Happy New Year! As 2009 begins, I would enjoy a look back at the beginning of Lion Poker Season 3.
The entire slate of events was tentatively mapped out until June 2009. It all starts and ends with TNPC. September was a mediocre start for me personally at the table. I was getting points, but only averaging sixth place finishes. I stated the need for consistency, and although I was setting the league on fire I was getting results. Just when I felt a slump coming and frustrating kicking in, I went from $35 chips to my first win of the campaign. That vaulted me to three straight heads up appearances and ultimately first place. October and November were very solid. My game has not blown anyone away, and at times it has been relatively pedestrian. But I took an approach for consistency and it was paying off. End of November and into December I tappered off. I only placed once out of four weeks, but lucky for me no other player stood up and took advantage. I maintained my lead at the top of the ranks until Match 13, when Scott “Splash” Green finally bumped me down one spot.
December was the month of league events. It began with the third annual Holiday Poker Evening. Twenty-eight players participated and with one re-buy we had 29 paid spots. The victory went to little known, but very drunk novice player Corrine Buda; much to the dismay of event legend Mike ‘Swanky’ Luciano who finished runner-up. {Swanky gets revenge later} The night was a complete success. Drinks were served up by two very cute servers courtesy of PJ Whelihans and everyone came dressed to impress. Lion Cup II, a random draw tournament, also began play. Three groups of six players each battled, with the first player out eliminated. We lost the Uki Boar, Andy and V-Dub in the 1st round. Bruce ‘Brucifer’ Hale, Bob ‘Fluff’ Gearhart and Mr. Swanky were all group winners. Then it was Swanky’s Revenge. Heads Up Challenge #4 took place two days before Christmas, and for the second straight challenge, Mike won. The top seeds played to form, as 1-4 finished in the top 4.
Who can forget the oddity of Match 13. Poor Joe ‘Joey Caps’ Capparell lost his vehicle in a drunken hit & run accident, which occured mid-match. As it was, Earl the Drunken Elf was arrested after a mini-chase around the neighborhood, and peace was restored to the Lion’s Den.
The action will heat up with 17 matches yet to play in TNPC. With the top six gaining automatic entry to the Champions Game, the real chase will be for the #7-12 wild card game. The safe players (at the moment) are Scott, myself, Steve, Mike, Alec and Season 2 champ Dominic. Gabby, Markian, Josh, Susan, Joe C and Kim are in-line for the wild card game. You can expect those 12 names to shuffle quite a bit in the coming months, with players like Bob, Cody and Rich possibly having something to say.
And of course we can look forward to another Pot O’ Gold Poker Craic in March!
Stay tuned…2009 should prove to be very interesting for the remainder of Lion Poker’s Season 3!
