Well it's off to the sit-n-go's tonight. I WANT to make it a marathon session. The amazing thing is to be sitting and playing against these guys on TV. There is DEFINATE talent here. I feel like Nemo's dad when he was in shark infested waters and I'm wearing meat swimming trunks!
Fgk "I feel like Nemo's dad when he was in shark infested waters and I'm wearing meat swimming trunks!" Just remember, Nemo's dad got everything he strived for and came out on top!
Go for it fgk42, Remember that you will only be playing on one table and not the usual three like you do on the the net. Good luck mate. I admire you for going out there and giving it a shot. Andy
Today's update from Ken: I finally broke my losing streak today. At a $120 satellite to win a $540 seat for Thursday, I picked up first place while fgk42 came in second. We also won some extra cash at the table with a last-longest side bet. Once we got down to just fgk and I, we chopped that sidebet, so we both made money. Tomorrow is the big day, with play in round 1 happening at noon and 2 PM. EasTexasPro and Miss ETP treated me to a fine dinner at Tony Roma's tonight, and I"m headed to bed for some well-needed rest. Someone asked for a who's who down here. This list will certainly accidentally omit some people, but here goes anyway: Ken Smith, Joe Pane, Kenny Einiger, fgk42 (Fred), Anthony Curtis, Blair Rodman, Hollywood Dave, James Grosjean, Previn Mankodi, Kami Lis, Robert Blechman, Harry Fox, Russ Hamilton, Fred David, Peter Nathan, David Matthews, Eric Bloor (sp?), David Page, Debo, Chuck Gorson, Richard Munchkin. My other drama today was when I left my camera underneath a tournament table chair and it disappeared. An hour or two later, the tournament director discovered it locked up in the safe deposit area and returned it. Yippee! To celebrate, I took these two not-very-good photos before the security guy scolded me. The first is of the blackjack area, and the second of the poker area. G'night. I'm resting up.
Ken, Do you think you could post tomorrow and let us know who makes it to the 2 final tables? I'm dying to find out who I'm going to be playing against!!! Lol. I'm so nervous, but excited at the same time- so, I'd greatly appreciate it if you could let me know who makes it =) Take care and good luck tomorrow!!!
Monday's Aruba Update Ken there are some notable Blackjack Players that you must have missed in your roll call so I will help with that. WSOB 2006 Champ Jeff is here also WSOB player Nghi Tran There is also Darryl P a well know live blackjack player who has had many articles written about him and his success at beating the casinos He arrived in Aruba just today and walk away with 2 seats in the main event in just 2 tries. The second one he received 2700 in cold cash. A very impressive start for Darryl P The day started with a blackjack tournament for 300 UB poker players. 100 seats into the Main Event were awarded to the poker players and Blair Rodman won his seat in this UB Freeroll. Because of the 300 player tournament the normal Sit & Go's didn't kick off until 6 PM tonight. There were 15 held tonight bringing the total tournaments to 29 played in 3 days with some of the toughest tables you could feast your eyes on. At last count before some of us headed for a late night dinner on the beach There were 11---120 Dollar events also 3----530 Dollar events and 1 800 Dollar event that the players organized that gave away 2 seats into the Main Event Total event played today 15 That 800 event table had Robert Blechman Vera Russ Hamilton Peter Nathan Kris Judkins David a BJ player turned poker player who only will play Big BJ events. He told me he played the Hilton Million all 3 years That table also had a 900 last longer bet among the players....Like they werent playing for enough money already The one poker player was eliminated on Hand 8 and it came down to Robert Vera & David for the 2 seats. All still had there secret bet on hand 25 and they all used it Vera bet first David second Robert B last Vera had 28,500 David had 26,250 Robert had 29,000 A very close match and I have all the details about it and time permitting I will share it with you Kenny Einiger continues to be almost unbeatable here in Aruba with one more win and a second place finish. Kenny Smith after some needed sleep has also appeared in the winners column I played another one today with just one other BJ Player who plays on Global (AK Musher) is his Global sign on Him and I had a great match as the lead between us changed a few times he had the early lead I survived the first 2 elimination hand having to bet early on hand 8 and first on hand 16. After betting to protect my lead and not wanting to use my secret bet unless I felt it was the only way out I built a nice lead until AK Musher used his position on me and hit a 25,000 blackjack with only 3 hands to go Now it was survival time trying to run him down and still stay in the money with a 2nd place finish .On the last hand I again had to bet first and now used my secret bet. I bet 25K and I received a Blackjack.The only problem was AK betting after me bet 20K a real slick bet in the open and he received a blackjack also. I then tried to confuse AK with a secret action and DD on my BJ for the full amount . I knew that if i could get him to DD on his BJ I had a chance to swing him. He stood pat on his hand and I lost by 3,000 But another UBT payday I need to consider sleeping sometime soon as I play at 12 noon in the Main event There was 1 table of note that had the following players on James Grosjean Anthony Curtis Kenny Einiger David Page AK Musher from Global 1 out of place poker player (If he only knew) and Previn M This is the kind of table you would normally run away from but here in Aruba this is just a normal table with some of the best players in the world Previn M. won this table with Kenny Einiger coming in second Peter Nathan also hit the money with a second place finish and saved 500 on the main event as a Poker Player not thinking he was going to win his seat booked a non refundable deep sea fishing trip.Way to go Peter Hey guys I'm off to sleep wish me Luck ............Did I say LUCK :laugh: Joep
The Beaches Ah the Beach ....You asked how it is Just look at the pictures the beaches here are outstanding and the water is crystal clear just like it is in Brooklyn's Coney Island :laugh: Addition info for our internet winner the Final Table is located between the pool and within steps of the ocean . SUN SCREEN will be a must Joep
Thank you for letting me know where the final table will be... I will definitely remember to bring sunscreen now that i know it's outside! The tournaments sound crazy and exhilerating and I'm anxious to find out who makes the final 12. How many people are playing in the tournaments? Any idea how big the final prize pool will be between the 2 final tables? Well, best of luck to you tomorrow!
How did I miss this? I've only just come across this thread and it's fantastic! I was only just thinking "why there wasn't an Aruba report thread" and it's been here all along! It's great to hear about all the action, the players, the scenery, it really adds something to it all, perspective if you like. I'm rooting for you fgk42 (can I call you Fred? It's so much easier to type out!). Make sure you win something, the main event would be good. You must be pleased with your 2nd place to Ken S, I know I would be. Can I ask you, what's your top tip for internet players who go live? It's the chip counting thing isn't it? Cheers and good luck to all. Go Fred!!!! Reachy
Thats good news. Way to go fgk42! I guess the 640 hrs. logged in at the UBT site paid off. good luck to all. DRP
Crap my "cover" has been blown! :laugh: My record down here is 0-4 in the sit-n-go. My first table I was eliminated on hand 8. WHY? I was in seat 2, sitting the middle of the pack and had a 5000 bet. Dealt an 11. I counted the chips and thought I needed to double to stay in the game. WHY? These darn poker players are just EAGER to plunck down 5-10K at a time. Turns out I miscounted. I DD dealer pulls a 19 and I wind up with 15. Had I just hit I would have made the cut. That was my first experience. The table I sat with Ken was great - especially since I sat to Ken's left! Once again the poker players just bet on anything - including a side pot of who was last. When it was just Ken and I left I was MORE than happy to chop for it! Yahoo! I immediately went to another 120 table - once again in seat 2. The Mrs. sat there and cleared her throat, "honey what about dinner?" Oh NO! I forgot about that AGAIN! All-in on hand 2 and just like playubt.com busted out! After dinner I couldn't resist another sit-n-go. Myself with 2 poker players went to hand 29. I was 10000 behind in BR3 - I went max bet and had a 12 vs. dealer 7. I DD down as BR1 was max bet also. Dealer busts but my DD card was a 10 and I was out on hand 29! I'm playing Round 1 in 1 hour! Wish me luck I need it with all the sharks here Reporting from Aruba - the minnow in the shark tank FGK
Kitty, Bring your sunscreen with you! The weather here is HOT and windy. Reachy and other internet players - my advice. Buy some chips and practice stacking and counting. I've lost (in my opinion) 2 of my tables because I miscounted my opponents chips. They're being kinda - nah very - picky about keeping the stacks of 20. The 1000 chips are yellow and it is hard on the eyes. I finished watching my inspirational movie for today - Galaxyquest. I've got today's catch phrase - Never Give Up - Never Surrender Unless it's a 16 vs. dealer face care :joker:
Round 1 Update Here's Anthony's updates on Round 1 at LVA: UBT Aruba Update 1 UBT Aruba Update 2. --jr
Thanks Jack I had been waiting and just had decided to post the same information from LVA when it finally dawned on me that "our" BJT contributors were actually too busy to do the updates...Congrats guys! Good luck!
Well done Never thought I would see a Brit advance. Well done Devilfish (and from the north of England). Eat your heart out Reachy and Colin...lol Andy
Another one bites the dust! I just heard Joep was eliminated (round 2) at DevilFish table (I don't know if by him or just he was at the same table)? David Page has advanced, and that is all I have heard so far as players in and out. (after AC's first 2 updates). I am hearing they are playing 6 per table with three advancing, but I don't know if that was for the first or second round. I did hear that the semi's (3 round will be 2 out of 5 advance). Was this one of the $540 events or $2,700 event I never even heard? How many players total were in the tournament? Good luck to those still in and better luck in the other events to those who fell early. Come on BJ players make us proud.
Congrats to those who made it to the quarterfinals!! Does anyone know how many people are in the tournament or what the prize pool is looking like?
More Misinformation Quote from you know who :joker: I am hearing they are playing 6 per table with three advancing, but I don't know if that was for the first or second round. I did hear that the semi's (3 round will be 2 out of 5 advance). It is better left if the reporting from Aruba comes from Aruba,and not from 2,000 miles away There were 145 players in the tournament and there were tables of 7 and tables of 6 in the first 2 rounds. One other note Devilfish or for that matter anyone else never eliminates another player from a tournament this is blackjack not poker . More misinformation. My Tuesday update will follow soon Was I the only player eliminated tonight Rick ? Or was I the only one you were concerned with ? Joep
