WSOP 2022 Pt. 2

 I was back at the WSOP for a full week of tournaments!   Had some smaller events at South Point in my sights, including a $240 mixed game tournament right off the bat on day one (Sunday, July 10) - ROSE, aka HORSE with no Hold-Em (Razz, Omaha/8, Stud, Eight or Better Stud)

I must say, I had an absolute blast with this one - the players weren't that grumpy (they usually are in these fix limit old-school events) and my bust out wasn't near the bubble.

I really didn't misplay any hand, except maybe once in Razz.  I couldn't help but alert my opponent when he called 4th street with KQ showing that the game was low-ball, and he folded.  It was second nature to me, but really - I should keep my mouth shut in a $240 tournament in a casino.

So I ubered back to Bally's and checked out the scene.  It was the tail end of Day 1A of the Lucky 7's tournament.  I would be playing in Day 1B tomorrow.

I of course was hopelessly early, and was ready to sit down in the Paris Ballroom as soon as they opened the tables, a good 15 minutes before start time!   

Beforehand I had paid a visit to the little boys room, and the once clean and massive restroom that I had seen at the beginning of the WSOP (see my part 1 video) was now absolutely TRASHED, with at least half of the stalls and urinals busted and taped off.  This room was designed to take a gradual influx of a thousand or so people over the course of a day - NOT designed to handle a thousand all at once, multiple times a day.    It will have to be overhauled, not just patched up, to survive next years series.

Anyways, before I walked in, I ran into a friend from my home game, Mr. Joe F. , who was also playing.  We were both raring to go.   But then we walked into he ballroom, and it was SERIOUSLY empty, as in - they had moved our tournament over to Bally's.  D'oh!   We jammed on over (about a 5 minute walk) and found our replacement tables... wished each other luck and then we were underway!

I have to say, playing 7 handed is AWESOME.  

We actually played 5 handed for almost an hour before the other players showed up, which was fine with me.  Everyone was an amateur and I was happy.  Of course the two that were late, were decidedly NOT rec players.  Oh well.

All the same, I had a pretty great morning and afternoon.  Expertly chipping up and rolling with the punches just fine.

Then the bad beat came - according to my twitter it was not pretty...  I truthfully don't remember the hand but...

I was out less than an hour later, though at one point I did get moved to a new table that also had my homie Joe!

Unfortunately, only one hand was played - and then that table broke as well!

Less than ten minutes at my next table, my big hand ran into a bigger hand and that was it for the day.

Well, mostly.  I did take a stab at a small evening event at the MGM down the street.    Did not cash, busted 23rd out of 69, 12th from the money.

Fishy players, fun times, no monies.

And so it was off to bed, day 2 in the books.

The next morning I passed on the aggressively mediocre breakfast sammich from the day before at the Paris deli, and instead went next door to the creperie' and got a Monte Cristo crepe.  It was very good - but the Nutella crepe the next day was even better!

And then it was on to Day 1C of the Lucky 7's!

Once again I was scheduled to be in the Paris Ballroom, and this time - we actually played in the Paris Ballroom.  A very cool room, and decidedly cooler than Bally's.  The day prior had actually been a bit sweaty.  Supposedly they had fixed the air conditioner, but whatever system was in place, was clearly old and barely functional.  Hopefully next summer it is dialed in and nice and cool like Paris.

Alas, this time around there was only a couple of other amateurs at my table - everyone else was either a pro or a more serious and younger poker player than myself.  It was decidedly harder to spin it up, though I still did for a time.

I was out in under 4 hours, and I happily enjoyed a great burger at Cafe Americano, with my favorite accoutrement. 

It rocked.

My twitter indicates that I was in pain from a couple of tough beats and a seeming inability to win flips...

Truthfully the pain and "woe is me" attitude here has completely faded by now, as it's been over a month since the trip.  I'm happy to see that I was comfortable, and successful, with big bluffs.

That night I once again Ubered to South Point for a small ($150 I think) tourney.  Nothing of note to report there, but I did have a bizarre return trip...

It was really weird.  I oddly felt guilty for not having a mask - but not too guilty, as I didn't say anything.  He really did mumble at me for the entire trip.  I smiled and said "Uh-huh" over and over.  Still tipped him well.

The next morning, after the AMAZING aforementioned Nutella crepe' - I was pumped to play EARLY poker at the weekly Wednesday $250 9am Deep Stack SENIORS event.   As you know, I finished 3rd in this event in June, I was looking forward to a repeat performance!

While the chips were an improvement from last time, I'm afraid my run wasn't nearly as good.  I busted well in time to register for the 2pm Everybody Eligible Regular Ass $250 Daily Deepstack.

One cool thing in the morning seniors event, I sat directly next to the champion of the 2018 1K WSOP Seniors Bracelet event - a Mr. Matthew Davis, who was very nice and very cool and fun to chat with.

I ran into him again a few days later and we caught up on our results (both bad lol), it was fun chatting and commiserating. I called him "Champ" and he smiled in appreciation.

Anyways - the 2pm Daily that day...  It went well, but I needed some fuel at this point to get going.

Within two hours I was short stacked and unable to get away from TPTK (Top Pair Top Kicker) against an opponent who had AA.   I was out!  No worries - rebuy!

I wasn't discouraged at all - I had been playing well and dove right back in.  These lower buy-in tournaments were quite a bit softer than the Lucky 7's, and I had no problem spinning up chips and being comfortable pushing the aggression and mixing it up post-flop.

By 940pm we were hand for hand, and ten minutes later we were in the money.  I had 20ish big blinds and was very happy to keep getting involved, hoping to double/triple up and make a run at the real money at the final table.

Unfortunately, it was not to be, and I had to settle for this...

Better than a poke in the eye with a burnt stick and a decent cash for the buy-in (just under $600, but of course I was in for two bullets) - and it would've SUCKED to not cash at all this week, and until this tournament that had been a very real possibility.

So fairly happy, after another long but super fun day of grinding - I was burnt toast and off to bed.

With only two days of playing left, I awoke and once again went for the Nutella crepe!   Why eat anything else ha ha!

Don't need to get into crazy detail about July 14th, but I will say this, it was one tournament - the $250 2pm Daily Deep Stack once again, and my twitter pretty much says it all - 

Again, this being a month later - the pain has GREATLY faded and I don't really remember the agony that is evident in my twitter.  Sometimes getting older is a good thing!

And so the last day - July 15

After quickly busting a 10am $60 silly-ment at South Point, I registered for the 1pm $240 Omaha/8 tournament.

Did not cash, but as always enjoyed myself immensely in a fixed-limit / NON-Hold-Em event.

And then I was back to Bally's to say goodbye, watched a little bit of the Main Event Final Table in the Bally's Event Center (their equivalent of the Amazon room) and was in awe of the players and the once in a lifetime experiences they were undergoing.   Some day I'll get there!

Very cool set up and very exciting!

Also noticed this nonsense in the casino...

The idea of people watching this kind of thing as entertainment just kind of boggles my mind, but to each their own I suppose.

And so that was that - the 2nd chapter to my 2022 WSOP experience was certainly not what I wanted results wise.  You can do the math here if you like, but I'll save you the trouble and let you know that I was down well over 2K.  Fortunately, my $2800 cash in June helped offset that quite a bit, alas, over all for the 2022 WSOP, I was in the negative.

However, the experience, all of it - was once again truly GREAT.    

Summer camp for grown-ups, for me, has and always will be the World Series of Poker, and now that it's in it's new awesome home on the strip, it is absolutely better than ever.

I can't wait for next years sleep-away, and am super pumped to come back with my mind and body energized and my heart full of love for the grind and the great game of poker!

Post script - came back come, grateful to see my girls and get back into the routine of a job I like a lot and a family I love - but I also of course had time for the next poker tournament at the Moose, and...

There ya go!