Merrion back on the scene

Daithio

I played in the Merrion last night for the first time in about 3 months and I have to say I was really impressed. I ended up winning it but I'd be writing this post even if I'd been one of the first out. I know alot of people who post here for some reason or another have a problem with the place, but I reckon it's time to give it another chance. The numbers have jumped up, last night was 2 tables down on the previous week and there were still 42 runners, with €500 added to the prize pool which makes a big difference. The standard was really good and the structure excellent too, and at no stage did it become an all in fest. I can't wait for the €540 on Saturday which by all accounts is the best tournament in Dublin now (I'll believe it when I see it though, I still think the Fitz €270 is great). Anyway I'm mainly posting this to let you all know that whatever flaws stopped people from boards playing there in the past (no dealers etc) have been done away with. I think the Fitz is great but it can only be healthy to have a bit of variation and competition between the Dublin cardrooms.

pokertroll

Hey Dave,

Well done on the result.
I agree the place is certainly getting the numbers lately and I have really enjoyed the last couple of tournaments I've played there, especially the monthly 500 game which is a lot different to the 270 game in the Fitz which I also really like.

One thing I have noticed is that the player base is nearly completely different to what it was a year and 2 years ago. It seems that the freerolls and cheapo sunday tournament have attracted a lot of younger players into the club and these players have now started playing the bigger games.
What has happened to all the older players? I know some of them play in the Fitz but there are still a lot of players who you will only see for the very big games and festivals now. I think a lot of them are, like myself, sticking to the internet and only coming out for the big montly games.

I do, however, think they will struggle when the new Sporting Emporium opens up next month as will the Fitz to a certain extent so it will be interesting to see how things develop over the next while.

Daithio

I think you're probably right Mark, but it can only be good for poker when the sporting emporium comes along. The more competition the better; with the Fitz doing so well the Merrion was forced to add money to the prize pool and other incentives to get customers in, the competition from the sporting emporium will just mean that the various different clubs will have to make it worth our while to play in their places.
A bit of coordination wouldn't go amiss either. The Merrion and the Fitz have too many tournaments of similar buy ins running concurrently. For example on Sundays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays they are often competing with each other for customers because the tournaments they hold are so similar. Hopefully the sporting emporium will realise this and maybe try and hold some decent tournaments on nights that don't compete with the other clubs.
Have you any idea when it's opening up? Have they made any announcements regarding what sort of games they'll be having?

Pokerevents

I was told first week in October.
Dara has left the Merrion to join Dermot Desmond. She told me there will be a card room.
So expect an even heavier tournament schedule.

pokertroll

Pokerevents wrote:

I was told first week in October.
Dara has left the Merrion to join Dermot Desmond. She told me there will be a card room.
So expect an even heavier tournament schedule.

Not sure of the schedule yet but it will be open in mid october with a large cardroom.

Hopefully they'll fill the gap in the schedules for thursdays and saturdays which are treated somewhat like sabbath days by the 2 clubs.

ocallagh

Looking forward to the opening. I'd like to see a decent tourny on Sat night.. Sick of waking up with a hangover on Sunday.

Fully agree with comments above about the Merrion. Tuesday night is a very decent game. Will be in on Sat for my first shot at the 500NL!

Corben Dallas

so with all these improvements have they finally got round to getting decent Touranment chips, or are they still using the crappy 'stick together' chips as before?

pokertroll

Corben Dallas wrote:

so with all these improvements have they finally got round to getting decent Touranment chips, or are they still using the crappy 'stick together' chips as before?

The last game I played was the 500 game and they had new chips for that - same ones used at Irish Open.
I think they only take them out for special occasions, though

JuliusFranco

yes the good china is brought out for the big games,
slippy fukers they are too!

the merrion had a pretty big dip in attendences last year / early this year but it seems have gotten quite busy over the last few months - usually 120+ runners at the Monday freeroll and 7 or 8 tables for the Friday and Sunday games! and i agree, it seems to be a different crowd to the Fitz

there's certainly room for another good card club too!

EARMUFFS

is the merrion still running single table satellites for the thursday 200 game ? and if so what time do they start at?

pokertroll

EARMUFFS wrote:

is the merrion still running single table satellites for the thursday 200 game ? and if so what time do they start at?

That game has now bcome the monthly Saturday 500.
Single table satelites from 2PM AFAIK.
It is on the 2nd saturday of every month (this saturday!)

EARMUFFS

pokertroll wrote:

That game has now bcome the monthly Saturday 500.
Single table satelites from 2PM AFAIK.
It is on the 2nd saturday of every month (this saturday!)

anything on its in place tonight in the merrion?

JuliusFranco

freeroll...zzzzz