... and not the ideal end ...
Just before midnight at the sharp end of the day ... I wake up with QQ (short-stacked) ... blinds 1000/2000 (150 I think) ...
UTG Swindells makes it 5000, flat called by UTG +1, value then .... I am in for 13,500
Phil Starrs to act after me, re-raises all in to about 22,500
Rob Swindells calls ... I fear I am in terrible shape ... but once flipped I am the narrow favourite ... QQ vs AK (Swindells) vs TT Starrs ... very short-lived favourite with the Tens spiking and a very playable stack for Phil (Previous Winner, EPT and Irish Open casher!)
Earlier in the day a very patient approach required (and paid off) with a little help from an AJ vs TT race followed quickly by a KK vs QQ win.
First table pretty tight with the expection of a very (overly) aggressive pre flop player ... picked off in the end ... but only two uncalled re-raises from me (with goods).
In the classic "Home Game Challenge" - glory only (I think) - all my players are on the same table - nightmare - and whilst previous APAT medalist Charles Sanderson departed early - Gareth Derbyshire played the patient game too and was rewarded with AA vs 77 and KK vs a QJ push - stack now in place Gareth sprinted up to 150k before having his wings clipped at the end of play.
End of play - Gareth 3rd on 112.6k
Lot"s of small stacks to either gobble or get spiked by - and some dangerous stacks to be nervous of - feels like I should still be there but that will have to wait for Nottingham.
L