Quick Update

by Phil

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My life in a nutshell for the last bit.
London.  Poker.  Won.  (and my girl did too.)(more than me in fact!)  Viffer killed nearly everyone (so happy to have emerged as one of the top 5 winners.
(It was for a televised poker thing for Euroland.)

Volcanic ash disrupts travel plans back to Vegas.  No more Belly 25k for me.

Waited a bit more in London then went to Monte Carlo.  Played.  Got my ass handed to me.

Monte Carlo Highlights.

Lots of steps for sick workouts.
Sat next to Viktor Blom for high roller turny.  (mini brag)
Had lots of quality time with Neil Channing, John Duthie, and even a little with my ol' buddy Haralabob Voulgaris.
Watched a bit of the Gran Prix stuff (pre-lims).
Got quality time with Sander Lyloff, and saw a bit of Gus too.  Some back gammon stuff happened.  And except for getting my ass handed to me I enjoyed.
The shrimp pasta thing at the hotel was AMAZING.

Monte Carlo Low-lights

Shower in room was spastic and pathetic. 
Internet at the Hotel was third world at best.
All the poker residents got hustled on the breakfast thing.  Supposed to be added.  It was.  But it was not the regular breakfast place (good) in
the hotel.  Instead we were all treated like animals and had to eat gruel in the basement.  THIS IS NOT A LIE.  It was sick how awful the whole thing was. 
I hate getting hustled.  And on this one, we all got the 'Hustle Royal'.
Lost a lot of money.  (Total trip in Euroland was for sure nasty.)

Random Sightings.

On plane ride home, Jermaine Jackson (music) and Michael Madsen (movies) were both on the same flight.  (Madsen was in Euroland for the Gumball rally thing.)(Jennifer has
done some flicks with him so they chatted.  I was asleep and never got to say hello.  Which I would have for sure done.  He was so mega sick in Reservoir Dogs.)

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In LA now.
Off to Vegas in 40 mins.
Playing in a thing called the "Doubles Poker Championship."
32 players.  50k. (1.6 mil total, and they are adding 400k to prize money.)
I love the added prize money thing.  Not so convinced that doubles poker is a good idea.
Seems like it goes against the very fabric of poker.  We will see.

My team matches (random draw) are going to be with

Andy Bloch
Mike the Mouth
Phil Ivey
David Chiu

I am most happy about the pair up with the Mouth.  I love this guy.  He is always makes me happy.
He is always in story telling mode.  And he has fun stories.  I also love how in his mind all poker players
(winning or not) suck.  Except maybe two or three.  I can't remember.  Anyway.  Looking forward to being
entertained.

And the most interesting pairing for me will be Ivey.  He is of course Ivey, and a legend and all that stuff, but aside from
that I really have never hung out with him.  So it will be like in 3rd grade when you get paired up with the mega popular
super hero kid on a team assignment.   I will be the wing man here (obv) and I think it will be interesting.
Other than HSP and one or two tournies we have not really played together.  For this event, instead
of being adversaries at the table, we will be allies.  Should be interesting.  Hoping to learn something along the way too.

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On the 8th I will be playing in the "Big Game" - which is a 200 400 televised game with antes - 6 handed.  Cool.

And if I don't get my ass cracking I am going to miss my flight.

Later
Phil Laak
Degen for Life