Pokerstars Caribbean Adventure Final Table in-game somewhat-real-time blog

If you're just logging on and want to read the entirety of the final table action, scroll to the bottom of this post and read from the bottom up. I recorded every hand and believe I only missed one card the entire day (a meaningless card, by the way).

To repeat...We have a winner

Postgame report:

Alex Ballandin:

Ballandin was crippled going into the final hand. Sexton asked him about the second to last hand where he held A7 against Gale's KQ.

Ballandin said, "I'm very happy. I had a lot of good luck througout the tournament. The best hand doesn't always hold up."

Gale congratulated Alex and the rest of the players here for playing so well and said he felt, "Completely overwhelmed, actutally flabbergasted. Alex played fantastic. I feel very, very humbled, actually."

I'll have a full report with pictures a little while later.

--Otis


4:31-- WE HAVE A WINNER

Hand 7: Alex has $355K left. 50000/100000/10000 blinds
Alex announces ALL IN from SB. Gale calls.

Gale: JJ
Alex 78o

FLOP: AsTc5c
TURN: 9c Alex now has a straight draw
RIVER: Ah

JOHN GALE WINS and takes home $865,000 plus a $25,000 seat in the WPT Championship.
Alex Ballandin takes home $484,000



4:24--HUGE HAND ALERT
Hand 6: Gale raises it to $240K. Alex asks for a count then re-raises it to ONE MILLION. Gale goes all in Alex calls

Alex: A7d
Gale: KhQd

FLOP:3h9dQs
TURN:5d
RIVER:5h

Gale takes it down, but is crippled.


4:16--
Hand 3: Alex calls from the SB, Gale raises from BB to $260K. Alex folds and Gale takes it down.
Hand 4: Gale folds SB. Alex gets blinds, antes, button, etc.
Hand 5: Alex raises $120K more and Gale calls.
FLOP: KhTd8c
Gale bets $350K. Alex announces raises by $500K more. Gale asks how much and mucks.

4:11--We have just more than 18 minutes left in the level. We're still at 30,000/60,000/10,000.

Hand 1: Alex raises from SB and Gale folds before he hears the amount.
Hand 2: Gale raises to $180K Alex re-raises $280K more. Gale calls the $280K re-raise.
FLOP 9d5d4c
Alex checks and Gale moves ALL IN. No call. Gales takes it down and becomes chip-leader.


4:07--A short break before we resume. I cornered Mike Sexton and asked how long he thought heads-up play might last. He thinks, "not long." At this point, I don't know what to think. Gale is playing in his second-ever live tournament and Alex is a guy who describes himself as a "professional gambler" but won't elaborate. I don't know how to read that.

4:00--Here comes the money. A whole slew of nymphs with a whole bunch o' cash.

3:56--Going into heads up play
Gale: $2,260,000
Alex: $2,365,000

Basically even going in.

3:51--BIG HAND ALERT--->Mikael is ALL IN for his remaining chips. Alex calls.

Mikael Q3d
Alex 95o

FLOP: 6h5djh
TURN: 3c
RIVER: x

Alex takes it down with a pair of five and sends Mikael home with $307,000.

3:45--BIG HAND ALERT----->Gale raises from small blind to a total of $230K. Mikael announces ALL IN. Gale calls quickly. Raise is $890K more. Mikael has him covered but barely.

Mikael: KTo
Gale: ATsuited in spades.

FLOP: 6sp8sp7h
TURN: 2sp
RIVER: 2c

Gale doubles through and cripples Mikael. That pot was $2.25 million. Gale is now the chip leader. Mikael is left with $150K. Alex has about $2.1 million.



3:42--Gale can't smoke so he's eating Tic-Tacs and sharing them with the players and dealer. Thirty-nine minutes left at level. We're down to THREE PLAYEERS.

Mikael raises on the button and makes it a total $260K. Alex folds. Action to Gale who ponders his decision then mucks.


3:37--BIG HAND ALERT----->Hocking moves ALL IN on the button for $380K and Alex calls the $380

Players show:
Hocking: Ac7h
Alex: AdJc
Players shake hand before the flop.

FLOP: 4cKd3sp
TURN: 2d
RIVER: 9d

Hocking finishes in fourth place, winning $207,000.


3:36--Folded to SB where Hocking raises and makes it $130K to go. In BB, Mikael asks for a count. Miakel announces ALL IN and Hocking mucks.

3:33--Mikael raises ALL IN under the gun and picks up the blinds.

3:31--Under the gun, Hocking raises to $175K. In SB, Alex shuffles a $200 stack of $10K chips, then announces he's raisinig an addiitonal $450K. Gale mucks. Hocking doesn't bother thinking long and mucks.

3:29--In SB, Mikael raises to $260K. Alex shows 93 and mucks.

3:28--Mikael is uncontested in the BB.

3:23--BIG HAND ALERT----->Mikael raises under the gun to $200K. Gale moves ALL IN in the SB. Mikael asks how much. It'll be another $425,000 for Mikael to call. Mikael stacks up $425K and thinks. Then CALLS to cheers
Gale:Ah8s
Mikael:Ac7d

The players hug and put their arms around each other.
FLOP: 4h3d3h
TURN: Tsp
RIVER: 2d

Any big card would've made a chopped pot. That deuce hurt Mikael. Gale just doubled through.


3:20--Blinds are going up...30,000/60,000/10,000 Folded around to Gale in the BB.

3:18--Mikael calls in the SB. Alex makes it $80K. Mikael shows the ace and folds.

3:16--Folded to button where Gale makes it $120K. Hocking folds and Mikael moves ALL IN. Gale goes in the tank then mucks.

3:13--Under the gun, Mikael raises to $140K and gets no callers.

3:11--Folded to Mikael on the button who dons his shades and raises and makes it $120K to go. Alex folds. Gale folds and Mikael wins. Miakel shows two kings. Again.

3:09--Folded around to blinds, Mikael raises it to $120K, and Alex lays down his BB.

3:03--BIG HAND ALERT---->Folded to button, where Gale raises $130K to go. Hocking in SB counts out his chips and thinks...thinks hard and moves ALL IN AGAIN. Mikael gets out of the way in the BB. Now it's to Gale...who has to call an additional $340K. Gale CALLS him.

Hocking:Ad8Sp
Gale: Jc9sp

Both players stand up.
FLOP: Th2d6d
TURN: 2h
RIVER: Qs

Hocking just doubled through and exhaled with greater force than a Bahamian wind.


3:01--Folded to blinds. Gale calls from the SB and Hocking moves ALL IN from the BB for $375K. Gale folds and Hocking picks up the pot.

2:57--Hocking folds under the gun, Mikael mucks his button. In the SB, Alex raises and makes it $140K total. Gale has to call $100K more to play. Instrad, he re-raises it an additional $250K. A quarter million dollar raise. Alex buries his hands in his hair and turns up 78 diamonds. Gae takes down the pot and claps for himself with a laugh.

2:54--Under the gun, Gale raises to $120K. Hocking folds. Mikael announces raise from SB. He makes a $260K raise. Gale throws his hand away and Mikael takes it down.

2:53--Folded to BB, Mikael takes it down uncontested, showing QJo

2:51--Folded around to blinds. Gale in SB raises and Hocking immediately mucks.

2:50--Folded around to Alex in the SB who raises to $140K. Gale folds in BB. Alex wins.

2:49--Gale raises under the gun to $100K. Folds around to Alex in BB who folds.

2:46--
Updated chip-count:
Gale: 1,195,000
Hocking: 535,000
Westerlund:1,055,000
Ballandin: 1,840,000

Alex raises under the gun to $140K, Gale folds, Hocking in the SB mucks after some thought, Mikael mucks his BB.

2:37--We've taken a quick break. I got a peak at a bunch of sea nymphs at rest. They are the ladies who will be bringing out the cash when we get heads-up. Can't beat a good sea nymph.

2:33--Mikael comes in for a raise under the gun to $140K. Alex folds. Gale mucks. Hocking mucks. Mikael looks disappointed and flips up pocket jacks.

2:32--Alex raises pre-flop and takes it down uncontested.

2:28--Gale brings it in for a raise under the gun. Folded around to BB, Alex, who calls the $55K raise
FLOP:8h9h8c
Alex checks. Gale checks.
TURN: Kd.
Alex checks. Gale comes in for $110K. Alex cold-calls.
RIVER:4d.

Alex checks. Gale checks
Alex: Q9o
Gale K5s.

Gale takes it down with king and eights.


2:24--Hocking calls $20K from the SB. Mikael puts on his sunglasses and rests his chin on his hands. In the background, a parasailer flies over the palms. Mikael raises to a total of $110K. back to Hocking who crosses his arms and then mucks.

Mikael flips up pocket kings and shakes his head.

2:23--From the SB, Gale calls 20K more. Hocking checks. Two blinds are playing.
FLOP: T72 with two spades.
Gales comes in for $70K. Hocking folds and Gale wins.

2:20--Alex now has $2,010,000 in chips and is the chip leader. Mikael has $880K. On the button, Mikael comes in for $110K and gets no callers. Patrick has $740,000. Gale has around $970,000.

2:12--BIG HAND ALERT----->Alex raises to $100K. On the button, Gale calls th $100K. Hocking folds his SB. Mikael calls from the BB. Three players in for $100k each.

FLOP 5d9d6h

Mikael checks. Alex bets $175K. Stoic, Gale thinks, rubbing his thumbs below his lips, and announces he'll raise. He makes it a total of $400K. Mikael purses his lips and makes to push all in, then stops and counts out his chips and folds. Now it's up to Alex...who thinks then announces he's ALL-IN.

Gale asks for a chip count. It'll be $860K more. Gale counts out his chips then sets in to think. Eldon the dealer clutches the cards tightly in his left hands. Finally, Gale mucks.

The crowd reports that when Gale went to muck his hand, they saw an ace of spades. We'll see on TV I guess.

2:09--Folded to blinds. Gale raises it to $80K from the SB. After some thought, Hocking opts to re-raise and considers the amount. Then he announces, "I'm ALL IN."

Gales asks for a chip count. It's $535 more and Gale folds his hand immediately.


2:07--Blinds are now 20000/40000/5000

Mikael has the button. Everyone folds around to him so he raises to $80K and gets no call.

1:53--Down to four players now. Folded around to Mikael in the SB who raises
to $75K. Alex considers the bet and then quickly lays out his call.

FLOP: A76 with two spades
Mikael bets $75K. Alex raises to $225K. Mikael asks for Alex's chip count and Alex counts is down. Mikael calls the raise. Alex doesn't look like he likes the call, but he's like that. He can look really surly if he wants to. But he also has a nice sense of humor. I can't read this guy. Then again, I'm blogging and he's sitting at the final table. Makes sense.
TURN: 8spades. Now three spades on the board with a running 678
Mikael checks and Alex bets $350K, with almost a snarl on his face. He waits for Mikael to act, pulling his long hair back out of his eyes, then resting his cheek on his fist.

Mikael is staring inito Alex, as palm trees blown in thw wind behind him. Mikael counts out his chips then plays with him. I like the twirl trick. We've now been waitinig for almost five minutes. It's realy quiet except for the running water.

Mikael folds. High drama near the high seas.

Time to color and race off the 1K chips.

1:47--BIG HAND ALERT-----Miami John moves ALL IN under the gun. Folds around to Gale on the button who asks for a count. The bet is $122K. Miami John says he has never lost with the hand he has. Gale calls from the button. Hocking folds SB. Mikael in BB calls. Three players.

FLOP: 5sp5cTd
Mikael checks. Gale bets $155K from the button. Mikael folds.

Gale:JJ
Miami John:K4

Miami is looking for a king.

TURN:5d three fives on board.

RIVER: 7d.

Miami John finishes in 5th place and takes home a birthday gift that he certainly earned. $155,800.


1:45--Folded around to blinds, Gale calls from SB and Hocking checks his option

FLOP: 733
Gale bets $55K and Hocking folds.

1:43--Eighteen minutes left in the level. Hocking comes in for $85K under the gun and takes it down uncontested.

1:36--While the players are on a bathroom break, a couple of intersting things I've learned in the past few minutes. Our three online qualifiers spent $160 or less to get here. John Gale played a $27 rebuy and invested a total of $127 to win-in to a $650 super-sat which won him in here. Patrick Hocking and Nenad Medic both played a $160 double shoot-out to win in. Not a bad little investment. I should look into something like that...

I cornered Mikael Westerlund during the break to ask about the big hand he showed down with 64o. I said, "Mikael, that 64o was quite a surprise."

He smiled a smile that's beceom very familiar sand said, "Not for me. Not for me. For me, that's the nuts."

Official chip-count:
Gale: 1,387,000
Hocking: 623,000
Westerlund: 1,276,000 or maybe 1,376,000 depending on who's counting.
Miami John: 131,000
Alex Ballandin: 1,106,000

1:28--Funny thing...while we're fixing a technical issue. When the lights went down earlier, it was a power failure in the entire city. We're currently running under Atlantis generator power.

1:25--Gale raises to $60 UTG. Folds around to Alex in the BB who announces a re-raise and pulls out a total of $260. Gale has to call $200K. The nine of spades just blew off the table. Windy here in the Bahamas. Gale lays down his hand. And Alex takes it down with the re-raise.

1:23pm--Folds around to blinds. Mikael smiles at Miami John from the SB and calls the BB. Miami John moves ALL IN for $70K. Mikael immediately folds. HAPPY BRTHDAY john!

1:17--FIVE PLAYERS REMAIN. From the cutoff, Gale raises. $36K for Mikael to call, which he does.

FLOP: 4d5d2d

Mikael checks. Gale checks

TURN: 6d

Mikael checks. Gale checks.

RIVER: Jh

Miakel is going to make a play at it. Bets $110K. Gale calls the $100

Miakel: TT with a diamond
Gale: KK both black.

Miakel takes it down with the ten-high flush.


1:12--BIG HAND ALERT...sorta. The wind just exposed the 95hearts when the wind picked it up. Mucking is hard.

Now...

From the button, Gale raises it to $60K Medic finally calls all in for $40K.

Nenad: T8s
Gale: J4o

FLOP: 7c2h3d
TURN: 3c
FLOP: 7sp

Medic is out in sixth place and gets a kiss from a pretty girl on the rail. Medic won in on an online satellite and takes home $112,000



1:11--Alex is on the button with folds around to him. he makes it $85K to go. No calls. Wins blinds and antes.

1:10--Folds around to Gale's BB who picks up the hand without having to play. he shows the aces of spades.

1:07pm--Folds around to Mikael on the button who again takes a while to consider his play. He raises to $70K. Miami John folds his SB. Alex in the BB mucks. Mikael takes down the blinds and antes.

1:03pm--BIG HAND COMING....SORT OF...Alex is first to act and raises to $90K. Accordiing to PokerStars, Alex just took second for $66K in an online tournament earlier in January. He's on a rush. Folds around to Medic who barely has enough chips to play with, but he still folds. In the SB, Mikael considers his play and asks for Alex's chip count. About $900K, Alex says. Mikael moves all in. Alex CALLS.

Alex: AKs with diamonds.
Mikael: Ako

FLOP: Qsp3spJh
TURN:4h
RIVER: Asp

Chopped pot.


1:00pm--We're folding European style now because of the wind. Miami John raises to $80K. Alex folds and Gale thinks about it. Gale re-raises, doubling the bet to $160K. Medic and Mikael fold their blinds. Miami John has to calla another 80K to play. he counts his chips and folds.

12:54--Gale has the button. Under the gun, Mikael considers, asking how much Medic has in the BB. Medic counts it out for him. Mikael makes it to $94K. That's going to put Medic all in if he calls in his BB. Folds around to Medic who says, "Think I should call?" Medic doesnn't look pleased. He leans back in his chair, the blue water shimmering behind him. Mikael is a rock. Does he have 64o again? Or is he holding aces? Medic actually asks, "Do you have 64?" And he continues to labor. he only has enough for a few more rounds of blinds anyway. He seems to be counting at the table. Medic shakes his head and mucks.

12:50--

Official chip count
Gale 1.4M
Hocking 728K
Medic 100K
Mikael--1,143,000
Miami John 253K
Alex: 959K

Blinds now 12,000/24,000/3000

Alex has the button. With folds around to him, Alex raises to $70K, Gale folds in SB. Hocking folds BB. Alex takes down blinds and antes.


12:45--We're on a short break between levels. The crowd is still talking about Mikael's aggressive play with 64o. He's been a very aggressive player for a couple of days now, playing with rags and showinng them down. He's amassed a big stack when people remember his rags and ends up calling him down when he has a monster. He still has one of the bigger stacks at the table and may use that last play to his advantage later. Hocking has to be pleased however. he didn't want Mikael to call his all-in on the big hand and winced when he turned up AKo. No one expected to see the 64o.

12:35--Mikael makes it $50k to go from the cutoff. Miami John folds his button. From the SB, Alex re-raises and makes it $170K. Gale folds his BB. Mikael has to call $120K and does. Two players, Alex and Mikael. Action will be on Alex.

FLOP: 9c2c7h

Alex bets $150K Mikael raises an unannounced amount...Alex folds.

12:32--Mikael on button. Hocking is still stacking his chips. Sorry about all the exclamation points in the last entry. Hocking calls. Mikael calls on the button. Miami John calls froom SB. Alex raises $100K Hcking folds. Mikael folds. Miami John folds. Alex takes it down

Chipcounts...
Gale: 1.3M
Hocking: 740K
Medic:....short...
Mikael has about 820K
Miami John 260K
Alex: The rest (sorry, I can't see the exact stacks and I can only report what they are announcing)

12:23--HERE'S YOUR FIRST BIG HAND.....Medic on button. Folds around to Hocking who raises in the cutoff to $55K. Medic on the button, depserately short-stacked, still folds. Mikael in SB thinks. The guy has a good TV face. Remember, he tells me he is a really, really, really, really good salesman. Or was, until he quit to play poker. Mikael re-raises and makes it a total of $175K. Nnow, the decision is back to Hocking. he's already folded to one big re-raise before. This one wouldn't put him all in, but it could commit him to the pot. Medic's stack is so short-stacked, no one, it seems wants to bust out before him. WOAH. Hocking is all-in. Medic has to like that. Now, it's back to Mikael. Mikael has Hocking covered. Mikael has to call another $185K if he wants too play. Mikael is counting out his chips and CALLS.

Hocking shows AKo. Mikael turns over 64o!!!!!
FLOP: KAJ rainbow. Gives Hocking two pair.
TURN: 5h.
RIVER: 8c

Um....WOW.

Hocking doubles up. The crowd is...in a word...stunnded at Mikael's play.


12:20--Fifteen minutes left at this level. Hocking on the button. Folds around to him. He comes in for $55K. Medic in SBlooks at his cards and drops his head. He wanted to play that hand, I think. Mikael folds and Hocking picks up the blinds and antes.

12:18--Gale has the button. Mikael looks like he wants to play this time. Marks his cards and goes silent. He raises it up to $60k. Folds around to the BB where Medic folds.

12:16--Alex has the button. Gale in SB. Hocking in BB. Action on Medic who looks like he's going to play. Nope. He mucks. Folds aroud to Alex who folds. In the SB, Gale comes in amkes it $45K. Hocking folded. Gale picks it up.

12:14--Miami John on the button. Folds around to Mikael who makes it $60K to go. Miami John folds. Alex folds. Action around to Gale in BB who folds. Mikael takes it down. Time for a dealer change.

12:12--Mikael has the button. Miami John in SB. Alex in BB. Action on Gale. Gale raises to $45K. Folded to blinds. Gale takes it down.

12:08--Medic has the button. Folds around to Pat Hocking who raises to $55K. Medic puts a chip on his cards and thinks, dropping his head to his chest, studying the table, flipping chips in his hand. Medic folds. Folds around to Miami John in the BB. Miami John has a hard look about him that I woundn't want to mess with. nice guy, though. He chats up Hocking, puts a chip on his cards. He certainly remembers Hocking folded to a big re-raise earlier. But, Miami folds it.

12:07--Hocking has the button. Gale in the cutoff raises to $45K. Hocking folds on the button. Medic folds his SB. Mikael folds his BB. Gale takes down the blinds and antes.

12:05--Gale on button. Under the gun, Mikael thinks and raises the bet to $60K. Folds to the blinds. SB folds. Medic in the BB grudgingly folds.

12:03--Alex on the button. Medic first to act under the gun. He folds. Mikael, in an open-chested blue shirt and sport coat, considers his move and mucks. Miami John stacks his chips and comes in for $80K. He takes down the blinds and antes. Lotta respect for the birthday boy.

12:01--Miami John has the button, Alex in SB, Gale in BB. Miami John, from the button raises it $50K to go. Alex mucks in SB. Gale mucks in BB. Miami John takes down blinds and antes.

12:00--Mikael has the button. Hocking, hands around his chin, announces a raise to $55K. Hocking gets no callers.

11:55--Medic has the button. Folds around to Gale who comes in for $45K. Hocking thinks for 60 seconds and re-raises, making $165K. Blinds fold. Gale thinks about it behind a dark set of shades. Hocking is a rock, occasionally stealing glances at Gale. The felt reflects in Hocking's glasses while we wait. Gale is thinking about calling $120 more. Gale takes a drink of water and continues to think. Gale pushed all in. He has Hocking covered by quite a bit. Hocking will have to be all-in to call. Instead, Hocking mucks.

11:53--Pat Hocking has the button in seat two. The wind is picking up. Miami John raises to $50K. No callers. Happy b-day Miami John!

11:52--Okay, we're back up. Gale has the button. Alex comes in for a raise in the cutoff. Raise is $50K. Nenad shows an aces of spades and folds. Alex takes down the antes and blinds.

11:47--Fuse still blown. We're told about ten minutes. Indeed, a good time for a bathroom break.

11:39--Nenad now about $200K in chips. Gale has the button. Alex comes in for a raise in the cutoff. Raise is $50K. Ah...jeez...we just blew a major fuse. We have no lights. That wouldn't be a big deal, but, see, we're on TV. So, we wait to see what's going to happen. Standby.

11:35--Okay. Alex on the button. Medic comes in under the gun for raise...$100K to go. Miakel folds. Miami John, looking good in a pair of shades, asks how much Medic has left. Medic has about $70K left. After laboring over the decision, Miami John folds. Gale folds from the SB. Pat Hocking in the BB says "take it." and Medic picks up the blind and antes.

11:31--While we wait, Linda asks Miami John how old he is. "Thirty-nine," Miami John responds. "Yeah, me, too," Linda scoffs. 51 minutes left at this level. On a personal note, this would be a good time to run to the bathroom. Instead, I'll stick around for trivia. You know kow what Mike Sexton did in the military? Answer: He was a paratrooper. What did Vince used to be good at? Answer: Tennis. On what location did Shana see a waterfall for the first time? Answer: Costa Rica. Okay, now we get to play again.

11:30--Alex now has the button. But we have a minor camera repair to endure. Mike Ward, standing directly in front of me, stops the tournament clock.

11:27--Folds around to Mikael who raises to $35K. No happy birthday Miami John ho folds. Alex folds SB. John Gale calls the raise. First flop underway. J75 rainbow. John bets $50K. Mikael raises $100K. Gale mucks. Mikael takes it down.

11:26--Miami John on button. All of sudden play stops and all players stand up and the crowd sings Happy Birthday to Miami John. Happy birthday on the button!

11:24--Mikael on button. Folds around to blinds. Miami John in SB folds and Alex picks up blinds and antes.

11:22--Nenad Medic has the button. Folds arounnd the Medic who checks hole cards for a while and pushes all-in for $140K. No callers. Gets the blinds and antes

11:22--Shuffle up and deal

11:20am--Blinds are 8000/16,000/2000

11:19am--Players are seated as follows...the first three seats are online qualifiers, the last three are direct buy-ins.

Seat 1: John Gale, England (gizzimow) $1,330,000
Seat 2: Patrick Hocking, Medford, OR, USA (The Hawk) $527,000
Seat 3: Nenad Medic, Niagra Falls, Canada (serb2127) $142,000
Seat 4: Mikael Westerlund, Gothenburg, Sweden $1,072,000
Seat 5: Miami John Cernuto, Las Vegas, NV $291,000
Seat 6: Alex Balandin, New York, (ignatiusj) $1,261,000

11:17am--Linda just told the crowd that the WPT may be introducing a rabbit-cam this year. Now player introductions are underway.

11:15am--I'm glad I have a background in television, because if Ii didn't, I'd be getting very anxious right now. The TV tricks take a while.

11:09--TV tricks are underway. For those unfamiliar with TV work, there are things called b-roll, cutaways, and reaction shots that have to be taped outside the regular field of play. That's what's happening now. The crowd is going through a series of golf claps, big claps, hoots and hollers. Linda says, "the producer loves you! Now look intense." These railbirds have a future in acting, I tell ya.

11:07am--Linda Johnson is warming up the crowd, asking for enthusiasm, but asking for silence during decision-making time. There's a big round of applause for PokerStars.com and manager Lee Jones.

11:04am--A crowd has gathered at the top of a seat of stairs leading down to the final table. Even when there is no rail, even when we are outside, railbirds flock.

11:02am--For the red carpetters among the readers, Vince is in a greenish tropical shirt, Vince is wearing an open-chested blue number, and Shana looks really nice in red.

10:59am--Looks like we're getting close. Shana, Mike, and Vince are on the set. On a personal note, I'd like to thank the nice lady who just spent ten laborious minutes sweating to get my monitor set up.

10:49am--For those wondering, I'm seated near the final table with a good view of the monitors. I can't get too close, because I don't want to get in the TV folks' way. Still, I have Linda Johnson's voice within a couple feet of my ear and a wide-screen digital monitor is being set up in front of me.

10:47am: Player meeting underway, final mic checks and tecnhical stuff being checked out. Through the speakers, I can already hear players riffling their chips.

10:37am: Nenad Medic stands near the entrance to the playing area, eying the table. I've read he's quite a basketball player who was recruited by some small schools up north. It's still going to be a bit before we get started here, as we still have a player meeting to take care of. A few minutes ago, player Pat Hocking of Medford, OR chatted up Linda Johnson about how the hole card cams work. She explained, there's a guy locked in a room somewhere on the property and he's the only guy who can see the holecard cams. Mike and Vince are going to be sitting very close to the players, and Linda told Pat he'll likely hear them talking as the game progresses.


Just in case you're not familiar with poker writing or my style, below is a legend to help you follow along.
Otis' shorthand:
o=offsuit
s=suited
K=thousand or King
M=million
Q=Queen
J=Jack
T=Ten
sp=spade
h=heart
d=diamond
c=club