Down to the felt at the World Heads Up in Barcelona

They had a live draw yesterday in Barcelona for the 888.com World Heads Up!

There seemed to be a lot of Americans missing (Hellmouth, Chan, Negreanu, Greg Raymer), but a healthy contingent of English including John Kabbaj, Dave Colclough, Mark Banin,Tony Chapman, Marc Goodwin, Paul Jackson, Barny Boatman, Mickey Wernick, Devilfish, Simon Nowab, Paul Zimbler, Dan Carter, Roy Brindley, Richard Gryko, Steven Pearce, plus the American imports Brian Johnson, and Jeff Buffenbarger.

From Europe, a few to mention were Pascal Perrault, Bruno Fitusi. Paul Testud, Michael Keiner, Bengt Sonnert, Tim Gillig, Irishman John Quinn and a load of Spanniards. Surprisingly, there wasn't such a strong showing from Scandinavia this year.The event was limited to 128 players and was oversubscibed. I played the satellite, which produced 20 seats, but I overplayed my AK with 25 players left and so, having previously reserved my seat, had to buy my way in.

Anyway 2600 Euro's later I was sitting in the casino, listening to the names being drawn & Heard 'Jac Arama plays ..... Barny Boatman'. I wasn't unhappy with the draw, as at least I have played Barny before and have an idea of his game. I also thought it was an interesting match up and was looking forward to an open game.

We started with 20,000 chips each and blinds at 100, 200. Barny surprised me by firing on all cylinders from the first hand. He was raising most hands pre flop and took away my gameplan completely. I had intended to be the aggressor, and found myself calling raises with the likes of

etc, only to miss the flop and have to pass when Barny bet out again on the flop. 3 times I called his bets to the River, with top pair, only to find that he had me out kicked. Not only was he being agressive, he was also hitting flops.

In a very short time Barny had a 2 to 1 chip lead. I continued to miss flops and Barny took full advantage.

It got worse! 4 times I tried to steal on the River, only for Barny to call with part of it. The worst of these was when I had

, with blinds at 300, 600. Barny mini raised to 1400 pre flop and I flat called. the flop was

10c

, Barny bet 1,000, I called. The Turn was a 5S, Barny checked, I checked and the River was an off suit 6. Barny checked and I bet 3,000. Barny who now had over 30,000 chips said "I'm just calling to see what you're playing with" and turned over

, to win with King high.

When we had a break after 2 hours, I had less than 5,000 chips and Barny had over 35,000. I pretty much accepted that save a miracle, the match was his. We sat down again and I got anted away until I had 3,600 chips, to Barny's 36,400. Then I had a ray of hope when Barny limped in, and I found pocket Kings. I doubled the blinds from 600 to 1200, but he passed. I then managed to climb up to 7,000 chips, when Barney limped in from the small blind. I had

and checked. The flop was

giving me 2 pairs. Barney bet out 1,000 and I moved all in for 6,000 more. He called and turned over

. The turn was

and a harmless

on the River took me back to 14,000. (to Barny's 26,000)

The game started to change momentum and I climbed back to even, when a pivotal hand occured. Blinds were 400, 800 and Barny raised preflop to 1700. I found pocket Jacks and flat called with the intention of moving all in if the flop didn't produce an Ace, King or Queen. As it happened the flop was two hearts

Perfect! But Barney came out betting 2,000. I was about to come over the top, all in, but something about the bet worried me. Had I walked into trip 4's???. I flat called. The turn was

and Barny now bet 4000 and I said "I let you hit your card and turned over the pocket Jacks. "What are you talking about" said Barny and turned over

. Wow! what an escape I had made.

I still had over 16,000 chips and thought, "he's been raising my big blind with that garbage - Okay the old Jac Arama is back!". It gave me a new lease of life and the next time Barny raised 3,000, I came over the top and he folded. The previous hand when he flopped the straight, had clearly affected him. By the dinner break, after 3 hours play, I was up to 23,500. Barny wanted to miss dinner and finish the match, but I wanted a break - especially as he had objected to stopping for dinner and I wanted him to dwell on the hand I got away from. Anyway, I find it hard enough to pass a hand pr flop, yet alone the sumptuous buffet they serve here Grin

!

When I returned from dinner, it lasted 4 hands. With blinds at 500, 1000, he raised the first hand pre flop and I came over the top - he passed. the 2nd hand he raised raised pre flop and I moved all in - he passed. The third hand he raised and I called with

and the flop came

. I checked and Barney bet the minimum, 1000. I called. the turn was a three clubs

and I bet out 3000 and Barny passed, giving me 30,000 to his 10,000 (Approximately). Then Barny raised 1500 pre flop and I found

and moved all in. Clearly frustrated that my new aggressive style had turned the tide, he decided to make a stand and called for his last 8,000 or so chips with

. Fortunately my hand stood up and I was through! It goes to show that it's never over till it's over!

I can also report a few reults including three shockers. Dave Colclough, who played newcomer Eric Thewalt, went out with pocket

on a turn of Two Clubs

, giving Dave the straight and Eric a flush. Also, Paul Jackson, who has an excellent record in this event, went out to a young spaniard with an impossibly long name when Paul moved all in with AJ diamonds, and walked into pocket Kings. The other surprise was 'Mr Cool' Marc Goodwin, previous finalist in the World Heads Up, who went out to a young Swede, Olef Sundin. Mark had pocket 8's which were crushed when Olef's pocket 9's hit a 9 on the flop.

With 64 of the first round matches played, Others players that I know are through to round 2 are: Devilfish, John Quinn, Dan Carter, Michael Keiner, Pascal Perrault. Roy Brindley had a good chip lead when I left the casino.

Next, I play on Thursday against Olef Sundin, who beat Marc Goodwin. Although there are lively cash games and well run smaller tournaments.

If people are interested, I will report on tomorrows results. Respond here and let me know!