Riding the wave

Tournaments

Laddies $10k
Entry $20
Runners 184
FIRST
$3,000

Trillion $5k
Entry $25
Runners 69
FT finished 6th
$350

Stars $80k
Entry $55
Runners 1,733
Cashed in 139th place

THANK YOU TOURNAMENT

Tonight I laid on a thankyou tournament for all those that supported me during my recent win. I donated $500 to the game and it was no more than they deserved.

It attracted 55 players and at the end of a very hard fought match in an extremely high quality field the winner emerged...

NUTS999

Congratulations Gerry!

Back to work

Well, now the euphoria has slightly died down, it was time to hit the felt again.

I had a session with the top man at badbeat today. The whole session revolved around one particular hand.

I had AJ on a board of AK5KK and wanted to check in position. I know it was 2nd nuts, but I could see no benefit in betting. He was either calling to split the pot or would reraise with the K and I would be forced to a decision. Unfortunately, the mentor was on holiday at the time and I think this impaired his thought process as I was advised to do exactly the opposite - and promptly lost my whole stack as the proud fish turned over K4!!

After a little discussion it was agreed that checking the river was the better option as the opponent was never going to call with a hand worse than mine. So although I feel good that I defended and won my case, it doesnt help the bankroll or stats for bad beat. Ah well, we all learn and watching someone else's screen with a delay and a timer telling you to hurry up is perhaps not the best situation to make such decisions. And it takes a very big and very decent man to admit a mistake and the amount I have learned and won because of things taught by the same player is ten-fold compared to this one glitch.

Tournaments.
Trillion 5k
Entry fee $47
Entrants 76
Position 3rd
Won $450

Pokerstars 80k
Entry fee $55
Entrants 1,739
Position 80
Won $130

BIG ONE CAME

Well, I have been telling people for some time now. I have been getting so close to a big one and got so unlucky I just knew that Aunti Karma was going to pay me back in a big way.

I half expected it to be Vegas, but once again close with no cigar. But I never stopped believing.

Then I was having my usual whinge about some sick cash hands on Sunday and happened to enter the Million Warm-up on Pokerstars along with the $10k on Trillion (where I have been having amazing success in their MTT)

So 4,050 players entered, each paying $215 for the privelage. I played the other MTT and 3 cash tables at the same time to keep me entertained.

The Trillion MTT ended in a similar manner to recent events with KK running into the mighty A7!

As I dribbled into the money in the million game, I was spotted by snookerkid who posted it on the forum. I now had the backing of what felt like a thousand eyes. To cut a long story short, 10.5 hours after the game started I had beaten 4,049 people and walked away with the title and a grand total of $114,665.



I knew it was coming, but this surpassed all of my distant dreams. I win of $10-15k would have been a massive achievent and made me very happy indeed. But a win of this size really is life-changing. Not just the amount of the 1st prize, but in poker status. We all win tournaments but it seems that until you win something of this standard it is just classed as another regular win. It really does give me a sense of 'I have made it' and if I never win another tournament in my life, I will be very happy.

Reports of the win are appearing all over the place. Most noteable of course is on www.laddiesforum.com but also on www.badbeat.com where I am a trader, using their money to play cash games all day long.

There are also reports here...

pokernews
4flush
wptpoker

Big one came! Long live Karma!

Visualise it... and you will recieve it. It may not be today. It may not be tomorrow. But it will come. The law of attraction! :D

A brief return story

Didn't manage to get an upgrade, but was happy that I had been pre-booked into seat 21H, a bulkhead on the aisle corner so I can really stretch out. More good news was that Gavinalways and his Grandad had managed to get the two seats across the aisle from me, so if I did want to chat to anyone (I rarely do on plane journeys), they were there. Hamsterboy and Sandy were also sat behind them so it was a cosy little cabin.

That was until my worst nightmare looked up at me. The two seats to my right were taken up by what ended up being a lovely couple... plus there screaming little brat of a child who had already begun going bananas over not being allowed to eat the emergency instructions or something and bearing in mind this was an overnight flight for us, I could not believe the Gods had done this to me after the emotional drain I had just had put on me. The only child in the whole of Vegas I am sure and it had to be on the Father's lap right next to me. I turned to Gavin etc. and they did not need me to say anything. I did mention I felt a forum post coming on and it was clear what I meant.

As I began unloading little bits from my rucksack and eventually sat down, I heard the husband mention to the wife that there were two identical seats over the other side and only one taken. I was last on the plane (it's my job to be last) so I mentioned I could move over there. They said they would be SO grateful to give them more room. Yes, of course. I would do it for them if I could [;)]. The husband also mentioned that the girl sat over there was a stunner, which of course had no bearing on my decision to ask for a move at all. I wanted away from the screaming brat... nothing more.

After persuading the hostess, I got over there and parked up all over again. And this girl was quite possibly the most gorgeous person I had seen in my life. No kidding. Ok, I did my best not to look and as I went to sit down (bad back remember so took a while), I turned to see all of them looking at me. The husband said 'see, he has a smile now' and I replied 'I am a cripple ffs'. Gavin said a similar thing and I re-iterated 'Come on boys, I am a cripple'.

As the plane settled down, the young lady went to the toilet and when she returned I took the same route. Not for any perverted reason, but when I came out of the toilet, Gavin was there... almost definitely for some perverted reason. Gavin then said to me 'you know when you said you are a cripple' and my face just went bright red as I had spotted something afterwards and had not put any emphasis on it... the little lady that I shouted over, sat next to Gavin, had both legs up against the bulkhead and rather large funny looking shoes on. At least one of her legs was plastic. [:I]

Why me??????????????????????????? [:I][:I][:I]

Day 10 and 11 in the Big Vegas house

Day 10 I decided to give everything a rest and stayed in my room again. I remember this one conversation with Corry which still makes me chuckle and will do for a long time. She had been trying to make me feel better by stating how well I had done getting to day 3. I had got so close to the money that this really helped. I then told her that one guy on 137k chips had failed to turn up for day 3… and got in the money for $21,000. I pointed out that at one stage during day 3 I had almost 150k in chips so could have just sat out. After a worrying silence, she responded with ‘Well why didn’t you then?’. Gotta love women.

Day 11 I managed to get in another hour in the sun and even got some shopping done for Corry and Tom which was the biggest relief.

This was my last day (leave tomorrow) and it was unfortunate that Laddies had arranged a bowling party tonight with a free bar. Not just because I wasn't able to bowl. Not just because I hate travelling after a night on the booze (pills problems must avoid alcohol too). But also because Lordlucan and S7eve had kindly invited us to the Burlesque night at Mandalay Bay (old age means both events out of the question).

So I left it as late as possible to arrive at the bowling party so I had the chance to say goodbye to everyone without the need to get trashed.

At last, the chance to take a photo of the forum crowd all together (Dee disappeared unfortunately).



From left to right: Lizard, Kosh, Kegsy, Murph, Canadean, Gavin

As for the burlesque club, I am very happy to have experienced it. But I guess it wasn’t the best plan to turn up sober. Hanging on to a railing ‘cos it was too painful to sit. Watching women carrying out chiropractically impossible things and not being able to replicate it annoyed me. Watching groups of party-goers going wild and not being able to go wild myself was frustrating. Having a regular mumbly voice and not wanting to shout above the music for fear of losing my voice and going home giving the impression I had been partying every night made me very quiet and boring. Everyone else seemed to have a fantastic time, so I am sure I will go again next time and am determined to enjoy it as much as everyone else did.

The club closed fairly early for Vegas and I guess I managed a relatively early night after all. It is as I reflect on tonight I realise I am getting old and am so happy to be home.

Will I go again next year? Wild horses will not stop me!!

My reflection:

Two weeks before Vegas I was fitter than ever. I was ready for everything and had all the right food and drink supplememts lined up for the slog known as the WSOP. (positive)
Almost two weeks before Vegas I had an accident that kissed my chances of fitness completely goodbye. (negative)
I should have sold my ticket as I was in no fit state to take part. (negative)
I almost made the money. (positive and negative)
I gained more fantastic experience and lasted longer than I ever expected. (positive)
I didn't get to do half the things I planned on doing in Vegas. (negative)
I met up with a great bunch of poker people - old and new - and Ladbrokes personnel are the best in the world for live entertainment and assistance. (positive)
Nobody died (except maybe the bloke who never turned up day 3). (positive)

A quick tot-up and the results are in. The positives have it, so the trip was a success.

As Delboy might say... Bon Voyage my petit pois! [:D]

DAY 9 in the Big Vegas House

It's taken me a while to pluck up the courage to write about the biggest day of my poker career. For various reasons, I just haven't had the guts or thought anyone had much interest now in the day's events.

But I guess it is the right thing to do to finish the experience off literally.

As mentioned before, day 3 meant I didn't get to bed until 3am and when I finally nodded off got first a call from Betfair at 4am wanting to ask me questions about their site, then a text from a mate wishing me well at 7:30 so this of course meant I had little sleep. This was all completely my own fault as I used my phone for an alarm and neglected to turn off the phone signal. Further proof that I really wasn't functioning on all cylinders.

Nevertheless, I had a little matter of the WSOP day 3 to contend with which was the first day that every remaining player was congregated in the same room. I think the average chipstack was around 100k and I had 75k, feeling a bit lowstacked and determined not to fizzle away as I did last year.

I was hoping for an easy table and my eyes were squinting harder than ever hoping what I saw in my sb was not 100% correct. It was...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SeWg0xZL-bk

There was a massive 250k stack to AJ's left and two 200k stacks to my right. Paul (ActionJack) had approx. 130k. So I felt that I would be needing to stand my ground on occasion.

As it turned out, Paul made me feel very comfortable and calmed me down when I said I was going out with a bang, not a fizzle. Ultimately, his calming influence was more of a help after I had worked my way up to 140,000 and then lost a monster pot and was ready to explode. That pot has haunted me ever since and I struggle to talk about it, but I guess it is best to get it out of the way for all to pull apart. As it happened, Paul said there was every chance he would have called too, but he may well have been just making me feel better.

The history: this Austrian guy had wanted to play every pot and the previous hand he called from mid position and then a 30k bet on the river holding just A3 on an A high board. Unfortunately, this slighlty influenced my demise.

I was playing hot, on a high and building my stack to a comfortable in-the-money position. There was 1/2 hour left in this session's play and I had gone from 79k to 150k. I knew the money was approaching and was looking forward to bullying a few stacks around, something I didn't have in me last year. I had all sorts of things going round in my head and the pills were making me float. I needed a massage but was waiting for the break.

The details are hazy and somewhat irrelevant, but I will try to re-create the hand as best I can. Blinds and bet sizes are all guesswork and aimed at protecting my stupidity! I got the mediocre holding of A7 with Austrian on the button. Easy to say now, but why didn't I just bin it? Well, I took the second best option and chose to raise with it. I guess the blinds were 800/1600 with 200 antes and I raised to 5000. Only the Austrian called so the estimate is 14k in the pot.

Flop comes Ac 8s 2d and I make a standard continuation bet with top pair of 7k. Called. I begin thinking he may have me outkicked but also that he may have something daft like A3 again. 28k in pot.

Turn 7d. Bingo. Now I pray he has A3. I bet out 15k and amazingly he re-raises to 35k. I do not want to go out with this hand so now want to keep the pot small. Not easy from here as I know another bullet is coming, but if he has 88 or 22, this is sick. I call after a long long thought. Pot now 98k ish.

River is 3d and I hope that card will stop the betting with 3 diamonds on board. I check. He bets out 40k. Not what I wanted at all. Why didn't it scare him? Why did he bet so big? Why is my head spinning and sweating? Is this really the wsop main event? How much will I have left if I fold? (As it happened, at least 20k more than I started the session with). Is he bluffing? He must be bluffing. Runner runner diamond and he is betting at it? Would he do that with a set? I took so long and think I knew I was beat when I eventually said call. He had 8d Td. I felt sick.

I was down to a little over 50k and finished the session on 45k and ready to throw in the towel. I suffered the second session and began realising I was fizzling out just as I had told myself I would not do. There were raises and re-raises all over and I was waiting for a moment that just didn't arrive. All players were playing in the manner I had decided I would play as we approached the bubble. But the only chance I had to make any raise was from under the gun and my cards just didn't give me that chance.

I returned from the dinner break short-stacked. All the way down the green mile from my room I had listened to 'the secret' to try to gain inspiration.
The situation is summed up here...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvlnI-6qhUs

I was full of beans and told all the aggressive players at the table that I was taking no prisoners as it seemed for the last 5 hours, they had been raising relentlessly. So the message was clear, trying to get them to slow down a bit. Whatever they did, I was re-raising allin. First hand I am on the button and got my chips ready to push without looking. Bearing in mind I had not had a hand for almost 6 hours and there had been no opportunity to raise as someone always raised before me, it was unlikely they would take much notice. But on this occasion they did... and I looked down to see QQ! No caller. Just typical.

A few hands later and blinds had eaten me again. I pushed from probably the cut-off with A9 hoping to pick up the blinds. Immediate call and I look down to see my nemesis KK. It just had to end that way. A great flop of 78T gave me great hope but it wasn't meant to be and I finished something like 40 off the money ($21,000 minimum).

I can't really remember too much of the rest of the day. I know they had Karaoke in the lounge as I have some video clips...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zN-Ki3ZprZs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nI7L73J_ROY

But no matter how much Mad Marty begged me, I could not bring myself to get up and sing. Eventually I gave in and went to my room to get changed out of my poker gear and into something a bit smarter. I returned at only 11pm ish to find them clearing away the Karaoke gear. Just about summed my day up.

Sorry if it sounded like depression set in. It had.

Feel free to give the rubdown on the play that killed me. I have been doing it for days.

DAY 8 in the Big Vegas house

The usual start to the day spending hours trying to even move and dosing up with painkillers whinge whinge. Unfortunately, this happened to be the biggest day of my poker career as I prepared to take my walk down the green mile to the Main Event area.

I started the day on 24,400 and the day started slowly. One very big highlight for me was laying down KK pre-flop for the first time ever for me. Take a read and tell me what YOU would have done in the biggest tournament of the world...

I have 20,000 chips. UTG flat calls and 3rd position makes it 1,500 to go. 4th position calls the 1,500 and I raise it up to 6,000. I have already discounted 4th position as having a big hand. It gets back to utg and he raises allin for 45,000 chips which easily covers me, but may have also covered the other two. I am already trying to make my decision and 3rd position folds. I lift my cards and I would guess those around me saw them. I begin talking about having nightmares about this hand when someone points out that position 4 is yet to act. He takes a good 8 minutes to decide and actually tells me he thinks we have the same hand. Of course, I can't help but think he has KK too which would leave me virtually dead. He eventually folds mumbling that he had a monster, so I am convinced if I need outs, I am struggling. After a good few minutes more, I fold my KK face up. Position 4 reveals he actually had AK. UTG flipped over AA so I had one out.

Well I then got a couple of non-believers to push me around and I was soon up to 70,000. I guess my image was now that I could be pushed off any hand and perhaps they were right.

Nothing happened in session 2 and as is so often the case, I dribbled back to 53k.

Session 3 was where it all happened and with 20 minutes remaining I decided to cave in and have a well-needed back massage. As I paid her off, before sitting down I grabbed a card and half the audience must have seen it was Ad. I then went back to get the other and the other half must have seen Ah. Luckily the short-stack didn't see the audience and we got it all in. He had AK. 3 hands later, precisely the same hand occurred and I managed to get arrogant big-stack to call 60k allin with his AK. Now I was getting loud and emotional and 1prophet came over to watch. I could hardly bring myself to look but heard Jon screaming 'King. King'. My head was spinning and I couldn't get my head round why I would want a King? As the chips were passed over to me, Jon said 'Oh, it was YOU with the AA' LOOOOOOOOOOOL. Ended the session on 126k.

Session 4 also started well and I soon found myself on 160k, but then the well-documented KK hand happened. This hand really is kkilling my kkareer. To cut a long story short, I had reraised pre-flop against the arrogant little mummy's boy and he had called out of position to my Kings. He called some real big bets with the board coming 2334 and won a 90,000 pot from me when he hit the 5 river. This hand will haunt me forever. I ended the session on 101,000 and not feeling happy.

Session 5 I took every outdraw going and I was doing well to keep under control. It was close to my second goal and making day 3 was going to be a big achievement for me, so I stayed quiet and just let them get on with it. Well, not quite. But quiet enough. Ended the day and into day 3 with 79,300 chips. I guess below average but if asked before the tournament would I take it, I would prob have said yes.

Now it was 2am before I got away from the poker area and we had been playing since 12 midday. Whinge whinge body cracking but I need to hit the sack. It was difficult to walk past the heaving whore's bar, but I showed great discipline. I finally got into bed at 3am knowing I had to get up to play my HU league game (final 32) in the morning and then day 3 of the world series of poker. So I need sleep bad.

Now just lately I have been getting calls from a number I hadn't recognised and I sent a couple of texts to them saying I am in Vegas and will cost a fortune for both if I answer. One time I did answer and a lady asked for Nick. I explained she had the wrong number and I would appreciate she didn't ring me again as it is generally 4am when it rings. I just about started nodding off when BRIIIIIIIIIING BRIIIIIIIIIIING. FFS, someone gonna get a mouthful.

"Hello, is the Richard?".
"Yesh, it is".
"Hi Richard. This is Ben from Betfair. We haven't seen you for a while and wondered if you would mind answering a few questions."

I am sure you can imagine how the rest of the conversation went. How the hell can they phone a poker player during the WSOP without thinking that player might actually be at the WSOP. They have a VIP stand here. Just makes you wonder if they are trying to nobble the opposition.

So, I am now steaming again and eventually nod back off. Luckily, the phone went BRIIIIIIIIN DE FEKKKING BROOOOOOOOOONG at 7:30am and I got a text from a mate saying something about a nightshift. I couldn't read the rest as my eyes were stuck together. I do appreciate the best wishes sent and that prob sounds a bit harsh, but it is not the most positive start to the day. Or maybe it was for the best as I was so dosed up woth pills, I may never have woken! LOOOOOOOOL

Have a great little good luck clip which I need to convert and upload later, but for now it is bon voyage and see you later.

DAY 7 in the Big Vegas house

Well, it was fairly predictable really.

With 99% of Laddies qualifiers playing day 2b, this was never going to be a rock 'n' roll day. I made it to the pool for an hour but found it was so hot that my head was actually melting into a ball of Pina Colada on the sunbed. I did my best to at least change colour, but I could only manage an hour. The plan was to wander straight down to the Laddies lounge, but I had little option but to go and shower what was left of this slowly wasting body.

There were just a few of us in the lounge and we enjoyed a couple of hours of poker, pool and giant cookies. Then they began arranging their night out and although I am sure it was only going to be for a meal, it was time for a back seat. It's not that I can't trust myself to not get bladdered before the biggest day of my life, it's just the fear of being away from what is now my 'home' with this bloody back.

I took the safe option and had yet another night in. So it was the end of 'into the wild' and then 'the bank job' for me, both entertaining films in completely different ways.

I took some advice and turned the aircon off overnight to see if it changed my comfort level. It didn't and I woke with everything-ache again which is now the norm. I have started the long process of dosing up with painkillers before breakfast and then making the long walk down the green mile to the biggest arena on the planet.

Let's pray for a superb day 8 for all Ladbrokes players, of which there appear to be hundreds left. Good luck everyone.

DAY 5 and 6 in the Big Vegas house

Sunday was spent chilling out in the Laddies lounge while the bulk of Team Ladbrokes played day 1d.

Once again, Laddies players excelled as just about all of them seemed to progress to day 2. And the big boys were out in force today, although this is the only one I managed to video. Anyone recognise the Laddies player?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILkrddtPhm0

There was a hell of a lot of discussion about the table seating today. Bearing in mind there were probably 300 tables of 9 players, a rough estimate means that probably 1 in every 6 tables would contain a Ladbrokes player. Well, in one particular corner there were 6 tables (all next to each other) that contained TWENTY-EIGHT Ladbrokes players. One table had SIX of the 9 players wearing Laddies shirts. The seating arrangements are apparently completey random, but this was very peculiar...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3P-ZLrws22s

A KK stroy from Radfar...
Kourosh had got a bit low (8k I think) and looked down at AQ. A raise from early position and two callers gave him the perfect chance to steal the lot, so he banged it obviously hoping to win it right there. The initial raiser called in a flash and the other two folded. They later said that they had folded AQ and AJ! Initial raiser turned over KK, but they lived up to their reputation by somehow failing to avoid the one remaining Ace in the pack and it's go go go go go go Kosh! :D

I finally caved in today and went for a corridor massage. I think what finally persuaded me was an offer from Mad Marty to go for a naked steam sauna with him the following day. The massage suddenly became quite attractive. As I sat leaning forward in the extremely comfortable contraption, I reached out and grabbed the masseur by the bollox explaining 'Now this isn't going to hurt us is it?" As it turned out, I think he definitely helped, although it may just be because he hurt every other part of me making me less aware of the lower back pain. I will definitely go back for another session before day 2 begins.

Day 5 evening started with a session with Girlwonder in whore's bar where we were soon joined by Sinbad. As the ME came to a close, we were joined by... well.. everyone and the Pina Collada's began to go down like a $10 treat from one of the late night attendees. The rest is a blur, but I know when I woke up on day 6 I could once again barely move. Everything-ache meant I had little choice but to stay in my room. As I write this on day 7, I have ventured out for breakfast and survived so hopefully tomorrow's day 2 will be without too much pain. I will of course be avoiding anything today which might cause problems.

The breakfast:
I decided to go for the buffet breakfast at $18. I would have cost me that for just the coffee if I had ordered it from the room, so as I didn't want to wander all over the hotel looking for a better offer, it seemed a valid choice. The queue for the till was 12 deep, but that's not a problem when all you have to do is hand over your room card right? Well, it is if the little old till lady has decided to wander over to another queue which seemed to be an ATM machine to help some old man that was struggling with the technology. As approx. 11 'managers' just stood watching the action, nobody attempted to take over the till and by the time she returned and got going again, it was a good 20 minutes before I got to the front of the queue. [^] I handed over my card to the little old lady and she responded with 'ID'. I asked wtf she wanted my ID for and she kind of hinted I might be a tramp who just found the room key. I said all I want is some breakfast, can I pay cash please. She replied 'yes, over there' and pointed to the queue that the little old man had now held up for 20 minutes. I trundled off to that queue and 10 minutes later, I was at the front. I followed the instruction to perfection but each time I put the $10 bill in, it threw it back out. The people behind were helping me and we tried every combination and changed the note 3 times. Again, the managers stood by watching and chatting to each other before one loud guy had had enough and shouted to them to come help. It's times like this I wish I wasn't so shy. The manageress came over, took one look at my notes and said 'you are using new notes. it doesn't take them'. Well how the ^&*%$^& am I supposed to know what is a new or old note ffs. She wandered off again and now I am becoming an American. "Well what am I meant to %^*&ing do then? You won't take my room card and now you won't take my notes". Luckily, the lady who had been helping me swapped notes for me. Incredibly, the machine now asked me 'Do you want to add a tip now or at the table?'. [:O] Are they taking the piss now or what? I stood at my allocated table and ordered every single drink. I then went to the buffet and piled up my plate to the roof with English, Chinese, Indian, food and topped the pile off with 12 muffins. I ate 3 sausages and a bit of scrambled egg and left it all. I felt a little better. [:o)]

Day 2a is today so I will venture down to the lounge to see if any of our lot are involved although I think most played days 1c and 1d, so will all be returning for 2b tomorrow.

DAY FOUR in the Big Vegas house

It still feels very much like Day 3, but today is my day for the Main Event.

My back is agony and I have dosed up on painkillers. It feels like it could go at any time and I am less than confident about sitting for hours in what is going to be no doubt a very uncomfortable chair.

I soon need to take the long walk down the green mile to register and get my seat number, so I will take a long soak first and hopefully ease the pain before making my final decision.

Blog will be updated later.

UPDATE:

Decided to dose up on painkillers and went for it. Really struggled to get down to the poker rooms and knew I would be in for a painful day.

First break had 16k in chips
Second break had 13k in chips
Third break had 11k in chips
Fourth break had 33k in chips
Fifthe break had 24k in chips

What happened during the day? I have no idea. I hardly remember a hand. At one point I was woken at the table when it was my turn to go. I have never been in such constant pain for such a long period of time and had just resigned myself to an early bath. I just could not concentrate. I took 3 days worth of painkillers in 13 hours and it still didn't work. Maybe it was a good thing as I just played cards instead of trying to get too imaginative.

The day started ok. We were all raring to go and the Americans being Americans, it couldn't just be a case of shuffle up and deal. That bit was the only bit I wanted to video but unfortunately missed it. Here is just a snippet of what we had to endure before we did eventually shuffle up and deal. You will have to excuse the lack of humour in this report. It has just taken me 20 minutes to roll the bones out of bed and it just ain't happening...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u12La00IAiQ

David Sklansky was sat on the table next to me. Clonie Gowan on my second table. Isabelle Mercier was dressed like a little minx and they all deserved so much more of my time. But once I sat, I stayed sat and it was so frustrating being a professional celeb hunter not being able to do anything about it.

The last 5 hours I had Padraig Parkinson on my SB and this guy really is hilarious. He does very little but take the piss although there were some very interesting stories in between. At one point he asked me what language this particular American was talking and was it 'mutterish'. Very funny man and I would not want to be his liver on the first day after the WSOP. He doesn't drink from January to July until the end of the WSOP then treats himself for the second part of the year!

The day ended with us all being given bags and cards to sign with names and chipcounts etc. and the chipping up process added a good half hour to the day. By the time I stumbled back to whore's bar I had to turn right to get to the lifts. There is nothing worse with trying to enjoy yourself when someoene is as negative and whinging as I would have been so I chose to bypass it. Yes, shocking I know but that's how bad things were... whinge whinge.

Things can only get better.

Addition:

When I say Padraig (or porridge as I call him) was taking the [cen] a lot... the guy who played cards with his foot was on the table next to us! [:D]

Oh, and there was one point I was so so close to hijacking Brunson's shopping buggy each time he drove past. Might try and hire one for Wednesday! [:o)]

DAY THREE in the Big Vegas house

Was a room service day!

Head hurts. Back hurts. Throat hurts!

"Do not disturb" on everything.

Ouch.

DAY TWO in the Big Vegas House

Today was a day of really just chilling out and taking some video clips for the forum before joining the Ladbrokes team for their now famous party in the Voodoo lounge tonight.

The plan for the video was to give an idea of just how far the walk is from the main part of the hotel to the poker rooms. I have given it the affectionate name the green mile, but my guess is that it is longer than a mile, especially for someone with a bad ba.. nope, I must be positive from here on!

I took clips at every corner and the plan was to piece together the clips to make one video.

As I am writing this from Day 4 having totally wiped out Day 3, my back and head are killing me and as is now customary for these events, I have lost my voice and a large chunk of my will to live. So I have decided to give a start, middle (Laddies lounge) and end shot. I am sure most genius film directors go through stages like this!

So, here we are at whore's bar where the corridor begins to the WSOP...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aN2n6iogJTM

On Leg 1 I bumped in to MGR-Gary from Mansion who kindly invited me to the Mansion party at the Bellagio - the same night as the Laddies one. D'oh! Was nice to meet him though and he seems as nice in real life as many of you will know he is on MSN and the forum. Leg 2 I bumped into s7eve coming the other way and we arranged to meet later at the pool for a Daiqiri or two. Needless to say, he got distracted. It was diificult to not keep bumping into people down the green mile and it really hits home how long it will take on the day (actually today now) to get there on time. Actually, when I got up a while ago, it was touch and go between painkillers or refund. I have gone for the painkillers for now and hope the decision doesn't need to change in the next few hours. A long soak in the bath might do the trick.

Half way down the Green Mile...
Some more scenic views

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECDmNmbWHXY

Laddies lounge...
In this clip I mention 'some other famous person'. I remembered after it was Edward Ihre, the very top man at Ladbrokes! :D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6yJq3nW0qgg

Finally, we arrive at the Amazon room and see what all the fuss was about. Was it worth the walk? Probably...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOvgeOH39LE

Returning from the WSOP area with Gavin, we went through some kind of poker convention area with various merchandise being sold. I seriously have no idea what was being sold here, but Gavin made me video it anyway!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1T8vaGCVXp4

So, I got my footage and off to the pool for an hour in the sun. I decided on a Pina Colada and that hour in the sun was like 5 hours in any other sun. I was totally de-hydrated and decided I would need tons of water and a little nap back in the room. I woke up at 9:15pm and the party closes at 10:00!! Arghhhhhhhhh!!!

So a quick shower and shave and off I ran. I knew it was on the roof so jumped in the lift and hit 'floor 20', the highest level. I swear it stopped at every bloody level on the way up. When I got to the top, a girl was sat reading and I asked her which way to the Voodoo lounge. She said I need to go back down to the bottom and head for the Masquearade tower. I swear it stopped at every bloody level on the way down! I must have asked 4 more people for directions and eventually ended up at the lifts for Masquerade tower. The numbers in the lift went up to 39, then 50 and 51 so obviously I press 51. Just as obvious was it didn't light up. In fact, the highest number that lit was 38. I tried every lift and they were all the same, so I figured I would have to go to 38 and walk the rest of the way. I wandered aimlessly around floor 38 until I found the stairs... going down! WTF, I was now in panic mode. Then I saw two large doors and my curiosity got the better of me. Inside was the laundry room and nobody else... but a lovely looking lift which of course just had to go to every level. I pressed 51 and bingo, off we went. The doors opened at the top and I was in the middle of a very busy kitchen and getting some very strange looks. I had this vision of Gordon Ramsay appearing and throwing a load of abuse at me, but after a little persuasion they let me into the Voodoo lounge through the back door.

I have already posted the video link, but just to keep them in the same place, ....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oh-VTv6Z-Bs

Day one in the Big Vegas house

The tour started well as I managed to get to the Hilton Gatwick in a little over an hour and my suitcase was roomed without me having to touch it thanks to Corry at one end and the little Spanish porter at the Hilton.
Things took a slight turn as I drove round and round the south terminal looking for the little signs that they told me would direct me to the car park. I returned to the Hilton twice to ask again for directions, but for some reason the little Spanish porter seemed more obsessed with me wearing my headset in the restaurant than helping me find the car park. Each time he would say "Headphono to meal"... "Headphono to meal". I kept telling him I never wear my headset to the restaurant but he just would not listen, waiving his hands frantically in a Manuel type manner. Eventually, I gave up and headed off back towards the M23 to try and reverse my steps to find the damn car park. It was at this point when I saw the sign for North Terminal that my translation skills came to full fruition and realised Manuel wasn't actually saying "Headphono to meal" but "Head for North Terminal". Signs became rather clear from then on.

Hotel went without a hitch and managed to get a lovely lad to take my luggage from my room and direct to the Virgin ticket desk to try and blag an upgrade to get more space. I was introduced to the lovely Di who said she will put me top of the list if any become available.

Arriving at the gate for our already 2 hour delayed flight, the queue was approx. 1.34 miles long and the room was crammed full of sweaty impatient travellers, so I decided to go to the gate opposite which was empty and stratch out a bit. I was soon spotted by Bigadz and the lovely Emma who decided to join me. After about an hour, the queue seemed to do a u-turn and all started walking back to the terminal. We learned there was a further delay of 2 hours and the reason given was that they could not get the engines to start. I have heard some very good reasons for aircraft delays before, but that is possibly the most valid reason ever... Engines wouldn't start!

Anyway, to cut a long story my name was called out over the tannoy and they sold me an upgrade dirt cheap. They also took me thru an emergency door to ump the queue and then shepherded me on to the plane before everyone else. It was all a bit OTT for a bad back, but have to say big pat on back to the Virgin staff. The seat itself was unreal. It didn't go as far as to lie flat, but was so far ahead of standard seats, it was well worth the extra and it is always nice to OD on champagne before a long haul flight. One minor problem was that Dale Hoy (played lots of TV poker events) was sat behind me and once we got chatting... well it meant me turning my head to the side to listen and when I eventually looked back forward after an hour it was like trying to wrench a rusty old nut on a downpipe. The flight itself was possibly the best I could have hoped for and the only time I had to lift my luggage was off the carousel which went without too much of a hitch.

By now I realised my chances of sharing a cab with Gavin and Oldgit were slim as I didn't have a clue what they looked like. So I took full advantage of being let off the plane first and got the first taxi to the Rio... only to find a queue of approx. 50 people and only one station open for checking in. Ah well, I am sure it will be worth the wait.

A quick unpack and shower and it was off to the bar to see who was about. The bar everyone congregates at is known as 'whores bar' as at a particular time of night, they all congregate there too. It is a general meeting are for poker players as it is at the beginning of the run down to the WSOP area and it is difficult to go anywhere in the Rio without walking past it. I had already spoken to s7eve who said he would meet me in the bar in a few minutes and that we were going to gatecrash the Betfair party that evening. I am not normally one for these party shenanigans, but as it was my first night I reluctantly agreed. I had by now met Gavin and had also invited him to the bar, but at this point was stood with Kosh, Canadean, Bilthebandit, Kegsy (and his mate), Dee and Murph. Kosh explained to us that he had tried finding the bar earlier but after walking past the bar many times eventually asked a few hotel workers where he could find 'whores bar'. Bet that went down well. :D

A good 3 hours later and after meeting and greeting the usual suspects at these events, I was now well and truly oiled when s7eve finally turned up. Apparently, this has become a bit of a trademark for s7eve as he tends to bump into a lot of people along his route. Nobody he knows... he just bumps into things a lot!

1st video...
A few laddiesforum members... (beware naughty words as some were tipsy)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6AZMbu0efYo

Now he took me aside to tell me he had been given this special invite for ten people from James666 to the premier PKR party but only had 4 spaces left. There were approx. 7 or 8 of us laddiesforum people stood chatting so I suggested we try to blag it for all of them but s7eve didn't want to risk it so asked which 4 wanted to join us. Of course, their loyalty shone through and they decided they would rather stay together. So off we trotted without them. Except, at the last minute one of them changed his mind and decided to join us... so Canadean tagged along.

So seven of us jumped in a limo and off to the Venetian for the premier PKR party and everyone was all excited in anticipation. We wandered around the Venetian for some time turning every corner looking for the dancing girls and listening for the vibe. The bar areas were busy and the restaurant was heaving but we could not find our premier PKR party. Eventually we had to ask and were pointed to a specific area. As we turned the corner we were met by the quietest area in the Venetian, perhaps in all Vegas. James666 was sat with a few people that can be described best as elderly family members waiting for their dinner. James is a lovely bloke and said we would have to split up into one group of 5 and one of 2. For what? The meal of course. Well, I politely said that I hadn't realised it was for a meal and had already eaten so I would wait for everyone at the bar. Joe from Isle of Man took a different slant on events and explained "I came for a party, not a fookin family meal, so I am going with Rich to the bar." Canadean tagged along.

s7eve did say he made it clear we were going for a meal, but he forgets that Big Vegas is always watching! :D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-qD_5WV7ds

Anyway, all joking apart we had a very lovely evening and as the night went on the bar became raunchier and raunchier which of course made me feel rather uncomfortable but I coped. So, first day and having got up at 7:30am uk time it was now 9:30 uk time next day so not a bad start. After downing numerous pills and throwing alcohol on top, feeling old and voice beginning to slur and fuzz... s7eve decided he wanted to leave! :D So I said I would go back to the hotel with him as I was knackered too. Canadean tagged along.

Arriving back at the Rio, I said to s7eve just stare at the lifts and DO NOT avert your gaze towards whores bar. DO NOT avert your gaze towards whores bar. s7eve stared at the lift for a good 3 seconds... then averted his gaze towards whores bar and forgot all about being tired. I showed much more discipline and continued to the lifts to finish the day while ahead. Canadean tagged along (with s7eve!)

Tonight is the premier Ladbrokes party. And Ladbrokes do know how to look after you...

www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkEaNhVvhzE

Apologies for droning on, but based on last year there is every chance the reports may start to dwindle so may as well overdo it now.

Hope all is well back home and best of luck to everyone.