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Posts Tagged ‘London’

Going to London is always exciting for me. It feels like a home away from home. I’ve probably been there a total of ten times, and I lived in London briefly last spring. It feels similar to New York City, which is where I grew up, and I realized that it’s not the aesthetics of London that are New York-ish, but rather, the degree to which I know it.

Flowering LondonWhen I go to London, I know where I want to go, what I want to eat, and what I want to do. As poker players, we travel a lot, but it’s rare that we stay someplace long enough or see enough of the city to really know it. This is not true of London. In London, I know the tube, I have a favorite bar, I have must-go-to restaurants, and I even have a regular hairdresser. One of my favorite things to do in a city, and especially in London, is to just meander its various neighborhoods and get a feel for the culture. My favorite spot in London is definitely SoHo. From the cobbled streets and alleyways, to the art, to the funky shops, I love everything about it.

When visiting London, I usually stay in Mayfair, Marylebone, or Pimlico, but this time I was staying with Liv Boeree, another professional poker player, at her first grown up home–a modern penthouse in Wandsworth, which is in southwest London. It was nice to stay with a friend, but I definitely missed feeling in the middle of the action.

Nighttime in LondonI wasn’t there to sightsee, though, and I arrived in London ready to play lots of poker. I even declined an offer to go to Dublin to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day so that I could stay back and grind Sunday tournaments with friends.

With friends in LondonAll in all, I ended up playing four live events–the Main Event, two High Rollers, and one smaller side event. I was optimistic going into each event, but I ended up bricking the series, not cashing in any of them. In fact, I haven’t cashed since winning the High Roller at PCA, and I’m on a bit of a downswing. That can be super frustrating, especially when I feel like I’m playing well. In your mind, you know you need to try and be unfazed by it so that you can keep playing your best. You have to maintain an “On to the next one” frame of mind. Downswings propel some people to want to play more and more poker, but they always make me ease my foot off the gas and slow down a little bit. I always want to feel good when I’m playing poker, and if I don’t, I need to take a minute and clear my head.

Right now, my fiancée and I are packing up our place in Los Angeles and spending some last minute time with friends. This week, we’re shipping our things out on a truck, then driving cross country, stopping in various fun cities to see the sights. We’re heading to Phoenix, Austin, Memphis, Louisville, and Niagara Falls, which I’m pretty excited about. She’s also coming with me to EPT Berlin in the middle of April, having never been there before. One of my close friends, Pierre, who lives in Paris, is planning on meeting us there, and hopefully I’ll be able to spend some time just hanging out and enjoying all Berlin has to offer. I’ve been to Berlin twice now, and my general impression of Berlin is that it’s an amazing city, and while I don’t know it as well as I know London, I look forward to getting to know it better.

Day 1B of the World Poker Tour National London Main Event is completed and the man who finished at the top of the chip counts, Lyssandro Rosas, not only tops the Day 1B leader board but leads the tournament overall.

Rosas managed to turn his 25,000 starting stack into 162,700 – an increase of 6.5 times! There is little information available on Rosas but if he continues in this rich vein of form there will be by this tournament comes to an end.

Hot on Rosas’ heels is Tamer Kamel and his 151,900 chips. Kamel was not content with winning almost £80,000 at the nearby, and now completed European Poker Tour London, where he finished seventh, Kamel made the short trip from The Vic to the Aspers Casino Westfield and bought into the WPT event. So far it looks to be a great decision as he is well chipped up and it would take a brave man to bet against him repeating his EPT success here at the WPT.

One hundred and fourteen players bought into Day 1B and by the time tournament director Christian Scalzi called time on proceedings, just 57 of them remain. The top ten chip counts can be found below.

1. Lyssandro Rosas – 162,700
2. Tamer Kamel – 151,900
3. Mark Segal – 110,400
4. Zydrumas Lukosiunas – 108,300
5. Robin Fisher – 105,300
6. Dominik Russel – 102,900
7. Neophytov Neophitos – 99,100
8. Raphael Dubost – 83,700
9. Alain Bauer – 75,900
10. Daniel Bergman – 74,600

Day 2 commences at 14:00 GMT and will continue until another eight 60-minyte levels have been played. Join the PartyPoker Blog team tomorrow for updates from the WPT National London Main Event.

Unlike the average poker player, tournament organisers are a risk-averse bunch. Knowing that the card room of the Victoria Casino could seat only about 430 players, they scheduled three opening flights of UKIPT London and made each of them last 11 levels. That ensured we dusted off enough players to allow the Day 2 field to fit in.

So it is that after Day 1B, which attracted 414 players, we remain tonight with fewer than 100 of them, less than a quarter of the field. Singing loudest among them is the appropriately named Luke Bird, who hit a straight flush to double up at the mid-point of the afternoon and then went on a charge tonight. Bird bagged 196,800.

Luke Bird, flying high 

Bird, who comes from Chingford and works in the travel industry, qualified for £22 on PokerStars and is playing the biggest tournament of his career. “It has been a brilliant experience so far,” Bird said.

Lurking behind is a familiar face: Tom Hall, who bags 181,600 tonight. Hall is currently in second place in the UKIPT Player of the Year leader board for season three, and could win the whole thing with a deep run in London. It depends, of course, on what Hall’s closest challenger, Neil Raine, manages here, but Hall has certainly started well in his quest for the prestigious accolade. (Raine is out of the main event, but there are a lot of side events that still qualify.)

Tom Hall, making a charge for the leader board 

There are plenty others hot on his heels tonight, including Daniel Rudd (161,500), David Vamplew (99,800), Kevin MacPhee (25,500), Andrew Teng (119,200), Karl Mahrenholz (41,500), Patryk Slusarek (159,000) and Willie Tann (78,300). Team Online’s Dale Philip also made it through the day, finishing with 25,500. He was the only “Red Spade” to make it through after Team PokerStars Pro’s newest recruit, Leo Margets, busted late in the day.

Leo Margets, stayed strong, then bust 

She found good company on the scrapheap. John Duthie lasted precisely one hand. His friend Barny Boatman lasted about one level more. Nick Wealthall, Luke Schwartz, Steve O’Dwyer, Martin Jacobsen, Richard Ashby and even Marc Convey couldn’t last the day.

Don’t look back in anger, Nick Wealthall 

Then Team PokerStars Pro lost Vicky Coren, George Danzer and Henrique Pinho, before Mickey Petersen, of Team Online, headed home too.

Vicky Coren, not queen this time 

But let’s celebrate those who remain. The counts of the survivors will be on the chip-count page as soon as we know them.

Tomorrow will be the biggest day of them all — upwards of 420 players, I reckon — and then we will know what they’re all playing for too. It’s likely to be a lot of dough.

Check out how it all played out in levels 1-6 and then levels 7-11. Join us again at noon Thursday for more of the same.

The WPT is set to head back to London this March and we want you there! From the from 14th- 18th March, you could be playing in the biggest game of your poker career with one of our stunning $ 3,000 prize packages.

Massive Payday!

The event is to take place at the first Super Casino at the Aspers Casino in Stratford and if you make it there you could be going up against some of the biggest name is poker as you fight it out for a massive payday!

Each $ 3,000 package includes

• $ 2,200 WPT National London main event buy-in
• $ 800 spending money

The Best Chance Only on PartyPoker

We want you there in London and so we’ve created a fantastic mix of qualifiers and weekly satellites. Start off with our daily freerolls and we could see you at the WPT National London for free!

But the fun don’t end there as we know there’s going to be as much fun off the table in the shadow of the Olympic Stadium. So make sure you check out the full qualifying structure , register today and you could be on top of the WPT podium in March!

We couldn’t believe the news either when we first heard it too, the WPT and PartyPoker.com Premier League VI are both heading to London this March! We’ll of course be there in full force to report on this tour-de-force of poker power and we want you to qualify to be there too!

Save The Date

The event to be held at the renowned Aspers Casino; a state of the art property on the edge of the London 2012 Olympic Park and within the famous Westfield Shopping Centre will boast a three week poker festival of the likes the world has never before. The dates for this installment of the Premier League have been confirmed as the 17th to the 23rd of March and we can’t wait!

Sweet Sixteen

We’re going to see 16 specially invited world class players, who are all going to pay a staggering $ 125,000 buy-in to battle it out to become the PartyPoker.com Premier League VI champion.

The Biggest Names In Poker

Although we don’t have any names for you right now rumors are that invites have been sent to some of the biggest names in the poker world, so keep checking back here for updates.

History Repeating?

If the past is anything to go by with names like Daniel ‘Jungleman’ Cates, Phil Laak, Tony G, Sam Trickett, Patrik Antonius and Tom Dwan all making an appearance then this installment should be one to remember.

Last Time Around

Last time we saw Scott Seiver take down the Premier League V and since then he’s gone on to crush it in the poker world. Here he talks to Mike Sexton and Jesse May about his win:

The Setup

This time around the event is going to feature 16 players of whom will be split into two groups of eight in the Main Event. Each participant will end up competing in four league matches all using the now famous $ 2,000 per point system.

Sneaking In The Back Door

And we’ll be seeing the top three from each group automatically heading through to the final table. And after that we’ll see fourth and fifth seeds battle it out in a series of heads-up matches for spots in the eight-handed finale.

The Crew

No PartyPoker event would ever be complete without Kara Scott who will present the coverage, and of course your PartyPoker blog team will be there to report on this poker extravaganza. We’re pretty sure we’ll see commentarty from Jesse May and Mike Sexton too.

A Truly Unique Event

The event really is known through out the poker world as being truly unique and here we see some pros talk about their love of the format:

WPT London Dates

On top of all of this PartyPoker.com has released the dates for the PartyPoker.com WPT National London, which of course will also take place at Aspers Casino, a £1,500 re-entry Main Event and the dates for this are the 15th – 19th March 2012 and will feature two day one starting days.

Qualify Today Only On PartyPoker

We want you there, it’s that simple so make sure you qualifty only on PartyPoker and get the best package out there. Qualify today and make London your next poker stop!

Greetings from the Olympic Village at London 2012! A lot of you have been asking who I am looking at in this picture as I walk with Lithuania’s flag bearer – the legendary Olympic discus champion Virgilijus Alekna. I was trying to see if I could see Phil Hellmuth in the crowd. I know he’s around as a cheerleader for the human dolphin Michael Phelps but he’s not in the village. Probably wise, don’t need a village idiot!

Managing a team against all the NBA superstars

Last night, Lithuania’s men’s basketball team played their first game – we lost but I feel really good about the next four games. We have Nigeria tomorrow, who we should beat while a match against the USA is also coming up later this week. People always ask me about what it might be like managing a team against all the NBA superstars from the States and I say I genuinely believe there could be a massive upset here. The Lithuanians are not scared – I can see us avenging our defeat against Argentina in the semi-finals – we beat them before in a sudden death game in Turkey earlier this year.

Life in the village is great, it seems like lots of people have recognised me as when they see me they ask if poker has become an Olympic sport. Inside the village it is like communism, everything is free and it is like being on a different planet. I am so glad I have done this – I am blessed to have been given the opportunity to get involved with something as big as this. I have been involved with Lithuanian basketball for two years and once this is over it is back to my normal life, it is back to playing a lot of poker for the rest of 2012. Whatever the result for Lithuania it is about the Olympic spirit of competing.

What is poker like in the Olympic Village?

I got the opportunity to have breakfast this morning with Ruta Meilutyte, the 15-year-old Lithuanian swimming superstar of the future who has got so many headlines in the past couple of days. Under the watchful eye of her UK based coach Jonathan Rudd she has shown herself to be a real fight with outstanding talent. Her mother died when she was very young and after she broke the European record at the weekend I expect her to finish top five in the final. She makes me proud to be Lithuanian.

A lot of you have asked about what the poker is like in the Olympic Village. All I will say is the US and Greeks love to play and that the Lithuanian men’s basketball team do too (they might also have someone to back them J). Depending on results I will go to Cyprus later this week – all inclusive resort, Russian cash game players to eat – what paradise!

I also got great news from Lithuania while I have been away with the basketball team. Zasko is a daddy and his three month old son Nordas is doing very well – a potential king of the forest no doubt he is surging and stalking, just like his father and his father’s owner!

Premier League Poker is back once again from the fantastic Playboy Club in London and this time it’s Pot Limit Omaha – a game becoming more and more popular with both the poker pros and the fans. Tonight in action it’s the Academy Award nominee, and a World Series of Poker Ladies’ Event bracelet winner Jennifer Tilly, with the one and only Tony G, Luke “FullFlush” Schwartz and Max Pescatori. All of this and more with great commentary from Jesse May and Mr. WPT Mike Sexton.

Qualify Today on Party Poker

Remember of course that next Premier League Poker Series will be heading to the fantastic Montesino in Vienna. And the better news is that you have the chance to qualify to this exclusive tournament which will feature a $ 125,000 buy in. Right now Party Poker has Weekly satellites, daily qualifiers and even freerolls for the televised play-off into the fantastic WPT Special Event.

And if you missed it check out our last great episode Premier League Table game with Mike Sexton.

With over 2,500 attendees at last years London Affiliate Conference, this years event is shaping up to be better than ever. The ChipSplit team will be there to go over all of the new exciting programs and acquisition tools that we know will make 2012 a profitable year for everyone involved.

 

The ChipSplit Affiliate Program and program manager Atil Singh have made the short-list of nominees for the iGB Affiliate Awards this year in the Best Affiliate Program Poker and Overall as well as the Best Affiliate Manager Poker and Overall categories! We want to extend huge congratulations to all of our affiliates and the entire ChipSplit team, so make sure you attend this year’s black tie event on Thursday, January 26^th at The Brewery, the night prior to the conference to show your support.

If you are attending the LAC please email support@chipsplit.com to setup a meeting!

Day 3 of the 2011 PokerStars.com EPT London Main Event started with 159 players remaining. Marvin Rettenmaier from Team Titan began the day with 301.3K for an average of 130K.

 

 Level 14 – Blinds 1 200/ 2 400 ante 300

Marvin started the day winning a coin flip for 30K with AJ versus pocket nines. Marvin hit an As and was up to 340K.

After 45 minutes of play in the day, Marvin’s table broke and our German Titan was moved to the other side of the poker room where he joined Canadian Bill Chen and French player Basile Yaïche.

Marvin Rettenmaier lost a few hands and ended the level with 310K.

125 players left for an average of 165,800 chips.

 

Level 15 – 1 500/ 3 000 ante 400

Marvin Rettenmaier had a bad start in this level, losing two hands in 5 minutes.

In the first hand, Marvin raised to 6.2K in early position and Basile Yaïche 3-bet him to 18K from the small blind. Marvin made the call.

On the flop: K♦10♣7♥ both players checked.

Same action on the turn, the 10d

On the river, 8♠ Basile Yaïche check-called the 16.8K bet of Marvin and won the hand with 82. Marvin Rettenmaier mucked his hand.

In the second hand, Marvin Rettenmaier raised 7.8K from the small blind and the big blind called.

On the flop: 9♠6♦4♦ Marvin bet 6.7K and was called.

Turn: K♥

Marvin fired another bet for 13.2 K and it was paid again.

On the river, the 5♣, Marvin bet 26.6  and his opponent moved all-in for more than 80K. Marvin had to give up his pocket Jacks.

He was down to about 200K and when the bubble burst, Marvin had exactly 203.4K for an average of 199.3K and 104 players left.

Marvin Rettenmaier succeeded in making the money in a big tournament. Congratulations !

Titan Pro Player Marvin Rettenmaier

Level 16 and 17

Marvin Rettenmaier played a lot of hands but didn’t see that many showdowns and during these last two levels he won a significant pot against the very aggressive French player Basile Yaïche.

Marvin, UTG +1, raised to 10.5K and Yaïch called from the big blind.

The flop came Q♥5♠4♥ and the French player checked and Marvin bet 8.5K. Yaïche 3-bet to 29K.

Turn: 2♥

Yaïche bet 43K and Marvin called.

Finally on the river Q♠ both players hesitated to bet and finally checked.

Yaïche showed A♠A♦ but Marvin had the best hand with a straight with A♣3♥

After a short 3rd day, Marvin Rettenmaier advances to Day 4 with a 365K stack.

There are 62 players left in the tournament for an average of 334K, and they are guaranteed to win a minimum of £11,000.

62 players returned to play the 4th day of the European Poker Tour (EPT) London Main Event and Marvin Rettenmaier, our German Team Titan pro player started the day with a stack of 365.3K when the average was 330K.

 

Level 18 – Blinds 3K/ 6K ante 500

Marvin Rettenmaier was really active at the beginning of the level, 3-betting and 4-betting few times. He realized a small profit during the first 45 minutes before losing a big pot.

Marvin raised to 14K and a Romanian player 3-bet him to 38K in small blind. Marvin made the call.

Flop: 10♦ 8♠ 6♦

The small blind bet 37K and Marvin called.

Turn: 10♣

The Romanian player check-raised all-in for 206K after Marvin had bet 42.5K.

Marvin Rettenmaier had to give up and mucked his cards. He was down to 230K and had the same amount at the end of the level.

53 players left for an average of 391K.

Level 19 – Blinds 4K/ 8K ante 1 K

Marvin Rettenmaier 3-bet to 38K from the cut-off after a first raise of 18K from the hi-jack player, a young Dutchman. The young player took a while before folding.

Marvin was up to 245K.

Then few minutes later the same player opened to 18K in small blind. Marvin Rettenmaier made it 58K in big blind. His opponent quickly moved all-in and Marvin made the call.

Showdown:

Dutchman: A♥ 2♠

Rettenmaier: A♠ :9♦

Board: A♣ 6♠ 3♣ 9♥ 2♦

Marvin Rettenmaier was up to a healthy 480K when 50 players were left for an average of 414K at the middle of the level.

A few hands later, he took another pot against the Dutchman 3-betting him again. Marvin succeeded in making his opponent give up one more time. Marvin showed AK.

Unfortunately, at the very end of the level, Marvin Rettenmaier was eliminated in a big set-up against French player Basile Yaïche. The two players know each other very well since last February when Marvin won the French Poker Series in Paris.

His last opponent (Heads-up) was Basile Yaïche. They respect themselves a lot but this confrontation was unavoidable.

Marvin Rettenmaier raised to 17K under the gun. Basile Yaïche made it 42K at the button. Marvin Rettenmaier pushed a stack of chips for a bet of 98K total. The French player moved all-in for more than 600K (more than Marvin’s stack). Marvin quickly called with A♣ K♣ but Yaïche held the best poker hand, A♥ A♠

Final Board: K♥ 3♣ 9♥ 8♠ 2♥ and Marvin Rettenmaier stood up and went to congratulate his opponent before leaving the poker area a bit shocked after this sudden end.

Once again a Team Titan Pro player succeeded in finishing in the money at a big event. We’re still waiting to see Sam Trickett play the final table of the Partouche Poker Tour in Cannes in November.