My WPT trip report

I busted out somewhere around 160 of the 265 that started wednesday. I decided to play wednesday instead of thursday, because if I busted out, I could try to drink my 10k worth of free booze at the WPT players party that night (a bad omen, in retrospect).

Sadly, the poker gods were not looking out for me, as I couldn't hit a flop all day. I only hit 1 set in 10 hours--and didn't get paid for it. 2nd hand of the day, my top two KJ lost when 78 hit trip 7s on the river. And I was betting it pretty hard and have no idea how buddy could call me with bottom pair to the river??? Next hand, my pocket Queens lost to pocket kings, but luckily and Ace hit on the turn and kept me from going broke. After that I treaded water between 12k and 15k for the next 8 hours, winning and losing some small pots. Every time I made a move, it seemed like someone was coming over the top. It was so frustrating, to wait years to play in an event like this and not get any cards to work with.

I had one table change at level 3 - to a table with John Juanda. I asked him if anyone has ever called him, "A Fish Called Juanda" and he looked at me like I was crazy. Amnon Filippe was also at the table and they both had over 60k in chips, so I had to avoid them and try to pick on the smaller stacks. Amnon is a really nice guy and I hope he does well. I must have picked up AK and AQ like 6 times, made big raises to like 4 or 5 BBs, and then couldn't hit the flop. Then I would make continuation bets and get raised over the top, and in those instances I was not willing to re-raise all my chips back with just Ace high. Amnon did it twice to me, and both times he should big pockets.

Only by stealing once every few orbits was I able to keep at around 12k... I got pocket Jacks, made a big raise, and then someone went all in behind me. I threw them away. He showed Aces. Then I got all my chips in, about 10k, with Jacks again, and got called by the lady beside me, with Jacks. Just typical of the day.

With my M lower than 10, and facing a table with a lot of chips, I knew I had to make a move. I didn't want to just fold until Friday, to say I lasted the first day, and then have to play with like 6k. What's the point? So I pushed all-in from the button with 99, over the top of a raiser in early position. BB calls with AA. That was that.

All in all - an incredible experience. I will be back next year for sure. Everyone I met was so friendly. I ate lunch with Jim McManus - which was a thrill for me, as I am a writer too. I had dinner with the winner of the WPT Foxwoods from this year. I can't remember his name but he was a Guyanese guy from New York. He told me about being on high stakes poker just last week.

Actually, everyone I met was really nice. Gavin Smith is insane. He paid this stuntman I was hanging out with from L.A. 200 bucks to drink 10 vodka shooters. And the guy did it without blinking. Unreal. Then Gavin offered him 500 to do 10 more, and the stuntman's girlfriend (who is the WPT media director) freaked out and wouldn't let him do it. We closed down dragonfly last night and Gavin was so smashed, it was hilarious. I was hanging out with the Press girls, and then when they introduced me to Gavin as a journalist, he told them I was a poker player and that I was bullshitting them. I guess he saw me in the tournament that day.

So having busted out of the event, I picked up a press pass and get to watch all the action from tableside. I'm at my laptop right now inside the room, and just saw Negreanu bust out first on day 2! Set of Queens took down his KK. Sitting right beside Daniel was Carlo Coliaccovo's twin brother.

Oh, Gavin is playing today BTW, and hie eyes are so bloodshoot it's hilarious. I just walked over to his table and told everyone to take it easy on him since we closed down the club at 3 a.m. There was this really pretty internet player who was also in the club with us at 3. She offered me a few shooters and pulled out a huge wad of $100 American bills. But some guy who was trying to pick her up paid for the drinks. Thanks buddy! I just saw her at her table now and she told me she went back to her room last night and won 35k playing on-line completely hammered. Unreal the lives some of these pros live.

I'll post some more later.