Recession in Ireland but not Killarney!

It’s official, Ireland is in recession. Not in Killarney apparently though where the Ladbrokes.com Irish Poker Festival has surpassed two capacity field limits and has now put the sold out sign once and for all with 750 players registered.

To think I told Ladbrokes’ Irish Territory Manager Bryan Coleman he was mad when he outlined his plans for a €250,000 guaranteed €500 entry tournament earlier in the year! It is something to look forward to as I’m just back home from a trip to London where I played in the WSOPE Pot Limit Omaha.

Following a good first day, where I built up a sizeable stack whilst never winning a pot clutching anything better than the third nuts, and being dealt Aces double-suited on the first hand of day 2, I thought and hoped a final table was imminent.

Sadly that was the highlight as thereafter I failed to pick up another hand of any quality, missed every flop with those that I did play and then resorted to doing what I do best, play badly!

Now it may seem I’ve been more than a little critical about the WSOPE, most notably highlighting organiser’s failure to add money to the prize-pool which has, after all, become the norm in major events here in Europe.

Possibly I have but let’s not stop when on a roll… Am I alone on thinking the Leicester Square venue for the WSOPE is wholesomely inappropriate and impractical for a WSOP event? There is more room in the cupboard under the stairs in my house than some of those spots people were asked to play – take the table situated under the stair case, behind the bar, next to the fruit machines by the walkway for example.

Anyway thankfully, punting wise, things could not be better. Laddies Poker Two, the filly owned by a band of poker playing shareholders who attained their interest via tournaments on the Ladbrokes site, sluiced up at Ascot on Friday afternoon. I missed the race being stuck in an airport but still lumped on at 4/1 (was 5/2 in the morning but SP’d at 9/2).

She really is a filly with considerable scope and promise and, although her handicap mark of 91 is set to be jacked up, I believe the best is yet to come especially when upped to seven furlongs. No word from the trainer yet but I’d imagine she will be out again before the seasons end.