CRStals
Moderator
Moderator
So I'm going to start this off with a bit of an apology. Some of you had been inquiring on the special event thread as to who was the winner of this, and while I & a few mods knew who won, I decided to not broadcast it until now. I didn't want to build any more pressure on this and focus on being as relaxed as I could going in.
I found out I won on April 12 to my shock and amazement. I didn't believe it to be honest reading the subject - but when I saw who it was from I had a sense it was legit - Emilie Grey heads up the My PP Live canada group on Facebook and has been a great support for that forum. I obviously had to write her to confirm and she did to my excitement.
I immediately started reading up on the tournament structure, noting that I had 5 day 1 flights and 2 day 2 flights available to me to use my entry. After looking at the blind structure, knowing that more entries come towards the end of the registration period, and my work schedule, decided that Thursday April 26th, day 1C, would be the day I played my first live $5300 tournament. Should I bag chips at the end of the day I'd aim to play day 2B on Sunday so that I wouldn't have to travel back and forth or lose a day at home.
Logistically getting to Montreal wasn't hard - I could drive (4.5 hrs), train it (4 hours but with a 20 min drive to the train station on either side), or fly (1.5 hr flight + 1 hr transit to Pearson and 20 mins to the club in Montreal). Gas right now isn't cheap, and knowing I could work on the train I opted for the VIA train. Only downside was that if I busted early I'd have to pay to change my train ticket to get home that night. A risk worth taking!
Thursday was a rainy day in southern Ontario & Quebec so that made the commute to Oshawa a bit long but nonetheless I was on time. There's a newer Tim Hortons right at Oshawa GO which made the morning better. We do love our coffee here! Train was on time the whole way (those that have travelled VIA will know that's a shock) and I was at Dorval station around 11:35am. Again raining in Montreal made traffic a bit messy, but a 25 min cab ride got me to Playground just before noon.
Walked up and I had to pinch myself that I was standing in front of one of the mecca's of poker in North America. A massive club totally dedicated to poker - nothing else. It really is impressive. Walked in, got my card, and walk over to registration. Reasonably short line to get my seat validated, and witnessed Mike Leah pull out 53 $100 bills to pay for his seat for the day. The big time was at my feet. After my ticket I walked over and said Hi & Thank you to Emilie Grey. She is a total sweetheart and it was so nice to put a face to the name and to the e-mails!
Walked into the main tournament hall...oh my god. 45 tables stood in front of me along with the main stage where the Big Game was being streamed later on. What a sight. Walked over to table 40 seat 3, and sat down to a 7 handed table that was only a few hands in. Time to go to work.
The structure was 1M in chips, 5 opening flights, 8 levels long at 60 mins a level. First two levels were 5k/10k blinds with a 5k button ante on level 1 & 10k on level 2. From there blinds went up about 1k/2k/2k per level. Plenty deep.
I was more nervous sitting there than I thought. Probably because I was sitting at a tournament table where $35k was paid to play by the other players. Within 5 mins we were full which helped marginally. I think it was hand 4 or 5 that I saw 99 in the blinds and called a raise from a clear LAG. A ten high rainbow flop saw me call his cbet. Turn was a brick and went check check. On the river was yet another brick - T7523 or something like that. I looked at him and knew I was good - fired a 75k bet that he took about 90 seconds to call. He mucked and I relaxed a lot.
Balance of the first level saw mostly crap hands. But in level 2 I got a lot of value, again calling a raise with a caller from the blinds with QJd. Flop was KT9 two spades and I checked, knowing that the raiser would bet, which he did. One other caller before I raised it up to 125k, getting heads up with him. I checked the turn with the third spade, but when they checked decided I was good on a brick on the river. Fired 200k into a 300k pot and got called. They immediately mucked when I announced straight. Felt good.
First break is the next picture - about 1.3M. As I'm walking towards the snack table (A whole table with muffins, yogurt, coffee, and water for free), Mike Leah walks up too. Poker royalty in this country. Shared a few words with him, found out he has a Kingston connection which was quite neat. Walked away crossing off one item on the list. Just before level three the table got chatting, found out a guy from Boston was sitting there - had to ask if there was a hockey game on last night....grumble grumble grumble. Oddly enough the guy to my right, super nice guy too, was from Lindsay which is about 30 mins from me now. So funny how the world works sometimes.
Levels three and four went by without much fan fare. Won the blinds a few times, raised a few hands that didn't pan out. Don to about 900k though I found JJ on UTG+1 and raised - Boston called, and I triple barreled on a ten high flop again. He folded on the river and I showed the JJ. Remember that for now...Ended level 4 just under 1.2M. Again went walking around the club and found Parker Talbot standing talking to someone. Had to meet Tonkaa. Super chill guy, real nice and down to earth - in fact I think most poker pros are like that. Awesome to meet a Twitch legend.
Level 5 started with the Big Game getting underway. 9 poker pros sitting to play $100/$200 with a $400 straddle. Tons of cash on the table. Saw Kristen Bicknell from a distance - she was on my list of people to meet along with Jeff Gross, Jamie Staples, Griffin Benger, Scott Blumsteen, Ryan Laplante and others. Sadly I didn't want to bother her as she was playing in the Big Game - but getting to see her was awesome. Got a glimpse of Antonio Esfanderi on stage too - he was in the field on Thursday. That's picture 4 or 5 - he's wearing the purple Poker Go hat.
Level 5...about half way through I found JJ UTG again. Raised and Boston called. Again the flop was T72 and I fired to which he called. Turn was a 2 and i fired. He asked what I had back, to which I said about 700k. He called & I knew he had a T. River was a Queen. I felt based on the pot & my stack I couldn't bet anything but all in, hoping he had AT or KT. He called. Flipped over....QT. Based on how he played the hand I was surprised - he had only shown more premium hands up until that point and I wasn't playing that wide so for him to call in that spot was odd. ON the flop I don't blame him for calling of course. Anyway I was crippled down to 20k with a 16k BB to play, so I pushed all in blind. Three other callers saw a 876 flop and after a bet and raise I knew I had to be in trouble. The SB got he heads up and flipped over T9 for the straight. To my amazement I flipped over K7s for a flush draw that never came and my main event ended.
I was bummed about my exit but ultimately I was so honoured and humbled to represent CC at such a major international poker tournament. I saw Emilie on my way out who gave me another hug (She kind of jinxed me when she said after level 2 that I'd double up for sure soon) and again thanked her & her team for giving us this opportunity.
I'll never forget this trip. Playing poker on that level, with that group of people, among such famous international poker stars truly was a dream come true. Any poker player close to Playground - YOU MUST GO! It is a poker experience worth the trip, let alone visiting such a beautiful and lively city like Montreal.
To those at Cardschat and My PP Live Canada that came together to offer this prize - thank you thank you thank you. Words do not properly and accurately describe this experience and I'm so thankful to get this chance. To me this affirms my belief that sending members to events like this is a wonderful chance for this community & getting exposure for the CC brand on a world stage.
Unfortunately the last two boxes on my list went unchecked - cashing for $10k and making the final table. That dream will have to live on for now!
I found out I won on April 12 to my shock and amazement. I didn't believe it to be honest reading the subject - but when I saw who it was from I had a sense it was legit - Emilie Grey heads up the My PP Live canada group on Facebook and has been a great support for that forum. I obviously had to write her to confirm and she did to my excitement.
I immediately started reading up on the tournament structure, noting that I had 5 day 1 flights and 2 day 2 flights available to me to use my entry. After looking at the blind structure, knowing that more entries come towards the end of the registration period, and my work schedule, decided that Thursday April 26th, day 1C, would be the day I played my first live $5300 tournament. Should I bag chips at the end of the day I'd aim to play day 2B on Sunday so that I wouldn't have to travel back and forth or lose a day at home.
Logistically getting to Montreal wasn't hard - I could drive (4.5 hrs), train it (4 hours but with a 20 min drive to the train station on either side), or fly (1.5 hr flight + 1 hr transit to Pearson and 20 mins to the club in Montreal). Gas right now isn't cheap, and knowing I could work on the train I opted for the VIA train. Only downside was that if I busted early I'd have to pay to change my train ticket to get home that night. A risk worth taking!
Thursday was a rainy day in southern Ontario & Quebec so that made the commute to Oshawa a bit long but nonetheless I was on time. There's a newer Tim Hortons right at Oshawa GO which made the morning better. We do love our coffee here! Train was on time the whole way (those that have travelled VIA will know that's a shock) and I was at Dorval station around 11:35am. Again raining in Montreal made traffic a bit messy, but a 25 min cab ride got me to Playground just before noon.
Walked up and I had to pinch myself that I was standing in front of one of the mecca's of poker in North America. A massive club totally dedicated to poker - nothing else. It really is impressive. Walked in, got my card, and walk over to registration. Reasonably short line to get my seat validated, and witnessed Mike Leah pull out 53 $100 bills to pay for his seat for the day. The big time was at my feet. After my ticket I walked over and said Hi & Thank you to Emilie Grey. She is a total sweetheart and it was so nice to put a face to the name and to the e-mails!
Walked into the main tournament hall...oh my god. 45 tables stood in front of me along with the main stage where the Big Game was being streamed later on. What a sight. Walked over to table 40 seat 3, and sat down to a 7 handed table that was only a few hands in. Time to go to work.
The structure was 1M in chips, 5 opening flights, 8 levels long at 60 mins a level. First two levels were 5k/10k blinds with a 5k button ante on level 1 & 10k on level 2. From there blinds went up about 1k/2k/2k per level. Plenty deep.
I was more nervous sitting there than I thought. Probably because I was sitting at a tournament table where $35k was paid to play by the other players. Within 5 mins we were full which helped marginally. I think it was hand 4 or 5 that I saw 99 in the blinds and called a raise from a clear LAG. A ten high rainbow flop saw me call his cbet. Turn was a brick and went check check. On the river was yet another brick - T7523 or something like that. I looked at him and knew I was good - fired a 75k bet that he took about 90 seconds to call. He mucked and I relaxed a lot.
Balance of the first level saw mostly crap hands. But in level 2 I got a lot of value, again calling a raise with a caller from the blinds with QJd. Flop was KT9 two spades and I checked, knowing that the raiser would bet, which he did. One other caller before I raised it up to 125k, getting heads up with him. I checked the turn with the third spade, but when they checked decided I was good on a brick on the river. Fired 200k into a 300k pot and got called. They immediately mucked when I announced straight. Felt good.
First break is the next picture - about 1.3M. As I'm walking towards the snack table (A whole table with muffins, yogurt, coffee, and water for free), Mike Leah walks up too. Poker royalty in this country. Shared a few words with him, found out he has a Kingston connection which was quite neat. Walked away crossing off one item on the list. Just before level three the table got chatting, found out a guy from Boston was sitting there - had to ask if there was a hockey game on last night....grumble grumble grumble. Oddly enough the guy to my right, super nice guy too, was from Lindsay which is about 30 mins from me now. So funny how the world works sometimes.
Levels three and four went by without much fan fare. Won the blinds a few times, raised a few hands that didn't pan out. Don to about 900k though I found JJ on UTG+1 and raised - Boston called, and I triple barreled on a ten high flop again. He folded on the river and I showed the JJ. Remember that for now...Ended level 4 just under 1.2M. Again went walking around the club and found Parker Talbot standing talking to someone. Had to meet Tonkaa. Super chill guy, real nice and down to earth - in fact I think most poker pros are like that. Awesome to meet a Twitch legend.
Level 5 started with the Big Game getting underway. 9 poker pros sitting to play $100/$200 with a $400 straddle. Tons of cash on the table. Saw Kristen Bicknell from a distance - she was on my list of people to meet along with Jeff Gross, Jamie Staples, Griffin Benger, Scott Blumsteen, Ryan Laplante and others. Sadly I didn't want to bother her as she was playing in the Big Game - but getting to see her was awesome. Got a glimpse of Antonio Esfanderi on stage too - he was in the field on Thursday. That's picture 4 or 5 - he's wearing the purple Poker Go hat.
Level 5...about half way through I found JJ UTG again. Raised and Boston called. Again the flop was T72 and I fired to which he called. Turn was a 2 and i fired. He asked what I had back, to which I said about 700k. He called & I knew he had a T. River was a Queen. I felt based on the pot & my stack I couldn't bet anything but all in, hoping he had AT or KT. He called. Flipped over....QT. Based on how he played the hand I was surprised - he had only shown more premium hands up until that point and I wasn't playing that wide so for him to call in that spot was odd. ON the flop I don't blame him for calling of course. Anyway I was crippled down to 20k with a 16k BB to play, so I pushed all in blind. Three other callers saw a 876 flop and after a bet and raise I knew I had to be in trouble. The SB got he heads up and flipped over T9 for the straight. To my amazement I flipped over K7s for a flush draw that never came and my main event ended.
I was bummed about my exit but ultimately I was so honoured and humbled to represent CC at such a major international poker tournament. I saw Emilie on my way out who gave me another hug (She kind of jinxed me when she said after level 2 that I'd double up for sure soon) and again thanked her & her team for giving us this opportunity.
I'll never forget this trip. Playing poker on that level, with that group of people, among such famous international poker stars truly was a dream come true. Any poker player close to Playground - YOU MUST GO! It is a poker experience worth the trip, let alone visiting such a beautiful and lively city like Montreal.
To those at Cardschat and My PP Live Canada that came together to offer this prize - thank you thank you thank you. Words do not properly and accurately describe this experience and I'm so thankful to get this chance. To me this affirms my belief that sending members to events like this is a wonderful chance for this community & getting exposure for the CC brand on a world stage.
Unfortunately the last two boxes on my list went unchecked - cashing for $10k and making the final table. That dream will have to live on for now!
Sounds like you enjoyed the experience! :top:
