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| Jesse May |
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| Jesse May, multiple
author in the gambling field and sometimes dubded the "voice of poker", writes
a bi-weekly column. |
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Most people know Jesse as "the voice of poker" from his
colourful commentary in CH4's late Night Poker. Jesse is also the author of the
widely respected novel, Shut Up And
Deal, which looks deep into the poker playing life. Its the hard faced
21st Century Cincinnati Kid.
Jesse is
also the creator of The Gambler's Guide to
the World, an insiders look at the action and games around the
world. |
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Email :
Jesse
May
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Devilfish is the only man who can win every
chip on the table while singing Sultans Of Swing. And that's not all. When he
had the king high flush draw plus the wraparound straight he strummed away on
Across The River. He passed a hand and played folk. It was Bad To The Bone when
the game became six card Omaha Hilo. The man is a blues guitar player. Never
had a lesson in his life.
The Devilfish got his nickname in Las Vegas,
and don't let his wit put you off as to his skill. A devilfish is an oriental
delicacy that kills you if it's not prepared properly. Someone had called
Ulliot that in his local game in Hull many years ago, but it hadn't stuck.
Wouldn't you know someone from that game happened to be in Vegas years later
when Dave Ulliot got to the final two of the Pot Limit Hold'em championship.
Ulliot was head up for the $200,000 first prize against Men "the Master"
Nguyen, a stack 'em up tournament artist who's a commandeer on the tour.
The spectators were a little boisterous, and one of Men's supporters,
of which they were mostly, shouts out, "On the Master!" A cheer goes up. From
the back of the pack, the man from Hull fires back, "On the Devilfish!"
And then the Devilfish skinned the Master. Laid him out to dry. And the
nickname, stuck.
When the filming goes on for the Late Night Poker
series, only a part of the action happens in front of the camera. You can't get
forty-nine poker players together and not have action break out all over the
place. Besides the bar, where storming was afoot full tilt until the wee hours,
the game was in the room. And along with the drinks and the sandwiches and the
bucket full of ice, the Devilfish brought his own guitar.
Most of the
LNP players were headed for Dublin to stop off at the Superbowl Finals before
the Superbowl. The £20,000 free roll was shaping up to be a thrilling
field. Mickey Finn, Michael Keiner, Alan Betson, Pascal Perrault, The Boatmans,
Ram Vaswani, Aidan Bennett, Christoph Haller, Dave Colclough, Jac Arama. Team
Carborundum will take Aidan Bennett for the big result on his home turf, or Ram
Vaswani, who's bound to be the value in the field.
Dublin was the last
stop to pick up cash or manufacture a bankroll for the long ride to Vegas, and
the expenses associated with the World Series of Poker. Vegas can be done on
the cheap, but not if you're gonna be playing tournaments during the World
Series of Poker. When you're playing the World Series tournaments you're
looking for the really big score and in order to have a shot at the really big
score then you know going in that you have to lay out some money. In the old
days all you needed to do Vegas on the cheap was a great room rate, a lot of
meal coupons and a partner, but these days you need a gig and an eye for value.
The final event at the 2001 World Series of Poker has been stretched
out to five days from four, and this is a good decision. With all the last
minute entrants and the hoopla associated with starting a tournament of such
immense proportions, lengthening to five days gives participants just that
little bit more time to ease into the tournament, with day three becoming the
major cut day, rather than day two. Give players a little more sleep. After
all, it's grueling enough having to outlast a potential 500 other runners in
the race for the $1.5 million dollar first prize, paid down to at least
twenty-seven spots.
By the time the third week of the WSOP rolls
around, players hope to have made or paid for their trip already, the ideal
situation being a satellite victory or some good cash game results paving the
way for a free roll into the main event. Things don't always go as planned.
In the past, it was always nice to get into the Horseshoe buffets. This
year the hot tickets will be the Golden Nugget comps. Players in the know have
always stayed at the Golden Nugget, and Team Carborundum will be trying to get
into that Italian restaurant with the singing waiters whenever possible.
The final night Late Night Poker party was a sight to beheld. Stories
of the fisherman and the time I was a barber had the crowd rollicking.
Production crew was drinking from a large blue liquid, the bar staff went
overtime. |
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ales of Team Carborundum
Editor's
note