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I'm rarely optimistic about the chances of our players doing well, not because I doubt their talent, but because I tend to plan for the worst and anything better than that is a nice surprise.
This year's Irish Open was an exception. When I listed and priced the runners for the main event it dawned on me that one of our players had a real shot of going deep as we had so many talented players in the event. As it was, we had one man standing on the Sunday, most having been knocked out on day one; it didn't make the event any less enjoyable though.
Thursday
Ciaran, Lisa, Gerry and I set off from HQ to the Citywest in time for the last satellite into the event, the three chaps were gonna try and win their way in, Lisa had committed to working at the event so couldn't play.
At the first break all three of us were going ok, 468 entrants 68 seats up for grabs, I again liked our odds. Gerry went first losing a 50-50 but as the field whittled down Ciaran and I were still in the hunt. Ciaran dropped the 120 mark whilst I was playing the tail enders role. With 100 players left, I was above average chips and at 80 players I was average chips when I found AK in the first position.
It was frustrating to go out so close again (last year I made the satellite final table but finished 9th with seven seats available). I was happy I made the move first and was happy enough to see my opponents 8-8, a 50-50 meaning I was a coin flip for a seat, oh well maybe next year. It was late by the time I got knocked out and most were sensibly leaving the bar well alone before the main event so a quiet night was had by all.
Friday
Instead of mooching about and chasing a seat in one-table satellites, I chose to play golf with a good friend. It's a pity I didn't get that seat as I knew I was in a bit of form and instead of it coming into play in the tournament it came into play on the golf course where I shot an 82 winning me the bet (one pint of Guinness).
I was surprised that by the time I made my way into the main arena so many of our players had fallen. I felt like a trainer at Cheltenham must feel with so many great prospects only for none of them to get over the first fence.
Rather than watch the bloodbath I meandered to the lovely Asian restaurant and got a bit tipsy with a few of the fallen. Later on was spent flitting between the Masters golf and drinking; not the worst way to recover from the disappointment of earlier.
Saturday
At my age you would think I might have learned by now, never give a gambler an edge. Marty and I decided to play golf and Nicky Power joined us. Of course after a few pints of the black stuff the previous evening I had been all too candid on my 82 on the hotel golf course. Marty and Nicky hadn't forgotten and I was handicapped as if I was golfer who had missed the cut at Augusta and had flown back for this especially. Nicky took the honours winning 14 of the 18 skins; Marty won 3 and I decided to play the Omaha event to smash out of it.
I could just about afford the 300 entry fee but managed to find two decent backers to fund one rebuy and one add-on. The fact that they were a world champion Omaha player and one of the best online Omaha players in the world, just made me want to play even better.
I was tight during the rebuy period and got cracking straight after. I love tournament Omaha and used to have a decent record at it. Three tables out I was probably chip leader but Juha Helpi was at my table with the 2nd biggest stack and it was a matter of when not if we would clash. The clash happened two tables out and not only did I manage to lose a big chunk of my chips, I also managed to make myself look like a right pudding in the process.
Juha raised five pots per lap, this time on the button with me sitting in the big blind with QQ89. I called and we saw a flop of 449. I was pretty happy with that flop and checked with the intention of calling any bet, Juha checked behind.
The turn was a 4, a card I loved and now I checked to trap, Juha bet half the pot and again I cold called. The river was a 9 making the board 44499 and I gave it a bit of Hollywood before checking. As he bet the rather large pot I insta called with my queens full and was a bit sick as he turned over aces full. I have been playing Omaha for about 20 years so I don't know why, as I put my hand down, I decided to grab the nine and proudly showed it.
The deathly silence of the table made me realise the 9 made no difference to my queens full and then I had to endure the stony cold embarrassing silence for about five minutes before Juha politely asked if I had misread my hand.
I should have said yes, it would have been better for the image but I explained what happened and we had a good chuckle over it. Replaying the hand I should have given him more credit, he played the hand as if he had aces but I played the hand a bit too quick and he had aces at least 8 times all winning big pots which made me think he couldn't possibly have it again.
I went out soon after but not before I knocked out my old mate Channing. I flopped middle set but he had flopped a complete wrap and flush draw making his hand favourite. I dodged a bullet on the turn when, just as the dealer was dealing the river, Roland De Wolfe called in a Queen for me (pairing the board) and immediately sending Neil into a mood with Roland for calling in the queen; I did laugh.
I had a lot to be happy about with my 140-1 voucher on Jim Furyk looking like decent value and my laying of Tiger pre looking very clever. I indulged in a few pints but later on that evening was somewhat shocked at being offered 10-1 if I could beat Eoghan O'Dea in a swimming match in the lake on the 18th hole at the Hotel golf course. Eoghan had definitely enjoyed one or two pints more than me and we had to be pulled back from the lake as it was decided the odds on one of us drowning were too short.
Comments (2)
you shoulda known that yahoo helpme guy is a cardrack!