London Live

I decided that I'd play in London on Saturday and make sure that I either got through to Sunday with a good stack, or else get myself knocked out and fly over to Dublin for the team event.

By the last level of play on Saturday, it was still unclear as to where I was going to be on Sunday. I had a stack of around half the average so it was an ideal 'double up and have a decent stack, or bust situation'.

I'd have preferred to double up, but the main objective was to get my money in before the end of play, as I didn't want to come back on Sunday with a pittance, only to bust early and miss the start of the tourney in Dublin.

This wasn't as easy as I had hoped as one guy inexplicably passed to me pre-flop (I actually held QQ in this hand, but the last three times I'd been all in and showed my hand, was the best that I'd showed). Fortunately, I managed to find a guy with shortly after that and my 3s didn't improve.

The Black Belt tourney was a similar event to the Boylepoker IPO, with a small buy in and friendly relaxed atmosphere, and seems to have been a big hit with all the players.

I think I played fairly well in it although I wasn't taking it too seriously and put away my fair share of drinks over the course of the day. I know I like to have a pint or three while I'm playing live poker, but I do worry about what people think of me sometimes.

One of the spectators in London who I'd been talking to during the break, thought it was a good idea to bring a full bottle of red wine with a straw in it over to my table for me, while I was playing.

This led to a pretty bad hangover on the Sunday, and probably didn't help my performance in the team event. I didn't make it past the 3rd level, although I still managed to out-last my team captain Nicky Power, and pick up 100 euro in a last longest bet.

I think I'm gonna head over to London again for the GUKPT next week, which will be my last tournament before the Irish Open.