Firstly lets finish of the Deepstack report which l never bothered doing, l returned on Day 2 with a decent stack but made a few mistakes early on and had a bad suck out by a Frenchie who was on a tilt miss
ion after getting his QQ cracked by an Irish lad with small suited connectors. I eventually moved to a table which had last years champion, Dara O'Kearney, Padraig Parkinson and a very good young Irish player, Lorcan Fox. I knew Lorcan as we had been looking for a Chinese in town at 5am that morning before going back to the Hotel with a pasta lunchbox at 6am, probably not the best of preparation for the second day of a medium sized event. My exit hand was a raise from Padraig UTG and l pushed All In for a bowl of rice with AK clubs, Dara was sat behind me with QQ and the rest is history, l was out in 44th. Dara is a real gentleman and a great reader of the game, l was glad my chips went to him and he cashed in this event for a second year, well done sir! The winner of the Main Event was Francis McCormack(pictured) who l had the pleasure of playing with in the Broadway Main Event a few weeks ago, which l will tell you a bit more about in the next entry. Paul Jackson and l had done a 20% deal when we went back on Day 2 and he managed to grind into the low 30's while being card dead, he's getting better!
This is a video of my flight back from Dublin, l had changed my flight and paid £50 to do so. My bag was the only one in the hold and as you can see the plane was packed at 0730.
These feckin TV tournaments are doing my nut but l still believe they are full of value. I would recommend that anyone reading this should try to qualify for upcoming tournaments either online or in Bridgnorth (see Steve Holden's Blog), there you can sat. in for as little as £35. The hotel you stay at in Waltham Abbey is top class, however there was a hitch with the swimming pool this time. I went to the pool at 8.00am in the morning of the event and the guy said " you have to use the little pool sir, the big pool is shut", l had been looking forward to this for a few days and then a session in the Steam Room. I asked him why and he said "someone had deposited", l replied confused, like the good clean innocent Irish man l am "deposited what mucker?". He leaned over the counter and said in a real thick cockney accent "someones had a big shite in the pool yesterday mate". That put an end to that one and l ended up with a steam room visit instead!
We arrived at the Mill Street studios at 9.30am and started the usual prep
arations of make-up, interviews and paperwork. I brought Amy, my little greyhound bitch and she was running around the Green room most of the morning getting loads of treats and hugs. My heat was full of seasoned players Donnacha O'Dea, Achillies Kalackais, David Rudling, Tim Flanders and Dixie Dean who had all played in this format before so everything went very smooth. I won't spoil it too much as it will be on television soon but l thought l played well enough and David Rudling got very lucky against me to knock me out 4th. Marc Goodwin was commentating on the heat and l don;t really know what he has said through the heat yet. I did disagree with a few comments l heard from him when l got back to the Green room however, regarding who he thought where the best players in the heat but l will wait till it air's on TV before making a final shout.
Everyone watching the Heads Up action, even my Greyhound.
Donnachca having a wee bit of grub.
The Interview team.
The brain's of the operation.
Spivver and Beiju.
Make Up lady.
Amy on patrol of the Green Room.
The Green Room.
This tramp just wandered in from the street.
I really enjoyed the event and can't wait for the next one, l have to give Roberto and Dale Hoy a mention as their paths took seriously different directions. Dale was heads up in his heat with Neil Channing when he took a terrible beat to be eliminated, he ended up in the Turbo heat with Roberto where once again he ended up Heads Up. This time it was Roberto with A 3 against Dale's KK who done the damage, luckily Dale and Roberto done a wee bit of business. I felt really bad for Dale as his disappointment was soul destroying but l'm sure he will bounce back in the next one. No one would begrudge Roberto the win as hes a top bloke and was in need of a draw.
A very unlucky Dale Hoy.
Me and David Rudling after l raised his BB again! 
The Welsh Champion.
Dusk Till Dawn
My answer came the other day from Nick Whitten, "NO". That is it, end of story, l will not be allowed back into DTD while the current management are in charge. It is a bit of a shitter when you think l am 10 mins away but thats life, l will never apologise for what l said as it was all true. We have a good Dealers Choice game in Alea which l go to when l can but to be honest there is that much on in England at the moment that we are spoiled for choice. Jonathon Rabb is also pushing DC in the Vic which takes me an hour and twenty to get to and this will definitely get better with Rabby behind it. DTD's £300 weekend's are taking off and they will continue to get decent numbers from the Northern catchment area but there are going to be a few different groups competing for their players during their bigger events!
One of the groups competing for DTD's prospective bigger players is the upcoming London Poker Circuit, a monthly Festival held in some of London's exclusive hotels. The Main Event is identical to the GUKPT Main Events in terms of Buy In and structure and Paul Bracken has told me that the winner gets a very exclusive Trophy for the win. The group behind it are very enthusiastic and l have no doubt it will work, all events will be broadcast live on the growing NutzTv operated by the great updater's at A World Of Poker. Poker rates are available at all of the Hotels and all information relating to the tour can be seen on their website here. I will be in London for the launch party which should be good craic and l will let you know more after.
Next Blog Entry
In my next entry l will cover the fantastic Broadway Festival. Leave a comment you feckers!
