Well before the event began there was a little a somewhat unexpected £50k+ overlay with around 192 entrants ensuring a first prize of around £84k IIRC. I was really excited before the start of play and once i was at the table for a few orbits i began to feel settled. Day 1 was rather uneventful on my behalf, i was pretty card dead throughout so had a rocky image and my table was actually really solid (Especially compared to some of the stories about the action on other tables!) I took down a few pots with C/bets etc but in general didnt get out of line (apart from 3betting a CO open OTB with 22 :P)
The live RNG was particularly rigged on day 1 however where we managed to see 3 sets over set and KK V AA with no one going broke, which is a measure of how good the structure of the tournament was and how cautious the live game plays. One hand involved Henning Gradstad (GUKPT Newcastle finalist and mulitple WSOP cashes) raising 88 utg and been flatted by an Irish dude UTG+1.
Flop came a pretty harmless 3 6 8 two diamonds. Henning c/bet, Irish nit raised Henning(probably has the loosest image at the table at this point) jammed and Irish gezzer goes into the tank for about 8 mins b4 calling with 66 and having Henning covered. I was convinced this was a slowroll, but Henning tabled 88 for top set vs middle set. Everyone at the table was saying how they could probably fold bottom set in that spot to which i sat blank faced in bewilderement at the table chat.
I was allin at one point on day 1, I raised UTG with 15k stack and AK whilst a new guy to table calls from BB. Flop comes 34 k 2 hearts.He donks 1.2k, i raise 3.2k he flats. The turn brings a J of hearts and he insta jams. I tank for like 5mins thinking live pro's are more than capable of playin a low flush this way but decided to take into account the "Moran Factor" and make the call. He tbls Ah Jd (LOL) for a flop donk/float OOP, turned NFD and 2nd pair. Im pretty sure he just viewed me as sum kid he could push around, but i got a fair bit of respect here where the players at the table couldnt believe i made the call. Day 1 finished and i had around 30k stack from 20k starting stack which was just below avg with around 60 runners gone on day 1 already.
Day 2 i picked up a few hands early on and became more active, i gradually built my stack up to around 45k within 90mins b4 i had an interesting spot.Laggy good HJ opens for 2.5x to which rocky Btn 3bets around 3x orignal raise. I look down to see JJ and decide to cold 4bet which gets through ( Later found out LAG had AK and rock had AQ and ended up finishing 2nd for £45k). The tbl dynamics by mid afternoon day2completely changed also. A huge whale running hotter than the sun joins the tbl and is limping into every pot(sum old guy with to much business wealth apparently).So bascially the action tames down alot and consists of isolating the fish etc etc. I even managed to flop top set vs him but he insta mucks an action 6 9 J flop FMMFL. John Kalmar later joins my tbl which was pretty cool. I raised UTG+1 2.5x the blinds with 33 which happens to be Kalmars BB which i was told previously by a friend is defended vigoursl. flop comes J 10 2, Kalmar checks i c/bet and he folds showing 93hh giving me a gentle rubdown about how if i make stupid little raises pre hes guna defend with trash which i thought was funny. He did seem a really nice guy though.
My exit hand was pretty sick where i finished in 68th. fish limps in MP at 300/600/75,SB a TAG reg at DTD iso's to around 2.1k. I wake up with qq and have around a 40k stack whilst the reg has me covered. I 3bet to around 7.2k, fish passes and SB flats. Flop comes 4 6 9 2diamonds, SB checks i look to see if i have Qdiamonds which i do b4 betting 11.8k. SB insta jams i sighcake, but with 1/2 my stack already in pot with 60bb b4 hand i decide he can have TT/JJ/ random draws/overs enough of the time to be in good shape however he flips 99 and its a good night for me on day2.
Overall thought it was a great structure and was pleased with how i played. Im sure i couldof had a deep run if i win that pot but meh till next time..........
JP
