Saturday 7 June 2008

VEGAS BOUND

VEGAS BOUND

By Mick McCloskey

First things first. I just can’t wait to share my good news. I am as happy as a footballer, lacking a sick parrot and with access to a space vehicle travelling to the moon. I have just won an online package to this year’s WSOP. I will be heading to Vegas towards the end of June along with thousands of other hopeful punters. Unlike many of the others, I will have access to the Ladbrokes Lounge in The Rio, a big plus for any player taking part in the main event. The Lounge is close to the playing area and has lots of useful facilities for Ladbrokes qualifiers and their guests. It’s almost like a home from home, a friendly haven for the duration. I’m looking forward to meeting up with old, and new, acquaintances in Las Vegas. To all the Irish players going to the WSOP, I wish you all the very best. Enjoy.

SPAINISH DEBT

At the recent JP Poker Irish Masters tournament in Dublin I met an Irish couple who run regular poker tournaments in their pub in Gran Canaria. Derek Watson and his partner, Deborah, own The Irish Fiddler in Arguinigan and had organised satellite games to bring some of their customers to Dublin for the weekend. In all, ten of them made the trip to Ireland. One of them though almost didn’t make it and arrived a full day after the rest of the party. The group had flown from Gran Canaria to Madrid to get a connecting flight to Dublin. As they were going through the police control point one of them was pulled to the side for further enquiries. It turned out that he had a four year old unpaid parking or traffic fine amounting to €150. Despite offers to pay the fine and any other penalties in cash there and then, the guilty party was marched off to the prison cells, where he spent the night. He was released the next day, after settling his outstanding fine, and travelled on to join up with the rest of the group. So, if you are planning to travel to and from Spain, don’t forget to pay off any debts to the state before you leave the country. For anyone going for a break in Gran Canaria, if you fancy a little poker in the surrounds of an Irish bar, you can contact The Irish Fiddler by email to derekwatson1@eircom.net

BATTLE OF THE CHAMPIONS

I have just heard that the televised final of the Party Poker World Open has come to an interesting conclusion. The six seater final table ended in a heads up match between current Irish Open Champion, Neil Channing and his predecessor, 2007 Irish Open Champion, Marty Smyth. In the interests of those who want to watch the television programme when it comes to our screens, I will not reveal which Champion came out on top. Congratulations to both of them for getting to that position.

NEWS

In what is reported as an amicable parting of the ways, Blonde Poker will no longer be involved with Big Slick Events in running Irish based tournaments. The event planned for The Majestic Hotel, Tramore, Co. Waterford will go ahead as planned from 12th to 15th June with a new sponsor in the form of internet poker site, Bodog. The €550 three day main event has a guarantee of €50,000 which I am sure will be well surpassed. For full details, check out the Big Slick Events website.

The Gold Club in Letterkenny, Co. Donegal are to run their first ever Summer Festival from 3rd to 6th July. This will be a European ranking event with a €540 buy-in, a 15,000 starting stack and 60 minute levels. The festival will kick off with a €50 super satellite with re-buys, on Thursday evening. The main event will start on Friday evening with smaller support events being held on Saturday and Sunday. Satellites for seats to this event are available on Green Joker Poker. For further information, log onto www.goldclubcasino.ie or call 00353 7491 28707 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 00353 7491 28707 end_of_the_skype_highlighting

The Irish Classic Poker Festival is scheduled to run in The Macau Club, Cork from 11th to 17th August. The €1,500 + 100 three day main event has a guaranteed prize pool of €150,000. Check with your local club for live satellites. Watch out for online satellites on Betfair Poker and on Green Joker Poker. For further details, check out the Macau Club website.

Big Slick Events, in association with Cue Club Events and Ladbrokes Poker, have announced details of the €250,000 guaranteed Killarney Poker Festival to be held from 2nd to 5th October at the INEC, Killarney. The Festival will kick off with a €50 +10 super satellite on Thursday 2nd October with 20 main event tickets guaranteed. The €550 three day main event will have a 15,000 starting stack and 60 minute levels. €300 and €170 support events will also be held. For full details, log onto www.bigslickevents.net.

If you have any news, views or events you can contact me by email to mickymccloskey@hotmail.com