I truly think I have been looking forward to this week more than Christmas or birthdays!
This is a huge week for the Graders. I honestly can't choose three people who I think are stand out favourites so I think the panel are in for a tough decision making process next week. Neil asked us last week which Belts we think we will end up with and I think most people were realistic - but that still left about seven realistic Blue Belts to choose from. Some have made some outstanding contributions, some have ground out a healthy profit. The bottom line is it's all to play for this week! Tense times.
Officially, the Grading finishes midnight on Sunday although as most Graders are taking part in the London Live tournament, the deadline is effectively midnight on Friday. I have about 120 cash hours left to complete my quota so shouldn't be too pushed to complete. I really hope everyone in contention for a Blue Belt Package can get their hours in as it would be a shame to have come this far and fall at the final hurdle.
London Live is sure to be epic! I honestly can't wait for the hustle and bustle of the Vic poker room and the inevitable clashes between celebrity poker players and inflated forum egos. Think about it - there really could be some dream table draws couldn't there?! I'm really happy for the organisers that it sold out too, although, I hope a couple of Purple or Green Belts make the final so Neil has to sweat that bonus for a while.
It's been a profitable week at the tables for me this week, tracking just over three buy-ins up at $0.50/1. I'm really happy with this to be honest because I was involved in three pots this week where I was rivered by quads totalling about $800.
Nut straight on the turn... Oh, you've made quads, nh.
Nut aces full on the river... quad nines, mbn.
Ah, this time I have flopped quad sevens on an A-7-7 board... What's that? Running aces for a better quads... meh, just have it
Tournaments - 265 hours played. Net won: -$570. ROI: -7.2
Cash - 198 hours played. Net won: $626.13. BB/100: 3.15
Oh good, back in black!
Bad Beat of the Week - This week I failed to abide by the laws of good curry bankroll management while out for an Indian on Edgware Road with Neil and a few of the other Graders. Do you know when they bring over those four yoghurt/mango dips with your pre-meal poppadoms and there is always an unreasonable hot quarter? Everyone seemed to be tucking into it like it was Haribo. Proceeded to massively overshot my heat limits and spent the rest of the meal sweating between gulps of Tiger beer.