$209 Paddy Power Poker UK Poker Tour

Just got back from the Birmingham leg of the Paddy Power Poker UK Poker Tour at Broadway Casino.

Didn't play too well, partly because I was involved in a 3-car accident on the way to Birmingham. A donk ran into the back of me when stationary at a traffic light queue and I got squeezed with the car in front. Not great!

I just about made it to the casino on time but things got from bad to worse as I was dealt crap all night with Lucy Rokach four to my right. She tripled up early after she made a button raise with 88 after an open raise and a cold-call - both called and she was up against 55 and AK. I passed an Ace-rag but another A flopped but she hit an 8 on the river to survive. Up to the first break the only pair I got was JJ and a couple of rag aces.

Short stacked the first spot where I could have made a move was with K7s in mid postion but I waited until UTG with QTo. Lucy Rokach isolated me with 99 but luckily I hit a T on the turn to double up.

Got moved to a new table and Lucy Rokach followed and this time she was immediately to my left. With blinds 300/600, someone in mid position raised to 2000. I had TT on the button and should have gone all-in, instead I passed and Lucy Rokach in the small blind re-raised all-in to just over 7,100. Original raiser passed. One orbit later and I found myself in the small blind with T8o against Lucy Rokach. Again, I should have pushed but folded. Next hand I went all-in with 2s2 on the button and Lucy Rokach isolated me with As9o from the small blind, hitting a 9 on the turn and the nut flush on the river.

Managed to drive back home safely at least, but I found out that the damage to my car was worse than I thought and my neck feels a bit stiff.

Result:

Stop number three on our whirlwind tour of the UK saw Birmingham's glamorous Broadway Casino bursting at the seams.

125 players started with 4,000 chips and play continued until 5am. As the sun began to rise it was PPP online qualifier Chris Carr who was celebrating a £5,400 payday along with a prestigious UKPT title.

Carr, from Wirral, adapted his online skills to defeat Joe Koumi (aka 'Chicken Joe') heads up in what was his first ever live tournament! Chicken Joe had probably been the strongest player at the final table until the batteries died on his ipod - it was all downhill after that!