CANBERRA 2002
We set out from Brian's (Hull) place at 5:15 in the morning. I had spent the night, so we could get on the road early. It was Thursday 21st of February. The 2002 NATIONAL Poker Championships at Casino Canberra had started on the previous Saturday but we had only been able to devote a few days to going this year. Pity as it turned out. Brian had taken possession of a relatively new car the previous day so my driving for the whole trip was limited to the passenger seat, control freaks ALL, poker players.
Anyway, we rocked up the road in fine fashion slowing down to 60 kph at one stage to grab some breakfast in a smallish town in outback New South Wales. Bolting down the breakfast we quickly resumed our 115 pace. Quick calculations were done by yours truly at significant points to estimate our time of arrival and likelihood of making the 12:30 start for the days Pot Limit Omaha event. Always on track for a 25 minute, get all the bags into the hotel room and enter the tournament, schedule at our journey's end.
Arriving in up town Canberra at 11:50 I fired up the mobile and booked a room for 2 nights at the adjoining CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL as we fathomed the way to the Casino / Hotel complex via several maps in our possession. A quick check in and depositing of bags and computers and note books and maps and lollies and stuff ( boy I like to travel heavy ) saw us make our way downstairs to the casino with 15 minutes to spare.
Now you won't hear too many negative things from me about the casino and poker t's and the like, BUT it became very obvious that the advertised 12:30 start was just a teaser. Having paid the $330 entry we waited till 12:45 before anyone really started to gather to play. If it was a CROWN Casino event Brian and I would have finished first and second (spilt of all money of course) by 12:44 with a little help from the dealers. Not to worry the game was on at 12:45, so be it. (Could have actually stopped the car for breakfast, LOL).
Usual gang of suspects at my table and possibly because of the early start, the frazzled nerves from the low flying Brian and the new environment I quickly moved into re-buy mode. Now the original buy-in was 330 but the re-buys were only 100. Money was flowing on all tables. Eventually after 4 re-buys and an add-on my bank roll was left to rest.
Now, The Canberra Casino and the nature of Canberra poker tournaments. At a
break, I think, after the re-buys, we were all (supporters and wives and
girlfriends included) directed to a nearby section of the casino floor where
we were treated to home cooked pies, pasties and salad. Unbelievable, no
doubt it happens somewhere at other poker t's but the best I have ever done
for free was a tasteless hotdog at the Orleans Open ( sorry guys you just
have to get those tasty preservatives back into those things, LOL ). ALL
non alcoholic drinks were for free while playing. Why had I waited all these
years to come to these events?
Back to the slaughter. I exited mid-field, at best, Brian from memory already waiting in the wings. Eventual winner of this one Gary Benson (of 7Card WSOP fame some years ago). Live games had commenced as soon as sufficient players had exited the tournament. Mostly in Canberra it is Pot Limit games HE or Omaha during tournament week, I tend to avoid them if playing a lot of tournaments and that fact combined with the tiredness I was feeling for me it was off for a nap before dinner. Not to bore you with all my personal details but, Billy "The Croc" insisted that only the best restaurant in Canberra would do for the night's eatery. You knew it was the best in Canberra when we spotted Michael Twomeny of sports betting company CANBET fame and Kirk Morrison of WSOP and eating fame at other tables. We ate and drank too much – well you do don't you and promptly retired determined to make amends the following day.
Now I had casually mentioned, on the Thursday, to one of the Poker management staff that I would send all results so far to "Pokernetwork" and "Pokerpages" in the US if I could get a proper list. I'm not sure but I think they thought I said I OWNED Pokerpages or was sending them to the Herald Sun (main daily in Melbourne Australia, population 4 million ) because on the following day the guys running the place couldn't do enough for me. Ahh!! The power of the press. I quickly realized that although I was being offered top shelf drinks the hospitality was very genuine and was being extended virtually to everyone. As far as I am concerned it is as simple as this, The hospitality in the Poker area of the Canberra casino was second to none.
Back to the unpleasantness. Friday, Super Satellite for main event $160 buy-in $100 re-buys. Managed to hold this one down to two re-buys, head slowly catching up with body. No real joy though; from memory 47 starters 11 seats awarded I finished about 16th. The evening brought what is apparently a traditional dinner and presentation night. Need I say it, dinner (of course free) superb. A few pats on the back for the organizers and thank yous to the Casino management from the winners as they received their trophies; JIM BEAM jackets and presentation JIM BEAM bottles (really wish I had come earlier to try to win something).
Quieter night followed, lost $345 playing 3 card manila (no collects in 40 minutes) while waiting for a single table satellite. I noted in my book "won no hands, played well" just as well, I could really have sent off some serious money, LOL. Satellite, don't ask, 5th. Off to bed "will just have to pay the full amount to enter NLHE tournament tomorrow".
Main event $1600 NLHE no re-buys. Only 40 starters so it was a fairly tough field. I got lucky early, slow played trip Aces on the flop to nearly bust the overall champion of the week Michael Sampieri (sorry Michael) and double up to chip leader. Nothing much happened for me until the same Michael Twomeny from before made a 3 outer on the river to take 5.5K from my stack with A8 vs. my A J. Never really recovered from there played one hand very badly and off I went in 13th place.
The results have been posted elsewhere so I won't rehash those accept to say that the $20,000 winner John Madaffari always plays very well in these events and especially so in Canberra. We haven't seen a lot of John in tournaments of late, so it was quite good to see the old sly dog still has the game to win. Congratulations. Have to admit I didn't see the final 7 placings decided because Brian hadn't driven a car fast for few days, so we made our way home soon after I was eliminated. That's right; he drove the whole way home, me asleep in the passenger seat for some of the journey. PS. sensible people took advantage of the very cheap airfare on offer, but I'll have to admit part of the fun of the tournament was the two 6 hour
drives.
Sincerest thanks to all the poker staff at Casino Canberra with particular thanks to Andrew and Jonathan, newly appointed poker room management, for a great, if not profitable time. I'll most definitely be coming to get my money back later in the year.
Please, if you were only thinking you "might" go to a Canberra tournament week don't make the mistake of missing the next one because you will probably not want to miss too many after that.
Chris "The Barracuda" Newton
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