Quiet Week

Very little poker, even less alcohol, Lots of cooking healthy shite and preparation for future meals. If i eat any more pasta i swear i prob start talking Italian (cue all the cockneys saying it would be easier to understand than Geordie)

Been off the cigs now for nearly 9 months so its time to totally hit the fitness, hence the healthy eating and future exercise. Well moderate exercise anyways, taking it slowly and all that.
Watched part of the Great North Run on television on Sunday and it was such a buzz seeing 52,000 do the annual 13 and a bit miles that is Newcastle to South Shields.

Not really motivated to do it as believe it or not i have done it 3 times before.
Once as a fit 19 year old where done it easy with minimal training
Once as fittish 23 year old although we did stop and have a few pints on the way (pound coins in the sock wasnt healthy or clever - anyone ever thinking of doing same. call in pub before hand and pay in advance)
Other time was 26 , still reasonably fit but was running with serious runners and i burnt out too early and ended up hitting the wall and walking the last couple of mile.

What i would like to do one day is the London Marathon. Just to say id done it. One of my mates dads used to do it all the time. He made a bloody fortune for charity too. Its one thing passing the form around work and stuff its another doing the race, then paying for a flight back and getting back home in time to go round local pubs with the bucket.

So thats maybe what i aspire to , a Marathon running god
ok maybe not just fit , overweight rather than fat haha

Im wondering whether increased fitness and weight loss is also good for the poker. More mental than physical but surely it must help and you do tend to see more skinny scandis at final tables than fat yanks. I once remember someone saying they didnt eat for 3 days before a major EPT. Not sure i would go to that extreme but water and rivitas and pasta is ok i guess.

Nominations welcome for Gatsby awards. Anyone done anything major online ? Also what about live . Maybe some heroics down London Town at the Betfair World Series Of Poker Europe (WSOPE) Follow updates by clicking on the link there or on chip logo the right hand side. Who will follow Annette and John to glory this year.

On the football front a rude awakening at Blackpool was followed by a win against Plymouth.
We have one of the most quality line ups in the entire division. But the squad is paper thin and injuries and suspensions could leave us too light during the winter. If nothing else at least we arent looking like going down another division.

Also it was the public service for Sir Bobby Robson today at Durham Cathedral. One of the most loved people in football, widely admired and respected. We will never see the likes of him again. Says it all when one of the best tributes and showing of respect was from our local rivals Sunderland. He will be missed.

Right thats it for now. Going to try and get a game online Tues or Wed and then maybe get down to the pub for the live game on Thursday. Out Friday and maybe Saturday and all of it drinking Orange and Soda. Sick but gotta be done.

Good luck all and thanks as ever for reading.
Paul

33/1 shot to play London EPT Main Event.

Well i was for a while last Sunday. Had played a Stars promo game where top 27 qualified for regional Sunday final. Onto said final and over 600 runners with 100th getting paid all the way upto 2nd who got $500 and 1st who got a $13k package for London.

Well 4 hours into the game and im still in. All be it low but 100 left as bubble gets burst.
On the bubble my mate says hey youre 100/1 to be there and so the patter continued. Its was like a total rag being backed as the odds came down
100/1
80/1
66/1
50/1
40/1
33/1

and then eventually with 32 left i busted . A7d on the button, chucked em in and walked into AA. One of those things. Did get $7.50 for my troubles which aint quite a London EPT seat or a kiss off Vicky Coren but maybe next year.

Thursday i played live at the pub with 21 of us turning up. Entry is £10 with £5 rebuys and then a top up at the end of the 3rd level. Just drank orange and soda (didnt rebuy but took the add on) and ended up 4th for £65 so there you go my first live cash.

Questions asked how i coped without getting pissed for such a long game but dealing was ok and it kept me fresh. Totally card dead in the end and the blinds (25 min levels) meant that you had to chuck them in and pray now and again. But for a beginner like me its a great way to start live poker and i urge you to check out your local pub game. £10-£20 depending on rebuys, couple of pints (orange in my case but options there) and a buffet at break. Good craic and an experience. A very well run game and league by Koyte from the NPF.

Online and work meant that i couldnt play any 6-7 hour slogathon mtts this week so loaded up William Hill and played a bit on there on Friday night.

Played the $6k gtd Freezeout (1600 runners - busted 300th)
played a $5 stt and went out first hand (KK vs AQd - all in pre - 3 diamonds on flop)
mucked about a little on micro stakes omaha high lo before chucking it for the night.
Ended the evening with a massive profit of £4.13 (all adds up i guess)

Was going to play tonight but work and then the match and felt a little tired so a bit of railing, crap tv and surfing. re the match , top of the league. 5 clean sheets on the trot for the first time since football was invented. Entertainment, scoring goals and winning matches. Sod the premiership. The Championship is where its at. Its the new cool place to be. Afterall the prem is dying on its arse as no one wants to take a risk.

You got 2 sides that can realistically win it (Chelsea and Man Utd)
another 2 that would like to challenge but happy just to be 3rd (Arsenal and Liverpool)

The champions league is killing the premiership because top 4 qualify and the gap gets bigger but no one wants to finish 5th to 7th so no one else improves. Yes they want the position and the increased prize money but they dont want to be in the Uefa Cup / Europa League so once they qualify they normally chuck it once the domestic fixtures pile up .

Looking over the years English clubs have only won it twice in the last 20 years (Liverpool and Arsenal) and as the best clubs are in the champions league then you cant see the likes of Everton or Fulham (Aston Villa were out in August) improving that record. Even if Man City break into the top 4 the displaced team will go all out to regain their league position rather than give the Uefa Cup a 2nd look. As long as we have 4 places we dont win it again. Not just us though, even the Italians havent had a club in the final for 10 years.

Anyways thats it for now. Hope the cards treat you well. Thanks for reading.
Paul

Augusts Gatsby Awards

Ukgatsby Poker Blog Awards

.

Live Poker Performance Of The Month Amatay

Won the 94 runner £50 entry at DTD on the 1st August to pocket over £1600. Very nice result. No one bettered (and if they did i didnt get to hear) so this months award goes to deepest darkest Watford. Honourable mention to Beth who won the comp at the Miller and then repeated the feat the following week. Awesome performance

Online Poker Performance Of The Month
Knerrad from the Newcastle Poker Forum

Took down the $5k gtd and $20k gtd on VC
Honourable mentions also for Chalfontfan and Dibble after good wins

Blog / Website Of The Month

Online Poker

What can i say :)

.

.

.

.

.

Blog / Forum Post Of The Month

RUBBISH

Had tears of laughter reading this. Pure Class

.

.

Babe Of The Month Gemma Merna

As Seen In Hollyoaks and now most tabloids and lads mags

Hero Of The Month Usian Bolt

Fast as fuck and will run as fast as he wants to. Was jaw dropping to watch him smash the clock. I only pray he is clean. Johnson got stripped before flying home yet Lynford and Carl took years for their test results to come to light. Also by no means a hero but Chris Hughton has took Newcastle United to the top of the league despite everything at the club being a shambles. Word on the inside says 5 wins and a draw gets him Manager of the Month as consolation

Heroine Of The Month Jessica Ennis

British and a World Champion. Looks like all that pre 2012 Lottery funding is paying off. Kudos to anyone who got on her (phnar phnar) at fancy prices for Sports Personality of the year. Only a cricketer or F1 winner can stop you now.

Knob Of The Month Michael Owen

Didnt fancy it at the Toon. Wished he had joined Liverpool instead. No biggie. We all work and would go for the money wherever it is but after spending his Newcastle career with a face like a smacked arse he then goes and blows kisses to the Man Utd fans after scoring his first goal. Pass me the sick bucket. Can this football whore go one better and actually kiss the badge AWAY TO LIVERPOOL !!!!!! A close 2nd was me for my drunken exploits at the Miller but alas i cant win my own award so over to you Michael..

.
Ukgatsby Poker Blog
Ukgatsby Blog
Ukgatsby small stakes Blog
Ukgatsby Poker

Coming Tonight

Augusts Gatsby Awards !!!

Less than 9 hours the lucky recepients will know :)