Barcelona Heads-up Blog...

[MC]

Hey, I'm not really sure that anyone will be interested, but I'm doing a blog for Blue Sq on my progress in Barcelona so I thought I might as well post it here as well...



Day One (Monday 21st May 2007)

A late evening flight from Birmingham Airport was made a little more interesting when me and my travel partner Dan Carter bumped into Mickey "the legend" Wernick, Dave "el blondie" Colclough and Paul "actionjack" Jackson as we were boarding the plane. Lets hope we don't draw any of them in the first round!

After a quick freshen up at the hotel, we headed down to the Casino to check out the draw and see the set-up. More British contingency to greet us as James "flushy" Dempsey tilts his glass towards us and we share a drink with himself and the aforementioned gang.

After a random Canadian approached us all saying we better be glad we hadn't drawn him, and Rob assuring him that his opponent had "won a WSOP bracelet", time for a quick cash game. Me and Dan sat on a 20/40 euro limit HE table for a quick session, happy that full handed we wouldn't clash too much. On a seemingly soft table I hit a couple of hands, but missed all my good draws (such as on an board) and ended up about 50 euros up. Still enough to pay the bar tab for the evening.

I won't be playing my heads up match until Wednesday, but I was happy to find out it was against a super satteliter that qualified tonight. Tommorow I shall be cheering Dan on in his Bracket 1 match and entering the 1000 euro freezeout. Lets hope I can repeat or better my result from the same event last year, where I finished 4th.

Cheers,

James "LeKCheR" Atkin

[MC]

Day Two (Tuesday 22nd May 2007)

A rather late night at the casino yesterday meant Dan's alarm going off this afternoon was rather unwelcome, but Dan had to be at the casino ready for his Bracket 1 match (I drew bracket 4 and play tommorow). After some trouble signing in (in which the lady who took in our drivers licences thought I was Dan Carter and Dan was James Atkin) I went onto watch Dan go onto an easy victory against his first round opponents. His oppenent decided to go all-in for 8,000 chips when the pot was 800 on a J85 flop with J2 when Dan had limped in with AJ and couldn't wait to get this chips in.

A 1,000 euro side event was up next, the event in which I placed 4th last year. Sadly there was no repeat performance as I was out early on a bad beat. In the 2nd level I called a pre-flop raise from the big blind with Q9. The flop came down Q9T rainbow. I checked to the raiser, and my eyes gleamed as he inexplicably bet 1000 into a 400 pot. I moved all-in for about the starting stack of 5000 chips. He called, and I commented "well, I'm ahead." It turned out I was right as he flipped over Pocket Aces. But before I could be too pleased about the situation, the dealer put an Ace to the felt and I was left to leave the table in disgust!

I spent the next couple of hours watching Paul Jackson play his heads-up match, which lasted well over three hours. Lets hope I dispose of my opponent quicker tommorow as I don't want to miss the Liverpool match! Paul was far superior to his opponent but his opponent turned out to be a card-rack and unfortunately Paul went out.

Onto rail Dan in the 1,000 euro. Dave "Devilfish" Ulliot happened to be on his table (unfortunately for Dan he was on his left) and kindly bought me a beer, though he said he wanted a Milkybar in return. Very funny Dave! I must say I'm not too upset the nickname "The Milkybar Kid" has already been comandeered by Ben Grundy.

I mangaged to gain back 800 euros in cash games throughout the day. Me and James "Flushy" Dempsy sat on 20/40 limit together and managed to do pretty well on a loose table. I actually managed to river my first 'live' Royal Flush, holding on board. Dan went out on a bluff in the tourney and we went to grab some cocktails at the bar.

Bumping into Blue Sq sponsored Mickey Wernick on the way out of the casino we both uttered our sentiments about hoping to do well tommorow when we both play in the first round. We both play unknown players, who we assume satellited in, so we're hoping it's an easy ride.

Adios,

James Atkin

[action man]

good reports james, keep em up!!

[matt674]

I actually managed to river my first 'live' Royal Flush, holding on board.

A Maori royal flush?

[dino1980]

Nice report James.

Rolf Slootboom appers to be doing coverage for poker pages, not sure if there are any other live updates going on, as Blonde aren't covering assume it's ok to post link?

 http://tinyurl.com/39jma3

edit: it appears Rolf is simply writing blog entries, don't think it's live coverage.

[MC]

I actually managed to river my first 'live' Royal Flush, holding on board.

A Maori royal flush?

Lol I got the board wrong, the turn must've been a cos I promise you it was royal lol

[Royal Flush]

I actually managed to river my first 'live' Royal Flush, holding on board.

A Maori royal flush?

Lol I got the board wrong, the turn must've been a cos I promise you it was royal lol

Was funny though, the dealer waiting for the other guy to much before passing you the pot, like he was going to be able to find a hand that could beat a royal!

[matt674]

Have heard a story where a player turned a royal flush and didnt win........................

rule number 1: always check the deck before the tournament commences!!

[Royal Flush]

out round 1, marvellous!

Guy was an idiot.

[ifm]

out round 1, marvellous!

Guy was an idiot.

Nice report James.

[Royal Flush]

out round 1, marvellous!

Guy was an idiot.

Nice report James.

i am drunk, very vert drunk, he had 66 and 77 and treated both like they were the nuts, neverned,s.

[lucky_scrote]

out round 1, marvellous!

Guy was an idiot.

Nice report James.

i am drunk, very vert drunk, he had 66 and 77 and treated both like they were the nuts, neverned,s.

Im guessing this is you flushy.

Thanks for running away without paying the bill D:

[Royal Flush]

out round 1, marvellous!

Guy was an idiot.

Nice report James.

i am drunk, very vert drunk, he had 66 and 77 and treated both like they were the nuts, neverned,s.

Im guessing this is you flushy.

Thanks for running away without paying the bill D:

lol, it was all a clever plan!

[tikay]

out round 1, marvellous!

Guy was an idiot.

The Chopper demonstrates his extraordinary literary skills.

Is there any end to this man's talent?

[Royal Flush]

out round 1, marvellous!

Guy was an idiot.

The Chopper demonstrates his extraordinary literary skills.

Is there any end to this man's talent?

And his poker skills....