UK and Ireland Poker tour fun

December 17, 2009 by Nick Wealthall

Hope you’re well and enjoying the 17 week run up to Jesus’ birthday.

I’ve just come back from the first UKIPT event in Galway. (that’s U K and Ireland poker tour for those who aren’t sure – it’s a poker stars tour).

I’m working on the tour as tour ‘host’. To me it sounds like I should wear a burgundy smoking jacket and great everyone with a stiff brandy on arrival. Actually that sounds kinda cool…. maybe I’ll pitch that.

To be honest I’m really excited to be doing the job. Stars do a great job of their tours and hopefully this one will be a big boost to U K poker. It has buy ins that are accessible – or easily satelliteable to – but they will also be really prestigious events to win I think.

Part of my job is to relay what players think and want back to Stars so do get in touch if you’re interested in the tour or if you’ve played Galway or satellites and let me know any questions or feedback you have.

I’ll also be doing a ton of media stuff for the tour including a podcast and a new web show called ‘on tour’ which is partly poker magazine show and partly me titting about – aces!

Galway was great. Good atmosphere, top venue and a really high standard tournament. I have no idea how some of the Irish players drink and party like they do and still play well – but they clearly do. I’m such a lightweight, one Coors light with lunch and I’m ready to fall asleep face forwards on my chips.

Also this is my second poker trip to Ireland this year and both times the friendlieness of everyone and the atmosphere has been fantastic. You hate to slip in to cliché but it’s hard to find a bad word to say about the hospitality over there.

My poker’s going pretty well. I had one of those brutal PLO downswings recently so haven’t updated much on here – all too depressing. But I’m now enjoying the flip side which is a 20 buy in up swing (yay) and feel like I’ve really improved my game by working and focussing…..and catching some cards

I’ll do a playing blog soon and through some hands in – it is PLO but hopefully it’ll still be interesting.

There were Christmas trees and lights everywhere in Galway which is nice and all but I’ve never been able to get into Christmas until about the 23^rd – sorry I love it but I love it for 4 days not 40. Also I’m old school it starts when I go back to my family home not really before.

In other news I’m super “stoked” as the kids say to see Avatar. Ever since I heard Cameron was planning this I knew he’d deliver something we hadn’t seen before – I’ll be there on Saturday night with 3D glasses on and chocolate raisins in hand as excited as a 10 year old…. Now that’s the real meaning of Christmas.

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