| "Sometimes it just doesn't finish how you wish"
I opened the wallet for this event: had to try to win something. Sat down in seat 2, Hello! Its Simon Trumper in seat six and Dave "The Devilfish" (what is a Devil Fish? We don't get them on the menu in Australia – are they good with chips and salad?) Now I met Simon when he came to Melbourne in January and had made Dave's acquaintance since being in London. However I noticed that when ever I limped or raised both were frequent callers in the pot – AH !! respect from my fellow players- NOT. Good luck to them I have noticed a similar attitude to "green" aussies in the US. Enough of me and my woes except to say "I got no cards guvna, I had no where to go, what could I do" and finished about 60th.
The second days play began with only 1 table, 9 players, instead of the usual 18 players, due to overrun problems with previous tournaments. Play was with antes 2K 4K and very quickly the Los Vegan Mike Downing was dispatched by Phillip, Mike holding A 8 and Phillip A J no help for anyone on the board. Next hand Phillip finds Aces and Shah with A K , all chips in before the flop, no pair of Kings or straight cards for Shah, so he collects the 8th placed prize.
Antes 3 / 6 at 3:50 pm. Joe "The Elegance" decided to make a move at this point, accidentally upsetting a precariously balanced glass of water on a side table; John Shipley the recipient of the wash. Doesn't work of course and its Joe with A J all-in for a total of 43K, the steam train Phillip calling with 10c 9c. The flop was 5c 5 6c, Queen on the turn and then the "hard way" draw for Phillip a 9 on the river. Carlos Fuentes fairly short stacked, pulled the trigger with A 2, being called by Robert with Q 10 having already limped for the 6K. First card up a 10 so Carlos pockets the 3,700 odd for his day and halfs effort.
The critical hand of this tournament was played soon after. Phillip SB John Shipley BB. Phillip small raise John call 6 4 3 - 22K, call - turn 5 - ch, ch - river Ace - think, think PM: 60K, think, think JS call - Phillip shows 8 7 of spades. One suspects the 5 and the Ace were perfect perfect for Phillip. John presumably making the pair on the end. It is clearly going to be Phillips day when he eliminates John holding K 5 to a board of 7d 8 Kd 5d 10d, Phillip making the straight and flush holding 9d and 6d.
Well unfortunately it was at this point that everything went decidedly "Pear shaped." A deal was struck between the three low chip stacks; Phillip holding 3/4s of the chips. It was a straightforward highest place of the three pays the 4th place getter an amount to bring him up to about third place money. I'm not going to try to fill in the gaps in any way on this one so the rest I write is all my own opinion mixed with what I directly observed..
Something else was said by one of the three deal makers (perfectly innocently in my opinion). The acting tournament director moved off to speak with one of his mentors. Play continued, the very next hand Garry lost most of his chips to Jamie, GB holding Q J and Jamie 9 9 - a 9 on the river an unnecessary bonus. The very next hand Garry is all-in with K J and one chip, Robert is all-in with 8 8 and Jamie finds himself with A A. The Aces hold up. Play begins between the two.
Play is stopped about 20 minutes later when the gaming manager responsible for Poker asks to speak with several of the players. After all parties the casino management considered needed to be consulted were spoken to the first place prize money in its entirety was awarded to Phillip, Jamie receiving the second placing and the associated money.
Card Room manger, Jeff, took the time to explain to me that management had felt that a tournament rule (posted on the notice board freely available for all to see) had possibly been transgressed. In short "..if the house believes any "deal" struck between 2 or more players leaves remaining player/s under threat of possible collusion, then we have the right to re-distribute any part or all of the prize money involved."
End of the tournament. Many people will have learned a lot from this one, I know I did. Some commiseration must go to Jamie Posner who I was told as a youngster was playing in his first big final and did seem to be the innocent victim in this circumstance not having the opportunity to play out a big heads-up tournament.
Anyway on to the 2,500 Jubilee Cup - Freezout ( Poker Millions replacement.) It is hoped 90+ will win in / enter I guess we will know in 3 hours.
Catch u soon
Chris "The Barracuda" Newton
barracuda_oz@hotmail.com
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