So I headed into the Rio with everyone so as to scam a ride to the Rumble Nowhere Near The Rio . . . and Garry willingly obliged!

During the drive over to Barry’s Boxing Center I was informed that I would be (after a very annoying yes and no battle over the past day or so) participating in the charity tournament at the Golden Nugget in the afternoon. However there was a more important thing at hand . . . female boxing!

The fight was a charity match between Melissa Castello and Liv Boeree, and after many hours in the gym, both girls were ready to battle it out.

Liv Boeree and Melissa Castello
Liv Boeree and Melissa Castello preparing to battle it out

Side bets were taken left, right and centre; with most of the money heading to Liv’s side due to the physical shape she was in and the fact that Melissa looked scared out of her gloves.

Three rounds took place with Liv clearly winning round one before Melissa took it right to her in round two. Round three was fairly even, and in the end it would be Liv awarded the title by a slim two-point decision.

Words can’t really describe the fight, so check out the video here . . . you won’t be disappointed!

* * * * * * * *

With the dust settled at Barry’s Boxing Centre we made our way to the Golden Nugget to represent PokerNews in the Howard and Suzie Lederer Celebrity Charity Tournament for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Las Vegas.

Haley Hintze, Martin Harris, Jonno Boncek, GG and myself were representing thanks to some added funds from Tony G himself and with a few rebuys in our pockets action was always going to be . . . interesting!

GG and Jonno chipped up early as I was forced to rebuy early when my 9♣ 9♠ was no good against 4♣ 3♣ and K♦ 10♠. Forced to rebuy, I more than tripled up when my Kings held up, and once at the add-on period I was convinced by the other’s to top up my lowly stack.

After a while I was moved tables and encountered a double before GG joined me . . . and then the real action kicked off! David Singer moved to my right and I won a four way all in holding Q♥ Q♦ vs A♦ K♠, A♠ Q♠ and 10♣10h before finding another double holding Queens again.

Keith Sexton replaced David Singer as we all limped into the money. GG busted when he made a move dark over a button raise, and it was just left to me to carry the ship for PokerNews. We broke for dinner and fireworks with only twelve remaining and my short-stack looking very, very, very vulnerable!

However people around me would fall, and a double helped as well as I limped to the final table where I joined Howard Lederer and Dennis Phillips for the final nine as we played for the first prize of a $20,000 seat on Poker After Dark.

My goal now was to play tight and try and creep up the pay ladder as Apple MacBook Pro’s were up for grabs for the top spots. First hand I woke up with Aces under the gun and took the blinds and antes before a few players fell in the first orbit. Players continued to drop as I grinded my short-stack to four handed play and a guaranteed new laptop!

Lederer would fall next and with two friends holding 80% of the chips I was bound to bust in third. However both players suffered a brain glitch when Stephen John Bartlett shoved from the small blind with deuces and was snapped off by King-Jack. The board bricked out and I was heads up with 150,000 to 750,000 at the 10,000-20,000 (3,000) level.

I stepped away from the table and took a few deep breath’s knowing that I had reached another poker crossroad after the 2007 WSOP Main Event, 2007 Vic Champs, 2008 Aussie Millions and a deep stack both this and last year . . . and it was squarely on me to pick which road I took.

I limp-raised here and check-raised here to keep myself steady before seeing a potential double snapped away when my 9♣ 9♠ chopped against 6♥ 6♣ when the board ran out Broadway.

The crowd had really gathered by now, and I knew I had Stephen if I got some chips, as he seemed to struggle against me. I called him down real lightly in one spot to take the pot, and he just looked at his rail with an expression of man this is going to be tough.

With blinds now at 15,000-30,000 (3,000) I looked down at A♦ 5♥ and tried the old limp-to-trap plan and just called from the button. Immediately he slid a stack of 10,000-denomination chips into the pot and I insta-snap shoved for my last 220,000. He sighed and called and turned over Q♠ 10♦.

The board ran out 10♥ 8♥ 4♥ Q♣ 8♦ and I collected my new Apple MacBook Pro and other goodies as Stephen won a $20,000 seat on Poker After Dark.

* * * * * * * *

I kindly shook his hand, along with saying many thanks to Suzie and Howard for coordinating a great event, and quietly vacated the room.

I had about five people come up to me and say that I played so well heads-up (and I felt I smashed this guy in all honesty) and that I was unlucky to not take down the tournament.

Nothing can really describe how I was feeling apart from the word dejection coming to mind a lot. Yeah, the WSOP bubble hurt, and so did the Vic Champs final table bubble but coming second here is so far the worst beat I’ve copped in terms of poker!

Just imagine the exposure I could have got when I sat down with Phil Ivey, Phil Hellmuth, Patrik Antonius, Mike Matusow and Erick Lindgren (well that’s who I had in mind anyway!). Not only for Tilted Behaviour, but also for PokerNews, PokerNetwork and most importantly myself as both a poker player and journalist!

Well, I guess there is always next time . . .