SKY £7K offline live - saturday

[Snatiramas]

I made the final table (for one hand!!), finishing 10th... rookie was still in with a reasonable ammount of chips, I'm not sure if any of the others were blondes.

I was supposed to play in this but was let down by my babysitter, my mate took my place instead (aussie lady called Robyn 50ish) she rang to tell me how she got on and im sure she said a bloke took her out when she pushed with QQ and he made the final table but went out 10th 

I met Robyn on the way into the Gala and distracted her long enough to manage the journey in the lift..something she hates.....really nice lady.

[Snatiramas]

A change is as good as a rest........well that's what they say and I reckon on Saturday they were right.
Four and a half years ago a very nervous forty year old walked into the Grosvenor in Luton. It was a venue with less pretention then but I knew it had a good quality cardroom. It was a Tuesday night. I sat in my seat and my right leg would not stop shaking. All I was doing was shuffling the cards. My first ever live tournament.

I had forgotten as most of us do just how daunting your early visits to a casino to play live poker can be. Saturday reminded me just how much fun the start of the poker journey is. Yes there were hardened keen amateurs in the room and the odd proffessional but there were also a large proportion of complete or near novice players. There is no doubt to my mind that Sky are bringing new players to the game, and this in a UK specific way. I think as a player this can only be a good thing for the game.

So I find my way to my seat and who do I get sat next to. The legend that is.......Brendan Hartnett. What a thoroughly top man he is. So we were both sitting opposite a rather striking looking lady. Now I would say that Brendan and to a lesser degree myself have a reasonable read on other players round a table. We are having trouble working out whether the lady in question is doing one of the best novice but not a novice acts or whether she is truly a horrendous player. Either way the view was pleasant and we both avoid the said lady until she meets her untimely demise. She had for the 40 minutes that she had been at the table totally terrorised the table with an aggressive I do not care approach.

After I get knocked out reraising with AQ suited (will I never learn how to win a turbo) I meet the lady as I leave the cardroom. We go and have a drink at the bar. It was Paulina's first ever live tournament. She was there with other members of her radio show (GWR Bristol - and no Tikay that is not a railway line) and a couple of competition winners. She thoroughly enjoyed the experience though she did have a run in with a gentleman on the table. Novice players make mistakes. Anybody who has more experience has a duty to try and share their knowlege in a way that does not intimidate those around them. We spend a thoroughly enjoyable hour just chatting about the game the next steps she could take and what she can do about rude people at the table.

I spent the rest of the night playing one table sit and go's and just had a tremendous laugh. Didn't cash and did not really care. Just enjoyed playing and chatting.
A quick thank you to the Nutty_1 for sharing the journey with me and buying lunch.
One last point. There was a bloke working his knacks off. We know him as Tikay and he did a superb job.

I wore the alphabet shoes..........

[jakally]

After I get knocked out reraising with AQ suited (will I never learn how to win a turbo) I meet the lady as I leave the cardroom. We go and have a drink at the bar. It was Paulina's first ever live tournament. She was there with other members of her radio show (GWR Bristol - and no Tikay that is not a railway line) and a couple of competition winners. She thoroughly enjoyed the experience though she did have a run in with a gentleman on the table. Novice players make mistakes. Anybody who has more experience has a duty to try and share their knowlege in a way that does not intimidate those around them. We spend a thoroughly enjoyable hour just chatting about the game the next steps she could take and what she can do about rude people at the table.

I was sat next to the guy who does the GWR breakfast show - very nice guy.

He had never played poker before, but the Sky people had given them a quick tutorial, and he also had a hand ranking chart with him.

Twice he made a house on the river, and had to get his chart out to see what he had (and then still checked both times).

This was followed by a wonderful smile, full of surprise when he was told he had won, and was given a large pile of chips.

Apparently, they had been talking about this event all week on the show, and even ran a phone in comp. where the winner got to play in the event.
I don't know who at Sky had this idea, but it was an excellent one, and is just the kind of PR poker needs.

The only dissapointment was when the presenter made a loose call to knock a semi-serious player out, and the knocked out guy goes off in a huff, and refuses to shake the presenters hand.

Apart from that had a great time (my first time playing live.........and it showed), and will definitely be looking to play some more live.

Congrats to TK and Sky for a v.good event.

[Dingdell]

I wore the alphabet shoes..........

Photo please.

[Snatiramas]

I wore the alphabet shoes..........

Photo please.

May wear them tonight or Wednesday...........or maybe I will wear the silver ones or the ones with flames on them.........or the ones that look like trainers, or trainers or slingbacks.......maybe high heels

[tikay]

I made the final table (for one hand!!), finishing 10th... rookie was still in with a reasonable ammount of chips, I'm not sure if any of the others were blondes.

I was supposed to play in this but was let down by my babysitter, my mate took my place instead (aussie lady called Robyn 50ish) she rang to tell me how she got on and im sure she said a bloke took her out when she pushed with QQ and he made the final table but went out 10th 

Did she say what hand this bloke had?   

To be honest, I don't recall knocking out any 'aussie lady'... they're normally really loud, right? 

This one certainly is! Friend of Matt Dale's, goes with the territory I assume. Like Matt, really nice, really loud.......

[tikay]

I can't find words to do sufficient injustice to snat's shoes, so let me just comment of the various Posts (Rooks, Rio - oh, & Rio, why did you not make yourself known to me?) as to the payment to all those who cashed at Bristol on Saturday.

The money was always intended to be paid into the Sky Accounts of those who cashed.

We took details of all those who cashed (we hope....) but the Tourney never finished until about 0200 Sunday. The Sky Staff, who had worked 14 hours without a break, then spent the night in a local Hotel, before going home Sunday.

They have all turned in for work in Feltham & elsewhere today, & the details of prizes to be paid have today been sent to Sky at Harrogate, to enable payment to be made.

Apologies for the short delay, but it was not really possible to transmit the info any sooner. I hope this all makes sense, & you understsand.

Any problems with this, please let me know.

Many thanks for all the nice comments.

[TEX FITZ]

TEX my Sherlock Holmes instincts deduce you must be Dave from Boro.SnGs were good fun and I hope you and your good lady got home safely.
Hope to see you all again soon, perhaps at a BB
Cheers , Colin

ye that was me sitting to DP's left. Dave from Sunderland actually but emigrated to haltwhistle

Brilliant evening and great SNG after, think we had more fun than the final table

Me and Jo stayed at travelodge then got 10.00 flight up to Newcastle, got home safely about 12.30ish (after watching Red Arrows from the runway - great north run )

sh*t, shave and shower then off to pub for £5 SNG's

Gotta prime for APAT newcastle saturday, what a hectic life, don't even have time to sign on

[ericstoner]

Had a great time on Saturday, real spirit around,.The sky staff were hospitable to everyone, and the game was fast but fun. (20 min blinds). Nice to see Rookie and Alan (Rio) make the final table.A pleasure to sit with Snat for a while,except for the donk to my left, who took great pleasure in piping up "string bet"at the aforementioned Pauline, in her first ever tournament, lucky it didn't put her off,and she truly got her own back on the P@@@t, when he made a mistake of betting out of turn,by asking him if he needed lessons!!.

I finished 23 rd when my allin raise, was met by four callers!! seems the open play travels well.

Enjoyed a couple of profitable hours at the cash tables, and after hammering it back down the M4,was tucked up in my own bed (bliss) by 2 am.

As said earlier, Tikay played mien host to perfection, what's that guy on, and can i have some..............and I hope his efforts to get the lovely GWR presenter, to the blonde bash comes to fruition.

Looks like sky have a great product here, hope the tend it well,and more players will come into the game.............oh and thx for the teeshirt guys.

PPS. in true 'Indestructible' style, I whored my way to an interview, hope they use it.

[RioRodent]

... Rio - oh, & Rio, why did you not make yourself known to me?

I have introduced myself previously, APAT Newcastle I think it was! (But don't worry about it, I know first hand how the memory plays tricks with advancing years!! )

... as to the payment to all those who cashed at Bristol on Saturday.

Money now in SkyPoker account.

I would also like to add my thanks to all concerned in putting the event on... and I look forward to the next one. I've found my level now... a room full of people who have never palyed before!!

[Indestructable]

PPS. in true 'Indestructible' style, I whored my way to an interview, hope they use it.

[HOLDorFOLD]

This was truly a fantastic day - even though I had a horrendous journey to get there, it was so totally worth it.

Echo'ing the other comments, in my very inexperienced opinion, I thought the tournament was run really well.  The venue was superb and the staff and dealers were great (I must thank Wayne, table one's dealer at this stage for continuinely prompting me without getting the arse, which he really couldhave lol).

This was my 2nd live game, the first being a quarter of the size of this one.   I was a nervous wreck to say the least. I had not eaten all day, I was rushed getting there, I knocked over my coffee, I folded my big blind (don't ask!) and I nearly fainted (even though I was chugging red bull and shoving choclate down my gob in a vain attempt to get the sugar levels back up.  I thoroughly loved it though, but felt so ill that I decided to push even though I knew the lovely Rachel (aka MRSH probably had me beaten .... I have to admitI just wanted to get out of it by that stage as my tummy was crunching so hard I was in pain by this stage (I know, what a complete novice tit hahahahahahahaha).    I found the nerves was more to do with not really knowing the rules and feeling like a tit because of it.  Online play takes care of not\knowing the rules properly and I have vowed now that it was a very good lesson to learn, granted one I probably should have got under mybelf BEFORE playing live lol.    It was silly things like trying to raise odd amounts, my cards being over the line slightly, my chips being too close to the 'absent guys' chips on my right, leaving the table (cos I was going to faint) just before my blind .... all of which were pointed out to me firmly but nicely by the dealer (and consequently all of which added to my already nervous state he he.

Anyhoo's, I then stuffed my face with the enormous burger that was dished up, had a great laugh with MRH and MRSH, smoked 4 fags in concession then jumped straight into a £20 SNG which I took down WOOHOO. £100 quid does nicely for your nerves.  I found the SNG a very different experience as the table was talking the whole time, there was fantastic banter (Jimi at Sky, luv ya to bits and thanks for dealing in that game).  I then bubbled on a £10 SNG and even felt brave enoough to offer to deal in that one which funnily enough wasn't taken up on hahahahahahahaha  BUT I have to say by that stage I really did feel loads more confident and can't wait to get more live hours under my belt.

The only 'minor' thing that would have been beneficial is if the sky 'suits' had name bades on saying that they were the suits as I would have liked to have spoken about leagues, forums and other things and also wanted tthe opportunity to say hi, congrats on a great day/site etc etc.

Was great to cuddle TK again (and again and again, how many cuddles did we get lol)      Met Terry and Colin (great wedding piccies) but can't believe I missed other blondes, I am in a dream world most of the time though, and my eyesight is crap so those teeny tiny labels didn't help!

Oh, and Rookie, wd on final table, very unlucky on that hand.

Mich/x

[Apothecary]

I too would like to add my thanks and appreciation for this weekends tournament,
again it was a great event.

We met some very nice people, and reacquainted ourselves with others.

The sky staff as always were very friendly and helpful,  and presenters and pro's were a delight to meet.

As for Tikay, what can I say, he is such a nice person and I think a good reason why Sky is becomming so successful. A great ambassador for poker.

So I would like to say a big thankyou and can't wait for the next one.

Michelle: have sent you a pm let me know if you get it.

Terry

[Flea]

I'd like to add my congratulations to Tikay and all at Sky, the event was really good and for me more enjoyable than Birmingham because I felt more relaxed knowing slightly what to expect this time, got moved to sit on Snats and Brendan's table for a while before Snats went out (the shoes have to be seen to be believed) and then they broke the table up - only to find I was still on Brendans table where he saw me go out.

Didn't get to speak to DP but both Mark and Jason were really friendly and willing to help everyone (well me anyway so that counts  ).

Anyways I thoroughly enjoyed it and hope they have more planned soon.

[Indestructable]

So who did win the event?