Vegas & The Aftermath - Diary

[tikay]

Olympic Rules forbid stadium Naming Rights, so "The Ricoh" will temporarily become "City of Coventry Stadium" in 2012, & in London, the O2 will become "North Greenwich Arena". Snappy, that.

It will make no odds though - peeps will still go to, & say they went to, the O2. "Had a grand day at the North Greenwich Arena" ain't gonna cut much ice, imo.

Ricoh paid £7.5 million for a 5 year badging, & O2 pays £6 million a year to badge what was the Dome. Both companies seem quite happy with the Olympics naming kerfuffle.

[tikay]

I head home today, which I'm dreading facing, then tomorrow, onwards to Newcastle for the SPT on Saturday.

I enjoy the SPT weekends enormously, but they leave me mentally & physically drained for days after.

The pre-start stress levels are pretty high, as there are always moans & groans about seat availability. Every Event could sell-out twice, so it's awkward. We try to be as fair as we can, but sometimes Rules need bending, they just do. We've had a big problem at Newcastle, as so many want to play it, so it all got a bit hot.

I have an allocation of seats for every SPT to allocate &/or donate as I see fit. I do so using my own moral & business code, & I tend to get a bit uppity when some ill-mannered oaf tells me what I can & can't do with Sky Poker's seats. For every Seat I give away, £100 goes into the Prize Pool. End of story afaic. "Oi, what about a seat for me, it's not fair, you have no right?" is not optimal.....

I fully expect some heat this weekend, as I've looked after a few people, who as far as I am concerned, ticked the right boxes. It's mainly, & usually, "regular" players who are in a hole, or had some misfortune. If I need to defend that, so be it. Sky Poker know my line on this. I won't be telling any porkies as to who got Seats from me & how.

The Newcastle leg of the SPT also gets a bit "beery". Marv. But I have a lot of good pals up there, too, with whom I've pokered for 10 years or more.

For the first time ever, I'm scheduled to actually play the event, which will be a novelty, though if there is any serious grief over seat allocation, I'll donate my seat, I can't be arsed with all that nonsense, I really can't.

Should be a good weekend, if we can avoid controversy over lack of Seats.

I plan to head South on Sunday morning, bright & early - maybe 7am - to kick on with sorting out my house. I might go to DTD in the afternoon, or Luton in the Evening, or just swerve both, as Sunday will be a very big night Online for SP, with the TSP Finals taking place.

Our very own Jakally is in with a shot at winning Membership of Team Sky Poker, so good luck to him on Sunday evening.  I cannot show bias, but......

I'm in for Saturday.

Really looking forward to it.

It's been a very very very long time since I played on your table Tikay, maybe we'll meet at the final!

The last time I recall was either.....

Deauville EPT, 2004.

I made a horrendous play with A-4 & got lucky, you said you were ashamed to know someone who played so bad. Penly was on the Table, too, as was Roland & Elky. Good week that - I made the semi of the Main, exiting after the worst play of my life, & Finals of two sideys. Young Lucky Jim Moult - BookieBasher -  won a nice sidey, too, the final of which included Willie Tann, & Devilfish, who tried to speech-play Jim. GG him. Jim cashed for €35k I think, & if he reads this diary, he'll recall the most wonderful story about how he lost the whole €35k.  He took the money home in a brown envelope, & stuffed it behind a wardrobe in his bedroom, best not to tell the missus about these windfalls, eh? Then something dreadful happened, & the missus decided to re-arrange the furniture one day......

We all took the train from Paris. Myself, Stu Fox & his g/f, Thewy, & Lucky Jim were in a compartment, nice & cosy, when Devilfish walked in & sat down, & regaled us with dreadfully corny stories for 2 hours. We got to the Hotel, & Devilfish followed Thewy & me to the room we were sharing, & before I knew what was what, he was on my PC, & had opened up my 'Stars account (perma-logged in) & done $4k. Then he went. Take care, Dave.

Thewy then decided it was time to go to the Restaurant & have a pot of Tea. We just KNEW it was a mistake when the waiter spread a starched linen tablecloth, & gave us napkins. Pot of tea for two, €45. Welcome to Deauville.

Luton, jan 2005, £1,000 Grand Challenge.

You, Thewy, & & were on my table in the early Levels, & a very odd hand went off, 3 way, & ? accidentally slung in 2 oversize chips. A Ruling was called for by Jon Shoreman, as the young Dealer never had a clue. You never uttered a word during all this, but it was ruled as "bet stands", & you snap-called with the absolute nuts. I remember being amazed that you kept totally schtum during the whole debate, & I've always done the same in such situations since.

A day later, the final 3 in the Tourney were you, Thewy, & Eric "The Screw" Barker, (who was later to "disappear" in THE most fascinating circumstances), & Thewy played that amazing hand v Eric.

Eric had Raised pre (there's a thing...) & Thewy had called with 9-2, or whatever, & he flopped the 2 for bottom pair. Eric bets the flop, Thewy calls, ditto turn, Eric pots it, Thewy calls, River, Eric sets Thewy in for plenty more, & Thewy snaps him off for his Tourney life, with bottom pair - the 2. That was the day I realised Thewy would win big stuff, & it was time for me to ease back on big money poker, as that play was completely out of my skillset.

It was Thewy's first really big score, & the Databases put it at £48,000, but in fact you & he chopped it. I was on 20%, too.....

At the time, you were in a hole, & that one result got you right out of it, & you were well pleased. I believe you settled a few peeps up (DC included) up, & never looked back.

PS - On Saturday, you will be joined by another of our Guests, Mr Carlo Citrone.  I'd love to dream of making the Final with you, & Mondy, but the Tourney plays way too fast for me, I'm a passive plodder & I'd need to get well lucky a lot of times.

Wow. I had totally forgotten about that Deauville run of yours. Very impressed I was really. It was a pretty strong field and you played really well.

I am pretty shocked about the Devilfish story. Not him doing your money of course, but you letting him loose on your laptop. Quelle niavity!

I do of course remember the Luton hand.

It was Skalie (pre WSOP final table run) who lobbed the big chips in.

Took the ruling like a proper man too. Tapped the table and said nice hand.

Not one word of recrimination or whining.

Made me chuffed for him when he got all that money in Vegas, there have been a few British big winners at the WSOP I have begrudged, but certainly not Jon. Top bloke.

Thanks Keith, praise indeed. I must have run well all week, but I just played "opposite to table", everyone was mega-loose, & a little 3 or 4 bet every other Level, & a few good hands holding, is all it needs. My exit hand in the EPT Semi still gives me nightmares. Adrenelin was the cause. I'd just 2xup, & knew I could final now, & Bob Coombes - you would have known him well - Raised UTG. I had A-T, & I raised it up, another Frenchie joined the party, & Bob now pushes, which I took as a squeeze, but I was pot stuck by now. WTF was I beating? Bob, of course, was the tightest player on earth.  I was livid with myself - I KNEW it was a dumb play the moment I did it. I've regretted it so many times since. The winner was a lovely kid, who I keep in touch with even now, Brandon Schaefer (sp?), & the oddity was that he & the runner-up both came from the same small town in America, & qualified in the same Online Satellite. Nice kids, both of them. I'd never have won it, of course, but I'd love to have finalled in my only EPT, & that's te real regret.

My naivety & The Fish? Not wrong. In those days I was not so street-wise, & he was famous, so he must be trustworthy......

The Luton hand - ahh yes, Skalie, now I remember. As you say, he was devestated, but took it like a proper bloke & wished you well, genuinely.

Jeez, the kids will be hating this Memory Lane stuff. I'd love to write a book, actually, I have a thousand stories. All boring, too.

Of course I know Bob Coombes, he is one of my best friends in poker. He comes up to stay every August for the Ebor meeting at York.

Was kind of like a mentor to me when I first gave up work for poker. I owe him more than I can ever hope to repay.

One piece of advice always stays in my mind. I'll tel you it on Saturday.

I was chip leader for ages for that tournament. Won a huge pot on the bubble AA v KK, king on the flop, ace on the river.

I was chip daddy until the last two tables when I tried a huge bluff on Luckyblind. He'd flopped a set. The bluff failed.

I came 10th.

Back to Deauville in a couple of weeks. By far my favourite EPT venue. Awesome hotel, great restaurants and beautiful town.

Can't wait.

I'd so love to play Deauville again, loved everything about that town, & venue.

I remember Bob was very down for a goodly while after his wife died, lovely chap.

I never knew you went to the Ebor Meet at York? I was there this year, I won a prize to be there.

I was in the Sky Bet Box - they sponsored several races - & I hooked up with Frank McInally, whom I knew from some 865 Guest appearances, & we have became good friends. He's huge fun, a very "up" kind of guy, & has a stunning g/f.

I could not believe how much Sky Bet spent on hospitality, & I'm thinking, "jeez, where does all this money come from?". Then the feature race, the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes, an 8 runner field I think, was won by "Sole Power", at 100/1. Next question.

I thought York Racecourse was terrific, a lovely blend of tradition & new stuff. The old entrance turnstile block is still there, & some beautiful old stands, sat alongside some brand new glass & chrome monstrosity, which surely got an Award for the most inappropriate piece of architecture ever foisted on a grand piece of land.

That was the first time I'd backed a horse in 20 years, some occasion, given that the 20 years before that I punted every single day.

I once met Phil Bull, you know, what an amazing bloke he was. I assume he's long dead now, but I'm sure Timeform still cuts the mustard. An iconic man, if ever there was one. He named all his Racehorses after Greek Gods, I believe.

[Eck]

Not long home and settled may jump in for a bit cash later if there is a fun game going.

You got it. about 11pm, I think. Go easy, eh?

Anyone around? On semi tilt already....

[tikay]

Not long home and settled may jump in for a bit cash later if there is a fun game going.

You got it. about 11pm, I think. Go easy, eh?

Anyone around? On semi tilt already....

11.15. don't be late.

[Karabiner]

Is Frank McInally related to Alan McInally?

[tikay]

Is Frank McInally related to Alan McInally?

Bugger.

[TRIP5]

OK, now I'm a wee bit cross with ya too.  ("Join the que" says he)  

FFS!!!  You never get to play the Sky events.  You've got the chance and you were looking forward to it.  You already know there's possibly going to be grief over lack of seats for the event.  

A)  Even if you give up yer seat, there's still going to be people who aren't happy because they missed out.

B)  For the people who DO have seats, the chance to play next to 'Sky Poker' himself gives them a buzz.  

I say - don't be silly and give up your seat!!!  If not for yerself, play it for the other people who would like a chance to play at your table.

THIS!!!!!!!!

As i've previously stated....play the game...how funny would it be if you won...show your TSPers a thing or two on the way to the final table...mainly that the old dog still has it...

C'mon Teek...you know you want too...plus it's been announced on the tele now so you really have to...I and the other tkpers not playing are looking forward to railing you!!

xx

[Pelham Boy]

Is Frank McInally related to Alan McInally?

Bugger.

Could be Frank McAvennie?

[Karabiner]

Frank McAvennie was a cracking footballer before he got into the charlie.

[tikay]

Is Frank McInally related to Alan McInally?

Bugger.

Could be Frank McAvennie?

No, I mean't Alan, the Soccer Saturday bloke.

[bookiebasher]

Nearly right on the story Tony  

The sum was around 22000 and I hid it in my daughter's bedroom. After around 6 months I went to check it was still there
only to walk in her room and find she had re-arranged all her furniture. Hannah was 9yrs old at the time and didnt know that I
had hid it in her room so I nonchalantly asked her if she had seen a brown envelope at any stage during the room
change.

As soon as the answer came back 'no' , I decided that I preferred her bedroom as it was before so despite her protests the new
look soon became the old look , but to no avail.

Both Hannah and Stephen ( 11yrs old ) now knew about a brown envelope but not how much !

A couple of weeks went by , searched everywhere and was now getting a little ticked off so there was a last resort.

Family gathering and a reward of a significant amount was offered. One hour later Stephen shouted me while he was in the study on the
computer. "Is this what your looking for ", reaching into the desk draw and revealing a large brown envelope.

Cute these young uns. He is 18 in April and DTD is on his list of adventures.

I think the Rob Yong / liverpool bet/ cypriot note is a far more interesting story

Going back to Deauville , a memorable few days , not for the money I won , but for the people I went with.

And I don't mean Devilfish.

[GreekStein]

Jeez, the kids will be hating this Memory Lane stuff. I'd love to write a book, actually, I have a thousand stories. All boring, too.

Sorry to disappoint but....

ABSO-F***ING-LUTELY LOVED those stories between you and Keef.

Write dat book!!

[JaffaCake]

Your diary's at its best when it goes all whimsical and u tell a great story (better than trains and train stations!)

[tikay]

Your diary's at its best when it goes all whimsical and u tell a great story (better than trains and train stations!)

Wow, thanks Jeff.

Three compliments in one evening, wtf?

[tikay]

Spent all last yesterday evening trying to clear up a backlog of e-Mails & PM's. The SPT Events always generate a lot of work.

Played Hi-Lo, the blondes Eck, Outrageous, Duke, & the Sky lads were DanTB10 (Dan Brown, our 2010 Total Player), a Fat Lad from Wales, & a few others. The Fat Lad, a big mate, is not playing much poker at the mo, he has stopped "grinding", but said he loves these fun games. There's a thing, me & him too. I play small beer poker out of a decent roll, & I enjoy it far more than when I played much bigger. The beats just don't hurt, & nobody goes home skinto. What's not to like about that?

I guess, basically, in my case, I've cured my poker addiction, & ended up in a nice place, & I enjoy the game more than I ever did.

Up at 7 this morning, more overnight requests for SPT Seats. I dealt with them very efficiently. "Tighty, can you try & sort these please?".....

Cleared another heap of e-Mails & PM's, now I'm off home for a morning of ughness.

I plan to head off to Newcastle at about midday, stopping off at Meadowhall to pick up a few bits - a few casual shirts, some new shoes, a set of bathroom scales, so I can start the diet, & a nice red cod piece.