PLAYING THE IRISH OPEN

What it says on the tin basically. After much deliberation and internal debate I finally decided that my recent form and current confidence in my game; allied to the size of the competition and the huge value that it represents - meant that I simply couldn't sit it out.

I spent €510 in trying to qualify unsuccessfully, and the sticker price of €4500 is beyond my bankroll at the moment on account of my decision to quit my job and spend the next while traveling (more of that in a later entry). However, a solution was reached when I managed to agree a deal with an investor which allows me to enter the tournament for a price that is bankroll comfortable for me. I have no intention of naming my backer or discussing the terms. Suffice to say that I will play the tournament for 50% of any prize money I may be awarded.

My reservations about this tournament will be well known to anyone who has read my posts on boards. Last year I was a little starry eyed about the entire affair. To be honest, this time around I'm more weather beaten and feeling wiser to the whole thing. I'll be taking my seat tomorrow at 2pm with the mindset that this is simply another poker tournament. I'll do my best. We'll see what happens.

I have promised my backer a detailed trip report of my participation in the event so you can expect that to appear here next week at some point (I HAVE to do it this time). In the first week of April I'll stick up a more general catch up type entry and briefly talk about my deep run in the GJP European deepstack championships back in February.

Hopefully I'll run well tomorrow. Good luck.