying him a beer on a night out sometime in 2013.

well done fella, confirmed hero.

I am too old to frequent the places on Daves blog in Leeds, but it doesn't stop me from being dead Jelous. Good at poker, business, lots of friends, young and from Harrogate. Blimey wd on being included in the calander

BLIMEY!

When I had my accident with my fingers I thought it would be funny to spread the rumour round harrogate that I'd played in a high stakes cash game underneath a chinese restaurant and lost £38,000 and couldn't pay, so they chopped the tops of my fingers off :D

I go back every so often and it seems that most of the people I grew up with (and my parents for a short while) still believe this is what happened

<3 Harrogate

<3 Bettys tho

I still believe it.

Harrogate is one of the strangest places I've "lived" in. Bizarre mix of people.

LilD is an absolute hero, we've spoken about so much via skype and had some ridiculous conversations already. The first night out will be beyond incredible, although my chances of survival are ~3.5%

yh, although you pretty much have to be from London to afford to go there

Go to Ilkeston then ? rofl think i've been to them all. Still call it Bottys as they cant spell their sign right!

We live between Harrrooooogate and Leeds and we love Harrogate, family friendly and such great place to grow up. I nice mix of people :) but bettys and weetons are the dog bollocks there....wallet busting tho

Very well-deserved spot on the calendar Dave as is everyone so far.

I'm always impressed by the generosity of li'lD's posts especially on the PHA boards.

Sincere congrats Lil D

You hold a true gift as a pure and honest writer.

Geo

Thanks Geo

*salutes*

Congrats to Lil Dave.

Never had the pleasure to meet the man but LOVE his input on blonde, well deserved inclusion

congrats! And confirmed pretty epic blog post that i just read through!

Yh iv been slow but this thread encouraged me to get moving

Thanks guys delighted to be part of it all on blonde :)

Cracking choices so far.




(http://www.crackingideas.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/wallace_gromit-clinking.jpg)

Lil Dave hero... after hearing a tale or two about him I was eager to meet him. 10pm the first night in st kitts we meet, 7 hours later I'm fast asleep in my room Dave and his drunken crew raid into my room wake me up and skin me for 1k in a stupid horse racing game. I vote Dave, do we vote?

Hero David "Dubai" Shallow story tomorrow , parental advisory explict content.

Never met lildave, hopefully our paths will cross one day. Seems like a top bloke thou, the kinda that would go out of his way to help you with something even if he barely knows you. Fkin funny blogs, comedy character, great writer and poker player. Grats

^^^^^^^ this is all true + so much more

Where is Tighty? I'm excited for number 7, and I know who it is!!

It's not George at the kebab shop Vinny, no matter how many times you put his name forward for inclusion...

What? Tighty promised. :(

behind door number 7...

(http://www.coloring-pages-book-for-kids-boys.com/images/christmas_alphabet_number_7_coloringkidsboys.gif)

The forum developed a new interest this year. Chess. The man responsible takes his name from the eighth world chess champion, a man of flair and renowned for creative genius, Tal

This is the creative genius, not the forum poster

(http://academicchess.org/images/ericspics/picturesofchampions/tal3.jpg)

and Tal's thread on here which only began in July has attracted interest from many blondes, some of whom have taken up the game in response

One comment read

"I very rarely play chess but I'm definitely enjoying the information you're providing and it's starting to make me want to play a bit. I also enjoyed those videos which you recommended."

http://blondepoker.com/forum/index.php?topic=58441.645

Tal, our Tal, Simon Williams is from the West Midlands and has the misfortune to support his local team Tottenham Hotspur. I spotted him playing at DTD this year, but can I find the picture I took of him? Can I heck.

So instead, here is an artist's impression

(http://assets.diylol.com/hfs/cf2/604/bdd/resized/mad-nerd-meme-generator-we-want-you-to-join-the-chess-team-e60445.jpg?1339980253.jpg)

Tal on blonde has got Tips for tikay betting on Chess and Book prizes but has also been a very welcome addition to blonde on many threads, from poker strategy to sports betting.

Impossibly clever (he says), witty (we can see that) and erudite, he's been a breath of fresh Brummie air.

Tal makes me smile - often.

Another great inclusion and a top addition to the forum this year!!

Mate of mine last week,

"Do you read lilDaves blog ? you know the guy who writes in PP"

Me, "course I do, I know him"

Him, "really" ?

Me, "well er in a virtual sense, we interact from time to time on a poker forum and he once put me in an online tourn"

Him, "awesome, he's a fucking legend"

Grats on the inclusion  :)up

Good inclusion, I have been wondering who Tal is for most of the year because I enjoy his posts, for me he has filled the void left by Tank, remember him?

Anyway, funny chap.

Well, there's a turn up for the books!

Mightily impressed to make the cut. Thank you muchly.

I'll help you out, Tighty:

http://blondepoker.com/forum/index.php?topic=58637.msg1616773#msg1616773

Who would have thought, eh?

You sat there with cards, and no chips?

Very much this (though to be fair I don't understand a lot of what he writes)

Shoe in Tal, wp !

Standard

Very well deserved inclusion for Tal who has been a breath of fresh air on blonde.

He does have a dark side though which in his case is lily-white..

Adds something of value pretty much every time he posts.

I tried the chess thread but it's like Homer says “...every time I learn something new, it pushes some old stuff out of my brain. Remember when I took that home winemaking course, and I forgot how to drive?”

;applause;

Great choice.

1. c4 e6 2. Nf3 d5 3. d4 Nf6 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 O-O 6. e3 h6 7. Bh4 b6 8. cxd5 Nxd5 9. Bxe7 Qxe7 10. Nxd5 exd5 11. Rc1 Be6 12. Qa4 c5 13. Qa3 Rc8 14. Bb5 a6 15. dxc5 bxc5 16. O-O Ra7 17. Be2 Nd7 18. Nd4 Qf8 19. Nxe6 fxe6 20. e4 d4 21. f4 Qe7 22. e5 Rb8 23. Bc4 Kh8 24. Qh3 Nf8 25. b3 a5 26. f5 exf5 27. Rxf5 Nh7 28. Rcf1 Qd8 29. Qg3 Re7 30. h4 Rbb7 31. e6 Rbc7 32. Qe5 Qe8 33. a4 Qd8 34. R1f2 Qe8 35. R2f3 Qd8 36. Bd3 Qe8 37. Qe4 Nf6 38. Rxf6 gxf6 39. Rxf6 Kg8 40. Bc4 Kh8 41. Qf4

wd Tal, so your not Russian!

Well done Tal. Great choice and great sense of humour.


PMSL. Out shopping with the wife and burst out laughing on the middle of the mall.
I was expecting some quote from a Greek philosopher and couldn't get the Simpsons connection.

No I always walk like this.

(http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/39205000/jpg/_39205140_ericmorecambe203.jpg)

Good egg (nap)

:D  The old ones are the oldest.

Congrats Tal. Nice to have someone of equal brain power to bounce ideas off. :)

Best new poster in 2012 imo.

Except Ian Gascoigne obv :P

oh and Rastafish

You've won enough to buy me the bronze medal :)

congrats Tal

Joking aside, it's lovely to have such warm comments considering I haven't met most of you, and most of those I have met have only met me briefly.

Eight months and almost 3,000 posts have absolutely flown by.

Now you know what I look like, be sure to say hello.

I wanted to say hi again last time you were at DTD but you're so useless at poker that you were home by 8pm :P

Ha!

Alright, Lord Chirpy of Chirpington! People like me are the reason people like you get flags, girls and glory, so don't tap the tank.

See you when you're back on home soil.

Also, fair point well made

:(

big fan of Tal, big fan!

Glad to be joining you in Winner's Corner, Dave. Crystal flowing.

We gotta drink Krug apparently, only rich white man's champagne left, thanks in majority to the Rap industry :P

yes anyone else would be happy that their champagne was selling so well :)

Heroes are being selected here. Had my Chess for Dummies book come in the post today and that was spurred by Tal. As for Lil Dave, a very interesting blog and a lifestyle I think most people envy, gives up a lot of time to help people out with poker theory and just comes across as a top guy.

Wp both imo.

behind door number 8...

(http://stock-image.mediafocus.com/images/previews/number-8-christmas-tree-decoration-part-sf1122641477.jpg)

2012 has been another successful year for this man, Chris Brammer

(http://uk.pokernews.com/w/articles/4f10/400d0f223.jpg)

He's spent most of it top of the Online Poker rankings and has achieved notable success, this graph from a few months ago

(http://blondepoker.com/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=59123.0;attach=34414;image)

I spent several days watching him at UKIPT Nottingham in April, an event I was convinced he would win, only for him to finish 11th of 1729.

He followed this up with a WSOP final table in Vegas and then the final of the WSOP-E in Cannes in the Autumn, he was staked for both events on blonde

http://blondepoker.com/forum/index.php?topic=57778.0

http://blondepoker.com/forum/index.php?topic=59123.0

In Vegas he was staked for 21 Events, & failed to make a Day Two, or cash, in the first 20 or so. He then binked big in the 21st - a remarkable tale of character and perseverance

Just last week, he reached the final of the GUKPT Grand Final in London

2013, I think, will see him win multiple live titles as his major talent, combined with undoubted hard work give him a great shot at that. Online? More of the same, I expect.

It is fantastic for blonde to have people like Chris posting. Through the year Chris has contributed on many Poker Hand Analysis threads, given advice to tour operators, been at the heart of several debates on staking on blonde and even asked for modem advice!

Good luck for 2013.

Great success this year and a sick player/grinder. Made me a few bob too :) wp Chris!

I didn't know Ed Sheeran played the pokes?

Well deserved entry. Good luck for 2013.

In awe of the Nigdawg if I am quite honest. Easy entry.

One of the best tournament players in the world right now for surrrrrrrrre

and a lovely, lovely guy as well just a shame about all the racism but no1 is perfect.

<3

Great inclusion for a confirmed sicko who always has the time to chat to rec/donk/fishes like myself whenever I bump into him!!

<3 Bram

He came n sat next to me at eureka day 1 b ,I said quietly hello chris ,no reply just put his earphones in ???
Thought I would get the chance to watch him bash us all up but it didn't happen ,he ran into somebody his equal , n bust out before me ,pretty disappointed with the attitude

+1

i only said to him in real life I thought he would be a little bigger ???
Tony, Chris must have been really in the zone and focused. He is a very polite young man and pretty sure he would not ignore you on purpose.

Lil Dave.

Obviously a hero on so many levels. Doesn't need me to confirm that.

Mr Brammer......

Absolute top fella. I've got nothing but respect for the guy.

One of those people in poker that I don't know particularly well but always have a little chat with whenever I see him.

Think I first met him playing tiny comps at Circus Casino in Notts. Difficult to describe how pleased I am for Chris whenever I see he has a big score.

Much respect.

Great choices so far.

Bramm is such a beast

EXACTLY

+1 to everything Mr Pie said.

Nothing like I imagined!

Excellent contributor to the forum!

Tyvm.

I'm currently also an excellent contributor to table 21 at dusk...

:)

About 30 years younger than I expected.

And no suit and tie.

A bow tie would have been less surprising than the image before us.

So you were expecting a cross between...

(http://images1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20090720220818/familyguy/images/3/33/Buzz_Killington.jpg)

...and...

(http://thereversesweep.typepad.com/.a/6a0120a735b61b970b01538f7e29bb970b-800wi)

then?

I know. It's like the end of the Wizard of Oz, isn't it? He's not the turn-of-the-Century raconteur and wit we expected; he's a twenty-something fold-bot!

Have met a few of you tonight at DTD. Always a pleasure.

Couldn't have aid it better - and a top bloke as well

Quoting for Lolz

Who is behind door number 9?

(http://image.shutterstock.com/display_pic_with_logo/64282/64282,1218841683,1/stock-photo-snowflake-christmas-number-nine-16178914.jpg)

A man from Lincoln joined the forum in 2009. He appeared to be a degenerate. Two flies up a wall? He'd pick one, and back it. He'd hint at stories of a chequered punting past. Sometime in the last 18 months he turned up at DTD, and was on live updates, a larger than life presence like a flat capped Mr Incredible: Milidonk.

(http://media.giantbomb.com/uploads/0/3683/882901-mr_incredible_large.jpg)

His story when he first joined the forum was an interesting one. A career in Intelligence within the Armed forces had led to another job in Civvy street and tales of degeneracy intermingled with what seemed to be an internal struggle as to whether he should grow up or not. Not, appeared to be his conclusion. Then he met someone, settled down, and a kid was on the way....

At the end of March this year he started a betting thread "Buying Shit, the Way of the Nit". 245 pages and 47,000 views on it has grown

http://blondepoker.com/forum/index.php?topic=57248.0

The original post hinted at some changes in his life

"Basically I always buy stuff I want but don't really need and i usually just flick it in without any further thought. With my upcoming life changes, not having time to play poker and generally just punting on anything without rhyme or reason I need to change my ways.

I will be going on spinups to see how much shit i can buy, betting on nothing with odds higher than evs, with the bankroll rolling over until i have enough to buy said item, then starting again onto the next thing. If i bust i will start over or move onto a different item. Selections will basically be whatever comes across my path or just my own little fancies. I wont be waiting forever to find that perfect bet, this is more a case of quelling my degen urges with a low output. "
 
and what started I think as an idle idea, the type of thread which could easily have withered through lack of effort, has grown into something more permanent as Milidonk and his band of followers, all egged on by Milidonk's hard work, devise various schemes of varying degrees of brilliance and madness to generate funds to buy themselves items on wish lists.

Success has come along the way. Here is the man himself with one purchase from his proceeds from the thread "taken by the missus* with the camera won in this very thread. *missus was not won via this thread."

(http://i1233.photobucket.com/albums/ff384/Milligan84/DSCN3260.jpg)

and plenty of near misses too

Here is the next target

(http://fvimages.truedigital.co.uk/images/Hollywood_TV_Bedstead_range_hero_639x348.jpg)

It's a terrific thread, with everybody supporting each other, celebrating success and commiserating fairly regularly!

However Milidonk on this forum is not just about this fascinating dichotomy between inveterate punter and newly found sensible family man, with battles between the two playing out in front of us with openness and honesty. He was recently a quizmaster of some disrepute. He can be found on lots of community threads, contributing and enjoying what the forum has to offer. He is found playing comps at DTD.

An all round terrific presence on the forum.

Happy punting in 2013, Milidonk

Met Millidonk earlier in the year at DTD.  Great character and well deserving of an entry.

Scraping the barrell here  :D

N1 Milli, deffo on my beer list.

I'm pretty sure this hero is turning up to dtd on 22nd dec dressed as Santa Claus handing out candy to all. I doubt he'll admit to it but he'll be made up with this inclusion. WP big man, here's to a minus 4 figs 2013 and not a minus 5 figs ;)

A truely incredible fella!

I really can't say enough good things about this man! Pretty much makes me cry laughing on a daily basis, and if not laughing then just at his degeneracy!  He is someone who over the last 18 months has grown to be a very good friend with good advice (mostly on punting it off tbf), much morale boosting when required, and is pretty much the work colleague I don't have.

Milli donk and poker could make you cry (no bad beat tales), but as with all the greats and as proven time and time again, he is better when drunk!

Blonde is so much a better place for his involvement, long may his punting and humour continue!

Good work fella

Loving the calendar as always, great choices and much congrats too Millidonk.
Love the big fella

Well deserved Mr Milli. And it gives another opportunity to show that picture of you and the table - you look so pleased with yourself.

Good choice.

Top fella, but doesn't understand the concept of a reverse sheep quiz :D

Oioiiiiiiiiii. What a nice surprise. Not sure who picks these, but what a great choice! A truly nice guy and a fantastic lover.

Hope to see more people on the N!T thread next year and like me you could also be the proud owner of an exquisite camera, multi gym, mountain bike and extending dining table for less than a deposit on a new house..

In all seriousness, abso made up to be included in the calendar alongside some genuine heroes!

Thank's for all the kind words, much love.

Merry Xmas and have a great 2013.

LOVE BLONDE

Top bloke

you can bet your full roll that I don't get a say :)
Awesome just love you and your attitude mate. We need to find something that we can beat Eso Kral at tho.
Really looking forward to seeing you in the outfit. Well done mate

Really enjoy Milli's posts, in particular the one about going into a takeaway and asking for everything that was ready right now.

Really? Well you only have yourself to blame. There is a thread on the mods board discussing it, you obv chose not contribute!

Congrats Milli, never met you, but Eso says you're a top bloke, and that's good enough for me.

Congrats to Brammer for yesterday also.

I never even got the ruddy wooden spoon!

Absolute shoe in for the calendar this year and very well deserved.

Love the Milli and despite the fact he is rubbish at 10pin bowling and boks all my bets he is a top top bloke.

Confirmed Hero!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I remember reading that sometime ago and thinking it was one of the funniest things I have heard happen in a takeaway and that has yet to be trumped. Awesome statement.

only just seen this, thanks for the kind words!


lol obv never heard anything/had earphones in sorry. was still on tilt from previous table dusted my stack off terribly!

Millidonk defo one of the most fascinating guys on here, usually when you see X has posted you have a semi-read as to what they'll have said but never have a fkn clue with him lol

No problem chris gl in the ept

ha, millidonk does make me chuckle. n1 fishay

Brilliant :) lol!!

Great selections thus far, esp guys like Tal and milli.

Nice one Milli.

Was going to read this after it was finished, but it's going to be far too long, so just catching up and deffo agree with this!

Lots of heroes here, hopefully will get to meet more of them next year and incred effort by the runners. I can't imagine even thinking about a marathon, 5 miles was the furthest I ever ran and I didn't go too much on that either even though I was quite fit at the time :D

behind door number 10...

(http://www.horseandcountry.tv/sites/default/files/imagecache/640x360/Taylors10yr.jpg)

On blonde since 20120, Honeybadger's contribution to the forum stepped up apace in early October when he began a thread. The first post read as follows

"Hi guys. I have decided to start my own thread on Blonde. It is somewhere for me to post my long-winded musings on poker, and perhaps other stuff. No idea what it is going to be like or exactly what I will write about, but chances are most of my posts will be far too long. And for the most part needlessly so. Sorry about that.

My name is Stuart Barnett. Some of you know me already, most don't. I will likely introduce myself properly and give my story/background at a later date. For now though, I just want to make my first ridiculously long post. Hope it is ok."

Well, it was ok. More than ok, such were the topics and concepts discussed. Long winded? Possibly. Too long? Maybe. However invaluable nonetheless. Honeybadger - Stuart Barnett - moved quickly from his live update role of Muppet lookalike

(http://i1147.photobucket.com/albums/o541/tikay2/Vegas1220022-2.jpg)

(http://www.collapseboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Fozzie-Bear-Muppets-Teen-Spirit.jpg)

to a "must read" forum contributor either on his "Random Musings" thread

http://blondepoker.com/forum/index.php?topic=59170.0

or on a variety of Poker Hand Analysis and Rail threads. Talking often about big issues, how he lives as a poker professional player, what it takes to succeed, ecology of cash games and I could carry on....

Very much an asset to the forum, and once he has got his head back on straight after his current dalliance with 99 bet accumulators in his fledgling sports betting career, as much as the arrival of a new baby in the family, I know I am not the only one looking forward to reading further wisdom. Once I have cleared my diary, got a cup of tea and made myself comfortable first that is. These aren't posts that can be glossed over in ten seconds, as a reader....

Fab selection.

tl;dr

I met Stu for the first time this year at a deepstack and was as impressed with him irl as on here!!

Another top notch inclusion

Everytime I see a post from Stu I think geeeeeeeeeeeg next hour of my life, but you can't not read his posts as they are always gold. Never met him irl but seems like a very decent fella. Massive respect to anyone who supports a family via this game!

Top Choice - as this thread gets longer my sense of wtf gets bigger!

 ;applause; milli, the Nit thread has been superb, it's a great laugh and we're like a bunch of mates in there, love it. Plus it got me my biggest live tourney bink (so far...!) which was an added bonus. Onwards and upwards!

bam this

+1

You think you have a reasonable level of intellect and judgement then honeybadger turns up and you question if you have ever learnt anything at all........ Ever!

A genuinely good pic. One of blondes most impressive posters.

like his posts lol.
Stu has put more time and effort into his posts than anyone ever. Great inclusion.

literally the best guy on the planet

Milli - One of my favourite posters, terrific to see him here.

Stu  ;tightend;

BTW loving this thread, read it all from start to page 17 yesterday on my phone wp all congrats! nice to know a bit more about the community here :)

Wow, I'm dead flattered to be on included here :)

I think Blonde is an absolutely ace forum, and I'm really glad to be a part of it.

Kept it short for once... ;)

tl;dr

thatta boy. give Stu (and I) some tips on winning a dtd deepstack

Letting stds slip as soon as you've binked the calender entry ?  ;)

Made far too many ridic sick posts for one person, glgl for 2013.

PS Congrats Milli also, obv confirmed abs Ledge.

behind door number 11...

(http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thecut/images/11.jpg)

I've never met him. I don't even know his name.

He joined blonde on February and got stuck into various threads on what has been a vibrant Betting Tips and Sports Discussion board all year

Quite enigmatic, his posts proved him to be extremely knowledgeable on football, and a bit too good at quizzes for my liking, his real forte emerged from October onwards on his very own punting thread and we got to see another professional gambler at work

With a background of a bad run of tips on more general threads for most of 2012 he never lost his sang froid and soon the winners started to flow

Not just any old winners. Decent priced winners, properly researched and often unexpected by the reading layman

The poster is Horseplayer, and here's his "Winter Woes" thread. Deep insight into all weather Southwell cards a speciality!

http://blondepoker.com/forum/index.php?topic=59189.0

Soon

(http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3429/3750739924_28875f99f6.jpg)

became

(http://www.reformparliament.co.uk/images/laughing-horse.jpg)

and plenty of blonde members made a few bob off the tips

Sadly Horseplayer's involvement in the forum has been lessened somewhat recently due to a close family illness but here's hoping he's back firing on all cylinders into next year

Love the player of horses. Also pretty incred at picking first goalscorers! Seems like a real nice guy.

Sorry about the family illness.

What? No discussion over the 1970 Derby winner?

Horseplayer FC is one of the most daunting places to play away and the lads from Tal Hotspur send their best wishes.

Well done horsey, a really thoughtful contributor on the betting boards.

Congratulations horsey  ;hattip;

Grats Horsey

Looking forward to seeing you back around here and firing in the winners..

+1 all the best mate

wow

bit overwhelmed by this

from my point of view the welcome i have had here is better than expected not just on the internet but anywere

i do not know any of the posters in real life but in a short period of time have felt like i do in a way

the support i have had recently has helped in more ways than i could ever express especially from tikay who i extend a massive thanks to.

thanks again

Congrats horsey, do you play poker?

very rarely these days i was to often losing money

a few years ago quite a bit still play live every so often but have not done for a while

Congrats horsey

behind door number 12............

(http://media.officialplaystationmagazine.co.uk/files/2012/12/8229598088_938cd302bb_o-610x325.jpg)

The Camel has been on blonde since February 2005 and in the seven years since we've all had the benefit of his wisdom on various subjects, not all poker related, over the course of nearly nine thousand posts. 

(http://www.englishpokeropen.com/assets/images/Camel%20Keith.jpg)

The Camel first landed a big touch in 1974, at the age of 7: 10p on Snow Knight to win the Derby at 66-1 and as one of the longest established and most experienced professional gamblers on blonde it was somehow fitting that he should start "Tips for tikay" earlier this year.

(https://twimg0-a.akamaihd.net/profile_images/2870785636/e255cb90fdb7b07eb7a6afbadf63a633.jpeg)

Often acerbic, always principled, Keith had a short hiatus from blonde in 2011 relating to a disagreement on a sponsorship issue and he was much missed and it has been great to see him back in 2012 on top form, with his usual strong opinions interspersed with corruscating dry humour.

On the felt, Keith has tournament results going back a long way. A long long way, to formative years in Reading with the likes of Messrs Channing and Trumper and databases will tell you he has career earnings of over $1,100,000. However Keith often refers to how much tougher he finds the games these days and how his travel priorities have changed with Jake growing up. 

Off the felt, Keith wrote one of the best poker blogs, in which no punches were pulled and has had articles in many publications over the years

I had a look back at the blog yesterday, and it made me smile. I miss it, here it is http://camelpoker.blogspot.co.uk/

The words "hero" and "legend" are often mis-used in poker I feel, but in The Camel we have a bona fide gambling survivor, through thick and thin. Here's to the next nine thousand posts

Brilliant, an amazing contributor to blonde, congratulations Mr Camel. 

<3 Camel.  So glad he returned.

Still in with a shout in the blonde Fantasy NFL league too, in his debut season!

Great 4 legged choices.....congrats Mr. Horsey and Mr.Camel ;applause;

Nice one, congratulations Keith.  ;applause; ;applause;

Congrats on winning your poker award Mr Camel

Bah humbug.

careful - he might start a diary or something!

The great thing about Keith is he always seem receptive to people. I have never met Keith in person (a slight lie, there was once a fleeting hello) ( & Sunday Lunch in Richmond really should happen one day?), but he has always been generous with his time and help on gambling matters (of which Im a total noob!).

I also like people who dont do "fluff"! Keith likes his opinions and likes to share them! My kinda fella - even if sometimes I dont agree!  :D

Another top choice to cement my sense of being out of place in this company.

I made the mistake of opposing Keith's views on there being a red card in last Sunday's derby. Would have won if the ref had spotted Tevez's misdemeanour very late on, but felt in a way that would be a travesty and no doubt the 5/2 he offered me was less than value.

Hoping to persuade him to come play at G Stockton sometime, I keep dripfeeding him tempters.

Wp

(http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc43/kinboshi/Camel-icon.png)

Was a big miss when he'd taken the hump and wasn't around.  Top bloke top blonde :)up

why did he get the hump? Just a man of principles I would think. Does Keith not make the advent calendar every year. Definatly deserves it.

how did the monkier "The Camel" come about Keith out of interest?

You can blame me for that in a roundabout way.

Kinda appreciate it if we discussed it somewhere other than this thread though, if we must.

'Cos he drinks like a camel.

Camel tilted the fk out of me waaay bk when he said something that imo was pretty naughty about John Hartson. But, i've since forgiven him (lol) for that comment and love to read his tweets and posts on Blonde. Congrats fish!

Camel is one of my favourite posters on here esp when he has the beef with someone/thing!
Post Mooooarrrrr Winners pls ;)

Well deserved Keef. A proper blonde hero

He once said that he could go for days without having a drink.

The guy he was talking to said "like a camel" and it stuck.

I would like to add that when I asked him about this going for days without a drink he did admit to me that he was actually bluffing.

Great addition to the calendar for a top bloke.

Great thread as usual. WP everyone included.

Went to dinner with Keef and a few othesr last month. He didn't pay for me, but I still like him.

Congrats Keef. Enjoy the glory of your award.

Keith told me this story a while back. I think he said it was at the Amsterdam Master Classics and that the guy requested that the MC announce him as 'The Camel' for the final table, unbeknownst to Keith. Pretty sure he was boozing a lot that week, hence the above conversation.

good entry, his tweets blaming rio for someone throwing a coin in his eye made me chuckle.

Just a top proper bloke. great pick

All very embarrassing, thankyou for the kind words.

Would have been nice to be included for an actual poker achievement, but the last couple of years it has been more a case of thin and thinner rather than thick and thin.

I'll be eligible for the Seniors at the WSOP soon, maybe that'll be my chance :)

<3 the camel. Delighted he came back!

Mincy 1% pls

I'll be selling at 1.8 for this event.

It's my retirement fund.

More heroes on the calendar congrats Stu, horsey and Keith!

Funnily, exact same thing with me about the same Hartson comment, but spoke to him about it not that long ago. Love his posts/honesty.

Great addition, along with horseplayer too, top bloke it would seem.

I have never met Keith, but I have heard a huge amount of great stuff about him from mutual friends. His contributions on blonde are brilliant; full of wisdom, insight, humour... and sometimes just a little touch of naughtiness.

Top bloke! Grats Keith.

The problem with the Hartson thing (and I got in a similar pickle on 2+2 posting my thoughts about Chip Reese) is I could never get offended about someone's opinion about an individual who I don't know personally.

Other people obviously don't agree with this view.

It was never my intention to deliberately offend or upset anyone.

Only a massive misrepresentation of what I said/thought, but I'll let it slide this once :)

fwiw I am offended by Keith regularly.

All I do is support Chelsea half heartedly and he aims his hatred at me :(

One of my favoutite posters by a country mile, lucky enough to meet him a couple of times this year and share a dinner; just a stand up, proincipled guy with great values who loves a punt....

....mind you I am all in on the 49ers and I will revert to thinking he's a tosser of we brick :)

Snoopy pretty much covered it.

It was your rampage pal, Paul Spillane who christened me Camel.

It was the first time I had ever played a tournament bigger than £200: http://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=12321

I sold lots of shares and managed to get in the tournament.

Lucky enough to go pretty deep and Paul (who had a decent share) railed me all the way.

At a break, late on day 2 I spotted Paul at the bar and wandered over to order a beer and have a chat.

"Paul, I don't like to say this, but you've been stood at this bar for about 10 hours now, I think you might have a drink problem"

"Me have a drink problem? You are playing the biggest tournament of your life, and during the break instead of getting a bit of fresh air and considering your tactics and strategy for the next level, you run to the bar for a pint"

"Well, I certainly haven't got a drink problem, I can go days without having a drink."

"You're a fucking camel then."

I managed to squeak into the final the next day, and was ridiculously nervous.

Paul had a word with the geezer on the microphone, so when he did the introductions he said.

"And in seat number 7, from Reading, England is Keith "The Camel" Hawkins"

:)

Missed the perfect opportunity to use your new Dan/Keith joke.

Frankly I'm disappointed in you.

It'd sell.

(http://gifsoup.com/webroot/animatedgifs3/2962674_o.gif)

Brilliant :D

sich a ridiculous legend Spillane is!

And yourself ofc, a true hero *bowsdown*

I've only met Mr Spillane once*. After some light refreshment it ended with me trying to walk back into my hotel through a plate glass door and nearly knocking myself out. I've never met Mr Hawkins though. This seems remiss of me. Will have to try and remedy that in the new year.





edit: I'm sure Tikay or Red will point out you can only meet someone once.

I've met Paul Spillane...

Never again.

behind door number 13

(http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/images/10/dec/xmas/advent13.jpg)

A busy forum like this has lots of components. People from all walks of life, and who use the forum in different ways. A lot of people contribute in various ways to providing entertainment to posters, and because of the areas of the board in which they are active, these efforts can go unnoticed by many, and unsung generally

Today's poster has been active on blonde since April 2006.

In August he began a thread that now runs to 64 pages, the "blonde Football Quiz League"

http://blondepoker.com/forum/index.php?topic=58833.0

The sheer effort that goes into this thread is tremendous. I think now 14 seasons of 15 questions, all presented, marked and members cajoled to enter, giving lots of pleasure to many of us.

before that he ran "Last Man Standing" competitions and a long running MMA thread amongst many others.

He's from Dundee, and supports Blackburn Rovers. Someone has to

Scotty2hatty

I don't think this was taken in Dundee.

(https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/216071_359016200843539_89922991_n.jpg)

Members like Scotty, of which there are many, are the glue that keeps the place together. It's only when he takes a week away, as he did recently, that you miss what he provides...

Nice one Scotty :)up

Another guy who looks absolutely nothing like my mind's picture of him!

Although I'm not in the football quiz, I follow it closely and it's a great piece of work.

Congrats!

This by some stretch.

Proper nice guy. If only there were more Scottys in the world.

I expected him to be wearing 2 hats

Yeah I imagined him to look like Ryan Spittles for some reason.
Running quizes requires so much effort and Scotty deserves the award. Great tats too

Welcome aboard, Scotty.

Lot of respect for Scotty and the effort he puts into various threads he has started. I should know with the amount pms I have got from him trying to organise me!

Good shout for scotty - i steal his questions every week and use them in my informal Friday afternoon footy quiz with people on my team at work.

Congrats Scotty, well deserved for your MMA write ups alone :)

great shout, hope he starts doing LMS again, the new guy is terrible at it...

I'll join it if he starts doing it again.

Congrats Scotty.

Congrats Scotty.

free money scotty, please do it again.

Obviously massively unexpected and undeserved but I really appreciate it, I really do. And thanks for all the congrats.

EDIT: Feel like I've let everyone down by not having a hat on in my photo though. So.....

(http://sphotos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/190510_209292489087157_5432358_n.jpg)

(http://sphotos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/393990_10151308099109804_1195911601_n.jpg)

(http://sphotos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/390966_206709939407500_1538964498_n.jpg)

(http://sphotos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/269844_244156758944910_6288676_n.jpg)

(http://sphotos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/20441_303645171510_2165940_n.jpg)
(http://sphotos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/22341_301242466510_6610512_n.jpg)

(http://sphotos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/254_13651409479_4576_n.jpg)

(http://sphotos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/237_12797159479_5245_n.jpg)

well that cone on head pic would work well for a new stars avatar lol

Pearl earring?

Pretty sure it was white. Yearsss ago, forgive me.

Hmmmmm...

 ;busted;

behind door number 14...

(http://www.mindfulmum.co.uk/files/2011/11/christmas-advent-calendar.jpg)

He only signed up to blonde on the 8th October, after much encouragement from several quarters and began, with some help, to write a diary

http://blondepoker.com/forum/index.php?topic=59240.0

The diary contained a dramatic first line

"February 2010 I was standing at the bus stop on the strand having lost all my money in the Empire, I was broke; I didn't have enough money in my pocket to get myself a drink from the 24 hour Spar shop. "

Since then, playing poker, he has won over £220,000 and is a top three winner lifetime at DTD

That man, of course, is Rastafish

(http://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/pictures/colburn%20tomlin.jpg)

After a dramatic and breakthrough 2011 culminating in his December Monte Carlo win, 2012 has proved equally remarkable for one of modern British poker's greatest characters. Amongst a series of results are DTD £500 and £150 wins and second in the DTD Grand Prix

Of course as well as the results Rastafish's profile is high because of his table presence, speech play and his incredible form.

He's one of a kind, with trademark catchphrases such as "Kill Dem!" in a cross between a South London drawl and Jamaican patois, but always with a huge smile and a knowing twinkle in his eye.

Yes its possible to snipe at unconventional play, and sometimes his behaviour at the table has got close to the line, but in my opinion he's one of the good ones. Simply loves the game, loves life, loves interacting with people and, if his profile leads to the sort of opportunities for him it could do, his irresitible charm could pay off for him big time

(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-P1XlH-Vwh_s/ULkW9tVWOUI/AAAAAAAAdHQ/-7vvIvC4wNo/s512/DSC01171.JPG?gl=GB)

On blonde, the diary has hinted at more stories, of a colourful life not always as positive as his current life situation.

In as much as they present a picture of a more rounded man, more interesting to someone looking on from afar than we see as portrayed on live updates in full flow, I look forward to reading more Rastafish

Fiiiiiiiish

Lol perfect addition.

I know a man who was looking for backing to play a Gukpt in November (£1000 buy in) and posted on Facebook. As it turned out this man did not realise that the event started on the Friday and had already made prior arrangements so did not play or have anyone send him the money.

That same weekend said man went to Dtd and won (a side event £150 buy in) and as a thank you to those who showed faith in him by expressing an interest in him for the Gukpt, he sent them a little drink (some cash) as a way of a thank you.

There are not that many people I know who would be as generous. Names withheld to protect the guilty.

DTD is never the same without his presence.

I was so disappointed when I learnt that his rumoured arrival in St Kitts wasn't going to happen.

What a huge fucking massive medium strong legend.

I might have inadvertently started that, out of wishful desire ofc

DTD have to do it again next year just so he can go IMHO

agreed, great trip

MEDIUM WEAK!!!!!!!!!!

Backstory to "medium weak"?

Lil Dave, Myself and a Fish called Rasta were enjoying a day of the pokers in person at Dusk Till Dawn.


Lil dave showed off by checking alot of flops for deception (aka being bad) and playing his hands like only a weak tight nit could ever hope to. The Fish called Rasta took more and more chips off of this weak player until he could hold it no longer and started cajoling LilDave for playing so 'medium weak'. The medium was an attempt to not be so truthful with his banter and to attempt to make LilDave feel better about himself and about not having many chips left.


Fun was had by all.



We all laughed. Alot.

behind door number 15...

(http://cache.spreadshirt.net/Public/Media/lafraise/xmas/2012/door15.jpg)

Nearly a thousand posts on the forum since 2007, and most of those this year

Yet what do we know about him?

I think he comes from Plymouth, and supports Leeds

He hints of a past playing rugby. Recently he said that if he was still in training he'd be one of the top ten fly halves in the country....

He has penchant for celebratory cakes & dances.

He likes Belgian and Korean golfers

Hector62.

(http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/download?mid=1c29aa66fc66fb597fe28c1b59a622cc&rtyp=lt&ctyp=other&ts=1202485480000)

(http://www.davethewave.co.uk/hector/hector%20with%20thistles.jpg)

What I do know about him is that in 2012 he has been one of the most entertaining posters on the areas of the forum he posts, and opne of the most successful tipsters on Tips for tikay with a keen and successful sense of value.

More importantly than that though, he has a lovely attitude, everything is intended as fun, & he works very hard to make his Posts interesting. He is unfailingly polite, too, though when someone ill-mannered pokes him in the eye, he can really bite back hard, but politely.

A pleasure to have around.

Backed his last two Rugby bets I saw, blindly and they came in convincingly, so top man!

Well done Hector, a top class poster  ;hattip;

Good choice.

I don't want to speak for hector62 but I think that his point was that a fly-half needed an attitude like that, not that he actually would be that good.

It's similar to the comment "the older I get, the better I was".

Thank you very much, I feel just like one of my childhood heroes.


Mr Novice you are wisdomous beyond your years.

I had to laugh at the politeness comment from Tightend though as I have just had to serve a 30 day chat ban on a poker site for foul and offensive language.

*****ing good choice.

Leeds fan, pleasent with the right attitude! unique on here :) well done.

lol yh pretty much, that was born after I hand where i was tooling about with Aces and folded to a rasta bluff (sighhhhs) and he asked Andy if he knew me and if I was a weak player or not, those two berated me as if I wasn't actually sat there for 10minutes and then decided I wasn't completely weak, just "medium-weak" pretty hilarious, an orbit later I dusted half of my already damaged stack off to Rasta in a similarily weakly played hand lol

A fun day - Red-Dog was on the table as well iirc and I'm pretty sure Rasta won that tournament lol

Can we have a 'halfway' catchup please Tighty....?

Dubai 1
Berlin runners 2
Deadman 3
Mere Novice 4
David3103 5
Lil Dave 6
Tal 7
NigDawg  8
Milligan 9
Honeybadger 10
horseplayer 11
The Camel 12
scotty2hatty 13
Rastafish 14
hector62 15

behind door number 16...

(http://images.kitbag.com/nfc-121196.jpg?width=400&height=400&quality=95)

Simon "Redsimon" Lawlor was one of the first members of blonde. He signed up on 30th January 2005, and has long been a fixture on the Nottingham poker scene notably at Gala back in the pre-DTD days.

Over 5,000 posts later, he's still here. An achievement in itself! However through that time Simon has had quite a battle, with serious health complications along the way that changed his life (and, not so importantly, his pokering) in major ways involving a kidney transplant operation in early 2010 and dialysis and (I seem to recall) having to leave a career in the public service.

His sig line is apposite

Success has many parents but failure is an orphan

http://www.organdonation.nhs.uk

I first met him at a home game in 2006, I think, the first of several we played together. As an avid Nottingham Forest fan we circled each other warily, with a friendship eventually developed over crazy dealers choice games and a mutual understanding not to mention football too much! I was very much at a disadvantage as Simon is very much a mixed games hobbyist, a very good HORSE player and not to be under-estimated.

Throughout his time on blonde he has borne his difficulties with fortitude and not a complaint. He's been active on many boards, most recently across almost every sport thread.

He's another member, a theme of this year's group of selections, that is part of the glue that keeps the forum busy.

Here he is on his current trip to Vegas, asking for two sugars with his coffee

(https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/531955_10151569304076562_29919405_n.jpg)

Last night, he won his biggest ever cash pot over there. KK v QQ v KQ on K-Q-10. He says it took him over 5 minutes to stack up, and I can just see the shy grin now as he gets it quietly, which is very much his style on the forum too

(https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/179179_10151296705451562_712426142_n.jpg)

Only met him once, briefly, but he is one of my favourite people on blonde.  A great example of how people should get on with their lives without moaning.

Congrats Simon.

Is there last years list anywhere? Anyone made two appearances? Feel JB is due a spot in a day or two...

i sat next to him in the recent deepstack sat. He was moaning about it being unlimited reloads :)
Great guy and good company at the table, willing to engage in conversation .

LilDave is in twice, the only one so far

I am trying to keep dual appearances to a minimum.

Oioiiiiii Love Redsimon. One of the pillars of the N!T thread and blonde in general. It's so easy to be negative and moan your way through life but this guy oozes nothing but positivity, that is hard to keep up. Absolute hero.

Keep getting it all in Vegas fella ready to fire some bullets in 2013

2011 list, not in order

George2loose
nirvana
Stuart Hopkin
Brummieboy
mouth
Evilpie
GreekStein
Flushy
Geo the Sarge
cambridge alex
eso kral
dave shoelace
redarmi
neverbluff67
Lil Dave
gatso
mondatoo
smashedagain
skolsuper
Rupert
julian
Sharplea and Joobie
Taximan
Reece

What is this ?   Influence in City Hall  ?

Can't wait for 2016 calender, surely I will get to join lil Dave on his 6th appearance

he ain't so popular down Luton way so although defo deserves he may be a long shot.
Would love to see the inclusion of someone who divides opinion like Rylan from X Factor.... Do we have a Rylan in the forum?

Great choice with Simon, and nice pot!!

:)up

Top bloke is Simon

Great to see Simon on the calendar.  A Cheeseypoker original and, consequently, one of the first opponents I faced around a table on a regular basis.

Nowadays, contact is limited to the odd chance encounter at DTD when I venture down there and Facebook, where reading of his seemingly fortnightly trips to Vegas never fails to kick off the envy!

Forest through and through too, riding the highs and the lows that come with that allegiance, with quiet humour.

Top bloke!

Very pleased for Simon to see that he made the calendar.

I've known him for the best part of twenty years and he has never been anything but a gentleman at all times both on and off the table, I'm delighted that he is now in robust health too.

As others have said, he's a top man.

Great picks

behind door number 17

(http://ris.fashion.telegraph.co.uk/RichImageService.svc/imagecontent/1/TMG8955359/m/advent-day-17_2084082a.jpg)

A blonde member since 2006, Paul "BobaFett" McTaggart has had quite a year.

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7096/7329572982_5197a01e89.jpg)

I've always had a sneaking admiration for Boba on this forum. The forum used to be a real battleground for Old Firm debates and as a keen Rangers fan Boba was always outnumbered on here and, unlike some but by no means all others, always managed to debate with humour and a light touch. These days the debates are fewer, and less strident when they happen, but I see Boba's self-deprecating approach to the latest travails of the club he clearly loves on social media all the time.

Anyway, that's by the by. Back to 2012. I watched Boba make a very deep run in the 1725 runner Nottingham UKIPT DTD. I was impressed, and thought him to be much improved both in terms of temperament and ability from the last time I saw him which was finalling a Sky Poker event a couple of years earlier.

Six weeks after UKIPT Nottingham Boba shipped the roughly 400 runner Genting Poker Series Edinburgh title for over £32,000 beating actionjack Heads Up. This was of course a breakthrough result, and he followed it with a trip to Vegas and a WSOP cash, and top 25 finishes in two UKIPT events and a DTD £500 through the rest of this year

(http://www.pokerstarsblog.com/UKIPT_Edin_2011_MICKEY_MAY_UKIPT_Edin_2011_MICKEY_MAY_IMG_8622%3Cuntitled%3E%20%208507%3Cuntitled%3E%20%208552.jpg)

Boba has been increasingly active on blonde in 2012. Here's to another successful year for him in 2013

Great addition.

The guy has been making things tough for me on Ongame for a long time now. Dregs euro sites ftw!

A really good player and a nice bloke as well....never really knew him, however after I took alot of % in WSOP Vinny took great pleasure in telling me how good Boba was v others I had a % of, and he proceeded to have a deep run as well.  Good luck in 2013

Haha, boba it will never happen fett, makes the calendar.

Well deserved son. 2nd best player to come out of the east end of Glasgow. Probably woulda made Xmas eve if he supported a real team, I think.

Nice one Boba :)up

One of the good guys. Unlike Vinny.

Met Boba for the first time in Prague, top bloke and a hilarious night out all round.

He looked prrreeettttyyyy fresh the next morning :)

I'm coming up soon, I can feel it. Right after Blatch.
Wd to Simon. A Gala original.

+1

shame he didn't go deeper in FTOPs main, utterly let us all down tbh

Chaaaarrrrrrrgggggggeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

#goodPlayer

Nope

Don't want to offend you, but I might be lying.

haha too good :)

Not many that get a Mersenne prime either...

(https://auntiefashion.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/len-goodman.jpg)

I'm ashamed to admit I was a bit rude about one of Paul's staking threads, questioning his mark up.

He took the flack with good humour.

I played with him for quite a while at UKIPT Newcastle without knowing who he was and was very impressed with his play.

I can confirm though, he's a pain the arse to play against and worth every tick of his mark up!

Congrats and good luck in 2013

Nah, you were spot on about him and his mark up :)

great posters, congrats guys.

Congrats to everyone so far, specially the camel and Paul. Although I haven't known the camel for years, he did back me for a while in 2011 and think he's the fairest backer I've ever had.

As for Paul, he wants to marry me, but I had to let him down gently 😘

Ha, i was actually extremely wound up about this and kinda still am, but I didnt wanna make a big thing about it on the forum at the time and by the time the tournament was finished I was kinda over it.  TY and GL to you also.

Thanks to Tighty and the rest for the pick and all the kind words, I actually said in Prague last week that I probably wouldnt be picked for one of these because despite spending an absurd amount of time on here looking around my ratio of posts/time spent on here might be one of the lowest and even if I did get in, Camel might object and say I was too high and should be way lower ;)

My game has improved massively since I joined the forum and a lot to do with that is just reading the posts/advice/strategy by some of the guys around here, I had the best year of my life in 2012 and some credit has to be given to blonde and the people I have met because of it so I cant thank everyone enough.  Also met a few absolute heroes that have given me some stories to tell.

Id say the only bad thing is Dreenie PM'ing me everyday asking me to marry her but sometimes you have to take the bad with the good ;)

Now now boba fish, stop telling porkys .... You couldn't live without the dreenie machiney xx

behind door number 18...

(http://l.yimg.com/ea/img/-/121214/single_at_xmas_18cl9nd-18cl9ns.jpg)

Mark "Marky147" Herron has been on blonde since 2005, a regular contributor on all sorts of subjects from Gambling to Women, degeneracy and then Diets and sometimes Poker.

(http://gallery.pokerpages.com/gallery2/d/43276-1/Mark+Herron.jpg)

Notably though, he is a font of Vegas knowledge, and over 17,000 views of his "Vegas Trip Information" thread this year attest to its usefulness for many blondes with its mass ofm information on all aspects of Vegas for the British traveller. Of course, as he seems to go there five times a year, he's well qualified to speak on the subject!

http://blondepoker.com/forum/index.php?topic=56335.0

Marky, and his Dad Micky147, have been long associated with Bad Beat and indeed nowadays he works for them  as a manager for www.badbeatpro.com from his home in Dorchester.

Marky has Multiple Sclerosis, not that you'd know from him on the forum, as he deals with his illness with humour and you won't find him moaning

(http://blondepoker.com/images/the_new_era/caption_comp/mark_herron&martyn_cavanagh.jpg)

The MS has of course meant Marky's life has changed, and live poker for him is trickier than it was when he was a globetrotting circuit reg with Herbertmob flags worldwide going back to 2005, often travelling in the company of serial rabble rousers.

Is the number 18 being represented by a nice 'legal' girly?

Great choice. Does so much for blonde that goes unnoticed and always goes out of his way to help people out. Top bloke.

Aye good lad is Marky. One of the few stalwarts still knocking around from the old ladbrokes days, there are a few others of those on here too....

Good bloke he is we had a great 2 weeks at the nugget in June he even stayed longer instead of going to the palazzo ,as we were having such a good crack when I left I left him some cash to carry on ,it was repaid straight away when he got back
Oioi vodka n cranberry ,hope to do the same next year too ,happy Xmas mark n all the best for the new year

Many congrats marky, one of the best people I've met through blonde.

Marky is a lazy get! He once drove all the way to the gym and didnt go in becasue he couldnt be bothered! I mean WTF!  ;hide; ;shame;

I all seriousness thou, absolutely top fella. Had the pleasure to sit next to him at GPS stoke this year, really nice guy, forgave me for putting my foot in it with him early doors, and we had some fine banter.

Really nice chap, and great for blonde.

I'm intrigued by the term "Herbertmob flags"? Is that a reference to Jason or just a typo?

Jason puts a lot of emphasis on a players ability against their Hendon Mob profile - so for example Phil Gaffond is terrible as he has 4 flags

Someone morphed the word hendon mob into "herbiemob" and it stuck

Does he judge on quality or quantity, or does he go for eclecticism?

Quantity. The more flags the better. It's all that matters, we all know that.

oioi Marky. I've 'known' Marky many yrs online although never met irl. Geezer cracks me up. Was recently telling me a story about him in Bangkok. I was crying with laugher. wp m8. Please tell it here in full, lolz ;)

Marky is an absolute boss. What you see is what you get, a booze loving filthy degen and I love him for it.

Get selling those hampers kid.

great guy.

Marky Mark, pokers very own answer to Judith Chalmers. Oi oi, get the Christmas drinks on the go!!

Congrats fishhhhh. One of the games loveable characters. Hard not to smile when you get busted by the fish. Although I haven't had the pleasure....yet ;)

Why do I get the feeling that this involves women with penises.

Both these sum up the big man for me!

So good to see Marky included in the calender. Had the pleasure of meeting him 3 times during 2005/6 at poker tourneys organised and hosted by his Dad at their snooker club.

Part of one of the most genuine hospitable families I have met through poker.

Congratulations Mark and Merry Christmas to you and your family.

I only really know Marky via his entry into the blonde NFL league but I liked the fact that he took on a 'co-manager' and then left him to do all the work!

Congrats on the entry!  Looking forward to sharplea's reply on your behalf!

Top, top selection.  I've known Marky since he was about 12 I think, strange twist of fate that his old man used to own a snooker club where I was bought up and I played a lot when I was younger and away games at Mickys club and the annual Southill v Dorchester snooker club games were legendary.  Anyway, by some strange twist of logic that the order of evolution goes snooker - punting - poker - degeneracy as a life cycle, met Marky again years later after he had left the navy.

Basically, everything that has been said here.  Totally selfless, always offering to help whether its hotel information, flights - gets involved in everything (and I mean everything) and is also really supportive to his parents and a good son....all against the backdrop of dealing with an illness which he never moans about a tad

And yes complete degen...as him about the Man U v Newcastle semi at Cardiiff, on second thoughts don't.

My fav advent entry so far; just thoroughly deserved.

V fun seeing pictures of people whose posts you've read loads, and yet you have absolutely not idea what they look like.


Hello Vegas thread helper man  :)up :hello:


V helpful thread, have linked alot of people to it.

Admit it, I was better looking than you imagined.

He must have a vivid imagination ;)

[ ] You have a lot of hair ;)

Wow, I really wasn't expecting this, but an honour to be in such esteemed company with so many heroes!!

Was a member here for a long time before I started posting anywhere other than update threads, but I'm glad I did because  it's a great place and I have met so many legends through Blonde!!

Horrible pics Tighty, but a stroll down memory lane.... The first one is from the European Classic in 2006 at the Vic, which coincidentally was the first time I had the pleasure of meeting Tikay when he was doing interviews/presenting for 865!

My degenerate days have ceased for multiple reasons since the Summer, but reading the last few posts has certainly had me chuckling to myself in front of the computer....

Cheers again everyone for all the kind words and merry xmas  :)up


PS.....

If I had a pound for every 'why don't you walk?' or 'what are you doing parked there?' I would be a very rich man Guy ;D

Thai Whiskey must be strong Amatay.... I've never been to Thailand m8, but I know the little episode you're referring to and it's definitely not a story for the public domain!

Regarding the NFL, we have had a couple brief Skype chats Curtis :) Normally regarding my inability to know if we're getting trade raped and I normally have to check with Jones. Luckily Adam knows what he's doing and I hate to think how badly things would have gone had I taken the reins alone!!

Southill - Dorch were the days, as for Cardiff/Swansea... again not one for public viewing Shaun ;)

I was pretty much just thinking who the fk is this massive guy in fancy dress telling me he posts on blonde. I just smiled and nodded. :p

I was thinking who is this angle shooting lizard looking muva sucker, kid's got a nice hat though.

I can buy a wig/hat ;)

roooofl



(http://s11.postimage.org/er8siy36r/3qx6aw.jpg)

I can't think of anyone in the league who'd try something as shameful as attempted trade rape  ;whistle;

I couldn't either and that was the problem ;D

behind door number 19...

(http://blog.gaastraproshop.com/wp-content/uploads/Gaastra-xmas-special-19.jpg)

A father and son post on blonde. One, on the felt, has by common consent improved considerably through this year and that has been seen in a series of recent wins at DTD. The other, one fluke result in Deauville apart, is mired in a non-career as one part of a Ted and Ralph from the Fast Show tribute act

Ian Gascoigne

(https://twimg0-a.akamaihd.net/profile_images/2846219710/feec11e0a7f15f2e38e7a28ce4f4425a.jpeg)

Ed "Ted and Ralph" Gascoigne, on the right

(http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc416/cambridgealex/A9NQpbgCEAAZGsI.jpg)

Watching Ian on the forum this year has been fun. A successful high-up in the City, who has been very helpful to blonde over the last couple of years particularly with sponsorship of live updates last year, he has gone from (no joking) being unable to use an I-Pad and therefore not being able to post on blonde to someone who posts regularly with a fine line in self-deprecating humour. He has also emerged as a poker commentator of repute. So he says.

This despite the disappointment of being overlooked for the Olympic Opening ceremony. Here he was practicing for the Redgrave role

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/A-RC8DPCAAAk2V2.jpg:large)

Ed is, befitting his job with Betfair, very helpful on the Betting threads and manages to hide the pain of his own poker deficiencies, as well as his unrequited love for the fella on his right in the picture above, by ribbing his Dad mercilessly on the forum

He also was responsible for possibly the most original quiz we've had on blonde this year, which provided hours of amusement. Mainly at his Dad's expense.

http://blondepoker.com/forum/index.php?topic=59365.0

Here he is in a more conventionally dressed moment

(https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/405265_10100330355931230_289270805_n.jpg)

Both are a breath of fresh air on the forum, good guys who don't take life too seriously and are great fun on here.

;applause;

Two great blokes.  Great choice Mr End.

Good eggs them Gazzas

Quiz line hurt Tighty

Super nice guys although I know Ian slightly better than Ed.

Quality contributers to the forum. You were a close 2nd in memorable quizes milli.

:)

Chuffed to bits. Really need to deliver on the felt in 2013 now in order to wrest back my title of "best player in the Gascoigne family"!!

No one of my posts would be complete without a Father Gascoigne nugget of wisdom....

I spoke to Ian around a quarter of an hour after he busted the Blackpool GUKPT in 5th. I congratulated, consoled, and tentatively asked if he was disappointed at all.

"Do you know what, Ed? I've had a lot of luck to make it this far. I'm happy my chips went to Simon cos he's a really good lad. Most of all, 530pm seems like a sensible enough time to finish and means I can be back at the flat in time for Homeland".

If ever there was a man who #lovesthegame, it is surely my dad, and that (at times, let's not get carried away) makes me a very proud son indeed.

Mr Gas senior is just cool! Simples, no doubt about it, everything about the man states CLASS ACT.

Unfortunately I  do not know Mr Gas junior, although his posts are knowledgeable, the quiz was very clever and he conducts himself in the same manner as his father. Plus he is also the son of the best (imo) poker commentator around. Here is wishing that 2013 brings the Gascoigne's, a can of lager, some chicken, a mobile phone and something to keep warm.

Well said, and love the avatar :D

I think you tried to say it here but it was a bit cryptic :) ?

Heroes. Great pick.

Speaking of great pics...

(http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc416/cambridgealex/Gazzasglasses.jpg)

(http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc416/cambridgealex/425487_329929813717925_100001027286470_1011203_693716121_n.jpg)

(http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc416/cambridgealex/ianblackpoolteeshirt_zps85fbde58.jpg)

You can't NOT love the Gascoignes  ;applause;

Haven't had the pleasure of meeting either of the Gascoignes yet, but hopefully will rectify that at DTD in 2013...

Love Mr Gascoigne's commentary, great tekkers and he's certainly a colossal double act in the booth with Tighty!

Ed's posts in the sports board are great to read and he's obviously a very smart chap. The only downside is it hits home the reality of how I'm always going to be in Millidonk's camp and never likely to migrate over to the sharper side of things :(

I'm just pleased I got in last year when it was still considered a real achievement.

 Ahrt

loollll

I didn't really try last year.

I like the way it's done as some blondes I've had no real contact with are nominated & I learn a bit more about them, the more unseen hero types who might be overlooked in a vote. Sometimes it corrects a wronful idea I've got of someone, there have been a few of those but in a malapropistic way I've always read edgascoigne as ednagascoigne - with a mental picture of him (her in my mind) of:

(http://www.rockymusic.org/img/celebrityphotos/Humphries-DameEdnaL.jpg)

Sorry Ed!!

i hope tighty gets in the calendar this year.

+1!

haha should be 25 this year just for that imo

 ;yippee; I'm not alone then - burst out laughing at how daft I was when I saw his pic.

FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU. I'm a prop punter now. I even have a spreadsheet and know what ROI means.

Cannot believe Ed made it.One quiz,a few obscure betting tips and a pair of red trousers.As for the creepy gush post,I know it's close to Christmas but for f sake have some pride.

Seriously though many thanks for the love.Ed and I are having a quick trip to Deauville in the new year and will do a diary complete with French cuisine reviews,war grave visits and some seriously interesting hand histories.In the meantime,love and peace.

Not met either of you heroes yet, however Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year sirs..

:)

 :kiss:

Met Ed in Prague last week, good guy and had an awesome night.  So good I decided to buy them all dinner :(

Also played with Ian once at DTD recently, also seemed like a nice guy.

Good choices wp

In the words of my idol Victor Meldrew, "I cannot believe it"

Didn't know I was on the calendar as I was in Vegas (thin I know).

Julian mentioned it to me tonight at Dtd, privilege to be included with so many Blonde heroes :)

How was your journey home from Gatwick? ;)

Oioiii Welcome back Simon. Missed ya around the place fella

BREAKING NEWS:

The winner of today's quiz (http://blondepoker.com/forum/index.php?topic=59758.0) will receive one of the last spots in the advent calendar*.

*This may or may not be true.

I'll be in twice. Sweet.

Behind door number 20...

(http://d2a2wjuuf1c30f.cloudfront.net/product_photos/565075/design_20zoom_20mantis_20valentine_large.png)

Just over 40 years ago in the East of England, this blonde member was born

He didn't have webbed feet, and had ten toes and fingers. An auspicious start

Progress at school was swift. Many was the time where he'd stand next to the teacher and say at sports day

"Excuse me Miss, but I notice that Lane 1 is an advantage in the Egg and Spoon race, but Lane 6 is better in the Teachers Sack race. Why is that?"

The teachers were habitually non-plussed, and began privately to despair of the prospects for this slightly unusual lad.

For our blonde, school-days passed and he began to make his way in the world. One day at Newmarket races, he felt that odd tingle again as 30 runners stormed up the track in the Cambridgeshire

Some months later, the path to best selling authorship had began

(http://ebid.s3.amazonaws.com/upload_big/9/8/5/1267900935-3052-0.jpg)

Many other titles followed, some of which avoided the remainders bin for several months, as did a career in racing journalism which was supplementing his income from racing, particularly in-running as he benefitted from the huge technological change in his industry from Betfair, to fast broadband connections to live streaming of races at home and then became an "expert" on many of the reality TV concepts that hit our screens from Big Brother 1 onwards, and betting on those became another source of income.

That member, of course, is Chompy

(http://images.racingpost.com/2009/Nov/12381.jpg)

Some time after, Chompy took up Poker. Sadly the jumper is typical.

(http://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/pictures/Graham%20Wheldon.jpg)

and he became a regular at Luton, and then a regular on blonde. For several years he ran the very successful Luton card-room threads on here, when they were really in their pomp. Superb sense of humour, and no one was spared his corruscating barbs. His poker articles in the Racing Post were also hilarious, written in such a way that you didn't even need to know some of the Luton characters he was writing about to find them amusing.

Sadly the poker results did not match the power of his written word, but he persists, ever the trier. Unlike many of his horse tips.

All joking aside, Chompy is one of the shrewdest on here and some posts are worth their weight in gold. As one good judge said, and as Chompy put in his sig line

"If there are guys that are awarded 'no-quibble insta-bet' status then, despite his penchant for reality TV dross, Chompy should be in the same bracket." - Simon Galloway, 18 August 2012

One of blonde's staple posters for over 5 years, Mr Graham Wheldon.

Fenland flouncer makes it in. Awesome.

Anything I could say about Graeme, would only inflate his already huge ego, so I won't.

Congrats.

handsome bloke. Looks like a cross between you and honeyBadger?

You're not the first to say that. Lucky guy, eh?

When the drive takes longer than the flight you know it was bad :)

Never met the guy but definitely one of the heroes.
Congrats.

Hero.

looks a bit like you too. You chompy Vinny and honeyBadger could all have come from the same horse, different jockeys.

I like that chompy guy, can't think of anything good about him off-hand but I know for surrrrre that I like him  :P

Awesome! Ty sir. And I crushed Nirvana the troll, who was only no.3 last year.

was thinking this till I remembered the 15/8 winner he gave me yesterday  ;)

FARCE

Yes FARCE....it's a poker forum; how can a man who advocates 20 way chops be in? Scandaolous, shocking inclusion.

:)

Well done Chomps, keep battling the squareheads - been fun the few times we've shared table recently.

One of my absolute favourite posters on Blonde.

(Even though I'm still miffed he blanked me when I met him in Vegas)

So sharp he must cut himself every morning when he wakes up.

We met in Vegas Mr Camel? Unintentional rebuff if so obv.

Venetian Poker room.

There's maybe a 10% chance some balding American from Idaho is still wondering why that fat English guy came up to him last summer and offered his hand out saying "Mr Chompy, an honour to met you".

Still think it was you though.

Lolz, defo not me sir. Was he wearing a Posh shirt?

This him Keith?


(http://i1147.photobucket.com/albums/o541/tikay2/Vegas1214002-1.jpg)

No, but a very dodgy pullover sort of thing.

That's why I was so sure.

You'd never see an American dressed so ridiculously.

The old "wear a watch that looks like a bracelet so people think I'm good at the pokerz" trick.

Didn't know people still tried that old one!

Found it. Is this him?


(http://i1147.photobucket.com/albums/o541/tikay2/OLDCamera1336-2.jpg)

Who paid for dinner that night?

Good-looking imposter (nap)

Deffo not Trap 4. (Nap).

Ayyyyrrr great stuff Chompy. Top man.

Just catching up, but proper good pick, one of my favourite posters.

This.

Fan of his work on Raceform back in the mists of history :)

Oi oi oi chomps.

The king of the multi way chops!

Great fella.

behind door number 21

(http://assets.radiojavan.com/static/mp3/mayan-21/634e976e.jpg)

Is it me?

I bet it's me.

blondepoker contains all sorts of characters. Not everyone gets on with each other. Having been around here for nearly eight years, I thought I had seen it all

Then he arrived.

I battled with myself for weeks and weeks, to be frank. Was this man just trying to wind us all up, or was he being serious?

At times, I am still not sure.

However I came to the conclusion that Aaron Brunskill "Aaron1867" is a bit of a one off

Here he is after reading a Poker Hand Analysis post he wildly disagreed with

(https://twimg0-a.akamaihd.net/profile_images/2791648164/3438726629551c1ba2bc9c1df0e04ce7.jpeg)

and here he is after a Sheffield Wednesday first goalscorer tip has been examined by his peers

(https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/185169_10151255805743653_709981725_n.jpg)

Writing here and now I can honestly say I agree with very little that he writes. .

Aaron has taken a lot of stick for his views. However I have been impressed by how he has handled that, displaying self-awareness previously non-existent and sticking to his guns in the face of heavy ammunition on more than one occasion.

I'm only surprised he hasn't tried to persuade us that the world is to end today.

Clueless but comedic

fuk me, either clueless or top troll either i hate.

Dont let hate consume you

Them pictures scare the shit out of with. Esp given some of the posts i've read of his! Strange choice.

I hardly agree with a word he says, but gotta give Aaron credit, he does stick to his guns!

the thing is, although everybody is writing on facebook, posting here about how ridiculous the choice is he is far more deserving than most.

he posts almost every day, he is very opinionated, he has created many many discussion topics, even if it is he vs the rest of the forum.

Generally people like this come and go from forum to forum upsetting people, but he seems to have found his home here which I guess is a credit to Tikay and the guys who do support him from time to time.

Absolutely terrible poster, but very good choice.

Basically what I meant Mr Pleno sir, but put a lot better than I could lol

Just totally lost for words. Really am.

But yup gotta agree, he sticks by his guns, so yeh, great choice.

Feel bad for all the other worthy candidates this year.

People are really writing on Facebook about this?  

<3 Aaron, but maybe not so much after seeing that face.  Sure mantis would love this too.

Im sure they will all struggle on.....its hardly nominations for an Oscar or the Nobel Peace Prize    :)

Aaron Is my fav poster on blonde ATM

Good choice!!!!

This.

Fair to say Aaron has a polarised range

oh, and very much this

This is amazing and wp Tighty for including Aaron.
He is a wind up merchant but also says some amusing stuff. He is actually far more educated than people give him credit for. Some of his post are jaw dropping wtf but that's why he is so popular with many. A true marmite case if ever there was one.

Welcome to the club Aaron. :)

A fantastic choice. Whilst I may not agree with much of what he writes I respect his right to say it and he does so without resorting to rudeness which is frequently thrown at him. Definitely deserves to be in.

He took the arrows thread with much more grace than I would have!

A worthy candidate and a smart choice by TightEnd.

It is a great choice.  My personal favourite Aaron moment of the year was when he clearly spent a lot of time putting together a long series of posts examining the 'name the finalists' market for Euro2012.  After what sounded like hours of work he came to the startling conclusion that the two teams that were likeliest to meet in the final were the two favourites. 

+1

assumed u were saving this hero till chrsitmas day! haha :) perfect addition to calander!!

OMG those pictures are really scary, can't believe anyone will argue with his views anymore.

Good choice.

Difficult not to respect Aaron.

Happy Christmas mate!

Link to Facebook thread?

I can't see anything other than Alex moaning about his car costing £2500 to repair and his day getting worse seeing the calendar

Really pleased Aaron made the calendar. Has taken all the abuse he gets well. Congrats.

I always thought he was a gimmick account, congrats on getting on calendar if he's real :)

Trolls 1 Calenders 0

dont worry. You are in on the 23rd

would be a farce if I was. Some much more deserving posters!

there is another thread to post your nominees :)

Sums it up well.

Why is everyone saying he's a good pick for taking the abuse so well? That's basically the reason tighty put him in the calendar, he didn't have a single other positive thing to say about him.

So why is this such a great thing? It's like saying well John Terry might be a total twat but he takes the abuse well so fair enough, lets give him a medal.

lol. You can't be really upset that he is in are you? He brings a smile to some people, even tho if it usually included a face/palm. :)  at the mods meeting his inclusion was unanimous,

Post moar rofl

Only way forward is public nominations surely? Mantis = Genius

Has Tighty picked himself yet?

If you have a problem or don't agree with any of Tightys picks ,  take it to the other thread

He is entertaining

It's like the sun writes shit but entertaining

cant be many more years until you get nominated Paul ;)

As I have said on many occasions, no mods, staff, admin are on the advent calendars. This is deliberate, on my behalf

Would rather talk about members, than mods, in the context of this


As I have also said, I am happy for the forum to do a voted awards/categories/nominations thing next year either instead of or as well as this

And finally, I had to put over 50 possibles into 24 slots. Not easy!

Lol doubt I will ever make it
Don't contribute much and not in the clique ;)

i'm not discriminating brah. you deserve more recognition!

the memory of you queuing for shoes should be enough imo

Wow, thanks for this! I didn't expect it when all I have aired is my opinion, which somewhat isn't always right. Although not sure I deserve it when there is no poker results to show. But I genuinely hope I added something to forum over the last year or so.

Actually get the feeling that I added some talking points, which made forum have talking points, when forum was apparently dying.

Although I can't post much now, as I have been putting it of as want going to waste time shopping when world may end :)

PS - LOL at Facebook.

Aaron is my favourite troll by far. Sorry herbie ;-)

You have to be taking the piss? He contributes in many threads, adding an interesting opinion for the most part. I've seen some of his rofl moments, but if people aren't free to express their opinions then why even bother with the forum. I really don't see him trolling. That word is so tilting on an adult poker forum. I used to play a game that had a really active clan forum. This forum, like blonde was a community of people posting about a mutual interesting topic. Trolling became a big part of that forum, and I don't think aaron could ever be considered a troll. You might disagree with him, (and fuck me that AJ thread is tilting) you might think he posts total shite, but i really don't think he has ever trollled, i.e posted something in order to tilt/get a reaction.

"In Internet slang, a troll ) is someone who posts inflammatory,[1] extraneous, or off-topic messages in an online community, such as a forum, chat room, or blog, with the primary intent of provoking readers into an emotional response[2] or of otherwise disrupting normal on-topic discussion.[3] The noun troll may also refer to the provocative message itself, as in: "That was an excellent troll you posted.""

Aaron rarely posts inflammatory/irrelevant comments, and provokes plenty of discussion, even those some of his poker strategy/bets have been total dross :P

You cannot really feel strongly enough about this for it to affect your day surely?

but i really don't think he has ever trollled, i.e posted something in order to tilt/get a reaction

Lol did you not read my diary a few days ago. When he went back pages and pages to quote my November results (only losing month of the year) and quoted them "in case anybody else wanted to see them".

 I didn't care cos it's my only losing month of the year and in pretty pleased with my results overall, so just found it hilarious that he did that, as did everyone else.

But how is that not trolling or trying to get a reaction whatever you want to call it?

What's wrong with a bit of trolling anyway?  ;whistle;  :D

Every forum needs a few comedy trolls if you ask me.  :). Spices the place up a bit.

Thin.

Ok missed that, but it shouldn't affect your life mate! Honestly compared to some of the posting shit i saw on that forum blonde will be 100% tamer no matter what. It really showed the best and worst in people in many situations. He certainly has his moments, but I think his early posts and the occasional bit of mischief he is a good addition to blonde. Certainly has generated 100x the discussion i have! The advent calendar has somehow turned into an actual big deal instead of a light-hearted way to read some highlights of the year and see a few new faces etc.

Alex, think you may need to have a word here.

I couldn't see what you did in November, found it & posted it. It saves people going back 10+ pages, your results are there for show, so me posting them again (to help others searching) is not trolling. If you genuinely think I was trying to be rude or troll, then ill buy you a drink to apologise, was not meant to be that way.

Forum would have been even more "dead" without me here Snd the nonsense I post and my awful betting theories :) :)

Thank god I don't post when drunk, which in both photos Tighty posted I was :D

Aaron, me old fruit

The forum hasn't been dead at any point in the last eight years. It's gone through different phases, with different people and different strengths and weaknesses. 2012 has been no different than any other year in terms of that


Feel like you're trolling me now :-)

Did you post your November results? 

:dontask:

Aaron for Mod ! (This is probably trolling Tighty  )

but it would be cool : )

nice pick Tighty lol

Aaron always makes me smile and is a cracking choice on an internet forum where different views should be encouraged.

And he's a Wednesday fan :-)

lol, who gives a shit? Fk me? Can't believe i haven't been given an award for my OMG Milf thread or my 'breakfast' pic yet? wtffffffffffffff

behind door 22

(http://www.dwarf.org.uk/downloads/images/22mt.gif)

David "Doobs" Barraclough is one of the sharpest posters we have on blonde. He signed up in 2006 but it is only in the last year he's been very active and a superb contributor to the forum

An actuary by profession, a love of numbers and logic shones through a lot of his posts usually with a calm but understated authority that gets attention

He's very knowledgeable, He's the top Tipster on "Tips for Tikay" in 2012 with the highest ROI and overall profit.

However he's active across the forum on staking boards, in quizzes, in various discussions and of course in sports threads.

He probably looks less like a ballsy poker player than anyone

(http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTa-i_XhXa9149bxsXuDHcEAL51RHPboZ-ZzC1QycWW8MAZ4NrZ&t=1)

but he's had at times, a very good poker year too notably in Online festivals, such as on this thread

http://blondepoker.com/forum/index.php?topic=59185.0

He described his poker year only a few days ago...

"Made £27.5k by the end of March.
Lost £25k of it by a couple of weeks ago.
Bought two books to improve my game.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mental-Game-Poker-Jared-Tendler/dp/0615436137/
and
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1904468942/
Won £17.5k in 3 days.
.
.
.
.
Then started reading the books.  "

A little less debate about this guy Tighty. Your post somes it up and another with a great sense of humour.

Congrats Doobs

I like aaron tbh, admittedly 75% of his posts are nonsense BUT the other 25% can be fucking brilliant.

Also since Herbie calmed down there has been a lil less controversy than I'd like to see on the streets of blonde :D

This doobs character though? haha

oioi doobs, great guy!

See, just reading the front cover of one of those titles is +EV

Nice one doobs. Has Red Dog stopped flirting with you yet? :D

Never met Doobs, he seems like a decent chap and really like some.of the stuff he posts, also catch him reading nit thread now and then. That boy seriously knows his numbers!

Is Doobs the one with the tits?

lol. I think that's milligan

PMSL, In form today Jase.