2 weeks back I qualified myself for the weekly final ‘Pokerchamp of Flanders tournament’ here in Belgium by finishing in the top 20 in the daily satellites.
That Sunday we started with 117 people and the best 5 will win a spot in to the regional live finals.
I played some very good poker from the beginning and quickly placed myself within the top 15. There I stayed most of the time during the whole tournament. My highest ranking I got was a 4th place.
As time went by and more players were forced to leave the tournament, I saw the final table getting closer and closer. Once I reached that final table I was holding the nr 5 spot. Then I made a few bad calls and dropped to the 8th spot. But I managed to get my rank up again to nr 6.
And with only 7 players left and blinds of 2000/4000, I got pocket Kings. Pre-flop I raised to 8000 and got re-raised by one player to 16000. I then took the chance and went all in. About 30000 chips at stake. He called me and showed pocket eights.
I was in the lead with my KK. After the flop (10 6 2) I was in the lead even more. The turn was a 9 and suddenly he got a few outs more, because he could make a straight. So any 7 or an 8 would steal my win. And that’s what just happened, I got rivered when he hit his needed 7. Damn, got some bad luck there.
I finished on the 7th place, a bit disappointed about the last hand, but very happy about the way I played the tournament. I honestly feel that I learned a lot that day.

A few days later I took the chance once again to qualify myself into next week’s weekly final and with a bit of luck I managed to do just that.
With 21 players left (20 to go through) I was holding the 20th spot with a few hundred chips more than the last player in the list. He sat at my table also, but in a later position then me.
So the situation is that if I didn’t win a pot at the time the big and small blind passed me, I was out before him. On the big blind I got very bad cards, 3 7 offsuit and I folded them as soon anyone raised.
So with only a few hundred chips left I was pushed all in on the small blind with 2 9 suited clubs.
3 players called the big blind, so I was 99% sure that I was going to be the bubble boy. Then the flop (9 4 3) paired my 9 and suddenly everything looked a bit brighter. Everyone else checked and the turn showed a 7.
At this time I was hoping they all got some high cards like QJ or AQ and wouldn’t make a pair. Again everyone checked. I figured out I had about 30% for winning the pot now.
When the river showed an 8 I felt I suddenly had pretty good chances to win the pot. Then One of the 3 other remaining players made a big raise and the other 2 folded their hands. Could he be slow playing a set?
Showdown time: I showed my pair of nines and he showed a pair of eights. I won!!!!
So I had a big chance to reach the last 20 now. Three hands later the other player was pushed all in on the big blind. 2 other players called and the flop showed 5 K 7.
The others checked and the turn showed a 6. Then one of them raised to all in which made the other fold his hand. KJ suited for the last one in the list against 9Q. Not good for me! But on the river the other player made a straight with an 8 and we’ve found the bubble boy and it wasn’t me

Then at the weekly final I had a bad day, not getting good cards and when I did, the flop was against me. Even some bluff with AK got called easily as I was low stacked all of the time.
After an hour of playing I only had 150 chips left and went all in with JJ, after the river another player made 3 others fold and I’d won the main pot. With about 800 chips again, I got AA immediately the hand after and again went all in. Now only one player called. Again I did win and I could play a bit more hands. But with the increasing blinds, it was an up- and down play for me. About 1500 chips was the highest I could reach. And before I knew it I was out on place 41.

Convinced I will reach the regional final I tried my luck again yesterday in a daily satellite. I finished on the 6th spot and for the 3rd week in a row I can play in the weekly final. Maybe this time is the charm?
Anyhow I’m going for it!

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