Into the Thriller Bounty
One way or the other, in my 57 years on this planet, I’ve by no means been to Westport, which was voted one of the best place to reside in Eire a number of years in the past. I used to be subsequently trying ahead to the newest Irish Poker Tour cease there. Because it turned out, I by no means left the lodge, however I saved listening to how pretty the city is from individuals who had.
thriller bounties are completely different for the reason that bounties will not be in play till late within the event
I hopped straight into the Thriller Bounty on arrival, max late regging it. For many who have heard me railing towards late regging bounties in my e book “PKO Poker Technique” or elsewhere, it would shock you I selected to take action. Nonetheless, thriller bounties are completely different for the reason that bounties will not be in play till late within the event, as I’ll clarify in my thriller bounty e book if I ever get spherical to writing it.
I had a reasonably uninteresting Day 1 when it comes to the poker however good when it comes to the social facet. A spotlight was getting to fulfill a web based buddy Anne Loughlin for the primary time in individual. Anne bought crippled shedding a giant flip in nearly the primary hand she performed. Undeterred, she made a reasonably unbelievable restoration from there to complete fifth within the occasion.
For my very own half, I got here again to Day 2 as one of many shorter stacks close to the bubble primarily hoping to scrape into the cash. I managed that with the bonus of profitable one bounty (I sadly drew absolutely the minimal).
The Sligo contingent
I went straight from there to the Major Occasion the place I once more bagged up a brief stack on the primary bullet. I made a extremely good begin to Day 2, tripling my stack with none large confrontations. My desk broke and my second desk proved much less worthwhile. I barely received a pot and drifted again to a brief stack on the bubble, busting shortly after securing the money.
I hung round fairly a bit with the Sligo contingent this weekend. Turlough McHugh turned considered one of my closest poker associates throughout the pandemic, and considered one of my oldest associates Sligo legend Fergal “MidniteKowby” Nealon was again. Ever the worth hunters, they’d crammed a 3rd Sligo head Shane into the room. The one downside with that plan is a scarcity of bedding, so I ended up lending a spare cover from my room to Shane.
I’m sorry to bust the person who actually saved me heat final night time”
Shane ended up being the one which known as my all-in and busting me from the Major. As I left, his phrases of “I’m sorry to bust the person who actually saved me heat final night time” should have had our desk mates questioning in regards to the actual nature of our relationship.
Excessive Curler
I fired two bullets on the Excessive Curler to no avail. Our brains are wired to detect patterns that aren’t there in random information, and the one from this was each bullets got here unstuck towards 9-7 of hearts.
The primary one was actually my first hand within the occasion. I known as a squeeze from the ever-active Fintan Gavin with 5-5 and we bought it in on a 9-7-5 flop. He hit a 9 river for what Andy Black remarked should have been my first-ever first-hand bust out (I actually can’t keep in mind any others).
The second got here after I max late registered. This time I used to be the squeezer with A-J. I bought one caller and when the flop got here down all low hearts i used to be pleased sufficient to get all of it in holding the Ace of hearts and a stack to pot ratio of lower than one. Sadly my opponent already had the 9 excessive flush and I didn’t get there.
GTO versus White Magic
Within the run as much as the occasion, tour ambassador Andy Black contacted me asking if I’d be keen to debate him on the subject of our (perceived) completely different approaches to poker. Dubbed as “GTO versus White Magic” I used to be pleasantly stunned how a lot curiosity there appeared to be on this, with folks asking me all weekend when it was more likely to occur. It needed to be postponed on the unique time as we had been each nonetheless concerned within the Major, and we agreed we’d do it each time we had been each free the following day.
discombobulated by the actual fact his white magic had did not detect his opponent’s set
Because it labored out our taking part in schedules dove-tailed a lot of the day in order that one or each of us was taking part in always. We may probably have finished it after my second bullet within the Excessive Curler however Andy busted simply earlier than me after getting it in drawing lifeless with no pair no draw on the flip towards a set. That despatched him rushing straight for the exit, maybe discombobulated by the actual fact his white magic had did not detect his opponent’s set.
Folks had been coming as much as me all weekend to inform me Andy was claiming I used to be working scared, however nothing could possibly be farther from the reality. Hopefully we are able to make it occur at a future occasion.
An absent hero
Probably the most talked about man in Westport wasn’t even there, Paddy Energy Twitch streamer Tom Parsons, who multiplied his lifetime Hendon Mob reside cashes one hundredfold along with his large end result within the Bahamas. His bust out hand turned essentially the most talked about hand of the yr in Eire and brought on fierce debate.
Now we have booked Tom to return on the Chip Race to debate the hand intimately for a method section, so I don’t need to spoiler that however I’ll say that Andy and I had polar reverse views on the hand (which was going to kind a part of the “GTO versus White Magic” debate).
I’m fairly certain Belarus is even farther from the Bahamas
I heard a wide selection of arguments for the speculation that Tom had tousled the hand, of various levels of convincing. The funniest justification I heard for folding was how far he had travelled for the occasion. Aside from every thing else I’m fairly certain Belarus is even farther from the Bahamas.
The Chip Race
Talking of the Chip Race, David, Barry, and I are flattered to once more be shortlisted for a document third time on the GPI Poker Awards (we received the primary time):
Alternatively, I don’t thoughts revealing that Barry is smarting from the omission of ‘GTO Poker Simplified’ from the Greatest Written Content material shortlist. Even when it’s our greatest acquired e book so far by the poker lots, I wasn’t stunned on the omission. A fast look on the nominees, not simply this yr however each different yr, shortly reveals that technique content material by no means will get a glance in, not simply on this class however in every other class the place it goes face to face towards non technique content material. It’s pretty clear a lot of the voters are trade folks fairly than gamers, so it’s not shocking they’ve a pure choice for human curiosity tales round poker fairly than technique content material in regards to the precise sport itself. For my very own half I don’t place a lot inventory in any awards, valuing a lot increased the real curiosity and reward of people that truly purchase and skim the books, and listening to about any successes their work at bettering themselves results in.
I introduced as many books as I may comfortably carry to Westport and shortly bought all of them, having to disappoint a number of folks. It’s notably heartening to see gamers of all ages ranges and backgrounds desperate to devour the e book. As self publishers, Barry and I rely nearly utterly on phrase of mouth to promote the books, and the opinions of people that learn and benefited from the e book are way more necessary than the votes or non votes of trade heads with little interest in the precise sport itself.
Some closing shoutouts
So to summarise, two cashes and plenty of enjoyable. At this stage, I’ve caught up submit pandemic with most of my associates, however two of the final on the listing had been Scottish couple George and Lesley Devine who had been in Westport for the weekend.
I at all times prefer to see a participant’s ardour and work ethic repay
Some closing shoutouts for another associates who went deep. Each Aidan McAllister and Gerard Keenan closing tabled the Major Occasion. I used to be nearly as thrilled as Gerard was when he bought a trophy for profitable the Final Longer. Ger is a real fanatic who lives and breathes the sport, and I at all times prefer to see a participant’s ardour and work ethic repay.
Earlier than rounding up my shoutouts, I’d prefer to reiterate one thing folks typically overlook: I’m not a journalist, and the journey stories I write like this will not be neutral. My cohost and fellow VegasSlotsOnlnie Information author David Lappin specialises extra within the who received what sort items, so I encourage you to examine his out if that’s what you’re in search of. As a result of my items are totally private I solely are inclined to shout out folks I’m both associates with or work together with in a significant means. So don’t take it personally for those who received one thing large and I didn’t even point out you.
The final No Restrict Holdem occasion of the pageant was the Monster, and I used to be completely thrilled to see my buddy Paul Rinty Monaghan take it down. I’ve written earlier than about Rinty’s tireless promotion of grassroots poker in Northern Eire and past, so I received’t repeat myself, nevertheless it’s nice to see him reminding everybody he’s additionally a formidable participant on the tables.
