Well I had my shots at the packages on Sky.
It turned out less than 1/10 won packages so I feel somewhat vindicated on that front
with just over 50 runners in each those, 5 packages were awarded in each and 6th place recieved some ££'s. I may have to get Haysie's lawyer involved
Not particularly for personal reasons but I do like it when there are extra funds in these things when the extra money is given back as returned buy-ins. For example if it is a £400 buy in for a £4k package and there are £3,200 in 'extra funds'. It is nice when the £3200 is paid out as 8 x £400 refunds. It means more people who do not win a package feel that they had their shot but didn't really lose anything. It does also make for an interesting dynamic as you can put pressure much earlier on some players who are trying to make sure they get their buy in back.
Anyways onto the games...
The first one was the £435 buy in game with just over 50 runners and paying 5 x £4k packages and some cash for 6th.
Starting stacks were 5,000 chips and it was really plain sailing at the start. Got up to around 39k chips without much trouble. I had an easy table and I could just open lots of hands in postion and bag chips all over the place. I was feeling confident and had the chip lead. With around 15 players left I was moved tables and this really screwed things up. We were still a bit away from the packages so people were still playing a range of hands and looking to make headway. There was one stack with around 20k who was sitting relatively well in the tourney who caused a lot of trouble. They were taking ridiculous lines in loads of hands, playing very erratically, didn't really seem to understand position and were the proverbial loose cannon and taking ridiculous equity risks. I can only assume they were a smaller stakes player. I now couldn't open many pots as this player was a couple of places to my left and as I had no idea what this player was going to do. I had to watch with my stack as I was in a comfort zone and had more to lose than win at that point. I was really just hoping to stumble into a nice spot versus them and stack them which would have tied up the package. This didn't happen.
Down to around 10 players and with 28k in chips I did finally stumble onto the spot I had been looking for! I was dealt
in the SB and it had folded around to me. I open for around 2.5x and the BB calls. The flop is
, this was it... Time to bag a few chips and get the job done! I lead for around 2.5x again and am flat called (I think blinds were around 600-1200). I then see a
on the turn. I was super confident that my opponent had not hit the flop. There were a few draws out now though so I bet 4800 and have about 17k behind. My opponent ships all in. I still feel good here, I mean at this stage and in this dynamic they could have been trapping with AA KK QQ JJ and now be worried about the double flush draws, they could also have a pair/draw type hand and be trying to muscle me out of a board that it looks like I may not have hit. I glance out my right eye just hoping not to see pocket tens. They had indeed turned the higher set though with pocket tens and the river brought no help. GG me.
I did hear that the player who hit the set of tens on the turn has bubbled a few of these which really did help. I obviously know how this feels so I am genuinely happy for them and hope they love their time in Vegas!
All was not lost as I had got the starting 10k stack in the £1260 main event qualifier to around 20k. Time to get busy there I guess! I found it tough to find spots in this but got up to 50k in chips and was starting to feel it. There were 10 of us left and 5 get packages and 6th gets just under £4k in cash. I then am dealt
in the BB. UTG with 20k chips open shoves and then the SB with 70k reshoves to isolate them. So this is it! I obviously know I am ahead and 1 hold here gives me around 120k chips and it would be hard not to win the package from there!
So the cards are shown and UTG has
and the SB had reshoved with
. The
lands right on the flop and it is GG me again.
So that left me feeling about as deflated as I ever have been while playing poker. If I had bust early I wouldn't have been too bothered but it looked nailed on I would sneak 1 package and seemed quite possible at 1 stage I could bag both. Ah well!
I was left unsure what to do with Vegas this year. I only stopped the studies a matter of weeks ago and the bankroll therefore is not bursting at the seams so it is a big layout paying for Vegas on my own dime. Especially as at the moment poker is paying for everything, rent, all other bills, etc. So to throw a Vegas trip on top at short notice is a big ask!
It won't be a big ask next year as I aim to find employment in the next few months and leave my bankroll untouched for almost a year and go play a schedule similar to the ones Tikay does, hopefully with a higher mix of WSOP events.
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