tilted behaviour

After a long few days, I was still battling away moving from the straight-forward events over to day two of Event 40: $2,500 Seven Card Razz.

Fellow PokerNews team member Mickey Doft was still alive, but unfortunately he hit the rail along with plenty of others as the 136 players were whittled down to just fifteen by the end of play with Stuart Rutter, Jennifer Harman, Chris Bjorin, Vladimir Shchemelev and recent bracelet winner Frank Kassela still in contention.

Returning for the final day of play.

Once we made the final table, we lost a few players quickly before a funny situation came up where six of our remaining players had to force a break in the event to go late register for the $10,000 HORSE event that was going on across the other side of the room.

Then at around 2:38am the Amazon Room went completely pitch black!

All the power and the lights switched off, only to have the back-up generator (I assume) kick in around thirty seconds later. The players at our final table covered their chips, the players in the HORSE did the same as the dealers also protected their floats before order was restored. Apparently parts of the Strip had their power out as well, including the space-beaming light that soars high from the Luxor.

Eventually full power and lights were restored within around ten minutes as play continued in all of the remaining tournaments and cash games as we continued the battle from three down to just one from the main feature table.

Once heads up was reached it was Event 15 Champion Frank Kassela battling Event 27 Runner-Up Maxwell Troy.

The chip lead changed multiple times before Kassela began to edge ahead of his younger opponent as the railbirds slowly vacated. As the clock ticked close to 5am, Kassela would claim his second coveted gold WSOP bracelet of the series after being the shortest stack coming into day two and walk home with the $214,085 first prize and secondary piece of wrist bling!

After a regretful day off, I was back behind the computer covering day two of Event 35: $10,000 Heads Up No Limit Holdem Championship with Eric.

Returning with 64 players and the aim of playing down to eight, we both thought that it would be a very long day. Fortunately however it was completely the opposite as players punted their stacks off to see matches end extremely early over the three rounds of play. Eric even had time to go home for a few hours! Since each round had a designated starting time, DK and I spent the hour-plus downtime between each round walking aimlessly round the Rio before having to return back to our event each time.

The final eight were a tough group of players including the online stars of Jason Somerville, Faraz Jaka and Ernst Schmejkal, Europeans Alexander Kostritsyn and Ludovic Lacay, along with the tournament veterans of Kido Pham, Ayaz Mahmood and Vanessa Rousso.

Returning for the final day, the first three matches were over fairly quickly, but it would be the Rousso / Schmejkal match that would take over four hours until the German got the better of the French-American.

Taking a short break for dinner, we returned with a final four only to have that cut down to three once Kostritsyn exited when his Aces were run down by Schmejkal’s trip Kings as the final match between Somerville and Mahmood took an additional two hours before Mahmood proved victorious.

Both Mahmood and Schmejkal were given thirty minutes before they would sit down to battle in a best-of-three format for the coveted gold bracelet and $625,682 in first place prizemoney!

Unfortunately for both Martin and I the run-good that had been experienced during the whole event had been all used up as the first match between the two went for over six hours before Mahmood finally claimed the win around 6am before play was paused for the night so the players – and us – could get some much needed rest.

Although it was my day off, I of course was obligated to return to the Rio to cover the extended final day at 7pm.

With Elaine joining me at the desk, our fingers were crossed that the day would be quick, but unfortunately it would be another long one as the second match made the five-hour mark. Fortunately however Mahmood would be victorious meaning that a third match wouldn’t be needed after the most see-sawing heads up battle that I have ever witnessed!

While playing the ladies event yesterday Elaine fell sick (insert pregnant rumours) and consequently couldn’t work her shift covering day two of Event 23: $2,500 Limit Holdem Six-Handed.

Replacing GeorgiaPeach will beeeeeeee thkcduckworth!

Well . . . that’s what the announcer should be saying . . . but alas it was no more then a schedule swap and exchange of emails to see me vacate the Hard Rock pool for the blogging desk.

Although we worked for twelve hours, Eric and I crushed the blog busting out post after post at an incredibly fast rate until we hit that 1am mark where everyone just wanted to past out. That includes the players too because once we hit the last three tables play slowed right up as we struggled to get anything decent to write about.

Play eventually finished just after 3am with twelve still remaining as a car load of us returned to the Hard Rock.

Greg, Mickey and I decided to pop into Mr. Lucky’s 24-7 to grab some pancakes as the degeneracy soon began.

Playing some Chinese Poker soon switched to me and Mickey doing a nine-card Omaha flop for the bill as my trips held up against his el oh el King-high. He soon discovered that my side of the bill was more than his and he flipped out . . . the result . . . we started high-carding for dollar bills as Greg soon joined in too.

It then became Razz flips before Mickey upped the ante and put all his change on the table so we could play a 2-7 Draw Lowball hand. Unfortunately for both he and Greg, I made a pat ten-seven perfect after we all were all-in predraw as I took Mickey for all the money he had in his wallet.

Unfortunately however this run good is the first I’ve experienced in the near three weeks I have been here in Las Vegas!

Not a single thing is going right. I’m losing every prop bet, getting two-outered in poker, crapping out and pai gowing to be down like something ridiculous. Here is the current tally of my run bad – well the stuff that my brain hasn’t blocked out as yet – and you will only see one profitable session!

$1-3 NLH at the Rio = $236
$1-2 NLH at the Hard Rock = $35
$2-4 Dealers Choice at the Hard Rock = $240
Prop Betting (Remko) = $10 (was -$180 about a week ago)
Prop Betting (F-Train) = $10
Prop Betting (Heath) = $10
Prop Betting (Donnie) = $50
Prop Betting (Ben) = $10
Craps (Hard Rock) = $700
Craps (Binions) = $100
Craps (Fitzgeralds) = $100
Roulette (Golden Gate) = $200
Bonus Texas Holdem (Hard Rock) = $150
Slots (Hard Rock) = $20
PokerStars Cash Games = $50
Full Tilt Poker Cash Games = $100
Betfair Sports Betting = $200

Hopefully Mickey has flicked the switch for me and things will turn round on all fronts!

With Mickey flying in from the east coast late last night, Greg, Mickey and I decided to all meet up for some lunch at the 24-hour dinner-type restaurant called Mr. Lucky’s 24-7.

Funnily enough we all ordered breakfast and spent the next hour or so catching up and sharing laughs before they both retired to their rooms for some quiet time as I prepared for the Brunson Beer Pong Invitational III!

I wasn’t actually playing, but we had a few representatives in with F-Train and Eric teamed up while GG and Kristy were also playing. Throw in Doyle and Todd Brunson, Erick Lindgren, Vanessa Rousso, Eli Elizra, lots of alcohol and pride on the line, and it was bound to be an interesting day.

F-Train and Eric busted first round while GG and his partner made it through to round two only to exit pretty quickly.

GG shoots . . . and scores!

GG and Donnie however started some $20 games and proceeded to make some handsome moolah as they dispatched of team after team – including smashing by Beer Pong cherry . . . but in my defence I did manage to sink six cups like a slanty-eyed white Kobe, however it was just my partner Rich that epically failed after declaring his Beer Pong super skills!

We all called it an early night again with meetings tomorrow before the WSOP kicks off on Friday with Event 2: $50,000 Poker Player’s Championship (8 Game Mixed) being my first event of the 2010 series.

Arriving at Hong Kong in the afternoon, I was held up at the airport for a couple of hours waiting for a direct fairy to Macau.

Once I managed to check into the Grand Lisboa I made my way up to one of the most pimped out rooms I’ve stayed in while on the job for PokerNews / PokerNetwork (although this was a PokerStars gig).

My room at the Grand Lisboa – includes massive rotatable Plasma, two bathroom TV’s and in-built sauna and jacuzzi . . . BALLA!!!

I had a shower and caught up with Eric who had already been round for the day, and although I wanted to go eat and hang out, he wanting to crash in the room for a while. Consequently I went and got some food and made my way to the poker table.

Sitting down in a HK$10-20 NLH game with HK$2,000 (which works out to be $300 and blinds at $1-3) I never managed to gather any momentum and finished down HK$200. I did feel that I played really well, but just didn’t get a chance to win many pots apart from the occasional three-bet pre or steal from the button after a gazillion limpers.

Donnie finally arrived, and we got a chance to catch up before we all decided to meet the following day so we could see the sights that Macau has to offer.

Donnie, Eric and I were joined by Elissa as we set on a hike around town.

Although I was trying to lead us to the Ruins of St. Pauls, I was basically winging it before – after an hour of walking – running into a hotel to grab a map and some directions.

Eventually we found the Guia Fortress and the Ruins of St. Pauls before finding Gloria and the other video guys filming some b-roll as we all made a return back to the hotel before deciding to take a dip in the pool.

After Donnie, GG and I talked crap for an hour or so in the pool we all jumped in the sauna before heading upstairs to get changed as the whole team made our way to the Venetian to get some grub.

We found an Italian restaurant and ate some great food while sharing PokerNews stories from the past few years before retiring for the night.

Flying over the French countryside as the sun rose was an awe-inspiring sight!

Not only did it reinforce the feelings of wanting to head to Paris, but it also presented a strong case for hiring a car and driving round the countryside experience what France really has to offer – the food, the people and the beautiful landscape.

We touched down in Charles De Gaulle and flirted with the idea of making our way into the city to visit the Eiffel Tower, but after a very tilted Eric threw a tantrum we decided just to camp it out in the terminal for four hours instead of risking missing our flight.

With only a few Euro’s in our – well really Eric’s – possession we were unable to dine out on drinks to satisfy our travel dehydration, and instead just occupied ourselves by using the internet and relaxing before another long flight back to the States.

One of the things I always do when I travel is board last. First of all I hate standing in line for no reason, as there is no benefit to being on the plane early. Secondly if I’m going to be flying for hours, I might as well spend as little time as possible on the actual plane.

Following this philosophy both Eric and I made our way to the ticket ripper lady (insert actual job title here) and as Eric was cleared I was halted . . . this is how it all went down.

“Excuse me sir, do you have a return ticket?”
“Yes I do”
“Can I please see it?”
“No it’s in my other suitcase in the USA”
“Oh, ok, why?”
“Cause I didn’t feel the need to bring two suitcases with me”
“Well, I’m sorry sir, but you’re going to have to show us the ticket otherwise you cannot fly”
“Ummm . . . well why is it your issue here as I’m heading to the USA?”
“It’s just a procedure sir”
“Ok, well my flight is Virgin Australia Flight 2 at midnight on Wednesday”
“I’m sorry sir, but we need to actually see the ticket to let you on the plane”
“You gotta be f**king kidding me!”
“It is just procedure sir”
“Well do you have access to the internet for me?”
“No sir”
“Then how do you expect me to show you?”
“That is your problem sir”

A few minutes went by as I continued to argue with why they need to see my ticket as I wasn’t returning to Australia for a few days, before being hit with this one.

“Sir, if you don’t show me your ticket then these two people will be taking your seat . . . it’s ok, we have another flight in nine hours though”
“You f**king kidding me?”

I booted my laptop up, paid €30 to access the internet and showed them my e-ticket as the lady counted down to just five seconds.

Finally on the flight following the Charles De Gaulle hell!

You would have expected everything that happened in Charles De Gaulle to be the end of my hassles for the day, but it would all happen again when we touched down in Salt Lake City.

Waiting to pass through immigration I began to notice that it was taking a little longer than expected. After waiting for five minutes the immigration officer asked me to take a seat while he called his supervisor.

Eventually I was called into an area closed off to normal access and was grilled by a security guard.

“What were you doing in Lebanon?”
“What are you doing in the USA?”
“Where are you staying?”
“How do you know that person?”
“How do you know the person you are travelling with?”

I got asked these question at least ten times each – no joke – and everytime the answer was the same.

Ten minutes into the questioning a few guards walked into the room and put on rubber gloves.

. . . GULP . . .

“Excuse me sir, can you please come in this room?”

The door opened, and all I could see from where I was seated was four white walls in a small room.

. . . GULP . . .

I stood up in preparation to be defiled, only to see that the room contained a desk and a computer. No glove was needed as I was grilled with a few more questions before being let go.

Both Eric and I raced to catch our flight back to Las Vegas, and we made it just in time!

Returning to Las Vegas, we checked into the Golden Nugget courtesy of the second placing in the Howard and Suzie Lederer Celebrity Charity Tournament a few weeks previously.

I enjoyed a swim and a spa before relaxing the night away.

Not wanting to head to bed straight away, both Eric and I decided that a nice beer in the pool would be exactly what the doctor ordered . . . regardless of the fact that it was 5am!

Splashing round in the pool for a few hours we saw the sun rise over the mountains and headed to breakfast early before making our way back to the room to sleep a few hours.

Managing only a few hours sleep I awoke and began packing straight away so that I could check out in time and also meet up with Joe and Eric. With hunger being the first thing to tick off on the agenda, Joe took us to a restaurant to sample some local cuisine.

We ordered a feast that featured Hommus, other dips and breads as well as something different . . . a traditional Hookah – which is not to be confused with a paid lady, but a glass pipe for smoking.

Although turned off at first, I gave it a go but couldn’t really taste anything and let both Eric and Joe enjoy it.

Once we finished lunch we took a drive up the mountains to a Go-Karting track where we raced round for a few minutes. It wasn’t really fair as both Eric and Joe drew slightly faster karts then me, and to top it off, this 12-year old girl kept lapping me as her kart was flying at 1000 miles an hour!

We jumped back in the car and headed further up the mountains to enjoy the sights and surrounds of Lebanon. It’s nearly impossible to explain in words, so instead I’m just going to post an assortment of pictures . . . enjoy!

Photos I captured on the last day

Photos Eric captured on the last day

As the sun had set and our flight was approaching we stopped by a bar and sampled a beer or two before saying our unfortunate goodbyes to Joe as we boarded our plane back to Las Vegas via Paris and Salt Lake City.

Day Two of the Lebanese Poker Championships saw only 111 players return from the original 207 starters.

Nenad Medic and Raymond Rahme were on the short stacks while Joe Hachem was on the rail. Lebanese-American Chris Karagulleyan was sitting up amongst the chip leaders for the start of play, but started slipping after his late arrival.

Intentions of making the final table weren’t realised when the Tournament Director pulled the pin at around 4am with 28 players remaining, and only seven eliminations needed until the remaining players made the money.

On a side note, our driver Joe hooked us up with some music, and one of the tracks is this awesome one called Stereo Love by Edward Maya . . . check it out, it rocks!