Maybe I Can Be in Rounders 2: Electric Bugaloo...

Well, today proved to be interesting. While playing a SH game of 15/30 Limit, someone in the observer chat asked if anyone wanted to play in a charity tournament happening in a few minutes. After being inspired by my run-in with Phil Gordon, I said sure. It was $100+25, with $100 going to the prize pool and $25 going to charity, the Miriam Foundation. Well, 9 people registered and, lo and behold, at the one table was Andy Bloch, Clonie Gowen, and Erik Seidel, the runner up to Johnny Chan with 7 WSOP bracelets. A little story about me and Erik first:

A year ago, I went to Howard Lederer's Poker Fantasy Camp after having won a free trip the last November through Full Tilt Poker. It was an awesome experiance (my first time to Vegas since I turned 21) and Erik Seidel was there. There were 2 tournaments during the camp, one with cash prizes paying out the top 18 and one winner take-all for a seat to the WSOP. I busted out of the 1st one (though I friend I had made won it) and was deep into the 2nd with four tables left when I was moved 2 spots to Erik Seidel's left. I wish I could say I outplayed him, but I really didn't get involved in any pots with him. However, he got super short stacked at one point and the guy between was determined to bust, going over the top with very marginal hands. After surving a few double ups, Erik folded, but Mr. Maniac went all-in again. I was on the button with Q10 of hearts. I had 10,000 chips with the blinds at 400-800. He had me covered by a bit. I thought about it for half a minute, figured I probably had the best hand (and there was enough money in the pot giving me odds if I didn't) and called all-in. To my surprise the SB who had the both of us covered called as did the BB who had 5K in chips. The maniac flipped up J8o, the SB flipped up 99 and the BB flipped up K5o. I spiked a 10 on the turn to win the pot and vault into the chip leaders. I built myself up to 100K for the final table and took it down for a seat that I sold for 10K. And all because Erik was on my right.

Cut to today's tourney and Erik is on my immediate right. I make a comment about him being a lucky charm. The pros in chat said they were going to donate their winnings to the charity and I decided to as well. I managed to knock out both Andy and Clonie when I had AQ vs. Andy's QJ and we both made straights (I made the higher one) and Clonie when she moved all-in with A9 and I called with AK.

So we are 3-handed, me, Erik, and Guy Who is Not Donating (GWND). I had the chip lead with 6K with Erik and the other guy having about 3.5K each and the blinds at 60/120. GWND was down to 800 after doubling Erik up with in a 1010 v. JJ. He then proceeded to survive a race against my 77 with his A10 and for a few hands I was in 3rd place with Erik accumulating chips. I kept the pressure on and got some of those chips back when I pushed in the SB with 22 and GWND called with A9o. I had 3700 vs. his 2700 with the blinds at 100/200. After they hold, he goes to comment "I knew that you were weak" and says he made the right move. I disagree, but that is something for another day.

We start heads up with Erik having a 1K lead on me. This is for pride now since we are both donating our winnings. Plus I guess the winner is getting a blurb in the New York Times. I pull ahead and then fall to a 4K to a 9K deficiet. I fight back to reverse the positions when I limp with AK in the SB, he pushed with 66 and I call, winning the coinflip. Erik makes a comment about how I should drag him everywhere, we laugh and say gg. What a rush to beat Erik Seidel headsup, which I am sure only a few people can really say. Plus it wasn't just a big luckfest, we had lots of play and it was 25 hands overall.

I will leave you all with this:

"Matt Damon!"