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The Summer Wind - A WSOP Trip Report …… and beyond!

982 posts · member since Apr 2006

Don’t ask me why I chose the title of an old Sinatra song to be the title for this year’s trip report, i have no idea, i

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01 May 2025 at 09:14 PM

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4441 posts · member since Dec 2005

1mo ago

The poker room is on the upper level, you have to go up there anyway. Might as well use the escalator.

4441 posts · member since Dec 2005

1mo ago

BTW, I saw that Chainsaw had another one of his mixed-game series at Caesars, starting about a week ago.

982 posts · member since Apr 2006

1mo ago

by pig4bill

BTW, I saw that Chainsaw had another one of his mixed-game series at Caesars, starting about a week ago.

Yea, I've been following along. They've had some good winners: David Levi (twice), AJ Kelsall (twice), Nico Milgrom, Kathy Chang, Hani Awad.

Caesars adding $10k too for the leaderboard makes it a really nice series, but I didn't want to make an already long summer trip even longer.

793 posts · member since Dec 2006

1mo ago

I played with David Levi in a THORSE tourney in AZ, we had some great table chat

4441 posts · member since Dec 2005

1mo ago

by TonySoprano9

Yea, I've been following along. They've had some good winners: David Levi (twice), AJ Kelsall (twice), Nico Milgrom, Kathy Chang, Hani Awad.

Caesars adding $10k too for the leaderboard makes it a really nice series, but I didn't want to make an already long summer trip even longer.

Yes, I think that not enough attention was paid to that. A casino actually giving away ten grand to tournament players is a huge deal.

BTW, speaking of Kessler, I ran across a fascinating video, which is basically The Allen Kessler story. It's and hour and a half long, so you might not make it all the way through it. It has Justin Young too, who is hilarious. Chainsaw tells where his bankroll came from, which kept me engrossed enough to watch the whole thing. It might have been a different story though, had I not found it on a weekend.

982 posts · member since Apr 2006

1mo ago

Yes I saw the Table 1 podcast with Kessler, pretty interesting.

982 posts · member since Apr 2006

1mo ago

8 days to go until wheels up for Las Vegas and I'm pretty happy with my preparation and I'm right about where I want to be in terms of the amount of action sold so far.

I'm sold out or very close to sold out on a lot of events so I'm no longer offering the mixed games or big bet packages. (Some individual events from those packages are still available on Pokerstake) I do still have some left for the NLH / Mystery Bounty package:

NLH & Mystery Bounty Package
(This package includes only these 5 events)

#1 $550 No Limit Hold’em Mini Mystery Millions
#34 $500 No Limit Hold'em Colossus  
#63 $1,000 No Limit Hold’em Mystery Millions
#86 $600 No Limit Hold'em Ultra Stack
#87 $1,000 PLO Mystery Bounty

Budget includes $4,000 in re-entries. Any unused entries will be refunded. Total package cost including markup at 1.1 = $8,415
1% = $84, 2% = $168, 5% = $420

Okay so NLH is not my strongest game but I'm actually surprised by this as I think this package has by far the highest ceiling. Yes it's the biggest risk, most volatile package as these fields will be enormous, but there's a lot of upside if I make day two in one of the mystery bounty events. Don't say you weren't given the chance after I pull a six figure envelope! :-)

Last orders, closing time!

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202 posts · member since Nov 2009

1mo ago

2% Mystery Bounty Package.

4441 posts · member since Dec 2005

1mo ago

Looks like a lot of time between some of the events. Just going to chill by the pool a lot?

793 posts · member since Dec 2006

1mo ago

I also noticed that a lot of your trip reports start with a picture of a Spirit airplane. How will their closure impact your travel? Just make it more expensive?

982 posts · member since Apr 2006

1mo ago

by pig4bill

Looks like a lot of time between some of the events. Just going to chill by the pool a lot?

That’s only some of the events. Will be playing at least 20 events so not too many days off. On non-tournament days will likely play cash at Bellagio.

982 posts · member since Apr 2006

1mo ago

by that_pope

I also noticed that a lot of your trip reports start with a picture of a Spirit airplane. How will their closure impact your travel? Just make it more expensive?

The Spirit routes I flew weren’t really much cheaper. It was convenient going non-stop to Fort Lauderdale from Medellin so will have to go Copa via Panama on that route now.

The main one I’ll miss it for is going to Atlantic City. Not sure how I’ll get there now.

982 posts · member since Apr 2006

1mo ago

The NLH / Mystery Bounty package is now sold out.

All that I have left now are just bits and pieces of some individual events that are on Pokerstake.

Still not sure what I'm doing for the $10k's. Will know more next week. If anyone does want to take any pieces for the $10k's at zero markup please message me.

382 posts · member since Nov 2002

1mo ago

by TonySoprano9

The NLH / Mystery Bounty package is now sold out.

All that I have left now are just bits and pieces of some individual events that are on Pokerstake.

Still not sure what I'm doing for the $10k's. Will know more next week. If anyone does want to take any pieces for the $10k's at zero markup please message me.

I wonder if there's a way to ask the people who've bought small pieces of the 10ks to consolidate into the same one? I tried to drum up support for your first 10k.

If we can get one off the ground and you do well, hopefully that'll help build more support for the subsequent 10ks.

458 posts · member since Oct 2018

1mo ago

Yeah, c'mon guys let's get the O8 going!

368 posts · member since Apr 2009

1mo ago

Can't wait for the action to start rolling.....especially the MIXED GAME action!

982 posts · member since Apr 2006

1mo ago

Filmed on location in Las Vegas, Fort Lauderdale, Atlantic City, Thunder Valley, Los Angeles and Prague.

The producers wish to thank the Bellagio hotel and casino, the Borgata hotel and casino, Hard Rock Hollywood hotel and casino and Thunder Valley hotel and casino for their co-operation.

The End

TonySoprano9 will return in .......

Bracelet Hunting

https://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/108/l...

/ Thread

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1470 posts · member since May 2014

1mo ago

by hardinthepaint

Yeah, c'mon guys let's get the O8 going!

I'm still in for 10% if it helps.

125 posts · member since Mar 2014

1mo ago

[emoji846][emoji846][emoji846]

$30M GTD Battle of Malta Online Series Join the Action on CoinPoker July 12 - Aug 3 $1M CoinMillion • $2.5M Main Event • $250k Added Value Daily Rewards

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TonySoprano9

11mo ago

The Summer Wind
In Review

One last post to wrap everything up now that I’m back home in Medellin.

Staking

I sold 35% of my action for the summer and would like to thank all the investors who took a piece and believed in me. Everyone was great and very supportive. I didn’t receive any what the f**k are you doing? [emoji23] messages. Only positive ones.

Investors in the Wynn Warm-Up package showed a nice profit.
Investors in both the Wynn Warm-Up and WSOP packages came out very slightly ahead.
Investors in just the WSOP package lost about half their money.

Obviously the WSOP results weren’t what we were all hoping for but that’s tournament poker unfortunately.

Tournament Results

Wynn Warm-Up Package

Tournaments Played: 6
Bullets Fired: 9
Total Buy-Ins: $8,900
Cashes: 2 (including a win)
Total Prize Money: $35,821
Net: +$26,921

Each 1% returned $359

Final numbers for the WSOP main package:

Tournaments Played: 23 (including 2 sats)
Bullets Fired: 35
Total Buy-ins: $44,200
Cashes: 5
Total Prize Money: $19,134
Net: -$25,066

Each 1% returns $200 including $9 of unused buy-ins.

For those that didn’t have the WSOP TORSE included each 1% returns $211 including $20 in unused buy-ins.

Overall Summer Numbers

Tournaments Played: 29
Bullets Fired: 38
Total Buy-Ins: $53,100
Cashes: 7
Total Prize Money: $55,955
Net: $1,855

It seems a long time ago but the victory at Wynn early in the summer ensured we came out a little ahead despite the poor WSOP results.
The extra bullets fired in the expensive tournaments really killed our profit.

Cash Games

Sessions: 16
Hours Played: 107
Net: $10,000
Hourly: $93

The cash game action at the WSOP really dropped off a cliff in the 2nd half of the series although this worked in my favor as it pushed me to take a shot in the $80 -$160 Mix at Bellagio which I felt comfortable in and was able to show a profit although I don’t think I ran particularly well in it.
If I look just at my stats for that game they are:
Sessions: 7
Hours Played: 72
Net: $7,200
Hourly: $100
So well below the 1 big bet per hour goal for fixed limit players but it’s still a very small sample size.

Expenses

Hotels

I stayed 43 nights in Las Vegas this summer at a total cost of $3,627 for an average of $84 per night all-in including resort fees and taxes.
I don’t have high status on the rewards programs (Platinum with Caesars and Pearl with MGM) but was able to work the system and get plenty of comp nights by constantly changing hotels.
I didn’t really find it too much of an inconvenience. The only downside was early check-in fees at Caesars properties.

Flights

Should only have been 2 flights but I made the unscheduled trip back home for the football final. So in the end I spent $1,780 on flights.

Final Result

Tournaments: $1,855
Cash Games: $10,000
Hotels: -$3,627
Flights: -$1,780

Net Profit: $6,448

Sports Betting was choppy with as many losers as winners so no boost to the profit there.
I didn’t keep track of all the food and taxi/Uber expenses but probably another -$2,000 there.

So a very modest profit for the summer. I was certainly hoping for better, but at least I didn’t lose overall.

Hotels

In the end I only stayed at 5 hotels over the summer, hitting the same ones multiple times. Here is how I rank them:

1. Vdara
2. MGM Grand
3. Paris
4. Harrahs
5. Excalibur

I originally had NYNY in there as well but changed for Paris when I got more comp nights there.

I really like Vdara. It’s quiet, there’s no casino, it’s smoke free, good location, nice rooms, comfy beds, fine linens, cozy pool area at Vdara or use the bigger spaces at Aria. I could go on. The only downside is lack of food options but it’s within easy walking distance to Bellagio, Aria and Cosmo and their abundance of options.

Restaurants

I’m a creature of habit and have my go-to’s like Prime at Bellagio or Allegro at Wynn. I did try some new options which I liked though in Mayfair Supper Club, Craftstreak and Herbs and Rye.
Hard for me to pick one stand-out from the above as they were all good.
Slightly disappointing were Jean George’s and Grand Lux Cafe.

Poker Tournaments

You just can’t beat the Wynn for well run tournaments. They do everything right and it’s a pleasure to play there.

Poker Cash Games

Bellagio is the epicenter for cash games in Vegas. I like how they don’t have any tournaments and dedicate all their tables to cash action. The floors are also very good and quick to help you get chips or with a food order. (Although that might have something to do with the fact I was playing in the high limit section)

The End

And I think that just about does it. Thanks to everyone for joining me on the journey.

Not sure what comes next for me. It’s possible I might be employed again by the time football season starts as I’m talking to a couple of companies but nothing certain yet.

That would mean no more poker trips during the year but I will for sure return next summer....

TonySoprano9

9mo ago

WSOP-C Thunder Valley
Day Four - Monday September 29th
Part One

With no early morning sport to keep us occupied I finally got to go outside and get my morning swim.

Had the pool all to myself! [emoji3]

A high noon re-start in the Omaha 8 and we make the final table of 10 after about 20 minutes of play. I’m one of the shortest stacks, so nothing new there!

We take a break at the end of level 19 to race off the 1k chips. I’m down to 100k and the shortest stack. Been very card dead. Only played 1 hand, AAK6 and couldn’t improve on the pair of aces. Villain made two pair on the river with no low possible. Going back to 20k - 40k limits.

I get a double with AKKQ making top two pair, aces and kings and getting called by aces and eights, no low possible.

A couple of hands later I win another one with A56T making a flush and A5 low.

Level 21: 30k - 60k limits
I have 300k. Average is 350k. 7 players remaining.

I win a pot with AKQ4 making broadway and get paid by top two, no low possible.

Down to 4 players now. We have 400k

Level 25: 80k - 160k limits
3 players remaining. The overnight chip leader, Ben Primus, was eliminated in 4th.
One guy, Adam Kipnis who is a mixed game player from L.A. has all the chips. Looks like it’s between me and the other guy (Doug Lockwood) for 2nd place.

We’re the stack on the right here:

We eliminate Doug to get heads up. AIPF our KK53 holds against his A568.

We’ll start the heads-up battle out-chipped 600k to 1.9 million.

I didn’t make any notes as there’s not really any time to when playing heads up but I slowly clawed my way back to level in chips and then pushed ahead.

When I had the lead I chopped away at him and applied lots of pressure, betting whenever I thought he was weak, regardless of what I had.

I had him down to about 700k when we played a big pot. I had top set on the turn with no low possible and he called my bet. There were two flush draws on board. One of them came on the river and he led out. I had to pay him off (he had the flush) and we were back to level again [emoji30]

At this point I had visions of another 3 hour heads-up marathon like at Hard Rock.

Back to chopping away and I soon had the advantage again. I made a flush and a low when he had a set of threes and got paid off to leave him really short.

He made a stand with AKKJ and I called with QQ82. It would prove to be the final hand:

Ship it!

Pppprrrreeeccciiiooouussssssss
Now we has two of them.
One for each of us.
Yyyyeeeeeeessssssss
Pppprrrrreeeeccciiioouuussssss

Oh, and looks like we’re going to the Bahamas as well [emoji3] [emoji2520]...

TonySoprano9

7mo ago

WSOP Paradise
Day Six - Sunday December 7th - Part Two

Morning with the kids at the pool. A bit overcast today.

Then down to business. The only thing missing from the scene setting earlier was the bounties:
1 x $250k, 3 x $100k, 4 x $50k, 60 x $25k, 20 x $10k, 66 x $5k and 86 x $2.5k

We’ll be playing 1 hour levels today and starting with 37 minutes left in Level 19: 10,000/15,000/15,000

The button will start in seat 6 which is good for us in seat 5 and just as well as we’re getting complete trash: 9-3, 6-3, 4-2, 8-4, Q-5. Easy folds. T-6, T-2 through the blinds.

Seat 1 loses with AA < KK and only has 100k left. The other 7 of us are salivating over a potential bounty in the not too distant future.

Not so fast. He triples up! No bounties on the horizon now for a while.

Seat 1 loses a small pot and then opens one and we find KK in the small blind and raise enough to set him in. He calls with AQ.

The runout is clean and we have a bounty, although we won’t know how much it’s worth just yet as you can’t start claiming them until the first break.

Level 20: 10k/20k/20k
We have 700k. Average is 665k
Players remaining: 180 / 2,396

About halfway through the level we play the following pot.

Seat 1 opens to 40k UTG. We call with T7dd and one of the blinds also calls:
Flop: 8-A-3 with two diamonds
Seat 1 continues for 50k. We call, as does the other player.
Turn: J diamonds
Seat 1 bets again for 150k. We cover him and go all-in. The 3rd player folds and seat 1 quickly calls with KQdd for a bigger flush.
Bit of a cooler. Will put a dent in our stack but we’re still alive. I guess we do have 1 out to a straight flush.
River: 9 diamonds

That’s really sick. I feel bad for the guy. We hit the one-outer for a straight flush and collect another bounty.

Just before the end of the level I win a small pot with 99 on a AA749 board. Villain did not call our river bet.

1st break: 1.4 million. Average is 1 million.
Players Remaining: 117 / 2,396

We rush to get in line to claim our bounties. We’re about 12th in line.

They enter your bounty tickets into a computer then it comes up on the big screen. The smaller prizes they give you on the screen but if you get a gold chest you go up on stage and draw an envelope with Jeff Platt.

Boom! Gold Chest! Guaranteed $25k with a chance of picking a bigger one.

This was what was in our envelope:

And then for our second bounty. Gold Chest again! Oh baby!

Back to the stage, but again we can only draw a $25k. Still $50k for two bounties is not bad [emoji3][emoji3][emoji3]

Level 21: 15k/25k/25k

No playable hands or RFI spots

Level 22: 15k/30k/30k

22 only playable hand. Opened and the BB defended. Won with a c-bet on a A-Q-7 flop.

Dinner Break: 1.2 million. Average is 1.9 million.
Players Remaining: 62 / 2,396

Chicken curry tonight in the players buffet which was pretty good.

Level 23: 20k/40k/40k

Still card dead and have ante’d away down to only 800k (20 BB) when the table big stack who is opening nearly every hand now opens again from the cutoff. I look down to see 88 in the BB which is the best hand I’ve seen for 3 hours and decide to take a stand with it. The big stack villain calls with QJcc. Can we win the flip to keep the run going?
Flop: Q-J-2 all hearts
He flops two pair but we have the 8 hearts for a flush draw. Any heart will do.
Turn: A diamonds
River: Q diamonds

After the first break I did not see anything playable for 3 hours. Unfortunate to go so card dead at such a key stage of the tournament but I really don’t think I can complain with 41st out of 2,396 entries for $8,900 and two bounties for $50,000 on top.

85% of that is mine as I gave small freerolls to the people that took 5% or more of my $10k Eight Game action, which means that whatever happens in that tournament they’ll be in profit so we’re all free-rolling now in the eight game.

No rest for the wicked, it was straight to the sportsbook for SNF. I had Houston, as did Nacho Barbero who was sat behind me, and a couple that was from Houston and that was about it. The rest of the sportsbook had KC. They started chirping in the 3rd quarter but we gave it right back in the 4th and were high-fiving at the end of the game. It’s fun watching games in sports books sometimes.

As I was in (the very short) line to cash out Grinder and his brother joined us as they also had Houston.

On deck tomorrow: Enjoying the water slides again [emoji3]...

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