Can't help but keep an eye on the Canadian players....

Bianca Andreescu had a knee operation after an injury in 2021. She's only just started playing tournaments this year after a long layoff. Nonetheless, she's playing the final of the WTA Bad Homburg Open on grass on Sunday. Yes, she got a walkover vs Simona Halep, but she's hot favourite for the final against Garcia tomorrow. She's not dropped a set in her three matches (Swann and Kasatkina were two of her opponents), and I think she's currently overpriced at 22/1 foe Wimbledon. If she wins tomorrow, that price will be gone.

https://www.sportsnet.ca/tennis/article/canadas-bianca-andreescu-in-bad-homburg-final-after-halep-withdraws/

What are the best websites to check for genaral info, best pubs, best restuarants, activities etc. in Vegas?
Thanks in advance.

I was there in April. I can recommend the following:
A Steak restaurant: Oscars in old Vegas (tbh they’re all very good but quite expensive compared to UK)
Pub: McMullans is great, but well away from the strip - which may be no bad thing
A show: Opium at the Cosmo - great fun & something for everyone

Also, I think Tripadvisor is good as a reference point for everything LV has to offer - always full of opinions. And finally, a lot depends on your budget - you can do a decent Vegas experience without spending a fortune, but if you have a fortune to spend, then there’s a different menu altogether.

I'm never going indirect again, with all the aggro and cancellations with short haul flights in the new world.

Exactly how I see it.  At 5pm when you are stuck at a gate in Chicago and realise you could already be in Vegas if you'd paid the extra hundo..... shudder.

The one I was specifically looking at was BA via Phoenix which is total flight time 13h 12 opposed to the 10h 40 for direct.

1h 2 transfer time seemed potentially a bit tight so what's the risk of missing the connecting flight? I assume they have to sort it if you book both legs as one flight but you could end up hanging around a bit?

This one actually gets you to Vegas more than 4 hours sooner but with the downside of having to drive down to London at about 4am......

Bear in mind that you clear customs and US border at the point of entry, so you should be concerned about that tight connection - even in Phoenix

Try watching the Pitt vs Heard trial - most of it’s shown live on YouTube. It can be very interesting, but it can also be infuriating - particularly regarding the manner in which the questions are delivered by the lawyers. Best watched as edited highlights....

* Uber prices have increased significantly - probably 25%+ - and not just because of high gas prices

Just to expand on this - I just got back from 11 days and noticed that quite often, there was a massive difference between Uber prices and Lyft prices, so I would always highly recommend checking both before you choose, as it was never always Lyft cheaper than Uber or vice versa, I think we ended up with half our trips with one and half our trips with the other.

There's a lot of 'surge pricing' with those 2 as well, I think?

That’s right Marky. Of course surges are impossible to predict....

Regarding Lyft; we downloaded their App too when we were quoted a ridiculous price on Uber... and found that (on this particular occasion) there was no difference in price. But yes, it make sense to check prices on both before selecting your ride.

So masks are now 'optional' on flights to US, but pre-flight testing is still in place: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-61145045

I fly out on May 18th, not sure I hold out much hope for it being dropped by then. Does anyone know how you go about getting proof of having had Covid within the last 90 days, as I hear that negates the need for the pre-flight testing?

You’ll need to get a letter confirming that you’re fit for travel from your GP - or at least a recognised medical practitioner/Health Authority - on official letterhead, along with proof of a positive Covid test no more than 90 days prior to departure.

Just spent a week at my timeshare next to South Point. Some top-of-mind bits of info that may be relevant to one or two of you:

* Uber prices have increased significantly - probably 25%+ - and not just because of high gas prices
* Premium Outlets prices and discounts available are much more scarce
* Venetian has lost about 25% of its cardroom to Keno (?) or somesuch video game, but was still the room to go to (on the strip) for the 1/3 action and the high hand promotion
* The Nugget, Downtown, was great for cash game action - or was it just coz I run so well there
* Amazing cash action at South Point. Yes, it’s a trek, but it’s worth investing a day of your stay to check it out. Huge 10-pin bowling alley upstairs too
* now there’s 0 00 and 000 on most roulette wheels on the strip. My pal stopped at every table with the 000 to tell the punters that they were mugs playing into the house’s hands. The croupiers (?) had the decency to just smile.
* If you haven’t seen it already, Opium at the Cosmo is well worth seeing. Great fun, and several British acts FWIW

Have a great time & GL, all who go this year

Just back from a first ever March trip. It's peak season alright, the place was rammed.

Everything has just about reopened now. Had to do a covid test at Heathrow going out but they lifted the requirement to re-enter the UK while I was away, so coming back was easier.

The poker rooms at Planet Hollywood, Excalibur, Luxor and Mirage are all RIP. The only $1-$2 left on the strip is at the MGM. Everywhere else is 1-3.

Aria daily is now a 20-minute clock, which is a shame. They scrapped the evening comp too but that might have been down to the high rollers series. MGM evening tourney is comedy. Advertised as a $100, $5k guaranteed, 20-min clock 25k chips. What they don't tell you is there's a 100k add-on for $100 at the second break.

Great to be back out there.

The room at Mirage, right next to the sportsbook, on the main thoroughfare through the casino near the entrance from the strip, was prime real estate and always had a good chance of being used for something else. Shame, nevertheless.

Yes, it's a real shame about The Mirage. Stayed there a few times, and it's gone from being very busy and vibrant with a great atmosphere, to closure - very much self-inflicted as far as I could determine.

What's there now, I wonder? Another restaurant?

Just tuned in for my favourite episode: grilling by the Lord’s advisors

Not a single business plan with any merit. The term business plan used very loosely

Wow, that’s higher than I expected. Lots of people talk about crazy Russians, but I can’t say they play any more wild than any other nationality, from my own limited online experiences on Party.

Would you say this ban is + or -EV to your O8 games? Or makes no real difference (other than to the size of the field)?

What proportion of online players do Russians represent?

Is there a significant bias between formats? (Cash/Comp, NLH/PLO, Micro/Med/High)

Warne gone at 52.   The goat of test match bowlers for me.

He was there at the height of pace bowling and couldn't have been any more different. Wrist spin is like some arcane dark art, he did it with so much personality and panache.

Has to be one of the most important cricketers to have played the game.

Shocking news. Gone way too soon.

Spent the morning catching up on yesterday’s tributes in The Times sports section. For those like me who are unfamiliar with the finer points of the game of cricket, there are some tributes from the likes of Atherton and Gooch that help you appreciate the genius of the man, his passion for the sport, and his simple humanity.

RIP Shane

Was in Malta a few years ago for the BoM series, and was having a drink with Celtic when Joe came & joined us for awhile. I got the impression he was spending most of his time there. Celtic will know for sure.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/60490225

Looks like the jet lag and long match got to Alexander in the end.
I’m not looking forward to the Zverev/Medvedev era

A man whose talent was only matched by his modesty