Blog #11 - Stat Attack - destined for 2nd!!

Okay, if you've been following my blog then you've heard my journey, how it started, the trials and tribulations, the high and the lows, and where I'm at now...one stage away from the final!! Oh and if you've just 'found' my blog then you don't know what you've been missing...so start from teh beginning!!

So in this installment I've decided to weigh up the competition and give you my thoughts on who'll make it through to teh final four and who I think will win! I say 'the competition', but this has to be one of teh most supportive and friendly competitions I've ever entered!! From day one there has never been any ego-boasting, no 'putting down', just friendly banter and at the live games an awful lot of advice, support and genuine good wishes!! Poker players, Ladbrokes and Grassroots all have done themselves proud in representing the game, the sponsors and ourselves...well done all!!

Anyway, so who's left and what are my thought on them, including me? As per teh idea of grassroots, I've looked at poker playing, tournament winnings (according to 'Sharkscope'...so take with large pinch of salt as doesn't include cash games and only looked at MicroGaming network), blogging, tweeting and other social media and the promotion of Ladbrokes. And please, to my dear readers and fellow Grassrooters, this is meant to be my honest view on what I've read, seen and heard, not a put down - so please take it in teh spirit that I've written it...if any of it causes offense, it really wasn't meant to...sorry!!!

So in no particular order:

Lifeisalaugh: aka "GreenArmy", well according the the GUKPT commentator!
Bit of a dark horse, with social flair hiding a solid and poker strategy. Already cashed a decent amount in a tough Stage 3 event, showing great patience and unlucky on the hands taht led to his demise, so will be even unluckier not to make the final four through poker. Didn't cash in earlier grassroots rounds but his profile shows experience of playing in big events and some previous mid-size cashes so not perhaps it was just a matter of time before cashing as he proved. Has the bonus of a number of videos and the 'legendary' Green Wig as well as banter to help on the wildcard side should that become an unlucky option. Only one blog to date though some video updates instead, but have to say, for someone new to playing live, as simple as it was I found his blog really helpful...thank you Alan!! Definite for teh final one way or another!

TheSwede1970:
The furthest afield player in teh Grassroots competition. I've not seen (either live or via live video stream) Richard play, but his regular tweets on poker game progress suggests he plays mid-stakes MTTs on regular basis, with reasonable success and also won through to big live events too, with the biggest cash amount of teh final 8. He also seems a genuinely nice bloke! Blogs and tweets show solid poker play and in my mind is perhaps the one to beat. Up to Stage 2 he had teh highest cash amount. Not sure if he's done enough on the wildcard front to make teh final four if he fails to make the cash in Stage 3.

Palser:
Failed to cash in earlier Grassroots round, but early blogging, tweeting and banter at teh freeroll tables have stood Gary in good stead in progressing via wildcards! Seems to have lots going on in his life with work, house moves and decorating and this may be putting poker on teh back burner for now, but from his profile it seems he certainly has a flair for the game and is showing the biggest profit according to SharkScope. Was extremely unlucky to get knocked out of his Stage 2 game at 'the Vic' when up and coming poker wanna be 'Mr G''s QQ busted his 99s. Rumours have it that he will be seen at the Vic on 4th August for stage 3 in Grasskirt and hawian shirt...but not convinced this will be enough to secure a wildcard to teh final if he fails to cash.

_Baby_Face_:
Keeping a low profile due to work commitments (tut tut!), and mainly plays cash so limited SharkScope stats. Profile doesn't show any previous big wins or live events but played a good game at The Vic and a genuinely nice guy with potential for teh game...true grassroots potential perhaps? However, really needs to cash as can't see wildcard going his way to get to final four.

NZ_donkey:Mainly plays cash on line, and as he showed at the Vic after getting knocked out of teh tournament, seems to play it well after bringing home a profit. Perhaps more Jon's game than MTT? Joins in with banter and seems a good guy, good support. Love his Donk-O-Meter in his blogs, which are a good read! Hasn't cashed yet but who knows. One to watch maybe?

Rodders77:
The only player to have cashed in both teh first and second stages of Grassroots, at two different venues no less, so that would suggest that Rod knows what he is doing, albeit using his actor skills to blag the opposition...but all part of teh game! Writes really good quality blogs, so a possible wilcard option but maybe not regularly enough - I think he needs to cash and might well do that at the Palm Beach Casino again, where two Grassrooters have played and both cashed. Only met Rod briefly at The Fox because he was playing through to teh final table whilst I had been knocked out, so not much more to add...although this time next year, who knows...he might be a millionaire if his cashing continues...

ElJudge:
Ian seems to have a nice fun outlook on life, based solely on tweets, blogs and banter, which is good enough for me as I haven't met him. Obviously has a passion for poker with a recent trip to Vegas and cashed in Stage 1. Regular good quality blogs for his trip to Vegas and regularly joining in with teh banter and tweets. So Vegas trip means used to playing live and not phased by it, and so perhaps another one to watch.

_Mr_G_:
WOW...this guy is awesome!!! Plays poker and cashes, knocking out Neil Channing in teh process on teh bubble, blogs like a blogger should, tweets like a sparrow, fashion design...AMAZING! MUST be one for the Wildcard!! Oh, oops...that's me, ok, honest appraisal coming up:
WOW...this guy is awesome!!! Plays poker and cashes, knocking out Neil Channing in teh process on teh bubble, blogs like a blogger should, tweets like a sparrow, fashion design...AMAZING! MUST be one for the Wildcard!!...No Seriously here we go!

From all teh stats result Mr G is destined for 2nd place!
2nd oldest player after Alan.
2nd highest SharkScope rating after Gary (ok, joint 2nd with Richard)(don't forget that large pinch of salt!)
2nd highest Stage 2 cash amount
2nd highest number of followers on Twitter (them following me)
2nd highest number of following on Twitter (me following them)
2nd highest profit according to SharkScope after Gary (don't forget that large pinch of salt...again!)

And then teh proper analysis. Not phased by playing live despite mainly playing low stake MTT online. Sharkscope stats suggest inconsistent game, although recent 'poker studying' due to Grassroots may have refocused his play. Regular good quality blogs and tweets and has tried some 'alternative' promotion options. One to consider for the wildcard option if he fails to cash. ;-)

Summary - Final four:
This is a TOUGH choice...even hypothetically!!

 
If I were a betting man (ha ha) my money would be on Rodders and/or TheSwede1970 to cash, which would make it close for teh two poker places out of three! BUT, Lifeisalaugh has already cashed and so I think he will be in teh final with £1600. My gut feeling is that the Swedish poker is a tough nut to crack with a likely big field and as much as it would be great to see Richard over here, and I hope I don't jinx you, I think Rod may make it three cashes out of three and beat you to it Richard. My take (despite never having been there) being that the Palm Beach might be a softer game and easier to get in teh money with a smaller field than a Swedish tournament - in fact why didn't I decide to play there!!! Doh!! Good choice Rod! Stuart...what a plonker!

For the two wildcards I would say it is between very close between ElJudge, NZ_Donkey and _Mr_G_ but if pushed I would say ELJudge and _Mr_G_ , although I couldn't really say why if I'm honest...apart from _Mr_G_ who has been so professional and just AWESOME!!!! ;-)

 

Summary - The Winner!!
Well, in all honesty, I really do not think that there is anyone who stands out above the rest Poker wise, and so if teh winner of the £10k sponsorship deal is the player who lasts the longest in teh chosen tournament, I really do think it is anyones. The best man on teh night will win, not necessarily teh best outright overall poker player...

To be brutally honest, I think the whole Grassroots promotion by Ladbrokes has been a great opportunity and the final four are all worthy winners!! Well done Ladbrokes for running such a great event. I personally think that all Grassrooters, especially teh final four, who ever they may be, will have done Ladbrokes ever so proud. In fact I'd go so far as to say that it wouldn't surpise me if Ladbrokes decided that for teh professional way they've conducted themselves whilst promoting Ladbrokes so well that the three losing finalists were all presented with £3k sponsorship deal (a monthly £300 sponsored game at The Vic or other regional venues in our Ladbrokes merchandise (and Green Wigs if applicable!) would do wonders for promoting Ladbrokes wouldn't it?! Isn't that a small price to pay for the worthy and professional promotion of Ladbrokes and the Grassroots scheme until the 2013 promotion begins?

Oh and like you need to ask...of course I'm going  to say that I think _Mr_G_ will win...who enters a competition and doesn't think they can win it. As my daughter said when she read the part about the stats: "1st the Worst, 2nd teh Best...that's you Daddy...you're the best, 3rd the one with the hairy chest!!" Oh to be so young and naive hey...but I'm right with her on this one...I am the Daddy...go Mr G!!

Blog #10 - So what then??

Well, I've finally come down from teh elation of cashing in for over £1500 in only my 2nd live poker club tournament. So what have I been up to since?

Firstly, getting back to teh day job, and sharing my tales of poker stardom (ok, not quite WSOP but it is my equivalent!) and teh Grassroots promotion with anyone who'd listen. Even my work colleagues...which out of interest I had to fill in a '2nd Employment/Activity Interest' form for approval in order to take part in Grassroots, due to 'sponsorship' and possible publicity and extra income. No, for real! Oh how teh civil service love their forms!

Secondly, putting my new found wealth to good use! So the local eateries profit has soared whilst Mrs G's cookery skills have been put on hold. We are also pleased to see our kids restaurant skills have improved from a few years back when:

At 9 years old, my daughter, when asked if what she ordered might be too big for her replied:

"I might look like an angel but I eat like a truck driver"

Or when my then 10 year old son, when asked by the waitress how he'd like his steak cooked replied:

"Yes, I'd like it cooked...thank you"

We also spent a weekend celebrating a friends birthday, which included Longleat Safari Park, and actually managed to see the monkeys doing what everyone wants to see...wrecking cars. Unfortunately our friends car was one of the many cars they decided to try to pull apart, though we found it soooo funny!

The only downside was missing the Grassroots Freeroll which Ladbrokes Poker had once again generously arranged, so it was a shame to miss out on teh banter, discussions on wildcards and tweets, but can't play poker all teh time...can I?

And , yes, of course some money banked to keep Mrs G happy!

I've also been keeping an eye on teh WSOP and following some of our English talent! Watched the video stream of Neil Channing getting through to teh final table and then losing his AJ to 44 to miss out on the win and perhaps as importantly for a poker pro the elusive bracelet...but guessing the $406k helped soften the blow, eventually! And then of course $1m drop...and a cool $10m for 2nd; $18m for 1st and as importantly over $5m for charity!

Finally, the names for teh final 8 Grassrooters were revealed at the beginning of the month. Four of us had cashed so knew we were through, but congrats to teh lucky chosen four for getting through. Next steps for us all were finding a £500 game for our Round 3 game, which has been harder than you might think.

Only two £500 games in teh UK in July, one in Plymouth and one in Bolton, both starting on a Friday over 3 days. The 3 days were fine but taking a work day off at relatively short notice was a big problem for me, but thankfully Ladbrokes understood teh predicament and allowed us to enter the £400 event at The Fox on 4th August, extending teh deadline slightly, so 5 of us have chosen that as 'our event' so we're all looking forward to that; the catching up with each other as well as the actual poker. GO TEAM LADBROKES! GO TEAM GRASSROOTS!

Alan (aka Lifeisalaugh, aka 'Green Army' (for his Grassroots wig not because a Plymouth supporter!)) picked the £500 GUKPT Deep stack event in Plymouth and was a joy to watch on the GUKPT's live stream over teh weekend. At the final table he was very unlucky to be hit hard when his QQ was rivered against AQ with an 'A' and then going out short-stacked soon after. But he did Ladbrokes, Grassroots and most importantly himself proud!!! Well Done!!

Richard, TheSwede1970 is playing in his home land of Sweden on 27th July so although a competitor for one of teh last four places, and despite being the man who on paper i think is favourite, I do wish him well!

What else? Well teh only other news is that I've decided (ok and negotiated with Mrs G!!) to speculative to accumulate and fullfill a long time wish of playing a live and reasonably high stakes (for me) Omaha game. So off to The Vic i will go to their London Poker Championships on 25th july to take part in their £200 PL Omaha game, for my first live Omaha game. And all thanks to Ladbrokes and Grassroots, who without the opportunity I wouldn't have won the money to treat myself to this kind of live buy-in! Thank you!

So not much poker to update you with on this blog...but #11 will give you my thoughts and 'heavily researched statistical analysis' on my remaining 'challengers' in teh Grassroots race for teh £10k sponsorship deal!

IMPORTANT!
Oh and finally...offering 5% of any of my #LPGR2012 Stage 3 winnings if you follow and retweet my offer of 5% and then send me a funny poker tweet, with the 5% going to teh single funniest tweet i get! @_Mr_G_ is who you need to follow! With a likely 1st prize of over £12k it could be a good 2 minutes well spent to follow and tweet me. Although if not in teh money then 5% of nothing...erm, well hopefully you can do the maths!!