WSOP Day 22 part 2 - Jon Kalmar

WSOP Day 22 part 2 - Jon Kalmar

(Sorry about last one, I was barely hitting the keys while typing, and needed sleep)

Back in 2005, during my first WSOP and indeed first trip to Vegas I won a package which included 10 nights stay at the Rio. On that trip I bumped into Nigel Blower who asked why I hadn’t tried winning my seat on Ladbrokes. I explained the Hotel was a big factor. In fairness he listened and Ladbrokes had stopped at the Rio for the next 3 years.

I am sorry, I am sorry, I am sorry!

Fortunately this year’s qualifiers have been booked in at Caesars Place. This hotel is far far better. I spent most of my morning lying in the Jacuzzi watching telly. (You can only work the jets during the commercial breaks, they are just too damn noisy). On the telly was a story of how the water levels of Lake Mead are dropping dramatically and have in fact gone down 14 feet this year alone. Ironically the water level must have dropped a further 3 inches while I filled the bath. The thing is enormous.

After several episodes of Something about Raymond I dragged my somewhat wrinkled body out and got ready for Neil Channing’s party. Neil is the founder member of Blackbeltpoker.com and he is hosting his qualifiers in a rented house a few miles up the road. The place was amazing. 8 bedrooms in the main house and several more in the guest houses. Nice pool garden even stables (although the horses were absent).

The cost was $30,000 for the month. This might sound a lot, but consider this. When you split it 10 ways it cost only $100 a night per room. Far cheaper than a hotel and far better. (Neil had actually had his pants pulled down a little, I believe you can get the same property for around $24k.) This is something I am seriously considering arranging for next year.

A pool table was always going to appear in this house and it wasn’t long before I helped arrange a $100 knock out. We got 23 runners and Channing being the sicko he is, couldn’t resist running a book on it, despite having no idea who could play. After having 50 bucks on myself I was gutted to go out after missing an easy black against Sam Trickett. I don’t think any exit from any comp has hurt so much.

I eventually left around 7.30am after everyone else had flaked out or gone to bed. It was disappointing to see so many unconscious drunken people with both eyebrows and all their hair still intact. I dunno, the youngsters of today just have no imagination.