The poker world can be a lonely place as we approach the holidays. Sure, you may find yourself in a luxury hotel in an exotic location (or you could be in Atlantic City) but you really are away from most close family and friends surrounded by people you know, but with whom you are ultimately competing to avoid failing at your chosen profession. So, you turn inward…or to social media…and share your life with friends and fans. Some of those bits are gems. When they are, I try to dig them up and share them with you.
Several of poker’s biggest and brightest found themselves in just this situation on the road and especially in St. Kitts as the WPT kicked off its latest Alpha 8 high roller and WPT Caribbean stop. High roller beast @Eric_Seidel waxed philosophic about dinner:
Set personal record tonight in St Kitts. From ordering to getting dinner, 90 mins. After 75 mins was rooting to get to 2 hours. #islandlife
— Erik Seidel (@Erik_Seidel) November 16, 2013
And was further disappointed when he though he was getting some celebrity on celebrity love on Twitter:
Got a follow from @PGA_JohnDaly today, which I thought was pretty cool till I saw I was his 139,600th choice
— Erik Seidel (@Erik_Seidel) November 16, 2013
And that he was not the only one let down…@devopoker and @christryba had the same issue:
"@devopoker: I got excited that @PGA_JohnDaly followed me, and then I saw how many he's following and got confused."#thoughtiwasspecial
— christopher tryba (@christryba) November 16, 2013
Some folks, like @DanOBrienPoker and @DarryllFish decided to wax nostalgic about girls via Twitter and YouTube, only to get checked by award winning screen writer and WPT Champion @msalsberg.
@DanOBrienPoker https://t.co/RHrgp6z5A7
— Darryll Fish (@DarryllFish) November 19, 2013
@DanOBrienPoker confirmed, though you may have seen it already
— Darryll Fish (@DarryllFish) November 19, 2013
@DanOBrienPoker I know a couple who don't wax their mustaches if you'd like a hook up.
— matt salsberg (@msalsberg) November 19, 2013
However, one high roller took the high road and thought he was better off:
Happy with my decision to stay home and skip Jax and St kitts. Had an amazing Saturday watching sports with family and friends! :)
— Jason Mercier (@JasonMercier) November 17, 2013
On the practical side, Jesse “@MazeOrBowie” Martin was discussing that old chestnut “the value of headphones at the table:”
I would estimate that wearing headphones while playing poker has cost me about $40,000 lifetime. The only question is has it been worth it
— Jesse Martin (@MazeOrBowie) November 19, 2013
And some of the biggest players stayed home and online as well…and you can find out more about how it went here on TWIOHSP.
There are two full tables of $2k/$4k 2-7 Triple Draw running, with @ViktorBlom & @GusHansen at both, and over $1.3m on the tables #FTPHS
— Full Tilt Poker (@FullTiltPoker) November 19, 2013
Up at @mohegansunpoker WSOP & WPT champ Michael “@TheGrinder44” Mizrachi was having a bit of an issue with rebuy…as reported by fellow @DeepStacks pro @TristanCre8ive:
Rebuy! @TheGrinder44 "I have more white paper (receipts) than green paper!" #MoheganDSPT http://t.co/ctsRRJ5rk8
— Tristan Wade (@TristanCre8ive) November 19, 2013
Meanwhile, back in the world, one half of the voice of the WSOP, @lonmceachern was discussing the ever growing Rob Ford situation, and suggested, the solution might lie with @RealKidPoker:
@lonmceachern hmmm! I don't smoke crack... So there's that
— Daniel Negreanu (@RealKidPoker) November 19, 2013
Others were catching up on a little reading…and wondering about our dependence on new tech:
Sign you are using your iPad too much: when you read a real book, you try to pinch the pictures to zoom.
— Andy Bloch (@Andy_Bloch) November 19, 2013
Poker Media pros were catching up on their fan interactions:
Broads be like, SELFIE!!! http://t.co/zIgSLU8OxC
— Kristy Arnett (@KristyArnett) November 20, 2013
Meanwhile, Tony “@Bond_18” Dunst was just wondering how he could have made winning his first WPT Title just a little bit sweeter:
Winning a @WPT at Casino Royale felt great, but would've been perfect if one of my Euro opponents had bled from his eye during a crucial pot
— Tony Dunst (@Bond_18) November 25, 2013
Finally, let me give you an inline retweet of the First Family of Poker’s best wishes kicking off the holiday season…
Happy thanksgiving. pic.twitter.com/fdIp13zZdm
— Todd Brunson (@ToddBrunson) November 29, 2013
And let me send you off as I echo the early Christmas wishes of @jctran23 and @SavagePoker…
RT @jctran23: Dear Santa, I've been a good boy. May I find under tree on Christmas? pic.twitter.com/NwjtbQ17mK <~A couple spots higher #TooSoon
— Matt Savage (@SavagePoker) November 29, 2013
…and finally, a philosophical note from the man that started it all this week:
Just read Rolling Stone interview w Charles Manson, then one w Kanye, and I can't tell who's crazier & more delusional
— Erik Seidel (@Erik_Seidel) November 29, 2013