Day 1
Before play started I split 10%with two local heroes. I will discuss their progress later. Third Hand of day UTG raise to 200, blinds 25/50 I look down at AK, reraise to 850. UTG reraises to 3500. I fold. Dont see any cards for an hour apart from JJ raise to 200 BB calls. Flop Q97. Bet 500 BB Calls. Turn K. Check Check. River Ace. Check Check. BB wins with A4.
Next few hours pass and I get back to starting stack with preflop raises and some reraises. At this point an English Pro David Poole is moved to my table. He seems to have a big stack which is spread all over the table with large chips hidden in middle of stacks etc. He is asked to tidy it up on four separate occasions by players and once by Poker Events Staff.
This guy is ultra aggressive and I decide to try and outplay him, one hour later and I am down to 4200 chips. He is raising what seems like ever hand and calling all raises. I look down at 55 in mid position blinds 150/300. I raise to 1200 of course Mr. Poole calls, next player to him reraises to 2950 all in. I now feel I am behind reraiser but cant afford to loose a quarter of my stack I decide to repush all in and hope to hold up against Poole. He calls. I show 55, reraiser shows A9 and Poole shows 92. I treble up but cant believe the call by a pro with 92 in a three way race.
There is two hours left of day 1 and I have made some progress at last, the trend of Poole raising every hand continues . He raises one hand where Veronique (Padraig Parkinsons) partner raises all in for 6200. He calls again with 79 she has QQ he hits a set.
With ten minutes to go of day 1 I get fed up of his constant raising he raises my big blind for what seems like the 20th time, I look down at 23 off, I reraise all in and he folds after what seems like an eternity as the TV camera is behind us and I dont want this shown on TV.
Finish Day One on 12,500.
Day 2
Redraw fo Day 2 and I am relieved to get away from the Chip Leader in the tournament. I am at table with the Big C - Ciaran O Leary. He is very shorstacked andI know will push with any two cards. Third Hand of Day -UTG I have 99 I raise to 1800 blinds 300/600 he shoves all in from button for 3950. He has AK and I win the race. Next Hand I look down at AA for the only time in tournament, Spanish Girl raises from cutoff no one else calls and I reraise. She folds and I am sick that I didnt slow play as she shows AJ. I reach my peak chip count of 25,000.
Tournament winner Rory Rees is seated directly to my left and my next major hand involves him. Spanish Girl is now shortstack of 5200 blinds 400/800 she pushes all in ,and I call in SB with 77 as BB has around 29k. He reraises all in, now my head is spinning is he making a move to steal the 10,000 I am sick I didnt reraise.
I fold reluctantly, he turns over QQ and if I called I was out. Feeling better again. Lose 7000 chasing an open ended straigth draw and down to 12,500 again. Next Hand I play I limp with 77. The Clamper from boards is in BB and we check to river. Board 23Q45. Clamper bets 5K on River and I make the miracle call and win.
Dont win a hand for next two hours and fall back to 8500 chips. Next Hand I win is when there is 3 limpers and I shove from BB with Q4 all fold and I breathe again. Next Hand I bluff Rory Rees and show bluff. Stack back up to 15K
The End - SB limp with Q9 BB calls. Flop comes QJ5. I decide to slow play my Queen. Turn comes a 10. I lead out for 3.5K and BB reraises all in. I instant call he shows K9 for the straight - drawing dead and out.
My 10% investment in our two heroes doesent last long approx 1hour, and ten minutes into day 2. I played ok until the last hand which is I guess every single players story.
Finally, Congrats to Ritchie Trench on his great cash in the side event. Well Played and hopefully you will give us some of that cash on thursday.
