Kinda inclined to give Rob benefit of doubt re overlay considerations, I think argument that online quals for whom this is their first live event, or only one they play all yr, etc, should have a decent experience is a very strong one.  However, I do think some errors were made in planning stage that have led to a not great situation for all parties.

-structure.  agree 500bb deep to start is unnecessary.  would alleviate late reg problem if stacks were shallower faster.

-start day distribution.  It shouldn't really be a "we can now plan accordingly" that 1c >1a and 1b combined by a significant margin.  Fact its Sat is immaterial, its pretty intuitively obvious and would be true under nearly all circumstances.

-extend late reg.  why only first six lvls of day?  Especially when 1d entrants have a 10hr turnaround between an 11hr d1 and an, i don't know but I'm guessing at least that length again, and most likely longer, d2 - thats a pretty huge disadvantage.  IMO either 1c late reg (actually day 1s across board) should have late reg until at least end of lvl 9 or so, or day 2 should start later.  Since the latter change would have been tough to coordinate at a days notice I get why that option wasn't used, but the early curtailment of late reg kinda baffles me, esp when considered in conjunction w/super deep early structure.  

Ha, doubtful, I get confused by the scarcity of hole cards. 

I can't find HR/main structures anywhere online - are they available to post?

I do find it pretty amazing reading all these stories about what a bad bloke Blatch always has been.

Where were you all when he was the hero of the forum?

Must say it all smacks of after timing.

As has been said time and again, blonde is a ridiculously 'cliquey' forum - standing up against well respected members rightly or wrongly is a futile thing to do.

So it seems with arbboy's banning. Sad.

Most forums are the same, though. Regulars and those known either off the forum or those who hold a 'rep' are always given more protection.

lol @ these 2 ignorant posts from 2 new people to the forum

arbboys ban was because of the way in which he posted - how he said not what he said i guess

please dont make yourseleves look rediculous by talking abou things of which you know nothing about

dont think ive ever seen a post that so clearly demonstrates what the poster was attempting to refute.  

tbf i think id rather play asif hu in luton for my net worth than attend the jinglebellball

What is the jinglebellball?

http://www.capitalfm.com/jingle-bell-ball/jingle-bell-ball-02-arena-december-05-06/

Grosvenor have done a lot of good things this year.  The structure of the headsup tournaments is so good I almost want to weep with joy, the increased starting stacks for main events is obviously a great development, and the added money for leaderboard/champ of champs wouldve been virtually unthinkable not too long ago.

However, this past week has seen the tour end on something of a sour note.  Its a terrible anti climax to run a small stakes festival in a dump of a town after the Grand Final, which wouldve been a far better conclusion.  Run the Champ of Champs by all means, but the side events were an experience I hope to forget.  Martin and I were seperated by half a point on the leaderboard, and so we each spent the entire festival playing solely to outlast the other.  Its moderately interesting to figure out how optimal strategy is affected by this situation, but then hours of torture while implementing it. 

In addition, Martin and I played it out in a very good spirit, but it doesnt take a genius to work out the game integrity issues that couldve arisen with two different people fighting for a leaderboard prize far greater than that which was up for grabs in the tournaments that decided the leaderboards outcome.

As far as yesterday goes, I'd be lying if I said I agreed with the call to restrict eligibility for prizes to those who showed up.  In my opinion, everyone already earned the equity their chips provided them with by participating in previous, non-freeroll, events.  Although I'm obviously an interested party, there seems to have been enough consensus on this point amongst people who arent, that I'm surprised Grosvenor felt it an advisable change to make at such short notice. 

All of that said, everything in the first paragraph I wrote makes me disinclined to kick up too much of a fuss.  Frankly, I'm far more annoyed about having to spend a week in Luton than I am about missing out on my hard earned Champ of Champs prize money.  Also, Jingle Bell Ball was awesome, so I'm still glad I didnt show up...:p

If those facts are completely accurate, then that ruling is equally completely ridiculous. 

lol quality sequence of posts, vindication baby!

I think this is a pretty strong final.  I'd never played with any of them besides the Greenster before yesterday, but a bunch of them did some pretty smart stuff at various points.  La Ronde is my dark horse choice, he has a pretty unorthodox approach that I liked a lot.

it will be pretty lame if they use the same structure/start chips for this event as they have done for the tournaments leading up to it.
does anyone know how long play on d1 will last for?

wow a mod echo.

I was of course taking the mickey guys and the comments about women making pack lunches for the kids should of given that away (they should be up early in the morning to do that its now getting towards bedroom duty time if they've finished the ironing etc )

It may not have occurred to you Russ, but the Mods - all voluntary - have had a bit of a tough day.

Is that because they just got back from an exhausting power trip?  Maybe a climb to the top of the mountain they created from a molehill?  Ariston's original post was absolutely on the money and the guilt trip you put on him for holding a contrary opinion, which after all is what forums were created for, is a disgrace. 

Richard

Barry Greenstein
Andy Black
El Blondie
Liz Lieu
Daniel Negreanu
Justin Bonomo

Phil Hellmuth
Ben Grundy (have to make sure I win my $1000 side bet with Gryko)

I'd steer clear of poker sites linked to sportsbooks if you make bets like these.  It would be the happiest day of my life if I got to post a thread on 2+2 entitled "MILKYBUSTO!!!".

Regards,
Richard

JC TRAN
RAM VASWANI
DAVE COLCLOUGH
JEN HARMAN
PHIL HELLMUTH
DARRELL DICKEN

ALLEN CUNNINGHAM
JOHN JUANDA

Regards,
Richard

I'm starting a campaign to get Gryko in the box, if Diddy's party is anything to go by, he'll even find ways to make this dull HU entertaining.

There's always the conference call - I have contacts.  But would it be a smart move by Pokerstars to put him on a live feed?

P.S. Did someone just read out an email from Ben Dover?

I'm deeply offended by your implication that I might be less than diplomatic in my commentary.  Although given that I vaguely remember delivering a monologue to you on the virtues of the word "retard" in Warsaw, I suppose I can't entirely blame you.

Regards,
Richard

Getting bored and annoyed with mr. Martins commentary on the live webcast I looked him up on the Hendon Mobs database....LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL he has made $16k lifetime.....and his nickname is the bully?? Now how about that for qualifications to sit and comment on the biggest tournament ever in Europe, where the last place money finisher got paid more than the commentator has won lifetime!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I actually think he's doing a very good job of being the "Everyman" in the booth.  Look at the people who regularly commentate on tournaments - most of them, with exceptions I can literally count on the fingers of one hand, are both annoying on a personal level and clueless about the game.  The Martin/Duthie duo has definite on the road comedy tour potential.

Regards,
Richard