2022.09

 It seems that summer had finally passed on for 2022, as the day and afternoon were cool and breezy and the evening was just perfect for 24 degenerates cramming in to the garage around back.

It was October, so that meant that the spectacular Dia de' los Muertos chips were in play!

Also, unrelated - it had been awhile since we'd had a strange Oreo abomination show up, but fans of the world's most famous sandwich cookie were in luck - feast your eyes!

Diabetes is my favorite!

Action was hot and heavy from the very beginning, and there seemed to be an inexorable force of all the chips flowing towards Table 1, Seat 6.   Yours truly was the first donator, overplaying my overpair after the card rack known as Joe flopped the joint and let me pile all my chips in.  And the story would continue into the night.

I busted early, third out after Ken G. and Eric P. respectively, and thankfully so did Ian - and so with Priya's other half (Art) also busted out and a captive participant, we began a 3 handed cash game that quickly (as tourney players busted) morphed into a full blown live game extravaganza!

Real poker!

Chips that match!

Meanwhile, the Final Table had formed up and the action continued unabated.  There were a couple of other big stacks besides Joe - Laura, and then later Tina, managed to build castles of their own.

Colin was our final table bubble.    

Mike C. was the first to bust after that, finishing in 9th place - followed by Tony, Laura (who somehow lost her fortress of chips in a big hand that I missed), and Dan L who was the money bubbler in 6th.

Jessie busted next in 5th, scooping up $80 for his efforts.

Finishing in 4th for $120 was Priya who thankfully joined the cash game afterwards so the game could continue.

And then there were three.

Piles of plaques!

At one point Joe had almost all the chips, and Lea Anne succumbed in third for $160 plus some bounties.

Then Tina the Terminator managed to double up, more than once I think, and began to approach (though still down almost 3 to 1) the Joe-zilla stack.

It was at this point however, that Tina was tired - and then she also had to do something at 2am - and proposed an even money split, conceding the 1st place points and title to Joe.  He happily accepted the generous offer.

And so, for his third tournament this year, this guy was on top!

Hat trick!

Tina and Joe each got $340, not too shabby!

Joe also gets the bragging rights (plus another 5K in starting chips in the TOC) of taking down 3 tournaments this year, Jeff G. has also done this but one was the invitational Legacy tournament, so no points for that.  This means that Joe right now has a HAMMERLOCK on Player of the Year.  With 3 more tournaments to play, including a non-NLHE event worth double points, it's for sure possible that he can be caught, but right now if I were a betting man I would wager on Mr. Joe.

Also, Bobby B. should take notice - his longtime record of 10 bounties collected and kept (which he did twice over the years) is finally broken.  Joe scooped up and retained 11!  $55 added to his already big total, and a bounty collection for the record books!

Insert Western movie music sting here...

And so another great night is in the books - and it was great even after the tournament.  The cash game kept going for another half hour or so after Joe and Tina had left with their winnings!   

I very much appreciate the few who stayed after and helped stack chairs, it makes a big difference!

Also, a big thanks to all of you who came out and hung out!  A poker tournament in my garage is one of my favorite things in life - and to have 24 of you all pile in was just great.  Reminded me very much of the pre-pandemic times when such attendance was routine.  Glad to see that the game is recovering, as we all are, after that speed bump called covid.

Our next event is H.O.R.S.E. (Hold-Em, Omaha/8, Razz, Seven Stud and Eight or Better Seven Stud) in a fix limit format - Saturday, Nov 19th @ 5pm.  Double POY points in this one, as with all non-Hold-Em events.

Then we will have no less than 3 tournaments in December!  We have to get to 12 for the year, plus our second Legacy event which is exclusively for our Hall of Fame members.   Very much looking forward to all of it!

Until then, peace and we out!