UK Tournaments March to May 2010

I've been a bit slack with my blog the last few months. Mainly because there has been little to report of merit. I will revisit this entry with some detail when I've got an idle moment.

So to tidy up the various tournaments I have played:

Swansea - March 20th - APAT tour

What can I say about Swansea? Even the welsh don't give it a good press. My taxi driver warned me about Saturday night. "They come down from the valleys don't you know".

Played in a pot limit tournament with 19 runners. It is a league over the summer with points awarded for the top 18 places. So when one well known player was eliminated early on (quite hard in a pot limit tournament) it was suggested we split the pool 18 ways and toss a coin for the first prize and go on the piss. This suggestion got quite close to being put through but in the end we played on. I did not do very well finishing 14th - however I then played in a cash game overlooking the main part of the casino. Let's put it this way the "wildlife" was interesting. I won back my expenses mainly against well known poker celebrity affectionately (?) known as scouse (you can guess the rest) with that legendery hand 63 off.

Brighton Marina - March 29th - Sussex masters

A dreary cold evening at the Brighton Marina was probably not the best introduction to my lodger Louisa of the joys of the UK poker scene. We had dinner in a restaurant where we were the only customers (I suspect for the whole evening) and I am afraid that Brighton marina has little to recommend it.

I play in a mickey mouse £100 tournament and run OK at the start but make a major rick when I think someone is all in when in fact he has a massive stack hidden behind his cup of tea. This tilts me and I am soon out.

The Victoria Casino London - April 17th - APAT Tour

The second leg after Swansea at the Vic which seems to have had some money spent on it.

We are in some quiet back room with proper posh leather seats instead of the usual rickety back destroying objects.

There is a good turn out from my home game - Louis, Wilson and Marcus (who arrives glamorously late) so we are a large part of the 30 runner field.

Marcus does well to knock out a pro player and the game is a bit of a laugh with some internet young guns doing some absurd 3 barrel bluffs and hero calling.

Wilson is knocked out when his attempted steal is rumbled by one of the young lads. I run pretty average but eventually give up my chips to Louis with 88 vs JJ.

Some internet coverage here

The Victoria Casino London - March 24th - GUKPT tour

The main event costs £1500 so I play in a satellite for £150. A fairly standard tournament and my main piece of luck is doubling up with AA vs 22. I get through so win my entry to the tournament the next day.

This is a pretty big event and I must be sat next to someone well known since there is a video camera on him - apparently being streamed live on the internet (I did not realise this until a bit later)

We are fed and watered at the table - they bring round canapes and wine. Nice! And the dinner was OK too.

I play pretty average and when I have to double up my AQ vs 88 misses and I am out in 121st spot of 178.

Coventry - May 20th - GUKPT

Another leg on the tour this time at the G Casino in the Ricoh stadium complex at the Coventry football ground.

Curiously the Casino itself is actually pretty impressive inside - one the best I've seen in the UK. Of course its massive downside is that it is in Coventry. No disrespect, but Coventry is an absolute armpit. I booked some random flea pit in town so surprise surprise Las Vegas railbird Jo who was toying with staying to spectate, decides to bugger off.

I am not going to pony up the £1000 for the main event so play in a satellite. When we are getting down to the bubble the floor makes the worst decision ever. I've moved all-in with KK and some f*ckwit to my left says call but as he is moving some chips over the line claims he did not know I was all-in and is allowed to take the bet back. A few hands later I run TT into AK and finish 2 spots from the seats.

I sample the delights of the town the next day - bearing in mind the germans gave it a good seeing to, it is a typical example of UK post war town centre balls up. Went round the tourist highlight - the transport museum - which is OK - but they don't charge an entry free presumable otherwise no-one would turn up.

Play in the side event in the evening but go nowhere fast.

Chances of returning to coventry any time soon? - nil!