Other plans for 2026 is doing a chin up sometime soon.

Is that a "good" exercise in middle age? Don't know what age you are exactly, but are you into the mystery injury phase of life? Where inexplicable twinges and sprains start happening?  They usually clear up quickly, but putting a lot of stress on the arms seems like asking for it.

HNY btw

I am 58 and have been doing chest/shoulder press/lat pull down/seated row.  Feels like a pull up isn't far removed from some of these, so don't think I need to worry unduly.  Anybody else got a view.  Think the twinges etc are just a part of life as getting older.  Think I'll find it easier to get over them if fitter.

Maybe if I had broken my arm at any stage I'd feel different. Am definitely more careful with ankles and knees, as that is where I have had issues.  But I do think my knees are better now than when I started going to the gym again.  This might just all be feels though, and accept a data sample of 1 is fairly meaningless.

2026 now. 

I am up above 84kg, but below 85kg, which I think is fine.  Think I will make 85kg a hard line, so whenever I go over I will quit cakes/biscuits etc. VO2 max has settled at 43 for a few months now.

I know I talked about doing parkrun a lot last year, but never got round to it.  Eventually did one this morning for the first time in nearly 4 years.  Had run 3k on the treadmill a few times recently, but was into the unknown a bit.  Think I horribly misjudged my pace and had to walk for a bit after 2km and walked up both big hills...  But still beat 40 minutes which was my main target first time out from a while.  Think I was hanging round with the 35 minute people for 2kms, so think 35 minutes is a realistic target for now, and that would be a PB.  Can't see me going out on Saturday.  It was close to freezing this morning and was unpleasant enough for me to think I am not running in -4 or -5.  Think I tweaked something, and am coming down with a cold anyway, so might just walk uphill in the gym on Saturday instead.  Can see me going again on the 10th though. Think if I just keep doing it fairly regularly I might get my VO2 max back up to 45. 

Other plans for 2026 is doing a chin up sometime soon. Must be at least 20 years since I have done one and can lat pull down my own weight now, so think I just need to get my form right.  Used to be such a piece of piss when I was 18...

Happy New Year All and good luck all marathon/ultra runners etc. 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cpd6020z01po

Don't know if this is poker related or not.  Is this one of those frying pan/fire situations or is he the next Tony Bloom?

Did anyone else get Wimbledon tickets or any others?  Got first day centre court in the advantage ballot and got some decent tickets for the women's semis at Queen's.  Never been to the latter, and might have a spare as my wife has a double booking.

Need Ironside's tips for the year.

Raducanu and Boulter both finish top 20, but not top 10. 
Raducanu wins a WTA tournament at last.
Sonay Kartal gets to top 50.
Burrage back in top 100.
Draper breaks top 10
Jacob Fearnley gets to top 50
Billy Harris gets close, doesn't get there
Think Jack Pinnington Jones and Paul Jubb can get top 100.
So we finish the year with 5 men and 5 women in top 100 (proper gamble)?  Don't know which over woman, hopefully Dart gets there/stays there.  Armani Banks 150 or so?
Xu finishes top of Xu, Klugman and Stojsavljevic.  Depends if any gets main draw at Wimbledon though?

Well this wasn't great, but some of it was just a year early, so will add some tips for 2026.

Raducanu and Boulter both finish top 20, but not top 10.  Well this failed. Raducanu almost got there, and will be top 20 soon, as her points are weighted to later in the year.  The last half of the year was disastrous for Boulter.  Think she barely got a win,, so will go down further before recovering.  Think she is still a top 30 player by ability, but will struggle to get there from 150 or wherever she bottoms out.  Really needs a good run in the grass court season.

Raducanu wins a WTA tournament at last.  Surely got to be 2026.  She is improving again, and is even entering a 250 before the Aussie Open.

Sonay Kartal gets to top 50.
Burrage back in top 100.
Draper breaks top 10
Jacob Fearnley gets to top 50

Three out of four here.  Kartal picked up an injury, but should get back in the top 50 soon enough.  Still improving.  Draper looked a top 10 player all year, so should be ok to stay there if he shakes off his injury.  Burrage barely played, and can't remember her playing well when she did.  Still young enough to get back in the top 100.  Not sure she will do it in 2026.  Fearnley isn't likely to go much higher than 50?

Billy Harris gets close, doesn't get there
Think Jack Pinnington Jones and Paul Jubb can get top 100.
So we finish the year with 5 men and 5 women in top 100 (proper gamble)?  Don't know which over woman, hopefully Dart gets there/stays there.  Armani Banks 150 or so?

Think Jack Pennington Jones gets top 100 this year and there are a raft of men around 200 or so.  Will be surprised if we don't finish the year without 5 in the top 500.  Pick any from Fery, Crawford, Loffhagen, Monday. Could even see Tarvet and Stewart getting there, and surely Lui Maxted is coming through to at least top 200 by the end of the year?  Given up on Jubb.  Maybe Liam Broady can get back too, inspired by Norrie's return to the top 30?

xu finishes top of Xu, Klugman and Stojsavljevic.  Depends if any gets main draw at Wimbledon though?

Don't think there is much between Xu and Stojsavljevic, but Xu is going to be top again as she is no longer limited in her tournaments, and Mika can't even play more than this year as she isn't a top 5 junior anymore. Think Klugman seems to be spending less time on tennis than those two, so will finish third.  Mika was the highest ranked 16 year old a few days ago, but a birthday has done her

Banks doesn't get top 100, as has regressed a little, but Xu definitely can in 2026.  Think Swan comes back near the top 100.  She picked up 4 ITFs late last year, and seems in a happier place.  Probably true of Dart too towards the end of the year.  Don't know about Fran Jones.  She is brilliant given her problems, but seems awful hard for her to keep fit.  Rajecki probably the biggest underachiever.  Seemed a decent shout last year, Ironside, but went nowhere really.

So think we get 5+ men in the top 100 at end 2026, but maybe 4 for women?  Maybe Raducanu, Kartal, a rejuvenated Boulter and Xu.  Will be massively pleased if Jones is still there, and delighted if Mika gets there with her limited schedule.   Going for her and Maxted as the two to watch.

I don't really like this, but it is more important to get things moving.  The whole justice system has fallen apart and people need quicker justice.  I would hope this would be one of many measures to resolve this, as on its own it won't make much difference.

I know that juries and judges may come to different conclusions, but neither is going to guarantee that no innocent people will go to prison, or no guilty people will be set free.  I suspect judges will make safer verdicts, but still think we should have the option of a jury in the future, so think this
should only be a temporary measure. 

Hope they find a package that works.

Astonishing how far Boulter has fallen.

Qualified in Japan, so an opportunity, and got hammered.

Unless she does well in Hong Kong she is in danger of dropping out of the top 100 because of the points she won last year there.  She is likely to be UK number 4 behind Raducanu, Kartal and Jones in a couple of weeks. At the start of the year I was thinking she'd kick on this year and be solid top 20.  She really has been our most dependable BJK player too, so this isn't good for GB either.

I now think Raducanu is more likely than not to be seeded in Australia.  Assume Boulter lasts in the top 100 just long enough to not have to qualify.

I've not been in the Palazzo cardroom since they moved to the new area, is it all sloped now?

The one they had by Noodles Asia was ideal, so it's annoying they've moved (twice?) since then.

I think that Wazuzu is about the biggest slope I can remember in the Wynn

Horseshoe is doable, there is an elevator at the front of the hotel, then you go on the walkway and at the end of that a lift down to the strip level.

There is a ramp in the middle of the steps on the walkway through to Paris from Horseshoe.

Horseshoe is probably the best value CET hotel, and if Iron is going during WSOP to play anything would 100% stay there or Paris.

Think my room at Palazzo was on two levels.  Ie bed and lounge area had steps between them?  So long since I stayed there.  Venetian/Palazzo has lots of levels I think.  Shops are a level up, then you go down to strip?  It is quite a slope if you go up from the strip to the shops (think you can do some of it on a travelator).  Sure have to go up and down for some food options.  They had that cardroom downstairs in the exhibition area for a while during WSOP.  It was a proper hike from the strip.  No idea where it will be next year. Doesn't seem very wheelchair accessible to me, but not the expert in this conversation. 

Obviously do the slope for Wazuzu.  Love it there.

Raducanu has finished for the season.  She was really struggling with the heat/injury in the last 2 tournaments.  I don't know if she stays in the top 32 at the end of the year.  She has no points to lose, but the next couple of tournaments will be soft and I noticed a lot of entries were around her, but plenty of others have stopped for the season, so it isn't impossible.  She isn't winning a tournament this year though.

Thought Venetian Rooms and Casino wasn't very flat.  Don't think I'd pick them over the Wynn.  Suspect it is easier to get round the Wynn too, as all poker, most food on one level. More or less - you have to go down to Terrace Point Cafe, though think you can just go to bar etc without going down?  Jardin is ok from memory. There is a ramp at Red 8.  Think the buffet is flat. 

Marky, do you know if the Horseshoe is doable?  I thought it was fine, but know there are steps I walk up to Paris (never looked for a ramp).  All the cheap eats can be done via elevator? - I use an escalator, but think you could just get a lift - can't confirm if there is an elevator as I think I got there that way once by accident.  I think it is flat if you get there.  Think the main poker rooms are doable.  Daily deepstacks more of an issue, as it was up two escalators.  I assume there was a lift, but even if there was, it was pretty rammed up there. 10 handed and tables close together.

Loads of space around the Wynn poker tables.  There are some one day tournaments there, but the price point is significantly higher than daily Horseshoes.  Cheaper daily tournaments at MGM, Planet Hollywood and downtown.  Can't comment on how easy they are to get around in a chair (will say MGM is massive, think you may need to go the Scooter route unless marathon trained!).

Update please Mr Anthony

Last night of a truly wonderful holiday tonight, best of my life, flying home tomorrow, so will Update you once I'm home, probably over the weekend or early next week.

What about you Mr P?

Over the summer we went to a place which I thought you'd love.  Will be intrigued to know if it was a same place as I think you went to the USA again, and you are a big fan of Scotland/Norway. 

It was Alaska and Vancouver Island.  The West Coast of Vancouver Island is just like stunning view after stunning view. Rains a bit, but people are down to earth and food simple but somehow really good. Think you'd love it if you didn't go there. Alaska similar really.  Alaska is much more like Vancouver Island than Vancouver Island is like Vancouver.  FWIW I know a few poker players go to Vancouver for WCOOP and really think they should just go that little bit further.

Thanks David.

Sounds right up our street.

We'd probably use Amtrak up to Vancouver & then work from there. We've done most of the West Coast Amtrak from San Diego right up as far as Seattle, & it's a terrific journey, especially through Oregon, so that little bit extra up to Vancouver would be fun.

Presumably you took the family, did they enjoy it?

You still playing poker? With Sky, or elsewhere? Not sure how much fun Sky is now it's joined I-Poker. There's a Sky Poker Discord Channel which I occasionally peruse, but I've moved on & to be honest, I'm not sure I'd enjoy still being part of it, I have a different agenda these days. I wish them all well though & I miss a few of the crew. I don't miss the Moaning Minnies though.

Sorry about the delay.  Am busy at times.

I think you told me you were going to Hawaii when we were in Vegas, so my guesses were probably worse than you thought. 

On Vancouver Island, you can get a ferry from Seattle, so don't even need to go to Vancouver proper. Got quite excited about it.  Can even go up to the Yukon, which is even more wild and remote.  You can have a road trip through Alaska to the Yukon too, but guess there must be some car switching going on, as you are in 2 different countries. There is pretty much one road up via Vancouver and one up via the Rockies, so don't really need a satnav.  Drive 1000kms, get to Yellowknife, turn left, take the other road back kind of thing. Genuinely want to do this now.

You got no mobile signal out of towns, so very much like it used to be.  Would be strange to breakdown with no phones etc.  Guess people just stop and help you out still.  Can't imagine many of them driving past, maybe I am too optimistic?

We genuinely just came across a bear wondering done the road at one point.  You can even catch sight of dolphins and whales from the Ferry, but we were out of luck. kids loved it really.  Vancouver Island just had the very best zipline through a canyon. The eldest is very much like me and loves adventure, so we did a bit of kayaking too. I can't see the youngest ever taking up ice hockey (she just needs somewhere to perch and watch her phone and she is happy).  If we'd stay longer, we'd have fit more in.

Don't really play poker much at all now.  Friday is ice hockey practice, weekend she has games, so I fit it around that.  Am lucky to get one night a week these days, but still play the Sky ipoker games if I can whilst they are still running.  Am thinking of trying to play some WSOP circuit events at DTD.  They are only doing Omaha and not hi lo though.  Might see you there?

Btw I know you always talk about my kids like they are about 5.  Eldest had an entrance exam to Cambridge on Thursday. Apparently it is one of those places that is kind of a big deal.  Very proud obv; even if she doesn't get in. 

Update please Mr Anthony

Last night of a truly wonderful holiday tonight, best of my life, flying home tomorrow, so will Update you once I'm home, probably over the weekend or early next week.

What about you Mr P?

Over the summer we went to a place which I thought you'd love.  Will be intrigued to know if it was a same place as I think you went to the USA again, and you are a big fan of Scotland/Norway. 

It was Alaska and Vancouver Island.  The West Coast of Vancouver Island is just like stunning view after stunning view. Rains a bit, but people are down to earth and food simple but somehow really good. Think you'd love it if you didn't go there. Alaska similar really.  Alaska is much more like Vancouver Island than Vancouver Island is like Vancouver.  FWIW I know a few poker players go to Vancouver for WCOOP and really think they should just go that little bit further.

Kartal looked good today British number 2 next week

Didn't see today, but she steamrollered Kasatkina.  Was thinking Maya Joint has been playing so well, and she was well beaten too.  Beating Andreeva is a top result.

She definitely seems to have taken a step up in her short absence.  She is definitely playing better than Boulter and isn't far off first two sets Raducanu.  If we include the third set, probably better right now.

She can obviously beat Noskova, and with Swiatek gone and no Sabalenka, this isn't impossible.  Think Pegula and Gauff are clearly a bit inconsistent at times.

Draper has announced he isn't playing again this year.  Don't think this is much of a surprise as better to miss 2/3 months now than around the Australian Open.

Think Raducanu has done right to miss the BJK this time, even if I'd like to see her.  She needs to consolidate into a solid position in the top 32 by the year end.  Still think she should try and win a 250, but we are getting late for that this year ( is possible?). Way less likely to bump into Swiatek, Rybakina or Sabalenka, and there aren't many others to fear the form she is in?

On Hannah Klugman, before her semi I noticed Vandromme had won 4 ITFs this year.  I know people knock the bottom rung, but think she just looked more battle hardened. She has the tools to push on.  Hopefully does so when she is allowed to play more games at age 17/18. 

Skupski and Salisbury very much looked to have the final won a couple of times.  Was a sad end.

And how good was Alcaraz.  Always cheering him over Sinner.

Nice to see Anisimova beat Swiatek, maybe put those Wimbledon final demons to rest.

Agreed on this, and I struggle to warm to Swiatek. Pleased to see Osaka through too, think she has been through a lot whatever people think of her.

British fellas in the semi too.

Both British girls seem to be making hard work of the girls tournament, but both grinding pretty hard. Think Klugman just doesn't seem to hit winners much and still misses the ones she hits straight back.  Just feel she could be so much better if she irons out these two issues.

Much better today.  Saw much of Klugman's match, but kept switching to Stojsavljevic.  Both seemed better today.  Oliver Bonding is on next on Louis Armstrong, but have to do Dad stuff for a bit.

Would be great to see both Brit girls in the final.  Really is a big deal we have so much young talent.  Might go out and paint a roundabout in celebration, though not convinced these two are English enough for the likes of tiny Tommy, or that painting roundabouts is a celebration.