FinallyThe Midland Masters 2003, Walsall The last couple of months haven't been too easy for me. No show at the Vic, one before the final at the main event in Dublin and a load of last two table finishes in Helsinki. This week looked like being more of the same after the first four tournaments; I had made the last two tables in all of them. My confidence was starting to wane. The boys have been great, they keep telling me that after all the wins I had last year I've got nothing to prove but somehow that’s not enough. I needed a final table and a top three finish.  The first stages of the final passed quickly, I couldn't find a hand and all I could do was survive but maybe that was a good thing because while I was never in a pot everyone around me was dropping like flies and before I knew it we were three handed. Dave Colclough, John Kabbaj and me. At last a top three finish. I was looking nailed on for third as they had all the chips between them, 400,000 each leaving me with the other 100,000 when all of a sudden they clashed in a huge pot. John raised with pocket nines and Dave moved all in with A,Q. John read the situation perfectly and without much hesitation called. It was a great call but you’ve got to win those even shots and when the flop came an ace and a queen John was out.  Heads up now, Dave with 800,000 and me with 100,000 I figured I'd probably come as far as I could but I was feeling focused and wasn't going to give up without a fight. I managed to build up to 150,000 when I found 10, 5 of diamonds. The flop came down a black ten and two rag diamonds. Dave moved all in with 9, 4 of diamonds. He was drawing very slim and I was up to 300,000 now, it was game on. We battled for two long hours. Dave wore me back down to about 175,000 and then took the play out of my game by using his huge chip advantage and moving all in almost every hand. Quite quickly I realised I would have to gamble and play the same way. We had played heads up for an incredible two an a half hours when finally it all went in with my K,Q against Dave’s A,J. His A, J stood up and I had to settle for second. It was a really good feeling to be back at that final table and although I'm disappointed not to win, it was a great match. Dave played like a champ and deserved first spot, congratulations Dave.  Everywhere we go now we see people wearing HendonMob and Prima Poker Tour T-Shirts including Gareth Jones in Walsall who is also coming to Australia with us in January.  It is my son’s first birthday this month and the first ten people to e-mail me and tell me his name will get a free T-shirt complements of the Mob and Prima Poker. Send your entries to Ross@thehendonmob.com. |
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