Another Day in the Office - Part 9

By Neil Channing - June 2005

While I was doing a bit of people-watching around The Gold Coast I heard a young couple planning their itinary.

"I thought we could do some shots here and then go play a few slots" she suggested. Any town where that goes as a full and rewarding day is alright by me. To be honest my Thursday last week wasn't much busier and I hadn't done much until I went out for dinner overlooking The Bellagio Fountains at Paris.

My companions were Richard Gryko who has come mid-WSOP due to just turning 21 (he's a contender for youngest bracelet) and Ozzy Yu. Ozzy is a young PR guy for Betusa.com and the new site WSOPbet.com which is just being developed. He loves poker and is here to take some pictures of the players for the sites as well as distributing betting odds to the press and players.

When we get to The Rio I'm reminded of how poker has gone SO mega in the States. Ozzy is INCREDIBLY impressed by the fact that Rich Korbin (Pokerstars marketing supremo) is talking to me (much more impressed than I was - I only bumped into the fella). We had a chat about the number of players in the Main Event (always a popular topic around here). We're both of the opinion that it isn't certain now to sell out.

What people hadn't anticipated is how the internet has hit the supersatellites. Far few people are playing in these as many have got seats already. Although you would expect a rush to come near the end, with 2400 signed up so far (Pokerstars have 1100), it may not go past 6000. Ozzy becomes even more stunned when Greg Raymer joins the conversation (didn't he once win the World Championship?).

Friday is a day I've looked forward to since last year. In the 2004 Shootout I had a massive chip-lead heads-up and let it get away, and I want to avenge that day. I didn't have the easiest table. Former World Champion Berry Johnstone and Paul Magreil are tricky - Berry is very solid and Paul is a nutter. The young guy on my left (Chris something) can definitely play and that's not mentioning the one who really scares me: Humberto Brenes.

I started badly and went down to 1100. Two guys go down to 600/700 and decide moving-in to nick the 25/25 blinds is the best thing. One of them goes early and Paul, Chris and Humberto kick on. I got lucky twice, surviving A10 v AQ when my all-in was called to knock someone out and getting 6c7c past Paul's 88,when we were four handed,to cripple him.

When we got three handed I started to fancy it. Humberto and Berry had been knocked out by an amatuer who was an absolute rock and who now had 50% of the chips. Chris and I had 25% each and were taking it in turns to nick from the other guy. This amazing hand then comes up. I limp from the sb with 9,10 and Chris checks. Flop is 9,9,10 which I bet 300 at (into 675) and Chris calls. Turn is a J which I check(looking to check-raise). He checks behind me - marvellous. Now comes a Jack - worse card in the deck. I should check-call, but stupidly I make a blocking bet and then call his small reraise. He has JQ. I am now shortstacked.

On the next hand I move in on the button with Js2s (the rock's bb) and Chris finds QQ to knock me out. Although I misplayed my big hand I would have died in the next hand whatever, but I'm still pretty sick having flopped the full. Chris takes the table comfortably.

While I'm feeling fed-up I bump into Rory, Bushy and Julian Gardner and we decide on a four-pronged assault on the 7pm Palms comp. Rory reasons that if Nick Gibson, Roy "The Boy", South African Greg and my good self have been able to win money there, it must be a fairly easy tournament.

We arrange a 5% swap between us and settle down to play. There are a few other Brits playing and "the team" looks strong. I get off to a great start but Julian (much to the delight of his table, who seemed surprised to see a $million winner in this event) goes out early. Rory jokes that he must have swapped % with so many of the field he took a dive.

Gary comes over to tell me about a hand where he raised with 2,3 and was called. He then moved in on a flop of 4,5,K and got called by AJ!! That person has definitely never played Gary before. I was dismayed to hear this news. When we got Bushy on the team we didn't want flair. He was to fill the goalkeeper role - lock up 17th place and anything else is a bonus. We had Rory and I for spectacular moves that don't work out. I can only think that the lad is spending too much time with The Camel.

Eventually we all go, with Bushy returning to normal, and dying an agonising death on the bubble.

On Saturday I went late to the Rio to try and play a few 1 table satellites but only managed to get one in. This was because our "on the ball" group failed to notice that the clock was malfunctioning. We got to the third of our 20min levels after an hour and a quarter with seven people remaining. Scott Fischman was attempting to boss the satellite and played quite well. However with all the extra time people were able to wait a bit to get him. I managed to find a good 60/40 spot against his constant all-ins but I lost it.

I hadn't intended to play the $1500 plo freezeout on the Sunday because I hadn't even noticed it on the schedule. There was also a stud hi-lo comp and I never noticed two on a day. I managed to get my money in with a Gary Jones syle hand (and a David Wahl for that matter - very similar players) 2h3sjh8s. This was against John Juanda's obvious aces and Jeff Duval's JJQK (ds). I liked the deuce and the trey on the flop but not the ace on the river. I was out in time to listen to plenty of other omaha bad beats.

I could also now concentrate on a few satellites to get some chips for Monday's $5000 plh which I was very keen to play. I had a bit of a miserable time though, and lost in three before I went to bed debating whether to buy-in anyway.

Neil Channing is sponsored by Betusa.com

Click here for part 10