arrived at Bally's last night, I was surprised to find James in bed watching an episode of Scrubs. Yet I was sure he would be playing in cash games, but no: the poor is dragging a heavy cold since the first night, I quote: " because of the fucking air co" - understand: air conditioning - and he spends his time sniffing.
few pages I read an excellent book by Pierre Bordage before going to sleep (for those interested, and who like SF, it is Abzalon.)
I still had a bad dog to get up this morning my first mission of the day was to get to the villa Darcourt early enough to be able to do a washing ... is prosaic, I know, but there is a constant that can hardly be avoided: the laundry is dirty, it's scientifically proven, so it must be washed. The idea to pass a $ 100 fee at Bally's me pressing the hair bristling, I inlaid with William and Caro to squat their washing machine. First big (huge) advantage: it does not cost me anything. Second advantage: my colleagues reporters will continue to work quietly, without having to seek the source of the stench coming tickling their nostrils.
The taxi driver has a little trouble finding the villa, lost between Grand Canyon Drive and Reno Avenue, but after calling his dispatch, he drops me off safely.
When I arrive, the house wakes up quietly. Good coffee makes me almost upright, and I throw my dirty clothes in the machine before checking the news online.
A laundry and a burger made in Caro "later, we are in the rental car of William and Rebecca with Stephan Gerin, and Coralie Naude, who will play the $ 225 Deep Stack of Caesar. They put us down to Rio, where William and Mickael Sebban take their places in day 2 of $ 3,000 Triple Chance.
As for me, well, like every day I joined my place on the podium press the Amazon Room, where I found Ronan (Team Partouche), Benjo and Harper (Team Winamax), Jules Pochy (Made In Poker) Paul McGuire (Tao of Poker) and other ... another day of poker begins.
The main attraction of Rio today? A tournament that everyone looks forward to: event # 52, a tournament No Limit Hold'em $ 25,000 buy-in, played 6-handed.
$ 25,000. I repeat: twenty-five thousand dollars . Over a year's salary, in my case. Davidi Kitai, Belgium sponsored excellent player by Winamax, and already holds a WSOP bracelet, now carries a T-shirt perfectly adapted to the situation: he wears on his chest a " Got Cojones?" * completely appropriate, especially when we play this kind of high-roller tournament, which requires the mastery of discipline short-handed that it is the artistic dimension.
, $ 25,000 for the short-handed
* "You got balls?"
Speaking of High-Roller, I want a beautiful, I can not help but make you admire:
It is not magic, this? An old-young, like say Benjo. Hoodies and gaudy gold that give evil eye, stamped Christian Audiger, it would have been better advised to leave them ElkY. That said, I can not help admiring the kitsch key maliciously, with big bagouses gold and the gold watch that goes well.
Dude, j'te not know, but if I had a nightclub in Vegas, you'll have your table reserved every night for sure.
While I criticize the likes of clothing of a player who probably has more talent than I'll have ever, the bubble burst in the $ 3,000 Triple Chance: 5 French are paid. My buddies Benzimra Christophe, Julien and Guillaume Darcourt Brécard in part, and Yann Brosolo, I met and liked at the European Poker Tour in Prague last December and finally Julian Arneodo, I see for the second times: he had a strong fourth place finish at the WPT Marrakesh in October 2009.
Julien Brécard jumps just after the entry into the money. Even if only a small ITM, I'm happy for him, success was missing since the start of the WSOP, and this mini-cash had to restore confidence. GG Bro.
I spend a good time during lunch-break with Christopher and William, a very good time, even. You know those times where everything is allowed, where one can believe that without trembling, finally, the damn final table is not so far away, where we motivate each other. Where one looks at the hands played in the hours before that, we self-criticism, it makes good resolutions ... before returning to the grind, hoping with all our strength that the gods of bad-beats are interested in someone else.
Shortly after the recovery, we lose Yann Brosolo, in fact probably dramatic, but have missed, once again, I missed an important moment. Clement Thumy played the Railbird this point, if I meet one or the other, I would ask them occasionally.
Soon after, William Darcourt jumped ahead: he wins a pot equal to twice the average, which is huge at this stage of the tournament - there are only 58 players on 965. William won a blow from which we all dreamed of one day: he has a pair of aces in hand, and faces a pair of kings and a pair of Jacks. Add to that the carpets fly preflop, and take the ace, you get a huge carpet and a happy man.
I can already hear those who say "Ah well then say so yes, it's easy to win like that," One answer comes to mind:
So stop we proclaimed the obvious, what the hell, and carpe diem , what, then shit! Winning with a pair of aces is probably less panache than make a hero- call for sure that the share of luck to find two big hands in front is huge, but it is taken anyway, no? Let he who has never thrown me chatted poker aces preflop, here.
Hours later, William is one of twelve players who will return to day 3. With the swing that he knows he has gone through several stages, and stayed very long chip-leader, before ending the day with 613.000, a little below average.
Christophe Benzimra will not be tomorrow's adventure: he jumped in thirteenth place, his short stack could not resist a long-dead card. Impressive regularity, the EPT Warsaw champion makes his third ITM here since the beginning of the 2010 WSOP.
It is 3:15 in the morning here in Rio, and I'm going to bed, young people. I just realized that I'll be back here in 8 hours: Jamel Maistriaux plays the $ 1,000 tomorrow. And William Darcourt return at 14:30 to try to reach the final table, and why not get a bracelet ... make the dreams you want, no matter what mine will be beautiful.