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 I had been looking forward to this trip for ages, for at the tender age of 51 I was going to my first ever World Series. Although I had been to Vegas before, this for me is something I had wanted to do for a few years now.
In the past, there had always been reasons why I could not attend, these were either work, financial, or family related. This year however things managed to fall into place. Firstly, I was fortunate enough to win a $3,000 package at the Marbella Casino, and secondly, although I couldn't be away from work while the main event was on, I could get away for two weeks in the middle of the month.
So I booked to go from 9th - 23rd June. I made reservations to stay at the Mirage, and booked Delta Flights from Malaga to New York, and from there onto Vegas.
The casino had prepaid $1,000 directly to the organisers for me to play in the senior event (#30) as part of the package I won. So all that was left now, was to get my bank roll together, and pack my suitcase.
The trip couldn't have got off to a worse start. I missed my flight from New York to Vegas because the gate I went to at the allocated boarding time was in fact a transfer gate to another terminal. So my baggage went to Vegas without me, which I was surprised would be allowed, however i was told that this was ok on internal flights.
The next flight was 90 minutes later, so no big deal, or so I thought.
I boarded the next flight, and we taxied towards the runway. At this point an electrical storm hit New York and all flights were grounded until it passed. We waited onboard for 3 hours hoping to be able depart. However the storm had still not passed.
Under federal law the plane had to return to the gate and allow any passengers who wanted to leave to do so. But if you got off you couldn't get back on. This was something to do with being classified as a hostage. So we stayed at the gate for another 2 hours before trying again. The storm was beginning to pass, so we headed back towards the runway. With over 100 planes ahead of us it was nearly another 3 hours before we were able to take off.
By the time I got to the hotel I had been travelling for nearly 30 hours, and was totally knackered. Being to tired to sleep I unpacked, ordered room service, and watched tv.
I eventually got to sleep, but jet lag, and your own body clock are funny things, because after only being asleep for a couple of hours my mind was telling me to get up.
I decided not to play poker the first day, but would just try to rest, go to the spa, and chill out as much as possible. I also ventured out to get some fresh air, but the temperature had reached over 100 degrees, making it very uncomfortable. During my stay the weather hovered around the 100 mark everyday, with somedays making it to 107.
I met up with Neil Sweeting on the first day, who had already been there for a couple of weeks. Neil took me to the Rio and showed me around to get my bearings which was a great help. While at the Rio we both registered for the $1,500 no limit Hold'em event which was due to start the following day. This was to be the first of five WSOP events that I ended up playing during my stay. The other four were the:
$1,500 PLO
$1,500 Stud high low
$1,000 Seniors
$5,000 Six handed PLO
I am embarrassed to report that I never made it past the first day in any of the 5 WSOP events that I played. The closest I came to getting in the money was the $1,500 PLO where there were 1071 entries. Day one in all events consisted of 10 x 1hour levels. We were coming to the end of level 10 and the first day, with 130 players left. I was all in on the turn after a series of pot raises, with full kings over eights against my opponent who had full eights over sevens. The river was the case eight giving him quads, and denying me the opportunity of progressing to day two as one of the chip leaders. All the surviving players from day one got paid, and I spent the remainder of my stay wandering what may have been if that hand stood up.
My next WSOP event was to be the $1,500 Stud high low. This was the first time I had played this, and perhaps I should have chosen somewhere other than the World Series to make my debut, as I felt a little out of my depth against a table of seasoned pro's including the eventual runner up Mike Sexton.
The $1,000 senior event was great fun, and had a carnival atmosphere surrounding it, as everybody involved made you feel like part of a very large family. The Senior event also created history in that the 3,752 field was the biggest ever starting amount of players in the history of poker. I thought I would start this event playing very aggressive, however, they weren't going to have no young Rooster boss them about, and half way through the first level I had lost two thirds of my 3000 starting chips. So with my tail between my legs I sat there and concentrated on building my stack back up. By the end of level 4 I had rebuilt my stack back to the original 3000 and by the end of the next level I had 14,000 in chips. That was the high point regarding my chip stack, as I eventually went out in about 1200th.
The $5,000 PLO was my most expensive Omaha buy-in to date. However, after my performance in the previous Omaha event I was convinced this was best remaining chance of getting a pay day. I had the great TJ Cloutier at my table, who I must say is a true gentleman, he had time for everybody around him, as he entertained us all with his stories of the game covering the last 50 years, and of all the other great players he knew. My hopes turned to disappointment during level 7, when short stacked I moved all in pre flop with 7 8 9 10 double suited only to miss all my draws, and leave the Rio for the last time on this trip.
All was not, however doom and gloom. After I got knocked out of the first event, the $1,5000 No limit Hold'em on my first day of playing, I entered a satellite to be played later that evening for the $10,000 Stud event being played the following day. I got to the final table, and with only four of us left did a deal for $8,200. Rather than play in the following days event I used this money to help fund the events I have already mentioned.
During my time at the Rio I sat at the same table as some of the great players in the game today. Although recognising some from the television, I didn't know all their names. The one's on my table who I did know the names of were:
Andy Black
Mike Sexton
TJ Cloutier
Rob Hollink
Josh Tieman
James Akenhead
My playing wasn't restricted just to the Rio, I played in a couple of tournaments at the Venetian, Caesars, and the Mirage. Although running deep, I never managed to get in the money.
My best results came in the PLO cash games at the Venetian, where I at least managed to off set some of my tournament entry costs.
I also played in the inaugural "Oklahoma Johnny Hales" Super Senior Event, which was held at Caesars, and like the WSOP had a massive turn out.
All in all, I had a great time, and look forward to my next World Series visit, whenever that might be. In future I would stay at the Venetian, as this is the best place to play the Deepstack tournaments and cash games, and although staying close by at the Mirage, going out in temperatures of over 100 wearing a fleece which you need because of the air conditioning is not as convenient as staying on site.
To everybody I know still out in Vegas, I wish you all the best of luck, and only wish I was still there with you. |
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