Wow – what an event!
Signing up early for this event was a must. If you’re planning on playing in the 5/22 $1000 WSOP Circuit Event, or the 5/30 $1500 WSOP Circuit Event Qualifiers - sign up online to reserve your seat. (Register Here!) The volunteers for Friends of Chrystal had a list of all the pre-registered participants, checked my ID and got my seat ticket to me.
Upon arrival on Sunday, Joe Cada was signing autographs and having photos taken with fans. I got my “Card Player” and “Bluff” magazines signed, and got a photo taken:
Joe Cada and Michele Ingalls
Huge props to Joe Cada. He greeted each fan with smiles and listened attentively to advice, admiration and bad beat stories. I didn’t get to sit at his table – would have *loved* to watch him play.
All the dealers were seated at the tables early, checking chips and cards to make sure everything was ready to go on time. Blinds were on the big screen, as well as printed on slips at each table. Players were seated by the 2pm start time. With a quick rules review, and an intro by Joe Cada, the cards were flying by 2:10pm. 15,000 start chips, 25/50 starting blinds, 30 minute levels. First break after level 3. No rebuys, no add-ons. This event was completely sold out with 14 alternates seated as players busted out.
With long blinds and lots of starting chips, players had plenty of time to wait for premium cards, or try to make some early moves. I took a few shots of the crowd before the cards started flying – check them out!
Tournament Start
Aaron was the dealer at my table. I swear, he lives in an alternate universe where time moves in super-fast-forward. It was amazing to watch him work. With Matrix-like precision, he dealt every card to exactly the right spot, moving the action along swiftly, splitting pots and awarding chips faster than Neo. Aaron didn’t even have to look to see if blinds were posted. He psychically *knew* if the small blind wasn’t on the table. Cards were washed between each hand, and the guy still got in a record number of hands in the first hour. Loved Aaron’s red-orange mohawk too!
I wish I could say my play was as brilliant as Aaron’s dealing. The players at my table couldn’t be raised out pre-flop with a 3 or 4 times the big blind bet. I got my 9-9 clobbered by a rivered flush early on. The guy called with a suited 10-7! Raised a couple other premium hands only to be called by 3 or 4 players and come up empty on the flop facing huge raises. This table punished drawing hands. Decided to change up my play and just limp in to see some more flops.
Cash Tables at Northville Downs
While the TV cameras were at our table, I woke up with Q-Q in good position. Raised pot with 4-5 other players. Tree blanks on the flop, action checked around to me with a 2000-3000 chips pot. I put in a good raise and everyone folded. Just wish the cameras would have stayed at our table a while longer so I could win a couple more hands! Check it out – the beginning of that hand made it on the Fox 2 10pm news. I finally made it on TV playing poker!!!
I busted out 1 hand before the first break. My K-K got clobbered by A-A. Hoped for a miracle K or runner runner hearts. They just weren’t in the cards. Scott, the guy with all my chips, made a deep run and went out 33rd. My chips lasted a good long time! Scott told me Cada went out 45th – so the guy who took me out outlasted the WSOP Champ. Not too bad!
Northville Downs had two full cash tables, Blackjack, Let it Ride and Roulette available for those busted out players.
What an amazing event for Friends of Chrystal, the charity hosting the tournament. They completely sold out every entry available, and could have sold more if the state limit for chips sold were higher than $15,000. Keep an eye out – with the overwhelming response to this tournament, there will be more in the future!
