Connacht Cup Day 1 report

kpnuts

Just home from Galway and have 15 minutes to kill (and to try and stay awake) before Otago v Lions kicks off on Sky. Connacht Cup Day 1, I am pleased to report, was well worth the 7-hour round trip (5 hours down and 2 hours back), even though I was among the last to be eliminated shortly before "the money". The remaining 18 players will battle it out later today in the Westwood Hotel for the 20k-approx 1st prize from a total prize pool of 57k. All at the last two tables will be paid.
Over 100 of the 143 runners had qualified from the regular weekly IPT satellite tournaments in Dublin, Cork and Galway, with the remainder including myself stumping up 400+40 euro for a starting stack of 8,000 chips.
With a 40-minute clock and blinds starting at 25-50, there was plenty of time for players of all styles (and there were plenty of players in the field with, let's say, wildly unpredictable styles) to get building. So it was somewhat surprising to see three top-quality players make their exit during the first hour ... Joe "Show" O'Neill, Kevin Killeen (who made a set with his pocket QQ, only to run into his opponent's set of Kings) and Galway's Vinny "Long Lad" (who scooped one of the Merrion's WSOP tickets last week).
2004 Irish Open champion Ivan Donaghy from the North busted out a player at my table during Level 1 when both their pocket pairs, AA and KK, were overpairs to the board and Ivan's opponent failed to hit a third King. Ivan took chips from most people at the table before being moved during Level 3. I made my customary slow start, but managed to build my stack up to 11k when I hit a couple of boards just before the dinner break.
Somehow I sneaked through to the last 3 tables. However, I ended up all-in with A5 from the big blind and chip leader Mick McLean (Ken Doherty's mate with the bleached blonde hair) had limped with 99 which held up. Ken himself performed creditably, making it to the last 50 or so players, although he had been lucky to survive a couple of times before that when he had looked, er, snookered, notably when flopping a set all-in pre-flop with 55 against Gavin Stevens' JJ.
Other Boards forumites that I know were Limerick's Nicky O'Donnell, who won a pre-tourney S+G to qualify, and Mayo's Fatboydim aka Len Collin who is among the remaining 18 players set to return at 2pm today. Len has around 50k, with average stack 68k (I think).
Ivan Donaghy and fellow Northerner Paul Leckey have very large stacks going into Day 2, so I wouldn't be surprised at all to see the Connacht Cup cross the Border. Also still involved are a hooded bloke nicknamed "The Unabomber", a husband and wife (David and "Mystic" Meg O'Mahoney) from Co Kerry, a few Galway locals, Tommy Watson from Athlone and Mick Murphy from Dublin. Ranelagh's Mick McLean was overnight chip leader. Among those eliminated shortly before me were Brian and Joan Vickers and Cork-based couple Paul Bracken and Lauren Szidak.
Atmosphere was certainly the best of any tournament I've ever played, with the bar doing a brisk business right through to the 4am close of play. Full credit to Fintan, Richard and all their crew.
OK, Lions game has kicked off... I've kept myself awake, even if the rest of you have probably nodded off reading this psychobabble
Best of luck to Fatboydim aka Len today, here's hoping a sizeable chunk of the Westwood pot, if not the Connacht Cup itself, goes back to Westport with him tonight

Waylander

Is that Phil Laak the unabamber? He was at a couple of WPT final tables. One of the more unpredictable players I have seen.

califano

Yeah he's after passing up the wsop prelims for this one

DeVore

I suspect it may be a Unalookalike

DeV.

NickyOD

Pokerevents deserve a firm pat on the back for this. It was the best run live tournament I've played in. The blind structure was radically improved from the citywest with the antes only coming in at level 8. At other levels that were previously omitted were now uincluded. The Galway dealers for pokerevents are more experienced now and there were certainly no complaints from anyone or any real mistakes from what I saw. I have nothing negative at all to say about this event (Did you ever thnik you'd hear that from me? :rolleyes: )

I was amazed to find there was only 1 pre tourney satelite. A lot of players passed up the oportunity to play it even though it was only €88. I was sandwiched between Vinny Longlad and Fintan Gavin and two to my right was SavageBeat from Boards. Ugh! The other players at the table were basically weak tight. I expected Fintan to play very LAG and either accumulate a lot of chips and roll the table over or bust out early. As it happened he went out fairly quicky pushing on a draw and dumped to Vinny. I figured the tight players would just blind off and the ticket would go to one of the 2 aforementioned players or myself, and basically came down to the 3 of us and an uuuber tight-passive female player. When it got down to 4 handed the deck basically hit me in the face I saw a lot of pairs and was able to take down the blinds continuously. In in the end I got heads up with Vinny Longlad and had a 3-1 lead. He got back to a lityle better than 1-2 but I managed to eventually chip away at him with some big aces and eventually won it with AJ V A7.

As for the main event I was really happy with the way I played up until the hand I went out with. I drew Sean Mintern 2 to my right but other than that the table was very poor with usually 5 or 6 players limping in to every pot. I had to raise 8BBs with Aces just to get isolation in the SB after 6 players had limped in. I didn't really hit any flops before the break but was reasonably comfortable with 9K. After the break I was moved to Darren Baine's table and I like playing against Darren when I have position on him but when he's 2 to your left then things get difficult because he will almost never flat call. He always raises or reraises and makes things dificult for you which is exactly what he did the first 2 times I tried to take his blinds. I played pretty loose with marginal hands and hit some nice flops in the blinds and worked my way up to 14K which was really really comfortable considering it was still at the 150/300 level and average was just under 11K.

Then came a temporary loss of brain activity. I'd rather not go into the full details but basically I got seduced by the size of a huge pot against a very eratic player and badly overplayed top pair. I dumped the entire 14K in a single hand. I'd normally fold it 999 times out of a 1000. I really can't explain what was going on in my head, it was possible the worst play I've ever made and I walked right into his slowplayed Aces. He played them perfectly and afterwards he went on to be a huge tourney chip leader with 60K and the closest to him was 30K. The thing is I know this guy will not win. He is way to eratic and makes some bad calls (look who's talking!) He called a huge limp reraise all in from a UTG player who had Queens and rivered him with A9. He also makes really stupid small raises out of the BB after several players limp in with hands like AT or 77. I'm not bitter but he's just not good enough to take down this tourney, massive chiplead or not. I didn't see if Savagebeat was still in but good luck Len. I hope to hear that he took it down.

Fatboydim

10th - €900 plus a €250 buy in to the july 16th online tourney [Thanks Fintan]

Overall fairly pleased with my play. I started the day in 12th position and managed to double up when my all in with QQ was called by Christy from Galway who had JJ. I was sat between Paul Lecky and Ivan Donaghy with the chip leader of the time two to my left Mick McLean. I was happy enough with this as it made for a very tight table. And then I was moved on the big blind.

The other table had a lot of Galway players and the play was very loose aggresive - so much so that by the time we were down to 11 players all 7 players had been knocked out from this table. This put Jude Ainsworth into a massive chip lead on the table. By the time we were down to 10 players we were joined by Christy who made everyone laugh when he called a raise to the big blind for "Value" someone asked him what that meant and he said "It means I have ****e cards" and he was probably right. Someone else took down that pot. My demise came while the blinds were at 5k / 10k with a rollin 600 ante. I found myself on the BB with AJ. I had been folding A9 A10 A8 and indeed AJ all day only to see other players raising with king high. UTG raised to 40k - He had a couple of hands earlier gone all in with KJ and had been called by Jude with K9 [he had around 40k at the time] And by now 40k was the standard raise and we were already into the raise fold / all in scenario. I didn't like my AJ and really should have folded. Instead I decided I'd flat call - flop came 235 rainbow. Now I feared AK and AQ and I did have this player down as the tightest on the table next to me - so if anyone would fold to an all in raise he would - I had him covered and decided to put him to the test. He was so close to folding I could sense victory.... But get this - He had a wedding to go to [in the hotel itself] and decided feck it he called and sure enough had AK. The four didn't come for a split pot and the J didn't come to save me. The very next hand I had AJ suited and went all in with my remaining chips. around 14k. He was big blind and chip leader now [with around 270,000] so it was an automatic call for the little extra... my AJ streets ahead of his Q2... but he got a set and so I was gone.

I really wanted to place top three and felt capable of doing so, especially if I had won that pot - My eye was on the bigger prize, but I fell short.

Oh well always next time.

Of those left I expect Paul Lecky and Ivan Donaghy to be heads up. Meg could make it as she was still in... I think Mick Mclean was still healthy. But the galway lads are well stacked and could upset the form book.

SavageBeat

NickyOD wrote:

I didn't see if Savagebeat was still in but good luck Len. I hope to hear that he took it down.

I really enjoyed this event. I did make as far as 2:30am, I got knocked out in 31st. I of course handed my chips over to Fatboydim to carry on for me. (he called my all in bet I was on the SB, Fatboydim BB, Folded down to me. I saw K8o and said 'feck it', I was low in chips and thought I could steal off of Fatboy. But to my surprise he called my all-in with pocket 10's. Another 10 hit the flop and my fate was secured. Oh well. Glad you made use of my chips Len, Congrats on getting to 10th.

Best hand of the night was the one I knocked Ken Doherty out of the tourney. I had Pockets 99's in the SB. Smoothed called a raise from the Button, Ken does the same in the BB. 3 players to see the flop. It comes down, 10 9 7 rainbow. I checked it, Ken goes all- in, Button calls, I re-raise All-in putting the button player 8k more into the pot.
Cards turned over, Ken has pocket 66's and the button has AKo. I end up taking the pot and the bounty on Ken's head
(I agree with KP on that Ken is a great poker player, and a great guy)
Well done pokerevents for a well run tourney, Think I'll be back next wed

Pokerevents

Poker king of Connacht is a Galway man. The crew from Cork did'nt preform at all and While the experienced Dubs fancied their chances, it was Mick "el blondie" McClean who was highest finisher in third spot. The northerners had some series talent with MickMcClosky,Darren Baine, Paul Leckey who finished 6th and the ex Irish open winner Ivan Donaghy who had one hand title only for Jude Ainsworth to take it away and leave him with the runners up spot.
When down to three(35k from the 57.2k)was in the kitty a deal was struck only for it to come apart when chip leader Jude wanted the trophy and title as part of the agreement. Ivan (a total gent) was'nt having it and said whatever deal was done regarding monies He would only agree if he had shot at the title.
When Ivan took Mick out out they agreed 14k for Jude 13k for Ivan and played for the 1k and trophy. Ivan did'nt hit any cards and Jude aggressively ripped him apart. Standard of play was greatly improved from other events with a very competetive dimension between players from different cities.

The provincial teams play-off August27th next in the Merrrion will be interesting with 14 players from each province to battle it out in a freezeout
with prizefund increased by on-line companies. Anyone interested can contact Christy Smith who is organizing Leinster team. Paul Leckey and Ivan the Ulster team. Myself and Ken Corkery(Macau casino) the Munster team and Donal Mac Aonaghusa the Connacht team.

Fatboydim

Doyle Brunson has some serious re-writing to do – I think for Supersystem Three he needs to consult the Galway boys – Jude, Uncle Joe and Eddie McDonagh – It would be a best seller.

Congrats to Jude – Fearless player – Got lucky when he made a similar move to myself. A player raised his big blind and then called Jude’s all in Pre –flop – The player had AJ and Jude had A 10 – a 10 hit. Had the 10 not hit Jude would have been short stacked – which just goes to show that if you want to win tournaments you have to make moves and get lucky – whether the luck is stealing the blinds when no one has a hand, getting the right cards in the first place or hitting them when you make a wrong call.

Congrats also to Fintan and the team. The tournament was easily the best yet [and not just because I placed higher than Cork] More of the same please. The next event I believe is a €300 freezeout for the Galway Races. I shall look forward to that. What other plans have you got? The provincial team playoffs sound fun but I doubt I’ll make the Connacht team - How about a regular monthly freezeout in Galway like the €250 at the Fitz and Merrion? And any tie in with EPT or WPT events…?

Just two more questions Fintan – Is Jude going to go to the WSOP or take the money? [Good luck to him and the lads who do go including your good self]
And I don’t know the name of the guy who knocked me out, but where did he finish?

carrigeen

it was john cullnane knocked u out. he finished fourth , had a few bad beats and then his a 8 ran into aa and knocked him out

Pokerevents

Jude's over the top all in with A 10 should not have being called as Jude showed a A 10 fold to the same player pre-flop a few hands before that. However It looked like a smart call (4 minute decision) when cards were on their backs. Jude did get lucky, but overall He is a definite worthy winner, and a top quality player. I dont know if Jude is travelling to WSOP, we gave him the cash and it's his decision. I think not as He is busy studing and also has a young family.

I was disappointed you did'nt make final table at least fatboy as your game was almost flawless even your semi bluff with AJ on a rag board I thought should not have been called by John Cullane who went on to get 4th spot. Thems is the breaks.
Come September we plan to have feezeouts every month in Galway,Cork,Dublin,Athlone, Belfast and maybe Limerick.

NickyOD

Pokerevents wrote:

Come September we plan to have feezeouts every month in Galway,Cork,Dublin,Athlone, Belfast and maybe Limerick.

Get it together Fintan. I'm starved down here.

fixer

I have a friend who's talking about a casino/card room being built in Limerick now...

NickyOD

fixer wrote:

I have a friend who's talking about a casino/card room being built in Limerick now...

I know of 3 potential venues but no one has confirmed anything. A friend and I hope to talk to the owner of the Gold Club on Ellen St (only has craps, roulette and BJ) next week about the possibility of renting their downstairs room. Only 2 tables but all the equipment is there.

There are 2 other possibilities. I've heard McArthur's casino (which is just sot machines, roulette and a pool room) are "talking" about converting the pool hall into a 6 table cardroom. As yet there has been no movement on this.

The other is STIX snooker hall on Nicholas Street. A friend of mine is due to manage a new cardroom there but has been fed a lot of bull about the owner not being able to afford to get the tables and euipment. The current ETA on that one is September I think but this one has been put back several times so I'm not holding my breath.

Davewolf

Congrats to Jude and all the organisers of the tournament it was by far the best on yet ( well done Fintan)
I was knocked out my self by a poker of aces on the previous night ,i knew he had it!!! and i still called ( what a dumbass )
I have to say the last two tables were very exciting and it was great to watch.
a quick word to Fatboydim , I played against John who knocked you out and even though he was going to a wedding in the hotel it would not have changed his play ... if this guys wife was in the hospital giving birth he wouldnt have rushed his play
It was a huge call but it could have gone either was for both of you, hard luck mate but I have to say it was a marvelous achievment for anyone to make it to the last two tables .
theres always next time........

Davewolf

I dont think Jude is going

Fatboydim

Thanks for that Davewolf - I actually had John marked down as the only player on that table that I could try that move with - and that is a compliment - But it was John himself who told me that that's why he called and that if I had put a clock on him he probably would have folded. He also recognised that I took a long time to call his raise, I could have had a small pocket pair of course and that's what I wanted him to think. I also saw him make a great play against Mick McLean the night before with A4. And like I always say in poker it's only ever the best hand that wins:D Glad he finished a creditable 4th. And thanks Fintan for the compliment - My time will come I'm sure