As I sit down to sum up our efforts in the WCOOP over the past two weeks I’m pulled in two emotional directions:

On the downside, I’m deflated with disappointment at our results. Between the three of us we’ve invested $29,000 in tournament entries playing in 18 tournaments. Our “takings” (total prizes won) were $9,226 with around $7,000 coming back to shareholders, a net loss of $22,000.  Painful! I feel ashamed.

On the upside, we had some exciting moments and opportunities to go deep in tournaments with a lot of money at the Final Tables. Despite a poor start (when his KK was beaten by Humberto Brenes’ AT on the river), Miros was going well in the Main Event with 80,000 with the average at 40k when he flopped a King high club flush and got it all in against AA (with A clubs) who proceeded to hit the turn and the river to make a full house! Then he had another chap all-in with AJ vs A9 and lost when the 9 came. Both big odds against for huge pots. I’m sure he’ll report on that himself in more fruitful language

The Coach went deep in two tournaments, coming 45th in a 2500 runner field in the $300 Double Chance and then 111th of 9,200 in the final $200 event but ran into brick walls in both. He cashed in four out of six events played but unfortunately not the Main Event where he never had a look in. Again, I’m sure he’ll report on it himself!

For me, only two cashes in seven events was a disappointment. I messed up a couple of the others when in good position. My deepest effort was a great chance to win big in the $300 Double Chance but I messed that up too. I’m getting myself into good positions and not capitalizing . I’m the Ian Bell of poker, The Shermanator!

I can’t say I’m sorry to see the back of WCOOP though. It’s been a lonely “up all night” existence; listening to the local restaurants close up as the last (and mostly drunk) customers go home; seeing the programmes change from late night TV to early morning breakfast TV; hearing the morning papers arrive at the newsagents. Drinking a LOT of coffee…

Looking forward to getting back round a real poker table at the World Series of Poker Main Event (WSOPE).

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