As Good As It Gets
It’s been a while but I figured it would be nice to get some thoughts down on this dusty old blog regarding my recent hot streak. Not a hand orientated piece, but something that attempts to get over just what it’s like when you do actually snag that big win.
As was widely reported, the Baden EPT did coincide rather snugly with my fortieth birthday and, whilst chatting to my good friend Mad Harper the night before the final, I did suddenly remember a long forgotten goal that to be mortgage-free by the time that birthday rolled around would be pretty good. No sooner than those words had left my mouth, she hastily made her excuses and shot off to the press room, sound bite in hand.
Barring the first few levels (on Barry Greenstein’s table where I managed to call off 40% off my stack on the second hand of the tournament), the route to the final had been relatively straightforward - by that I mean I had run well and I never ran into any overly aggressive/pressuring players, which allowed me to play my game and on most tables, quietly captain the action.
After starting Day 2 with 26k I got off to a cracking start winning three 50/50’s against three short stacks and, by the time we were halfway through the day I had moved up to nearly a 100k. From that point on the pressure slowly built and I slept badly that night, finishing with 114k. By the time I’d made the final the following evening, with a double average 610k stack, I felt the hard work had been done, the pressure eased and I had a really good nights sleep.
I’m pretty sure I was the most relaxed player at the final table and my game plan was the same one I always use if I’ve got average chips or above; avoid all hero plays and attempt to keep the nose relatively clean until four or five-handed.
This, pleasingly, was how it panned out and once I won the 1.6 million pot for almost two thirds of the chips in play (four-handed with middle pair and a flush draw vs. bottom set), I figured it was as good as in the bag.
Heads-up then, despite nearly a 2:1 chip lead I was still eager to do some business. With € 375k for second and € 671k for first, I just wasn’t keen to play one on one for € 300k. I’m no deal-maker expert but a € 450/€ 550k chop with € 46k to play for felt about right and given that I went on to close it out an hour later, I’m not about to second guess that decision.
As in Plymouth a month earlier (where three of us did a chip count and played for the £14k of Blue Sq goodies), yeah for sure, a deal changes the play in a game, but looking back at the winning hands from both tournaments, I’m confident they don’t play like that if we’re playing for the whole enchilada.
It should be no surprise that it was the biggest of highs when that last hand was dealt out and I then knew that what I had dreamt, on a very good day, just might be possible, suddenly, became a reality.
Almost immediately Kara Scott was over for an on the spot closing interview and I was, all of a sudden, overwhelmed. A combination of the money just won and a realisation of a major European title finally under my belt, was just too much for my brain to compute in such a short time and, whilst I wasn’t blubbering, I did well up for a few seconds. Thankfully somebody placed a calming beer in my hand, I settled down and the next hour was a muddled blur of photographs and interviews.
Those who were left, mostly bloggers and the PokerStars crew, joined me at the bar where the bubbly flowed. I couldn’t go the distance though and had to make my excuses a couple of hours later, back to the hotel on my own, to start to let it all sink in. It took about three days.
I was a bit unsure of how much to tip and ended up leaving 1% which I hope found its way to all the dealers and valets. Bottom line then, and as an indication of just how well I ran, until quite recently where I would normally have about 15% out in swaps, Baden coincided with me deciding to stop swapping altogether; it was only Martin Wendt who ‘had a hunch’ and convinced me to swap 1%. That and the 10% claw-back that William Hill re-cycle back into my budget meant that it was a very profitable trip.
The money won ticks just about every box we had dreamed of and no, that list didn’t include a Porsche, although you might spot me in a new family friendly S-Max with all the toys, outside a card room near you soon. Finally, there is an amusing tale that I hope Praz Bansi won’t mind me re-telling on here:
We were down in Cardiff about three weeks ago for the Late Night Poker heats and (after a few drinks), the conversation moved onto how close to tears anyone had been after a bad day on the baize.
I chirped up that the closest I’d been was when I won the EPT and Praz then retold the tale of when he won his World Series bracelet in 2006.
Stephen Bartley did an interview with him for Gutshot and when Praz said, “every time I look at the bracelet I smile”, Stephen quoted him as saying, “every time I look at the bracelet I cry”. Ah, kindred spirits.
I should point out that this alleged misquote has yet to be verified by Stephen.