Circus “Staff Bounty“ £25 (+£3) NLH F/O

Before divulging any information regarding the MTT I would like to give a brief update on a couple of thing’s I’ve been following & most of all say how overwhelmed I am at all the kind words & positive feedback from NPFers & AVPers in regards to my “Las Vegas Trip Reports”, few shout out’s;

rosi “nice reading, wp!!!”

Groomi “Love the vegas write-up. Makes the wait for my 21st birthday all the more difficult!!”

Buzz “yer the vegas write ups are actualy edge of seat stuff lol”

larfingravy “Wahey I get name dropped in a TR LOL and what a great TR to get name dropped in. Nothing hidden in this one! Believe me it'd be harder to meet a nicer fella. Here's to meeting again in LV”

LD Lotty “A report for the ages......incredible.......I really enjoyed it. It could be an entire chapter in a book!”

social casualty “wow”

dcarp “Wow, that was the greatest TR I have ever read.”

Along w/general FTP compliments from pads1161, Tingate, Dom, JuniorBomber, GazWalker, Phlmc, Stevie Sensation, *S*LA*L*, TYVM guy’s & I’m honestly over the moon you all enjoyed them. I’m a little busy in the foreseeable future so IDK when I’ll be able to write up & publish “Las Vegas 2007 Trip Report” but I will endeavour to do it WIFTT.

Over to LV where I’ve been following the “$15,000 (+$400) WPT Doyle Brunson 5 Diamond World Poker Classic” which attracted 329 runners, this is now 4 day’s old w/16 players remaining including John Juanda & Scotty Nguyen, all vying for the $1,428,430 1st place prize & 2008 champion David “Chino” Rheem’s title. The action expects to be fast & furious when day 5 resumes 8:00pm GMT at level 21 15,000/30,000/4,000 & live MTT updates including chip counts & interviews w/Amanda Leatherman can be found over;

WPT Doyle Brunson 5 Diamond World Poker Classic Update's

Remaining in LV as “Aria, CityCenter” officially had it’s grand opening on Wednesday 16th December at 11:58pm PST, I’ve been talking to friends out their who said the opening party was well impressive & gave me a quick card room review. I understand their poker room has 20+ tables spreading $1/$3 - $5/$10 NLH & $3/$6 - $4/$8 LHE, IDK if they plan on running any mixed game‘s & the MTT schedule is TBC but based on the spread of cash game’s it appears their targeting an audience between “MGM Grand” & “Venetian” so IYAM BI’s are likely to range between $100-$300 BWDIK. There’s also speculation that there will be a HS private area named “Ivey’s Room” or “Ivey’s Lounge” but these rumours are unlikely to hold any water as IDT Ivey would endorse a room whilst “Bobby’s Room” is still home to the HSP in the world & as I understand “The Big Game“ & other HS games are expected to stay at “Bellagio”. Below are a couple of photo’s courtesy of http://www.allvegaspoker.com/;

So moving on & Thursday 17th December was the start of “Circus’s Christmas Schedule” & the opening event was “Staff Bounty Night” w/£25 (+£3) BI. FTPers DT, ST, & GT all supported this event & MT had originally planned to play but CBA & ended up playing the $15 (+$1.50) NPOCS #3 finishing OOTM in 13/22 w/Chris “thegrinder11” Packard AKA thepro collecting 1st place & $110, WD M8 KIU.

Back to the “Circus Staff Bounty” MTT & w/66 runners the prize pool was £1650 & w/£160 worth of bounties across members of Circus staff’s head’s their was sure to be LOL’s & a lot of head hunting for hungry poker players after prize’s;

Gary “iamgaryr” Ramsay: £55 Circus MTT Seat
Mark “spoona999” Brewis: £55 Circus MTT Seat
Celia Liu: £25 Cash
Ben “mrflushy” Smith: £25 Cash
Sarah Bleasdale: Christmas Mystery Bounty Prize

I was drew T6-S2 w/NPFers;

D) mrflushy
3) Andrew Mellor “Circus Poker League Champion”
4) andrizu
5) Samj19
8) Steve “The Game” Trett

& I put in my usual PPP playing 50%+ pots & having volatile swings between 4,000 - 15,000 throughout 1st 2 level’s. I bust out just after the break but not before being treated to some complimentary chocolates courtesy of the MTT CL who shared a selection box he won for being the CL, N1 TYVM M8. Few notable hands;

1) I 3BET LPR out of SB w/QQ & CBET/F 8910r flop as I’m only beating JJ which has out’s w/OESD, villain showed 99 for middle set.

2) I opened vs. same LPC out of SB w/QQ again & CBET K8x flop which is called, 6x OTT & I C/C ½PSB, I C/F the blank OTR to be shown 86d for a turned 2P.

3) I open H/J 3.2x w/AQd & get called from C/O (andrizu), SB, & UTG/L (ST), flop Jd8dKx & I CBET which is 2BET out of the SB so w/NFD+GSD+O/C & POS I 3BET which is called. Turn is 8x & when CK to me I ¼PSB which got through as villain IMO folded a worse FD.

4) I open LP w/K7h & andrizu 3BET’s out of C/O & I CBA to fold so make the call. Axx w/0 hearts flop & I C/C PSCBET floating w/air, blank OTT goes CC, & I lead OTR for ¾PSB which after some deliberation andrizu reluctantly make’s the call w/JJ.

5) I returned after the break w/SS & CBA to sit around SS I look to get them ITM & find a double up, EPR come’s into my BB & after passed round to me I try a S&G w/88 on a 10xx flop for villain to make the call after 1st asking for a count whilst holding 1010 for the nuts, GG WP…I caught an 8 OTT for a 2% sweat but found no miracle OTR & hit the rail at 100/200 level, sigh NVM.

Onto fellow FTPer GT who I caught up w/briefly as he was leaving & hear he was coolered w/7x vs. 78 on a 3456x board, IDK how the betting went on earlier streets but understand it got AIOTR at 50/100. As far as the bounty’s go, which were aptly named “Team Circus”;

Gary “iamgaryr” Ramsay: (3rd Chip Count)
Mark “spoona999” Brewis: (Eliminated vs. Malcolm Brown)
Celia Liu: (2nd Chip Count)
Ben “mrflushy” Smith: (Eliminated 13th vs. ChipmunkDobbs)
Sarah Bleasdale: (Eliminated 17th vs. Martin Ross)

So overall a very impressive performance from “Team Circus” having 2/5 as iamgaryr phrased it retire UNDEFEATED, so VWD to those for flying the Circus flag & around of applause considering they had zero $$$ reward & were all playing for pride. Also VWD to fellow FTPer ST who after being card dead the entire FT managed to ladder up to 3rd place prize money for £200 although finishing 5th on a technicality behind Gary & Celia who couldn’t get ITM, so FTP 1/3 N1. I caught up w/ST & he had this to say;

"1st table strong players good crack no cards so didn't get involved with many pots. 2nd table early position with K9 hearts limped to see a 4 way pot of 3,200 flop was 2 hearts, also I have an over card I check 2nd player bets 2,200 other 2 players fold, I call hit a heart, he shoves & I double up to 14k at 1st break. Table gets split join another strong table 2 limpers, I'm on the small blind with J6 spades. BB checks flop is AJ6 2 diamonds giving me 2 pair, I check & so do 2 other players Gaz Walker bets around half the pot, 3 callers turn is a King, checked to Gaz again who bets around half the pot again, I call other 2 fold, river is a brick I push for 8k into a pot of around 18k Gaz called. Summary of pot is I win about 25-30k pot but thought when I flopped 2 pair I was good but as the hand progressed I thought I'd got myself in a world of trouble. Small blind QQ folded around to me I raise to 9k blinds are 1.5-3k BB shoves with KQ off, I call & double up to around 60k. Final table get no hands & get blinded out to ladder up to £200 3rd prize finish lol. Also well done to Gary & Celia who lasted right till the end of the tournament."

Finally WD ChipmunkDobbs who I understand also got on the FT & ITM & the MTT was finally split 4 ways after a chip count w/2 friends collecting £420 each & Gary/Celia winning bragging rights vs. their card room regulars.

MT & I will be over “Jolly Miller” on Saturday night for “NPF Christmas Party” which is looking to be VW attended by NPFers & I believe 60/80 seats already sold so likely this could sell out but I‘m sure there’ll be a full update this evening on “NPF News”. This like all NPF events will be 1st class night out so any NPFers w/o any plans for Saturday get in touch w/CGK & get your name, £14.95 includes 3 course meal & entertainment bargain IYAM. Then I’ll be closing my poker calendar by partnering MT in the “Circus Tag Team £30 (+£3) NLH F/O” on Monday 21st December before taking some time off over Christmas & New Year.

TY for visiting & reading.