| Day 2
Sorry for the delay with this report I have been moving accommodations over the past few days.
I was reliably informed the 19th placed player was Tim Maxwell, the hardest working player not to receive any recompense. Play began in the upstairs area of the Victoria Casino so there were many available vantage points for the interested crowd. One of the Irish players was in a hurry to get his £2500 consolation prize and finding himself with K J, I Doanaghi left us on hand one when Ross Boatman produced Aces (from up his sleeve, no doubt). Not to be outdone by much T (Tim , I think) went all-in next hand with 9 9 Lieu showing Kings which as we all know always hold up, did this time anyway. One of the better local players lent over my shoulder at this point and whispered that Mr. Jousdani and Lieu would push it hard. He was certainly going to be correct with one prediction.
R Kuen was next to go, a short time later, in the BB with Q 3 and a 3 on the flop he went all in only to find Ross with two red Aces again. He departed in 16th place and £2500 to boot. Ben Roberts soon after had a hand which probably was his elevator hand finding Kings with Dave Ulliott pushing all the way with K J the resultant pot over 130K. After the two rounds with the antes the same as the day before at 4:55 pm they went to 1K/2K. J Stawski (must find out his name because he was a very amicable Costa Rican) and Marcel split a large pot when both held an Ace to a board including an Ace but also a 2 3 4and 5.
As predicted Mr Jousdani pushed when he could, raising at nearly every opportunity. The relocated player J Balie was next to go when his K 6 was never a match for Marcel's A 9 with both an Ace and a 9 on board. Mr. Stawski tripled up his remaining 9K when his Aces held up against a check, check play by both Marcel and Ross who had both called the all-in bet. Mr. Jouzdani push, push. Dave "The Devilfish" was the recipient of all of the remaining chips from John Kabbaj when John pushed an up and down draw Q J to a 5 K 10 flop Dave having K Q. John had come a surprising 14th (I had for fun done a bookies market and had he and Dave as joint 3/1 favourites).
Alan had his tournament hand next, making the nut flush on the flop and doubling up to over 100K, Dave TDF being the contributor. The hit on his stack was too great and soon after the joint 3/1 "favourite" exits holding Q Q his opponent making the pair of Aces on the river. Have to admit like most things D TDF does he took the beat in his stride and left fairly quietly. 1500 /3000 now. Mr. D Wahl has the misfortune to go all-in with A J find an A Q opposing him and a Q on the flop. 12th is his designated spot for this event also a £2500 recipient. Ross B shows 3 2 suited after making a raise against Patrick. That is two days in a row I have seen him win with these cards. 11th goes to Marcel his A 9 not getting significant help to beat Ross' 9 9. Marcel had been agitated for most of the play on the second day anyway £2500 to him and on with the show.
The two low stacks are Lieu and Jonathan Matthews. It was Lieu with K Q who was the last player out before the final table finding Mr. Jouzdani with an Ace, no help for anyone on the board. Mr. Stawski was beaten in one of those fairly unlikely events, both he and Ramin had A K but Ramin's were both spades. On the board, at the end, 3 spades, goodbye Mr. Stawski in 9th place. 8th was awarded to Phillipe M his sixes no match for Ross' Kings especially with a K on the flop. BIG hand next, Patrick bets 20K on the turn and 50K on the river holding K 8 to a J 10 8 Q Q board. Mr Razdani holding K Q wants to but doesn't call the 50K bet. Easier decision for Ross holding 10 9 and it's a big pot to the Hendon Mobster. Alan gets the flop of the tournament when holding 10 4 suited on the button (must have called I guess) a 4 10 and another 10 falling, he would have gotten all mine if I had had any part of it.
It’s 3K / 6K, after a short break, the previous 2/4 level going very slowly. Ramin was reduced to one 1000 chip when he got nearly all of it in with A K finding Jonathan M with K K. Next hand he quadrupled up but the very next hand holding Q J to Alan's A J with an Ace on the flop he was gone in 7th place. Mr Razdani not quite fulfilling Tony Kelly's earlier tip was next to go with A Q, Jonathan M holding an inferior J 10 until a 10 hit the flop. Down to 5 now. 4 / 8 she cried at 10:30pm and Jonathan leaves us betting 80K all in with 9 9 only to find Alan with Q Q. Four now.
It's 20 minute levels so we can finish before the Casino closes for the night and at 1:05 becomes an 8 /16 ante game. At 1:18 the affable butcher from Dublin ( all Irish supporters claiming this to be his second serious tournament) departs in 4th spot 16,000 odd pounds richer. Patrick's hand 5 5 Alan his opponent holding J J. Just an aside here, if ever I make one of these final tables I am going to become an honorary Irishman, because for most of the night there were no fewer than 7 or 8 Irish players supporting their countryman. A finer bunch of people I am yet to see around the poker world, so I'll be in the Aussie and Irish corner at the WSOP if they'll have me(to be sure- to be sure).
Ben Roberts started the day with 56,000 in 7th place and came third in this event, a fairly modest type at the poker table. I suspect he is fairly good at this. His hand K J Ross' K Q, the Queen played. There were no deals to be done at the final table by edict from Jeff the Poker Room manager, so on with play. I noticed Ross and Alan did have a short private discussion about where they were going to celebrate that night and soon after Ross had Allan on toast when he showed K K. Alan the shorter chip stack all-in with Q 8. Must have known something was on, because that "premium" hand improved somewhat after a harmless 5 9 A flop had a Queen added on the turn and also on the river. It was a mere formality to suck out again next hand with 8 7 to Ross' A 10, the final death blow being delivered by a 7 on the river.
It was over. 78,000 + pounds to Alan and the trophy: 48,000 + to Ross.
Well that's all from the Vic, other to say that I thoroughly enjoyed my 2 weeks in Edgware Road and hope to be able to come back for more in the future.
Special thanks to Terry, Jeff, Brian, Simon, Joe, Barry and Christine. Also to all the dealers those that I can remember, Laurent, Louis, Louise, Carla (sp?), Steve, Steve, Gary and those who I did not catch their names, I had a great time in part down to you all.
Chris "The Barracuda" Newton
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