What well know pro has impressed you the most/worst at the tables in tournaments/cash games?
I’d probably say Allen Cunningham, I sat beside him on day 1 of the WSOP main event last year and it was like watching a finely tuned machine. Every now and then he’d get out of first gear and slap down any of these young kids who thought they were going to run over the table, then he’d smoothly drop down the gears and sit back again for a while. His stack was never in danger and he never looked like losing a pot.
Are you a big sports bettor any big touches?
Nope. I don’t get why poker players want to risk thousands on a game of footy which is so unpredictable. I’d imagine, having been a football journalist for years, I’d have a better knowledge, insight, contacts than most, but it’s just too random.
Having said that I’ll have an interest on anything I think the bookies have got horribly wrong, so just as the Celtics were signing Garnett and Allen last yr I backed them to win the NBA at 25/1, couple of days later they were like 4/1. And obv the £20 on Pab in London last week, as well as some others whose price was just wrong, Moorman, Flushy n Henning.
How did your ladbrokes deal come about and how long are you signed with them?
I’ve been playing on Laddies literally since the day they opened their poker room and having finalled their 2006 Cruise and won a few tournies on there, I became known as a Ladbrokes player without actually being sponsored by them. I then got offered a deal by another company, contacted Ladbrokes and said these guys have offered me a deal, I will be signing with them but I’d rather be with you….the next week Ladbrokes offered me a deal. Our deals are rolling and end at the end of the yr….fingers crossed for next yr!
Do you play live cash games? What games/limit/casino?
As a rule no, I don’t like live cash, I get bored with the slowness and also get guilty feelings as the drunk idiot pulls up his last £500 when you know he can’t play. Having said that I played the big game in the Vic last week on the advice of Mr Channing, who said it was a line up he would have wet drams about and gave me a profile of every player. Sure enough I soon got my £5k up to close to £7k without any danger, just a load of nutcases playing. Then this hand comes up….I have QQ in mid but the maniac who raises every hand is on the button. I limp behind an UTG limper, another two limps then nutter makes it £75 to play. My plan to rr went out the window when the UTG limper rr to £275, so I call, and bring in one other as well as the nutter. The flop came 743 with 2 clubs, and the limp rr guy bet £1200.…I had like £6k behind but didn’t want to call and give others a chance to squeeze or call and hit, so had to make decision for the lot. With Channing’s dossier, and my read of the guy not looking too happy, I decide I was always ahead and raise to £3600.…it's folded back to him and when he dwells I’m now sure I was right, he has like TT or JJ. Eventually he sticks me in for the rest, obv I call. Comes 4, 9. He says, ‘Trips’. I think he means he flopped trips and has a house, say nice hand…he shows he A4...obv. I fall off my seat and realise how much more it hurts losing at live cash then online too!
Whats your favourite Poker room?
I guess the Rio, the buzz of that room the first time you walk into it is like nothing else. I like playing in the Bellagio too, and the Golden Nugget, just coz that’s the first place I played live.
Whos opinion do you respect most in the uk poker?
ActionJack…he’s the poker godfather.
Whats your most luxurious buy?
Hmmm, I’m not sure, holidays I guess, replacing my fake Breitling bought my ex with a real one was sweet too lol.
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