2016 T.O.C.

After a delightfully wet week, a brisk and invigorating afternoon arrived on Saturday, setting the perfect stage for the 3rd annual Pepper Street Poker Tournament of Champions!

Everyone was pumped up and ready to throw down.  Everyone except Mr. Mike who had already made plans to visit family out of state and had the misfortune to win his seat in December so he couldn't change his plans.

But being out of state was no problem for players who had won their seat early in the year.  Despite moving to Chicago, Sheyna found her way to a plane and flew in this very morning to quote - "Come get my bracelet!"   Right on Sheyna, now that's dedication!  In all seriousness, I and everyone else was very touched to see you.  It makes me feel so good to know that my game is enjoyed that much.  You rock Sheyna!

With the hardware and the cash laid out, as well as pictures of all the champions - the stage was set.

Best of all, no one would be leaving empty handed - there most certainly was a little SWAG...

Commemorative chip for everyone!  There's one waiting for you when you get back Mike!

And we were off to the races!

The structure and the stacks were deep - 25K and half hour levels.  And yet from the get go aggression was the name of the game.  Limping was rarely tolerated and everyone seemed all to eager to build big pots right off the bat.

Therefore it wasn't too surprising that we had our first bust out right after the first break, Bryan C. was first to hit the rail.  And the game rolled on.

Deep thoughts... by Jack Handy...

I was pretty amazed actually at how ready everyone was to get it in - I mean, yes, it is a free roll, but there was also some serious cheddar up top.  Andrew, above, was next to get it all in and get busted.  He had more than a few bad beats and made his exit.

A while later it was a classic cooler Jason's KK ran into Garner's AA and after a flurry of raising and re-raising pre-flop, both were too shallow to fold when low cards hit the board.  Exit Jason, who was way to hard on himself for a very standard situation in this brutal and often stupid game.

Five good little children left, and one naughty one (me, taking the picture).

After another hour, Dog lost his last flip and bid a cheerful goodbye.  A short while later the record holder for longest distance traveled for a PSP tournament, Sheyna, got her money in very good against Josh - who was dead to three cards, one of which hit immediately on the turn of course.  So long Sheyna, so sorry you came all this way to endure such a nasty bad beat!  Once again, I am very grateful to have such a great player in the game.  I understand you are back in May or so - I expect to see you shortly after to pick up your 2017 TOC seat!

And then there were four.

Two hours passed and the sun dropped.   Jessie had been up, then down, then up and then finally down again for the last time and he was this year's unlucky recipient of the bubble prize for the TOC.  Of course at Pepper Street these days, the bubble prize is the same prize that everyone else gets when they bust out before the money.  All the same, congrats on the deep run Jessie, and thanks for hanging for awhile and taking pictures of heads up play.

So the money boys were Josh, Garner, and myself.  Josh had been a one man wrecking ball through much of the tournament, raising nearly every time it was open folded to him - and following through with well timed and well sized bets.  Unfortunately the cards finally caught up with him and he had to make due with third place - which was actually $200, not bad for a free roll!  All the same, well done Josh!  My vote for most dramatically improved player this year.   And then there were two...

Who loves ya' baby?!

And it's on!

We were about even in chips, but as is often in the case of poker, and especially heads up - the initiative is most easily taken by he (or she) who gets the best cards the quickest.  In this case, I got hit with literally half a dozen premiums in the space of twenty minutes.  This may or may not be a surprise to Garner as these were pots that I dragged without showdown - but suffice it to say, it's a lot easier be courageous when you have the goods.

Finally Garner dipped under 20 bigs, and to his credit used his stack aggressively to drag a few pots before I woke up with a pair of fives and had to call.  He flopped top pair, but I turned a set and that was that.

Presto!

Garner got $300, not a bad consolation prize, and I got $500 and the hardware.  I feel incredibly blessed to have done this two years in a row, especially against such a tough cadre of playas.  Gentlemen and ladies, I salute you!   And I know this heater won't last forever!

Okay, enough with the TOC report, I know the real reason you all have read this far is to find out when our first monthly multi-table tournament is this year.  Well, it was going to be Saturday, February 11, but it turns out we will be out of town then.   So.... I'm afraid we will... have to.... move it up a week earlier!!!!

Saturday, February 4th at 7pm, mark your calendar, and stay tuned for the Evite!  2017 at Pepper Street will officially kick off.  It's a new year, a clean slate, a new chance for a 2 outer to spike on the river and crush your dreams!

It's going to be another great year.  Don't forget, we are also starting a World Series of Poker league - you don't want to miss out on that.  Click here for all the details and be sure to get ahold of me if somehow you were left off the first evite.

Also - as a reminder - this year every tournament at Pepper Street will offer a one time only re-entry if you are felted before the break, same price as the tournament entry and same amount of chips.  (You also have the option to surrender your stack at the break and re-enter if you have a tiny amount of chips.)   Read my long winded explanation for this change here if you want to know my reasoning for this change.

Okay, that's all for now.  I hope to see you at the next event soon.  Until then, peace and we out!