Goliath Coventry.

[RED-DOG]

Good luck Dooby.

[Doobs]

Didn't do a win. Managed to get my chips in bad twice on all ins and didn't get lucky. 

Going to go back and play the seniors tomorrow morning.  There are 250 in so far.   

I thought it was pretty well organised given the numbers.  When the app works, it is pretty easy to use. 

Didn't see any massive queues for food and free coffee, pepsi max and water welcome. 

Would be nice if they had a PLO8 tournament, but can't complain as I have not played PLO8 live in the UK for 10 years.

[tikay]

I played on Monday, & not much to report on my poker, though I had a wonderful day & met so many old friends, & when I get round to it I'll maybe talk about it on my Diary.

But wow, given the massive numbers, I was mightily impressed with how smoothly it all ran. 800+ runners in the Goliath every day, plus (literally) hundreds of Alternates, & it all ran like clockwork.

Jim McShane (77dave) is the Manager I always aspired to be, busiest few weeks of the year for him & his Team, & he was wandering around with his hands in his pockets as if he was on a Sunday afternoon stroll, not a hint of stress. That's delegation & Management of the highest order.

Many years ago - 15 to 20? - he & I played DC every night at G-Luton & I never imagined for a moment he had it in him to run the whole damn Show.

That Luton crew included Jim, who's now the Grosvenor UK Poker Manager or somesuch, Dina, who is still Grosvenor general factotum, Raj, who is now a big noise at Party Poker, & George, who I'm told is now a Senior Manager at the Marina Bay Sands in Singapore. It's almost the poker version of "Class of 92".

On the day I attended, there were ~900 in Goliath, plus 2 or 3 side events, satellites & cash games. 10 handed for the most part - not ideal but under the circumstances unavoidable - that meant they needed something in excess of 120 Dealers if we allow for No Shows, Dealer Breaks etc. How the hell do you suddenly summon up that many for a short period? Same thing always occurs to me at WSOP.  I have a basic understanding of how the "Dealer industry" works, blow-ins etc, but organising THAT many for a short period must be some job, not something you sort out in an afternoon.

And don't forget they ALL have their smart Grosvenor uniforms - shirt, waistcoat, tie etc - and all seemed to be well versed in Grosvenor rules. And Dealers come in all shapes & sizes & genders, but they all looked smart in what appeared to be well fitted clothes. How much does that lot cost? OK, it was not Saville Row suits, but even so, can't be cheap. Clothes alone must come in at north of £5k. They were all friendly, smiley & chatty too. That can't be an accident, that must have been the brief - help the players have a fun day.



Most impressive.

[tikay]

One thing puzzled me all day, & the penny never dropped until I was driving home.

Two minutes before every level change they played that piece of music we used to hear at the Cinema back in the day, the Pearl & Dean advertising music, this...






And then, on the actual moment the blinds went up, a bloke with a chuffing great hammer nearly gave us all a heart attack when he hit a monster gong with a thumping thwack which reverberated for ages. This gong....

[tikay]

There was something about all that which struck a chord, why would they do that?

And eventually, the penny dropped. It was a respectful nod to Rank Group, Grosvenor's Parent Company, as the Pearl & Dean stuff & the gong were standard fayre in all Rank-owned Cinemas.

Very clever, & makes absolute sense to suck up to Group Head Office.

At least, that's my theory. Maybe I'm over-thinking it?

[RED-DOG]

Bugger! Why didn't I think of that.

[tikay]

Bugger! Why didn't I think of that.

Weird, wasn't it?

There HAD to be a reason they did that, and it was driving me mad until the penny dropped.

[Doobs]

Cashed at last.  Shoved into Aces, Kings and AK, each time with the worst hand.  Consistency is important. 

[RED-DOG]

The cream has risen.

[Karabiner]

There was something about all that which struck a chord, why would they do that?

And eventually, the penny dropped. It was a respectful nod to Rank Group, Grosvenor's Parent Company, as the Pearl & Dean stuff & the gong were standard fayre in all Rank-owned Cinemas.

Very clever, & makes absolute sense to suck up to Group Head Office.

At least, that's my theory. Maybe I'm over-thinking it?

Like the periodic lion roaring in MGM Grand