I was never any good at math. I got a ‘C’ in my final GCSE, but I am sure the board got my result mixed up with my PE, where I only got a ‘D’. Numbers make no sense to me. I guess that’s why I am always broke. I should have had the courage to put my hand up in class, instead of sitting at the back getting high sniffing Tippex.
So when I turn up for work, and I see the following table competing in the HKD 500,000 (USD 64,000) No-Limit Hold’em Six-Max, I don’t understand the numbers. When I learned how to play poker, the advice I received from guys like these was to never play in a game that was full of players who were either your equal, or better than you, and that a good game was one enriched with gamblers who liked to play too fast and fancy free.
The First Table of the HKD 500,000
1. Sam Greenwood
2. Luk Greenwood
3. Steve O’Dwyer
4. Stephen Chidwick
5. Philipp Gruissem
6. Mikita Badziakouski
Nine levels later, and only one of those six didn’t make the Day 2 cut. Four of them occupy the top five positions.
I am preparing to go to bed when I bump into the 2016 One Drop winner, Elton Tsang, holding a glass of wine the size of a fishbowl, wearing a pink t-shirt with the word millionaire emblazoned on the front, and a big smile lighting up the smoke-filled room where we meet.
“Good day?” I ask.
“I’m not sure,” said Tsang before bursting into laughter. “I killed myself in the last hand.”
Perhaps, that’s why the likes of Greenwood and co travel halfway around the world to compete in these games. Tsang is the man they want to face. The gambler who puts 68 big blinds into the middle holding a pile of pants while you carry the goods.
Then again, Tsang is a self-made multi-millionaire, all made through poker.
As I said, I’m not that great at math.
Maybe these guys just fucking love it.
The Highlight Reel
The event attracted 25 HKD 500,000 entries. Day 1 consisted of nine levels. Late registration exists until the start of Level 12.
The first person to lose his heartbeat was Philipp Gruissem.
David Peters opened from the button, Philipp Gruissem three-bet from the small blind and Peters called. The flop rained down Q97, Gruissem bet 4,000; Peters called. The turn card was an 8x, Gruissem bet for the second time, putting 8,500 out front, and Peters once again called. The 4x on the river concluded the community cards role. Gruissem checked, and Peters moved all-in, for around 30,000 effective. Gruissem tank-called with AQ, but Peters held Q8hh for the two pairs. Gruissem was out. Peters was the early chip leader.
Richard Yong Eliminated by JC Alvarado
The Triton Poker founder, Richard Yong, was next to find the exit. Both JC Alvarado and Yong got it in on an all club 975 flop. Yong was first to make a move putting 5,000 over the betting line. Alvarado, seated on the button, raised the stakes to 12,000. Yong moved all-in for 40,000+, and Alvarado called.
Alvarado: 9d9h
Yong: AcKh
Alvarado was ahead with top set, and Yong was seeking a club for the nut flush.
Turn: Th
River: 2s
Alvarado doubled up; Yong was out (for now).
Mikita Badziakouski Eliminates Dominik Nitsche
The Triton Poker Series, Montenegro Main Event winner, completed the small blind, and Dominik Nitsche checked from the big blind. Badziakouski bet 3,000 at the sight of the 8s7h3c flop, and Nitsche moved all-in for 10,500; Badziakouski snap-called.
Badziakouski: 9d9h
Nitsche: Th3h
The Belarusian was ahead with the overpair. Nitsche had flopped the bottom pair. The Qh and 5d finished the action, and Nitsche trundled over to the cash desk to re-enter.
Sam Greenwood Eliminates Elton Tsang
In the final hand of the night Elton Tsang opened the cutoff with Ad5h, Sam Greenwood opened to 9,000 holding AsAh, and Tsang decided to put it all in, and it was a lot, 68 big blinds to be exact. Greenwood snap-called. The flop was devoid of miracles, and just like that, Greenwood zoomed to the top of the chip counts, and Tsang headed to the bar, before bumping into me with that great big smile of his.
Final Day Chip Counts
1. Sam Greenwood – 191,700
2. David Peters – 145,500
3. Stephen Chidwick – 111,700
4. Mikita Badziakouski – 110,500
5. Steve O’Dwyer – 100,900
6. Kok Weng Beh – 99,000
7. JC Alvarado – 93,600
8. Patrik Antonius – 67,900
9. Phil Ivey – 67,400
10. Luc Greenwood – 65,400
11. Sergio Aido – 58,000
12. James Chen – 53,500
13. Dominik Nitsche – 40,100
14. John Juanda – 34,600
Day 2 begins at 2 pm (local time).