7.5.05
My WSOP tournament report
I had registered for the Razz tournament the previous day, so that
meant I could show up later. I decided to show up at 12:30. The
tournament didnt start till two. I was getting horribly nervous just
waiting for this, so I decided to watch the shorthanded no limit event
that was occurring. Fun times. I got to watch Phil Hellmuth be an ass.
That was fun. Finally, the event began.
As soon as I sat down I knew I hated my table. Let me give you a run
down of that one. I'm in seat 5. Seat one is an amatuer, who was
playing like a complete donk. I have no idea what his actual name was,
but he was deemed "Frankie" by one of the other players at the table.
The rest of the seats (and a link to their player profile for the
uninformed, though I know most of you are):
Seat two: Linda
Johnson
Seat three: Tom
McEvoy
Seat four: Maureen
Feduniak
Seat five: Me.
Seat six: Some old guy. He played really tight and would've been easy
to run over.
Seat seven: Funny story about seat seven. About a minute before we
started Marcel Luske came to the table. Every one else was already
seated and I said to myself "damn, Marcel Luske too?". Luckily, he had
the wrong table. We played a few hands before seat seven got filled.
Who actually sat down? None other than:
Johnny Chan
Seat eight: Minneapolis
Jim Meehan
Yeah, there are a few good players at my table.
So, anyway, play starts. I splashed around a bit in some pots,
honestly playing like a complete donk. I was nervy and playing badly.
The first level (an hour long) flew by and I was down to 1,200 in
chips (we started at 1,500). Considering my bad play, that wasn't such
a bad thing. I did win a few pots here and there, but I was playing
far too many hands. Soon into the second level, I get my cards and I
have ace, three, three (the ace was up). I raise and there are two
players (the donk in seat one and Maureen Feduniak). More cards,
betting and raising, and I'm looking at this board: ace, ace, 2, 4.
Right now, I have ace, two, three, four. One card from the best
possible hand, but I also have two pair. This is bad. Maureen Feduniak
has a made 10 low, and the donk has a made jack low and they're both
STILL IN THE HAND. All I need on the last card is to catch something
lower than a 10; and for both of them to catch a card worse than my
last card. My last card? A four. Three pair. Monster pot that went to
Maureen which would've made me chip leader at the table. I had
realized prior to this that I had been playing far too many pots and I
needed to tighten up (I took a quick smoke break at the end of the
first level because I knew I needed to get my head straight). Now I
was down to around 800 in chips. I had a few good starting hands,
which I played exactly as I should've. I played them fast, and
afterwards I caught bad cards. I even tried playing a few good hands
slowly, and still caught bad on later streets. Just before the first
break I was down to around 300 in chips and in dire straights. Before
the first break I had a good starting hand, a draw to an 8 low and I
decided not to push it. Maybe I should've.
First break came and went. During the break I talked to a professional
(a bald guy who I KNOW I've seen at a WPT final table; and fuck if I
can remember his name) who told me that my table was the buzz of the
tournament and had been dubbed the "table of death". Nice. Lot of good
that does me now.
First hand back I raise to open and the donk called. He caught bad
with the next card and I bet, he folded. Hey, I won a pot! Soon after
it was done though. I hadn't even bothered to take my backpack off
after the break because I figured I would be done soon. I get dealt an
ace up and look down to see a 2 and a 4 down. Hell, good enough for
me. I raise, get two callers (McEvoy and the old guy to my left). I
catch a queen and go ahead and bet all in for my last 80 chips. Old
guy raises and McEvoy calls. Caught a king with my next card. Old guy
and McEvoy get in a huge pot here, old guy raising and betting. I
actually catch good the rest of the way and make an 8 low (ace, 2, 4,
5, 8). Old guy, who had been raising the entire hand had a bad board
but caught a 7 on the river to take down both the main and side pots.
Got fucking rivered.
All told though it was a great experience. I could've played alot
better through the first level in the tournament. The second level
there really wasn't anything else I could've done; I was for the most
part card dead. Getting to sit at a table with all those big names
though? More of an experience than I ever could've asked for. Wish I
could've done alot better, but hey, what can you do? I got to sit at a
table and play with a few of the best. Just wish it could've turned
out better for me.
4:48pm
Just received word that Brian has been knocked out of the tournament. Brian was down to 350 in chips at the end of the first break and could not come back. Hopefully, we'll have further updates tonight. Here's to free drinks and showgirls B.
3:45pm
Down to 800, not getting any cards. **note times are Vegas time**
3pm
Down from 1500 to 1100.
2pm
Former main event champ and author Tom Mcevoy is two seats to Brians right. Jonny Chan is also at the table.
6.28.05
Early reports that Brian's plane blew up over the atlantic ocean are false. Besides, thats not even the correct direction. However, we are pleased to announce that Brian has made it to Vegas. He has also made the first important step on his way to greatness. Going to a place that many great leaders, warriors, and kings have gone before a turning point in their lives. He has located the smoking lounge at the Las Vegas Airport. Stay Tuned!
6.23.05
A scant few days away! The poker exploits of Brian James will be posted here every hour!
