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THE LUTON BUBBLE BOY
It was a great pleasure to play in yet another SPT event, this time in Luton. This was my sixth event having played in Edinburgh, Newcastle and Nottingham last year as well as each of the three legs for 2009/10. I think during these events I have experienced all the extremes as shown by my finishing places, top 60 (out of 130) in Edinburgh, first one out in Newcastle last year (out of 130), about 200th (out of 280) in Nottingham, final table (7th) in Manchester, 37th (out of 150) in Newcastle this year and “bubble” 16th (out of 150) this last weekend.
Like a lot of other people I get a tremendous kick out of attending these events as you meet up with many friends, some old and some new, and there is always a great camaraderie amongst all the players, spectators and organisers. Long may it continue.
My day in Luton started at about 10.45am after a three hour drive down from North Derbyshire. The first person I bump into at the hotel was Mr_mbro (always a pleasure Col), next it was Tikay. He was about to set off for the casino, but not before he tried to convince a member of the hotel staff that I was 93 years old. Tikay then introduced me to BIGMAN70 (Neil) before I made my way to my hotel room, meeting up with TPers Dan and Ben on rout.
Off to the casino now, a pleasant 10 minute stroll. In the two hours leading up to the start of the tournie, met up with many people I have met before, including Doudeau and Mogsy, who had both promised me a drink via the chat box (online) two or three weeks ago, and both were true to their word (thanks guys). Seeing the “total players” and others made me realise how strong the field was for the event.
The tournie is about to start, and I get my first bit of good luck. I have Lisa (LML) sat next to me J, she is charming and great company for the afternoon. I picked up 2 or 3 decent pots and manage to more than double my stack quite early, then I think Tikay put the mockers on it as he announced me as chip leader and I was treading water for a while. [Lisa was so unlucky as she hit pocket aces THREE times and got no value at all]. I reached the first break with about 12k chips, well up on the average, so I was more than happy. Not much happens between breaks except that I flopped top pair and called DAVEYZZs all in shove (he had less than 4k chips). I also lost the lovely Lisa as a seat neighbour L. I reached the buffet break with 20k chips. A few ups and downs saw me get to the next break with about 28k chips. Lose chips quite quickly down to under10k, go all in on SB with K4 suited, only Dantb on BB left, he has me covered but not by a lot, he calls with 66, I hit K and stay alive. He is transferred to another table. Field reduces to 23 and I am sat with about 23k chips, probably 10k down on average. Find that MRWHIZZ, who is now sat next to me, lives just 4 miles from me. His friend comes over to wish him luck, it turns out that I have known him for over 30 years (small world – lol).
Time moves quickly on and we lose 2 players and we hit the last 19 on two tables. My chip stack is dwindling, I am looking for an opportunity. Get a big Q8 and decide I’ll push if it gets to me, it didn’t, somebody beat me to it. Decide to shove again twice, but beaten to it again both times, but we are now down to 17. Blinds go up to 2k/4k and I am sat with about 10k, doesn’t look as though I have got much future, but BIGMAN70, who I had met at the hotel before 11.00am, goes out on the other table, now down to 16. Can I survive!!!? The blind comes round and I hit a 72 off suit on the BB, but as somebody else had pushed am forced to fold. I’ll have to do it in the next hand on the SB and I hit AQ. Great!!!! I’m all in regardless!!!!. Everybody folds so I push feeling quite confident. PENGUIN (Tony) is on the BB with a chip mountain and he is bound to call, which he does and turns over 3h 5h, I feel even more confident. The flop comes down Ax Kx 10h, I have top pair and straight draw, I love this game! Turn Qh, so I now have 2 pairs as well as the straight draw but Tony has flush draw. It can’t come down runner, runner, runner can it? Yes it can as the river came down 9h and I go out on the bubble. The next player went out less than 3 minutes later!
Tony felt a bit guilty, as he has subsequently said in one of the forum posts, but hey the cards are the cards and that’s the way it goes. I wished everybody well and headed towards the bar, I was accompanied by M4VERICK, who kindly bought me a pint (thanks Geoff, it was appreciated). Apart from Tony’s post, LML had a few kind words to say on one of her posts, which I also very much appreciate. My thanks also go out to Trevor Harris, who I was sat next to when I went out. I tuned into the Primo at about 11.00pm on Sunday just as the bubble hand was being shown. Immediately after that Trevor made reference to my Luton bubble hand and was quite complementary, so for that Trevor I thank you, and it was a pleasure to meet up with you again.
I congratulate all the players who went on to cash and congratulate also the total players, all of whom I had the pleasure to talk to. Sparce bought me a drink (thank you). I would like to thank all the Sky staff for their dedication to the cause and the casino staff, all of whom made the day more pleasurable (or in my case pleasuraBUBBLE).
I left the casino and went back to the hotel with BIGMAN70 and we went to the bar for a nightcap to drown our sorrows, we finished 16th and 17th. Neil was kind enough to buy the drinks, so in that respect I had quite a cheap day! It must be my round next guys.
I left Luton on Sunday in the knowledge that I had made some more friends and look forward to meeting up with them and more in the future. I am not able to make Glasgow, will try to qualify for Swansea, don’t know about Nottingham as it is our ruby wedding anniversary that very weekend.
One of the advantages of finishing on the bubble is that you get free entry into the Sunday night Primo. Watch out everybody, I intend to beat the bubble next week!
Comments
u did however show how to play a short stack perfectly in the time i was at your table, picking your spots to perfection, and you deserved to make the money!
hope to see you at one of the other legs!
wedding anniversary????? get your priorities sorted!!
Like your good self, i won't be in Glasgow either as ill be in Hove watching the almighty Lancashire take on Sussex in the cricket. I'm in two minds whether to do Swansea or not as it's the final opportunity to try and qualify for the big one at DTD automatically but i'm hoping to do Nottingham come rain or shine anyway (that's if i qualify for it of course!).
A lovely Post Dollie.
For the purposes of accuracy, you describe yourself as the "Bubble Boy".
Boy?
PS - Lovely to see you again.
Nice post Dollie sir and it was a pleasure to meet you at Luton, albeit breifly.
To make you feel a little bit better.........I was actually 'THE BUBBLE BOY' in the sat for the main event!!!
But I did enjoy the experience and will try to qualify again and will be at DTD no matter what.
Great post Gordon, missed Luton due to fishy business but am booked for Glasgow shame you can't make it.
You must bring the wife to Nottingham and celebrate your "Ruby Wedding" we can all party at the end of the SPT season.....TK in his Ruby Jacket, it will be great fun.
You know it makes sense.
Great read my young freind!!! It was a great day out and was a pleasure meeting you.Good luck on the tables and i will keep an eye out for you in the primo!!!
Neil
You're a menace on the SnGs afterwards as well!
True gent and gutted you bubbled,
Dave
Just gone out of Luton Freeroll in 30th my KK vs QQ vs AQ, 10 10 on the board, guessed it A on river! Almost a double bubble!