I had a little drink 'bout an hour ago...

God my head hurts. I went to the Irish Poker Team thing (its been changing names a lot afaics) organised by Poker Events in The Merrion casino on Saturday. Boy it was hot and muggy but there was plenty of Champagne to hand and I made the most of that while the teams were having their last minute team huddles.

I've never been a huge fan of "team" poker, I will admit it was a lot of fun to play for the Fitz against Kingsway and The Gutshot but as a measure of poker skill.... I dunno. Still, its about *fun* in the end isnt it?

I snuck up behind a few teams to see if I could hear any team tactics being discussed but with the exception of the Leinster team's where Joe O'Neill was loudly declaring that he was playing for the money and Devil take the hindmost!

The players looked great in their regional colour-coded shirts as they sat down to play. The blinds were long and the stacks deep as befits a high level game. So this game was going to take a while and when I ran into Dara with a spare glass of Champagne, I figured out how I might pass the time!

Ken Powell was playing for Connaught and seemed to be doing well while Joe O'Neill's Poo-Protector made another appearance for Leinster. Eoin Connolly (playing for Munster) was spotted disappearing out the door and in no mood to talk so I moved onto the wine.

The meal rolled around (metaphorically you understand) and very pleasant it was too. A leason to the Rio perhaps that a half price voucher is a slap in the face and that a decent meal CAN be produced for a reasonable price. So while the players got some grub, the media were treated to a 1 hour, STT for two €1000 tickets. Which was nice! What wasnt nice was my attempt to take Paul Lecky off a hand preflop which turned out to be a monster. Ugh.

So, having spent about 10 minutes in the press game I joined the players in the pub and promptly got plastered. I had kinda been intending to get drunk all day and this seemed an ideal opportunity. So I did. Hammered in fact.

So, at this point I should be able to tell you all about the exciting finish with the three cork men takings first second and third with Willow representing the Dubs at the final table and Ken Powell showing again that he is a tournament master with another final table appearance. I just wish I could remember the hands! Of course to remember something you have to have *seen* it first and since I could barely see at all, I have little chance.

The night finished with the local guitar-n-mike ballad player in the pub doing a rendition of Kenny Rogers "The Gambler" to full voice from the assembled poker fraternity and I wandered, besotted into the night...