Mini Report - Sheffield Main Event, Friday, Overnight Chip Count

This is a 300 NLH Rebuy, taking place over two days.

74 runners took part, & the comp started bang on time.

4,000 starting points, & a 45 minute clock added up to the best structure I have ever played at Sheffield.

The overnight chip counts are at the foot of this post, if you want to skip my twiddle twaddle.

Those present were similar to Thursday's comp (see separate report), plus Steve Jelinik, Big Dave Smith, Shaf, Aliistair Findlay, Ian At It Bradley, & Chris Bruce. Absent tonight were Carlo Citrone & Tom Red-Dog McCready, the latter choosing to do the Luton Freezeout.

Camel was the early chip leader, after a "rush", & including a bizarre 3 way pot, with the players holding 2-4, 3-6 & 5-6 on a flop of 3-5-6, Camel filling up on the end with 5-6.

Ali Mallu was in his usual unpredictable form, moving in with a huge variety of hands, & giving himself every chance to get lucky. He took a monster pot 3 tables out with 8-8 against T-T, rivering an 8.

I shared a table with two guys who seemed to be playing somewhat strangely. Matey Boy # 1 R'd, MB # 2 RR'd, & MB # 1 RRR'd a massive amount, a clear "overbet". Nothing odd there, but after the RR, it was heads up, so it was a bit of a surprise to see that MB # 1 had RRR'd when Heads Up with AA, when you'd have thought he'd have trapped MB # 2 by just calling the RR. I asked about the hand after - they revealed that they were twin brothers! So why, I asked, play it that way? "Because we were warning each other that we had a hand"........I cant work out if that was correct play, "same village" (indeed same family & birthday!), or a bit dodgy! But a nice pair of guys, & I am sure it was all above board, but it sure raised an eyebrow or two. I believe they have a 50%-50% "saver" when in the same comp, but I still cant get my head round it really. I had met one of them in Deauville, & we got on well - a "straight" guy, & he certainly thought there was nothing wrong with what they were doing. Personally, I think we ought to play to "klll" anyone, be they brother, auntie or best buddy, but that's just my view.

Ian Oldershaw had a real topsy turvy night. Card dead early, he had 14k when he moved tables 4 tables out, & picked up 99 first hand. A bit of pre-flop Raising & calling, & Ian took the flop with one other guy, intending to bet out if it came no worse than 8 high. The flop was perfect - 9-6-2, giving Ian top set, so he checked. Sure enough, his oppo had an overpair, JJ, so moved in, & Ian sprung the trap. But JJ man hit perfect perfect for a straight, & Ian was down to 1,200 - 2 BB's.

In the next 10 minutes he caught monster hand after monster hand, & was soon back where he started, with 14k.

Then he somehow found himself all-in with 2-2 against KK, & KK man hit his set on the flop - but Ian 4 flushed it with one of his twos!

But then he perished in bizarre circumstances. He had TT, & Lawrence Gosney AQ, & there was some pre-flop action, both of them investing 5k pre-flop. The flop came petty good for Ian - again! - 5-6-7, all diamonds. Ian moved all-in for another 16k, a huge bet, & without hesitation, Lawrence called with, wait for it, .....AQ of hearts! The river came an A, & Ian was out, & stood there totally bemused - how COULD Lawrence call that post flop bet with A high & no diamonds? So I later asked Lawerence. He said he had a hunch that whatever the flop was, Ian would bet out, so Lawrence resolved to call "come what may". Ian did, Lawrence did, & that was that.

Bushy was around average all night, & played his KK & AA particularly bravely, calling Raises each time. That boy has the heart of a lion......

Malcolm Muskett was card dead all night, but put up a sterling performance, not playing many hands, but playing them all strongly.

I had a great evening, always comfortably above average, never had a real hand all night, but took plenty of small pots. Only had two accidents, each time getting caught when at it, but not for huge amounts. I did have one Premium, KK, & poor Dave Grdner, short stacked, found QQ, so I got paid 4k for that.

Then, with 16 or 17 of us left, & with 29k, I met my end. I made it 5k (blinds 800-1,600) with JJ, & Ali Mallu popped it an extra 12k. Hmmm, Ali Mallu.......Now I can pass this hand against most players, but I was certain I was ahead. I had seen Ali move in tonight with 88, 66, & 33. And last night I saw him RRR (RRR....!) with A-3 of all things, so I decided that I was almost certainly in front. But do I want, do I NEED, to put my tourney on the line with JJ, especially as I was still above average & in cruise mode? I had no doubt I was ahead, but it was a tactical decision. Pass, & avoid confrontation, or go for broke & be in good shape for the Final. The guys I take advice from - the likes of Thewy, Belly & El Blondie - all keep telling me that at some stage you have to take on these major situations. So I did. I moved all-in (calling was not an option now) & Ali of course called for the extra 10k, pot is about 55-60k I guess. I sorta hoped he had a middling pair, or A-middle, (remember, it was Ali Mallu) but he had AQ, giving him 6 outs. Somehow he hit 3 of his 6 outs with a card to spare, so that was that. I honestly felt I was ahead pre-flop, & was quite surprised to see he had AQ, a typical play by him. Not all of us can RR so strongly with AQ. Night all! Ali now massive, grr......

OK, the Overnight Chip Counts, with play resuming at 3.30pm on Saturday.

Steve Jellinek 80,400

Hamed Rowshani 75,900

Ali Mallu 73,500

D Oxley 61000

Chris Bruce 42200

Greek Jack Dionysiou 32,900

S Zacharious 32,700

Malc Muskett 32,500

Garry Bush 29,200

Lawrence Gosney 27,300

J Pirie 26,500

G Richards 24,400

George Geary 22,400

Rumit Somaiya 13,000

Many thanks to Craig for the overnight chip counts, & Good Luck to all the guys on Saturday. There are 4 Notts Guys left in, so go on the Notts Crew!