The Calm Before the Storm

Friday, Aug. 8 - 2 p.m.

Travels on the circuit have come to a halt for the time being, so it's time for some respite. The lack of travel also presents the problem of what to write about, unless you want to know about my non-poker break in Colorado. Did you know that you can get arrested for smoking in the street in Boulder, but can legally drive while holding and talking on your mobile phone? You also can ride a motorbike without a helmet. Anyway, back to business; I read a few of the most prominent poker blogs, and even they are in silly season. Phil Hellmuth went into full graphic detail about his mobile ring tones and how he adapts them for different people. Too many players are writing about golf. That makes even the "cat stuck in a tree" headlines I sometimes see in the newspapers in Gibraltar seem like something is happening.

It is, however, the calm before the storm. By the time you read this, we'll all be back in business. The PartyPoker.com The Big Game is back. This time, coverage of a 36-hour cash game will be shown on Channel 5 in the UK and distributed worldwide. After the success of the first two series and countless clips on the Internet, lots of pros are lining up to take part. The likes of Tony G, Devilfish, Jamie Gold, Kirk Morrison, Neil Channing, Brian Townsend, and Robert Williamson III want in. We're also expecting first Poker Den appearances from Montel Williams, Mike Matusow, Phil Laak, and Antonio Esfandiari. Whether the "Poker Brat" will take part is undetermined at the moment, but it looks likely that he will go back to the spookiest cash game he has ever played in, and it certainly got me thinking about highlights from the first two games.

The Big Game I

Hellmuth failed to win a significant pot in 12 hours and spent the last three of those hours with his head in his hands as the likes of Tony G, Juha Helppi, and Kirill Gerasimov rubbed salt into the wounds. Tony G wants a bike to give to Phil so that he can get on it. The Poker Brat tells him that no matter what happened, he is still in the palm of his hand. Devilfish plays an epic but ends up down. Tony G is the big winner and tells Barry Hearn that he wants to rob him and warns Londoner Phil Curtis that he will be very sorry and very sore if he sits down. Jesse May does 24 hours straight in the commentary box - London's coffee prices go up overnight. Somebody has to call the Austrians and ask them for more Red Bull.

The Big Game II

U.S. publisher Kasey Thompson comes and plays with any two cards, and has many customers; the sharks smell blood. Previously, he had endeared himself to the great and good of poker by inviting two tramps he met on Shaftesbury Avenue to attend Doyle Brunson's World Series of Poker Europe party with him. Chris Ferguson, Todd Brunson, Pamela Brunson, and Hoyt Corkins make their Den debuts. Channing grinds it before he goes on his fantastic tournament run. Kirk Morrison plays at the end and is a fantastic addition to the lineup. Robert Williamson III leads the banter, and Phil Curtis reacquaints himself with Tony G. Johnny Chan agrees to send a crate-load of his All In Energy Drink to the game; I'm not sure about that root beer flavour. Brian "sbrugby" Townsend heads for the Den and quietly cleans up. Twenty-four hours of play throws up so many memorable hands. Jesse May does 24 hours in the commentary box again.

The Big Game III

How the hell is Jesse May going to stay awake and commentate for 36 hours?

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