Flight Time

Am back home safe and sound on the farm after two weeks in Monaco at the EPT Grand Final. Have already gotten busy mowing some of that grass that relentlessly has been growing on all sides of us for the last six weeks or so.

Wrote about the grass last spring, right about this same time, in fact. Sometimes I find myself looking out and imagining I’m actually seeing it growing. Think sometimes of that Stephen King short story “Weeds,” made into an episode in George Romero’s Creepshow anthology titled “The Lonesome Death of Jordy Verrill” (in which King starred).

Speaking of movies, I didn’t watch any on the way out and almost didn’t on the way back. Searching through the selections of mostly new titles, I had little desire to see anything, particularly on a small screen and in a cut version (as is the case with some of them).

It was a nine-hour flight home, and traveling back through six time zones I almost felt like I was getting some time back. But after frittering away the first half of it doing nothing much, I realized I could use some way to make the rest of it go by more quickly. I finally decided to dial up the almost three-hour (and not edited) Interstellar, the sci-fi one starring Matthew McConaughey and Anne Hathaway.

Was a little skeptical at first, although I was drawn in by the rural farm setting where the film begins. I’d been gone nearly two weeks and was feeling some serious longing to get back not just to Vera, our horses, and cats, but to the pastures, the sky, the barn, the fences, and yes, even that grass growing up all around.

I’ve written here before about being the son of a physicist who nurtured within me curiosity about various physical phenomena, as well as about space. Not enough to have made it an academic pursuit (beyond just a few classes), but enough to make me interested in some of the questions raised by some “hard SF.” Or by movies like Interstellar that take on some tough concepts and ideas and try to fit them into a plot most of us can follow with characters to whom we can relate.

I won’t get into the story too much other than to say after getting over those initial doubts it drew me in quite well. At one point characters having to negotiate passage near a supermassive black hole introduces the idea of gravitational time dilation -- i.e., some characters age just a few minutes while others age many years -- something that subsequently creates some very affecting pathos when a father realizes he’s suddenly missed 23 years of a daughter’s life.

I couldn’t help but think of being away from home for those two weeks and missing everything happening during that time I was gone. From there it isn’t hard to think as well of even longer gaps between meetings with friends and family.

Later on in the film comes a scene with an elderly woman in a hospital near the end of her life, and that, too, brought on some personal memories reminding me of how even though life seems so edge along so gradually, so slowly, it only seems that way because of our lack of attention to what’s happening.

In reality, it’s flying. Faster than we can imagine. Blink and two weeks are gone. Or two months or two years. Or a lifetime. I can’t really see the grass growing. But if I look away for long enough and then look back, it seems like it has.

I’m a complete sucker for time-lapse photography, partially because of the way it foregrounds that theme of time -- our lives -- slipping away from us. I become oddly moved by it, even emotional. I think how we haven’t got long. I think, worriedly... slow down!

Here’s an example of what I mean, an inspired video matched with a track from an album I’ve been listening to a lot lately, Robert Fripp’s A Blessing of Tears (a record expressly intended as a memorial for the artist’s late mother). The music isn’t unlike some of Hans Zimmer’s soundtrack for Interstellar, actually, at least in terms of the mood it evokes:

Slow down clouds, sky, grass. Slow down Earth.

Travel Report: EPT11 Grand Final, Day 10 -- Nice Finish

Coupla young guns took down the big ones during yesterday’s climactic conclusion of the PokerStars and Monte-Carlo®Casino EPT Grand Final festival, the last EPT stop of Season 11.

Adrian Mateos won the Main and the €1,082,000 that went with it. Mateos won an Estrellas Poker Tour event at 18, the World Series of Poker Europe Main Event at 19, and now an EPT Main Event at 20. He turns 21 right before the WSOP Main Event this year. Charlie Carrel won the €25K High Roller, earning an even bigger prize of €1,114,000. Already an formidable online whiz, Carrel just turned 21 last November.

I spent the day riding out some of the last of the many side events helping making up the 78-tourney sked, including a fairly intriguing €10K Turbo. In that one both Scott Seiver and Dzmitry Urbanovich went deep (again), but Igor Yaroshevskyy ultimately took it down. Seiver placed fourth and Urbanovich third, with the latter sealing up the EPT Season 11 Player of the Year with that finish.

Meanwhile here this morning I finish up my travel reports from the Nice Côte d'Azur International Airport. During these last two weeks we crossed back and forth to Nice several times for dinners, that picture above being right around the border. We’d answer the question “Where are you going for dinner?” with “France.”

The Nice airport is, well, nice, although nearly everything is closed at this early hour. Birds chirp away in the rafters here in the terminal into which the rising sun, still low on the horizon, shines blindingly to make passengers shun the seats facing in that direction.

Speaking of horizons, the WSOP will be coming up soon and indeed a lot of the talk near the end of the festival was about expectations there. Going to both the PCA and EPT Grand Final this year might have affected my perspective somewhat, but I find myself thinking more and more of the EPTs as the “major league” of tournament poker (at least from a global perspective), while the WSOP -- though obviously still the “sun” of the tourney calendar around which all else revolves -- signifies differently.

The announcement this week of the WSOP Europe schedule -- happening in Berlin this time in October -- didn’t seem to be greeted with that much response, and I’ve already heard some talking about EPT Malta (with which it’ll run up against) being a preferred destination then. (I refer, of course, to those who actually have a choice between the two.)

Still, I am looking forward to seeing how things play out in LV. As I sit here amid the chirping birds and rattling of storefronts beginning to open, I miss my LAPT friends down in Panama where that Main Event just got going yesterday.

But I’ve been missing even more Vera and our four-legged friends, where I’m excited to be galloping in later today. Find myself thinking of this song for some reason, even if I’ve been in Monaco, not “Paree” -- and even though I can’t wait to get back on the farm:

Travel Report: EPT11 Grand Final, Day 9 -- Election Day

We’re careening toward the finish here, with just one more day to go in the PokerStars and Monte-Carlo®Casino EPT Grand Final. Was another interesting day of poker between the side events and seeing both the Main and High Roller play down to set up Friday’s final days for both.

Meanwhile one of my blogging colleagues, Stephen Bartley, was sweating a different competition happening about 800 miles northwest of here. As he’s been chronicling on his blog “Whitstable... not the West Wing” over the last few months, Stephen has been a candidate for councillor back in his home near Canterbury. As even those in the U.S. might well have heard, yesterday was Election Day in the U.K., so while Stephen was here with us people were at the polls all day voting either for or against him.

Calm for most of the day, the first outward sign Stephen was a candidate for office came shortly after 11 p.m. our time when those initial exit poll figures were announced, numbers which were quite different from what had been projected. My position as an outside observer both of the U.K. political process and of my friend who was personally involved in it kind of resembled where I stand when watching a poker tournament, save for my having much more of a rooting interest.

I left him and the various events still going on around midnight, going back to my hotel where I watched BBC 1 and followed more of the commentary about it all. Meanwhile Stephen was up all night following the returns gradually coming in, then a little bit before play started today he received the good news that he’d won his race.

Pursuing the poker analogy a little further, from what I gather regarding his campaign, there was probably some luck involved regarding the outcome of his race, by which I refer to anything outside of his control including regional and national trends and their affect on a local race such as the one in which he was involved. But clearly there was skill, too, under which heading we might include the management of his campaign (with which he had help from others) and the quality of the candidate, who clearly was running for all the right reasons.

Stephen’s helped me a lot during my turns working at the EPT and in other respects, and I know many others have benefited from his generosity, too. And I’m thrilled he’s now earned the chance to help still more people, which was clearly the reward for which he took this risk.

To see who else wins today besides Stephen, check over at the PokerStars blog.

Travel Report: EPT11 Grand Final, Day 8 -- The Skies Open Up, and the Return of Boat Crane

Two moments stood out from the rest during this eighth day of 10 of my helping report on the PokerStars and Monte-Carlo®Casino EPT Grand Final festival for the PokerStars blog, both happening during the late afternoon, early evening -- just around the dinner hour.

One happened when a group of us walked outside for a little fresh air. As I’ve been noting here off and on, walking around Monte Carlo is especially pleasurable thanks both to the temperate weather and picturesque views in every direction.

We headed out toward the water in back of the Monte Carlo Bay Resort and Hotel, moving slowly when suddenly both Stephen Bartley and Howard Swains -- many-year vets of Monaco -- looked up and shouted out as one.

“Boat crane!”

Amid the usual run of cruise ships and other vessels criss-crossing just off the coast was the one being singled out by their cry, an odd-looking industrial vehicle floating just in front of us. A regular sight and thus frequent subject of conversation between them during previous visits, they were humorously delighted to see their old blue steel friend reappear again for the first time since we’ve been here. (Click to embiggen pics.)

The other moment occurred in the main tournament room when I just happened to be there when a decision was made to open the roof, something else the others have seen many times before.

Very uncanny feeling, having the somewhat overcast sky suddenly open up above us as the seagulls traced diagonals overhead. Instantly everyone was grinning as the room full of poker players and staff grew relatively quiet, almost solemn. The air being let in was brisk, too, cutting through the slightly stuffy darkness from before.

The contrast was remarkable. Like a spell being cast. Suddenly a comment by someone passing helped me ease back into reality.

“So... we can smoke now? Oui?”

For more from the EPT Grand Final, keep visiting the the PokerStars blog.

Travel Report: EPT11 Grand Final, Day 7 -- Take Nothing Less Than the Second Best

Some might recognize that title from Curtis Mayfield’s “Move On Up” -- kind of an odd line, actually, that I’ve never really contemplated too deeply thanks to the joyous sounds pulsating around it.

The line was stuck in my head somewhat last night while following one of the side events at the PokerStars and Monte-Carlo®Casino EPT Grand Final, something called a “Second Best Hold’em” tournament that I believe has never been tried before.

As the name suggests, in this variation of regular NLHE the second best hand wins the pot at showdown. Or perhaps the name doesn’t immediately suggest that to everyone, as I’m pretty sure one player who sat at the start thought it referred to the player finishing second winning the most prize money or some sort of bonus.

The format perhaps translates into a quirky version of lowball when hands are heads-up, but with three or more players it becomes very hard to imagine how best to play. Or should I say, how to play second best.

Jennifer Shahade played the event and ultimately cashed, and spoke with her briefly about strategy during a break, if you’re curious. Here’s that post: “An event for those good at making second best hands.”

Like I say, it’s an odd line in the song (I’ve always thought), and it was an odd tournament as well. One of many side events, though, that are keeping things interesting.

The media event was last night also, where I struggled along before running pocket eights into pocket kings, and five cards later my hand was second best.

For more from the EPT Grand Final, keep visiting the the PokerStars blog.

Travel Report: EPT11 Grand Final, Day 6 -- Side Dishes

I’m mostly on side events here at the PokerStars and Monte-Carlo®Casino EPT Grand Final festival -- and there are a ton of them.

The schedule has 78 events total packed into less than two weeks, although some of those numbered events are satellites and thus not ones I’m necessarily reporting on, except occasionally perhaps to note who is winning seats in the big ones to the two Super High Rollers and the High Roller.

As far as “trophy” events go, there are 56 altogether (I believe), with most being one- or two-day tournaments. It’s kind of like the WSOP, with nearly as many events -- and a decent variety of games and stakes -- but packed more tightly into a couple weeks rather than stretched out over nearly two months.

I find myself constantly distracted as I’m darting around from tournament to tournament, or when at the laptop gathering what I need to compile reports. There’s always something interesting happening, and the fact that so many “name” players are here and are jumping into practically any tournament, helps give add interest even to the smallest buy-in events.

While Monaco is obviously an expensive place, having all of these very affordable tournaments firing off all of the time has to be a lot of fun for many who commit to being here for most or all of the festival. The tourney booklet listing all of the events and satellites really is like one long menu, with something for practically any appetite.

Back at it today. Head to the PokerStars blog for reports on everything, and check the “Side event reports” page to taste from those side dishes in particular.

Travel Report: EPT11 Grand Final, Day 5 -- The Day Supper Spoiled My Supper

Finished the first half of my 10-day stint here at the PokerStars and Monte-Carlo®Casino EPT Grand Final with yesterday’s final table of the France Poker Series Main Event, a tournament that turned out to be quite enjoyable to cover with a kind of crazy finish to punctuate it.

I’d forgotten to mention a couple of days ago my post describing the bubble bursting in this event, one in which I described that happening without using the word “bubble.” Here’s that one: “On the thing that bursts after which everyone cashes.”

From 993 entrants, 143 made the money, and they were down to just seven for yesterday’s last day of play. One fellow, the Frenchman Gilles Silbernagel, was down to a half-dozen big blinds before doubling up three separate times to take the chip lead.

Then another, Sebastian Supper, was down to even fewer big blinds (about five) when he tripled up. A little later Supper won a huge all-in to double up into the chip lead when both he and Silbernagel turned straights, and after they were all in he drew a better one on the river. And he didn’t even realize he was freerolling!

Supper ended up going on to win, which provided an opportunity to caption a post “A finish satisfying Supper” in the recap. A student from Germany studying geography and chemistry, he was a very likable winner among a final table full of interesting, genial-seeming characters.

The tournament lasted too long for me to enjoy a proper evening meal. Indeed, it’s possible I once more had another of those twenty-Euro burgers mentioned previously in this space. Supper spoiled my supper, you could say.

Back today to focus on various side events while the Main Event continues to cruise along. Check the PokerStars blog for the full skinny from the EPT Grand Final.

Travel Report: EPT11 Grand Final, Day 4 -- The Twenty-Euro Cheeseburger

Another late one last night as they played down to a final table (and then a little longer) in the France Poker Series Monaco Main Event here at the PokerStars and Monte-Carlo®Casino EPT Grand Final festival.

That’s the tournament I’m covering, and thus for me that €100K Super High Roller final table (eventually won by Erik Seidel) existed mainly in the periphery as the night wore on. Even further distant were all of the other big sporting events playing out over night, including the Kentucky Derby, the NBA playoffs, and the Mayweather-Pacquiao fight.

The EPT’s Main Event also kicked off yesterday, which meant all of us were especially busy throughout the day and night. Didn’t have a chance to get away for a meal offsite this time, and so experienced that phenomenon everyone who has ever come here seems to mention afterwards -- the €20 cheeseburger.

There’s a bar close to the tournament area serving food that is really the only option for those without time to walk very far, at which the prices are exorbitant. Of course, that’s true of other parts of the city as well, although it’s possible to find restaurants with decently-priced meals if one is willing to look hard enough.

The line “I don’t want to say Monaco is expensive but...” is a much used set-up for various punchlines here. For a sample of what I’m talking about, check out Joe Stapleton’s Twitter feed from the the last few days for some of his lines and retweets of others’.

Gonna cut it short and try to walk in again today. I can’t afford to spend a whole cheeseburger on a cab ride.

Travel Report: EPT11 Grand Final, Day 3 -- Monaco is a Maze

I mentioned before how I’ve been walking into work each morning, a trip that essentially carries me through the heart of Monte Carlo. It’s about a mile-and-a-half walk, I think, and takes exactly half an hour, giving me a chance to enjoy some fresh air and the beautiful view of the Mediterranean before spending the rest of my day inside the Monte Carlo Bay Resort and Hotel.

As anyone who has been here well knows, every single inch of space is being used in this small principality, with buildings crammed close together and none-too-wide streets winding snake-like in and out and up and down. The sidewalks are narrow, too, most not even allowing space enough for two people to walk side-by-side.

The city is built on levels as well, meaning as I wind my way eastward to my destination I’m also mostly going downhill, the grade being quite high. I’ve found myself taking different routes each time as previously unlocked gates will be closed or other obstacles arise forcing me to take a different angle. That hairpin turn I was writing about a couple of posts back is kind of a theme of the place, given how often everyone -- pedestrians and drivers -- have to turn back and then back again to get where they want to go.

That above is a picture of the steep stairwell I descended to get to the venue today, one dropping down about five levels. Went back up it later on to have a nice dinner at a Vietnamese restaurant located just across the border in France.

Once I get to the Monte Carlo Bay Resort and Hotel, I again have a long, winding path back to the tournament area located behind the main casino and hotel. That one also forces me to make several turns, with signs providing a guide that I relied on the first couple of times going over.

Then once I go to work I’m again doing a lot of walking from room to room through crowds of people, negotiating tight passages between ropes and tables that again makes me feel like I’m inside a maze. I counted the steps from the media room to the far corner of the main tournament room where the France Poker Series Monaco Main Event was playing out (the one I’m covering), and it added up to 150.

Definitely getting plenty of exercise here. Physically, sure. And mentally, too, as I try to anticipate the next turn while continuing to move forward.

Check the PokerStars blog today to see what all I happen to find amid my wandering around.

Travel Report: EPT11 Grand Final, Day 2 -- Racing Around

Another quick post today after another long night at the PokerStars and Monte-Carlo® Casino European Poker Tour Grand Final festival.

Was a monster second Day 1 flight for the France Poker Series Monaco Main Event, with 728 coming out to make a total field of 993 -- way over last year’s 837. The €100K Super High Roller had over 50 entries as well, making it a big one, too, with all of the usual big names taking part. (See the PokerStars blog for details.)

Amid my racing around covering the FPS Monaco event, I took a pit stop and did a different kind of racing in a faux Formula 1 car they have set up out in the lobby for passersby to try out. You crawl into that sucker in order to operate the gas and brake pedals and steer your way through a computer-simulated version of the Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix.

I did three laps. My time was poor for the first one when I cautiously negotiated the length of the course without ever really revving up my engine significantly. Then my times for the next two laps were even worse as I tried to go faster but kept crashing into walls all over Monte Carlo.

I mentioned my poor sense of direction last post. A couple of times after wrecking and having to back my way out of the imbroglio I’d caused, I even found it challenging to figure out which way I was then supposed to go. Luckily I don’t think the program allowed you to backtrack on the course, or I may still be trying.

I am glad to report, however, that I have now more or less memorized the walk from my hotel to the tournament venue, as I took that half-hour long promenade yesterday morning. Will probably continue to do that each day, weather permitting, as the walk there is downhill and much easier, not to mention it will be dark for the trips back (although everything is lighted well and pedestrian-friendly, even at night).

As I say, drive over to the PokerStars blog today for more.