Born 30 something years ago into a card-playing clan in the North of England: the low-roller's poker odyssey has taken him from the school common-room via down-trodden Midlands' casinos, smoky Cotswolds pubs, celebrity Soho drinking spots and of course the ubiquitous world of cyberspace to the home of poker itself, Las Vegas. Join his search for juicy take-downs, great pot odds and the occasional back-door straight as he goes for glory.
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Monday, July 31, 2006
THE LAST SUPPER
The talk is now over. This is now it. I start in exactly twelve hours time - Table 133, seat number 9. I have stayed away from poker for the last few days (what I got up to at The Palms was surely a different game). I thought I'd be frantically reading Harrington and the like to gen up my game - but really the key has been to stay relaxed. Dinner at The Bellagio was something special, capped by the creme brulee trio - we were in fact surrounded by a trio of poker players, Padraig Parkinson, Kevin O'Connell, and Steve Davis - the cueman (I was queueing behind Ronnie O'Sullivan at McCarran airport - at the other end, Gatwick, I had a brief exchange with Howard Marx, a high-roller if ever there was one). Steve Davis was on the wine as he is already through the first day with a just below average stack of $22,000 chips ($10,000 to start with). I mistook Kevin for a guy I'd met - anyway Kevin is playing tomorrow - luckily not at my table. Julian Gardner had a good run: $78,000 after two players no-showed and 6 of the remaining 7 were running scared. Keir will be playing again Tuesday with an average stack of $26,475 - blinds coming in on Day 2 at $300-$600 with a $50 ante.
7:55 AM | Permalink