Since registering just over a week ago, I have been looking forward to playing my first PokerStars WCOOP event
Having played the SCOOP in April, I had some inkling as to what to expect so had prepared myself and the wife for a long session. It started at a very reasonable 5:45pm on Saturday so very easy time for me.
When registering there were over 2000 players so was expecting at least 6000 to be playing.... so was slightly shocked when we started with 12'754 players.... and due to registration not being closed down until an hour of play, there were a total of 15'675 entrants !
The starting stack is only 3000 chips and the levels increase every 10 minutes so the first few levels sees a lot of uncalled for aggression, so I am sitting back waiting for hands and taking it easy. The end of Level 3 (L3) sees me with 2690 chips when the average stack is 3156 (2690/3156) and am 10'815th place out of 14'004 players who are still left playing 10815/14004)
During level 4 I get my first big hand which is pocket Jacks (J-J) My raise is called by one player and the flop is a great flop for me, being 9 high. The other player bets out and I am a bit nervous so just call, he also bets the turn which I call and checks the river I do think about re-raising as there are no scare cards, but have no read on the player so check behind. I am pleased to see he has T-T which hadn't improved so I win my first pot ! The end of L4 sees me with 4100/3333 chips and 2672/13561 players
I am playing very steady although have the odd go at the blinds when I have enough information about the other players, but it's tricky as I end up moving tables 4 times so have to keep re-assessing my opponents from scratch.
L7 sees me having made good progress with 5850/4817 chips and 2729/9823 place. During this level a key hand develops where I get dealt Q-Q and raise. A short stack goes all-in and another player calls, which is a bit concerning, but the 9 high flop looks good for my hand and bet out, then call the re-raise all-in. Luckily for me.. BOTH the other players have T-T and I take out two players and now have a significant amount of chips (12'175)
L9 sees me with 11400/7841 chips and 1139/6072 place and is quite eventful. I get involved with A-T against Q-Q but luckily hit my A on the flop to take the pot. Then I get dealt A-A (actually the third time during the game) and get it in against Q-Q and take another big pot, so L10 sees me with 25499/10426 chips and 138/4604
L12 was a bad level for me as there is starting to be a lot more aggression and end up dropping significant chips, but getting K-K against Q-Q restores some of my fortune and am back to 20'000 odd chips
L13 has me at 20437/19399 chips and 874/2435 The blinds are now 1600/800 with 160 ante so are starting to hurt all but the big stacks. It is also interesting as 2250 places are paid, so we are all near the bubble !
I am starting to play more tightly now and people seem to be all0in more or less every hand, so L14 has me pegged back to 16127/20825 chips and 1199/2258 place. with only 8 people to drop out we play one hand "hand for hand" and the bubble has burst. This is at 8:30pm so only 2 hours 45mins of play !
After that things go mental and lots of people start getting really aggressive and the number of players is plummeting all the time
L15 sees me at 12567/24277 chips and 1387/1963 place but then get lucky with A-8 against 9-8 and double up
L16 sees me back to a respectable 22324/34859 chips and 593/1355 but by now any hand you play will pretty much guarantee someone being all-in, so end up being blinded away until L17 I am down to 3 big blinds and toss in my chips just before the BB reaches me with 4-3 ! (hoping to have 2 live cards) but get called by T-T and am out !
I have ended up in 959th place at 8:55pm receiving $329.17 for just over three hours of play.
Whilst I am delighted to get a payout, it was a little disappointing not to get a bit further. It seemed to all slip away in L16 and feel I should have probably pushed a bit earlier rather than hang on waiting for a hand.
My dilemma is now what to do next... I am very tempted by Event #25, the $320 HORSE, next Saturday :-)
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