Winner Paul
2nd Steve
3rd Kev Mc
4th Briggs
5th H
6th Mark
Aslo played: John, Kev R, Tatter, Barry, Banny, Gaz, Sids, H, Chris
Total: 15
Venue: Paul's
With the dust barely settled on the rip snorting `07 season the `08 season got off to a Bali sized bang with a bumper 15 players, including 2 new faces Banny and Gaz courtesy of Mark.
Despite the post xmas weariness evident on everyone's booze weathered brows and the new 40 minute blind structure the first rounds were played at a brisk pace with Briggs taking the lead on table one and Mark cleaning up on table two.
Chris was the first to go out and new face Banny was the next to go but said he would make up for it with a visit to see some strippers. League winner Kev R made an early exit when his pocket Jakes met Paul's King Jack and another King popped up to say 'Fuck You' on the river. He would have followed Banny to see the Yorkshire Rippers but said he was 'off his tits'.
Last seasons surprise 'Jimmy White' Paul looked to be heading for another missed final table when his dwindling piles forced him into a 'double up or go home' all-in against Barry who called revealing King Queen off. Paul showed a pair of 4's which miraculously stood up sending Paul right back into the game with his piles now much enlarged.
The final table, consisting of Mark, Masters Champeen Kev Mc, Paul, Rob, Steve and Briggs was even brisker with Mark the first to leave in no time at all. Rob's all or nothing style switched to 'nothing' mode and he went out next and Briggs' pocket Aces floundered against Paul's second lot of pocket sailboats when Paul hit a third 4 on the river. This was only Briggs' 4th TPS and those in the know tip him as a possible future tournament winner.
Bolstered by his Masters win Kev Mc was playing steady until he went all in with Ace Deuce against Paul's King 10. These two have some fierce head to head form, most memorably in the 2005 Masters final. Unfortunately for Kev history repeated itself when two more 10's sealed the deal and Kev had to settle for third place.
By now Paul's piles where huge mountainous affairs as he went heads up against his cousin Steve. Having not won an official TPS since October 2005 Paul could have been excused a slight case of the jitters but then again Steve had yet to make the final leap to 1st place being the highest ranked player never to have won.
At one point Steve looked to have pulled the game back like some taut poker foreskin until it pinged back into Paul's favour and it wasn't long before Paul, the 4 times TPS winner became a 5 times TPS winner. The extra 10 All Time Leader Board points giving him some much needed distance from the encroaching Kev R as well as the first of this year's Masters seats. Lets hope it comes with a comfy soothing Roid Ring.™
And so we (finally) say farewell to Paul's house, the scene of the first TPS way way back in 2004 - a time of innocence, before there was a 'League' or a 'Masters' - when we where all still learning the game and people still used words like 'Hollywood' and thought it was cool - when the mythical 'Tony Five Chips' still terrorized the tables and before everyone had figured out that John couldn't play for shit.
Although it's evolved over the years lets hope we can keep the TPS spirit alive - lets hope that Andy still 'loves his low cards', that Kev R will try a 'Dick Dastardly style trick', that Rob will always bluff and that Tatter will take his own sweet time playing every hand. One thing's for certain- the phrase 'Crab Salad' will always be funny as fuck.
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On a personal note, I'd like to take this opportunity to thank you all for my prezzie of Bacardi and a card guard. It really was a surprise and I was moved to real tears by your generosity. Although it can sometimes be a bind I do genuinely enjoy updating this website and I'm chuffed when I know you've taken the time to read it and, hopefully enjoy it. I always appreciate your comments but I don't do this for praise - I do it for Bacardi and card guards. Cheers!
