Newcastle Game 4 Life Charity Event Live Update

[Djinn]

Hello and welcome to the Civic Centre, Gosforth, live and direct from the Poker 4 Charity do in the hall.  Just to let you all know that Tikay is here (playing) and I will be telling you how he and the other blondeites and friends are doing this fine August afternoon.

Spotted in the car park: Robert HM
Spotted (and being interviewed) in the hallway: Joe Beevers, Claire, Mel (Londonpokergirl) Lofthouse.
Booked: Carlo Citrone, Ram Vaswani 

Looks a little unlikely to be starting at midday, but you'll know what's going on as soon as I do.

[Djinn]

A little scene setting for you - 14 tables, everyone gets 500 starting chips with the ability to rebuy immediately.  Should be madness, but experienced Mel and sidekick Eugene can handle it I'm sure...

There is a table to my left spread with lovely glass trophies, each balanced on a Fray Bentos pie.  Go figure.

[Djinn]

There's a gaggle of about 35 players hovering by the door but they're not allowed to sit down just yet.
Quote from Eugene: "Anyone speak Yorkshire?"  I think Mel was asking for an interpreter...

Enter Ram, Rhowena, The Camel and Ian Bradley stage left.

[Djinn]

David Newth has taken the mic in front of a now quite sizeable crowd.  TV coverage is present in the form of the Poker 425 team; Game 4 life is the reason everyone is here (50% of the prize pool is for disadvantaged children) and there's been quite a lot of support from many sources.

I can see one of those oversized cheques from VCPoker for $1500 sitting around; William Hill have donated a bunch of T-Shirts, hats etc., Hendon Mob have brought along some exclusive card protectors as prizes and there's an intriguing raffle involving prizes of booze and a mountain bike.  People seem to be in the charitable spirit and poker books are changing hands for donations.

[Djinn]

Thanks have got to go to David Newth himself, and Angie, for sorting this already busy event out. 

Team MMM are here in mysterious force, led by James Dempsey himself.  Word is there was a friendly warm-up tourney last night won by Dave Cain and Nigel Grocer, with final table finishes by James and Mel.  Any excuse for a game...

[Djinn]

There is some open bribery going on (£5 gets you a seat on one of the 'superfish' tables) but people seem reluctant to sit with RoyalFlush and co.

Adam M has a little stall here selling his Shuffle-Up shirts (which Tikay has already purchased two of.

[Djinn]

Incidentally, congratulations are in order for Mr. Thew who somehow managed to turn a tiny stack into second place in the Nottingham £20 rebuy-fest last night. Tikay and I thought it would be a good idea to play that and then drive to Newcastle.  Didn't look so smart when I went out at 2.45am and we had to drive up... but at least we got a celebratory text from Julian which made us happy.

[Djinn]

The players are seating themselves, and it's just about to kick off.  There are two 45-minute levels for rebuys to get everyone going (25 - 25, 25 - 50) so I reckon it's going to go nuts.

[Djinn]

Here's the full structure handed to me by the tournament director herself:
25 - 25
25 - 50
end of rebuys (single or double top-up available)
50 - 100 (45 mins)
100 - 200 (half hour)
200 - 400
300 - 600
400 - 800
600 - 1200
800 - 1600
1000 - 2000 and that's enough to be getting on with. 

Hello to anyone watching this!  Let me know if there's anyone you want me to keep an eye on...

[ifm]

hello Jen, i'm here wide awake and paying attention (well sort of, BCFC are spanking west brom on sky).
Come on err, anyone i know

[Colchester Kev]

Jen, can you get a calculator and keep count of Ian "Vidal" Bradley's rebuys please

[Djinn]

Speeches, whipping the crowd into a frenzy of charitable rebuying...

[Djinn]

big old cheque

[Djinn]

At-it Bradley on his fifth double rebuy...

Crazy hand just went down there - Tikay had AA vs Ian's 98off and also QQ and James' K 10 (what a table).  They held up!  Good for him...

Also just told about a three-way all-in coup with As4s, A7 and 99.  The flop came 8 10 J, the turn brought the 9 and a flush and the river...9.  "Just say Rudders won..."

[Ironside]

as long as game for life wins i dont care who gets the money