Killarney Blog

Ladbrokes Poker Festival in Killarney by gavinalways

I arrived the day before the main event started (2nd October), the journey over was pretty short and wasn't long until I was at the Hotel (about 1630), and what a top Hotel it was (advantage of being a VIP with Laddies) as I was checking in I bumped into biglad at reception so we said our hellos and arranged to meet in the bar in 10mins.

When I got to the bar there were plenty of Ladbrokes players already there, some I have met before and others I haven't but it’s always good to put faces to alias. Over the next few hours the bar got very busy as more and more were arriving for the event, there was a super satellite that night at 8pm for the main event which a lot of players were heading off to play even players who had a seat as they could take the cash if they won a seat. I decided against playing and headed off for a quick shower and change, then back to the bar ready for a big night out in Killarney town. I can’t write much about the evening that followed as I cant really remember anything, but I was out with a few of the other Ladbrokes VIPs, James666, Gnisteren, Durabo + I_Crush_You, there might have been one or 2 others but I cant remember :-)

Day 2 Friday 3rd October

I wake with a very sore head and can’t remember much about the night before and wondering if I got up to anything stupid (I normally do). I had a fantastic breakfast at the Hotel, which set me up nicely for the day, and it was now time to head off and play the main event. First off I checked the Ladbrokes lounge out for the 1st time which was pretty big overlooking where the main event was to be played, there were a lot of Ladbrokes players there and most weren't looking their best, I think most had too much to drink the night before. A few people say hello to me and have a little chat and when they walk away I'm thinking hmmm who was that, I obviously met them the day/night b4 but was to drunk to remember their names (I am awful at remembering names).

I take my seat for the Main Event and we finally get started, I have been looking forward to this for a few weeks as it is a great structure with plenty of play in the tournament, 15k starting chips with 1 hour blinds which is fantastic for the 550 euro buyin. Start chatting to a few players on my table and I found out two of them are people who I have seen or chatted to on the forum I use, they both play at Ladbrokes (Emerson+strumash), I was quite shocked to see Emerson with a pint of beer in his hand. My plan was not to drink until either I was knocked out or until 2 hours before the play finished for that day. I have great will power and that lasted about 30minutes and I ended up in a round with the other 2 Ladbrokes players, I drunk so much at the table and I suppose it was inevitable that I didn't make the end of the day’s play, I busted out about 45mins before the day’s play finished.

I feel I played ok but I had a really tough seat with two very aggressive players on my left who both called everything but I managed to increase my stack a little, but then got involved in a hand which wasn't much I could do about and lost over half my stack with set over set, I remember doubling up with AA v KK later on, then again just had no cards and every time I had half a hand and I raised I would miss the flop and then normally have to fold to a re-raise on the flop (got very frustrating). Eventually I had to take a gamble as my stack was dwindling, but I had no luck and was finally out. So, off to the bar to meet the other Ladbrokes players who were out, so it was just another night of drinking to the early hours of the morning.

One other thing I remember on the 1st days play is Rob the Laddies camera man (who I have met many times b4 and had a few drinks or 2 with him at other events) coming over to film me then pointing me out to other camera men so they kept coming over to my table and filming me (which I felt a little embarrassing as I am kind camera shy, well when I’m sober anyway) I think the others on the table most have thought I was some kind of big time Poker Player but really I’m just an average low limit online player :-)

Day 3 Saturday 4th October

I had arranged to play golf for 3 days over this weekend with two people which I had been regretting for the last few weeks leading up to the event, but I don’t like to let people down so took my golf clubs anyway, luckily for me the weather was horrendous and I didn't get a phone call to wake me, so I had a nice lie in with the only downside being I missed the lovely breakfast they served at the hotel.

I headed down to the Ladbrokes lounge and was debating whether or not to play the 1st side event for 300 euros (2day event), I really wasn't in the mood so decided against it and just bought 25% of girlwonder for a bit of interest in the tournament (waste of money he he). There were a few players not playing so we headed off to the bar and had a few friendly Stets and watch the Saturday's afternoon football and horse racing and of course plenty to drink.

During this day Rob had asked if I would do an interview with him for Ladbrokes which I agreed to, I just hope I did ok as I was a little drunk and just hope I don’t look or sound or look too drunk, hic. Hopefully he will edit it so I don’t look all that bad :-)

The rest of the evening I just spent drinking and supporting the other guys and girls left in the Main event and side event (there were many going well), cant really remember much about the evening apart from the fact we all just got very drunk and I think I got to bed about 5 in the morning, this would have probably been later if it wasn't for them closing all the bars because of trouble outside, this was actually the locals and none of the Ladbrokes players (well we’re all lovers not fighters anyway).

Day 4 October the 5th (final day)

At 0830 I get a phone call off Paulscot1 saying we will be picking you up at 9 to go and play golf, so after just over 3 hours sleep this wasn't something I was looking forward to, so it was a quick wash and breakfast then off to the golf course. Golf course was fantastic (probably the best I have played) the views were out of this world and the weather was great, it was just a shame the golf we played was pretty awful but I didn't expect it to be much good after 3 hours sleep.

We get back from golf in time to enter the side event for 170 euros (1 day event), to be honest I have no idea why I entered as I was really tired and didn't feel like playing. The event itself was 25min blinds and 8k starting stack so was going to end up as a crap-shoot so I decided I would play very aggressive and either bust out early or build a decent stack, well it was bust out early for me.

Now I know what your thinking now is that I went straight to the bar to get a drink, well that was the last thing on my mind. I was due to play golf again in the morning before I had to travel home and I just thought there is no way I want to feel like I do right now the next day so I planned on watching some of the poker and getting an early night. I was talking to Durabo and he was saying "Gavin I have known you less than 3 days and I am sure you will be drunk later on tonight" but there was no way I was drinking.

The Main Event was starting to get to the later stages with quite a few players left in, including Emerson who was sat at my table on the 1st day, but more importantly there was a young guy from Dublin called AKLOAS left in whom I had a 5% stake in. In the side event they were down to the Final Table with 2 Ladbrokes VIPs left in, MickJagger + James666 (my drinking partner for the w/e), so I head off to the main stage to watch and cheer them on. James got 8th for 2000 euros and Jagger split 1st for 20k each, vwp both.

But the problem started for me was when James got knocked out, he was straight to the bar and comes back with a Vodka and Coke and a shot to go with it for me, so that was a start of another all nighter drinking. Emerson got 12th in the Main Event and Plum12 got 8th I think, AKLOAS managed to finish 5th in the for 20k so it was a nice 1k to me which covered all expenses for my w/e, and I another Ladbrokes player called Slick_Jack got 2nd, they were probably all Ladbrokes players but these are the ones I recognised from the forum most of us use (Laddiesforum).

October 6th (time to go home)

The night before I didn't manage to get to bed at all, they kicked us out of the Bar at 0730 and I was getting picked up at 0800 to play golf, now I couldn't say no as this was also my lift back to the Airport so I just packed my case and had a quick breakfast and reluctantly went to play golf. At the time I was still very drunk so wasn't that bothered but come half way round the course I started to come down and wasn't feeling well at all and to top if off my feet were killing me (I could barely walk by the end). It was probably the worst round of golf I have ever played in my life but he course was lovely (little consolation this time).

This was basically what I got up to at the w/e which I know wouldn't be to everyone's taste but there is so much to do in Killarney, a lot of players brought their wives and girlfriends. I spoke to quite a few people and everyone enjoyed themselves, some went for walks in the countryside, I hear the food was fantastic (I just eat rubbish), and I can assure you for any golfers you won’t get much better courses than the ones I played. And for people who just want to play poker there was plenty of action especially at the cash tables, I chose not to play them but the story's I heard at how bad the play was, were quite shocking and there were a lot of people who made good money.

So basically there is something for everyone and I would recommend to anyone that they try and qualify for next year’s event as you will have the time of your life whatever you enjoy, and you will get to meet some great people and probably become really good friends with many, the community at Ladbrokes is 2nd to none and how they run these events is just awesome.

I have been away on many trips with Ladbrokes this year, some VIP some not and I can honestly say they make sure you have the time of your life, and I can’t wait to go on the next one.

Being a VIP means I get the chance to go on loads of trips and I think everyone should try to get into the VIP Club.

I am sure I have left lots of details out but there was so much going on it’s hard to remember everything.

C U all next year in Killarney, Gavin.