A personal update for Tony G….The latest news is that I have been named the World Team Captain to captain the Rest of the World versus America. The tournament is going to happen on the 15th, in Las Vegas, and will be broadcast on Fox Sports. It’s a pretty secret tournament. Its very exciting to be part of this…I don’t know how I got the captain’s chair. I don’t know how I got it, and I don’t know that I deserve it, but I’ll take it. I’ll definitely be the most entertaining guy there. It will be fun to take Phil Ivey, and Howard Lederer on again.

On another note, I just signed a contract with the North American Poker Association. I am looking forward to that. That looks like something huge for poker….this is what we need more of - players getting free entries to $10,000 tournaments, and get their flights and travel paid for. That’s the deal I have, which is fantastic.

I hope things keep going well. It was a great year. I have one more event to play in this year, and then enjoying my time at Christmas, and then we’re back. 2006 will be huge.

What a tournament this was for me I am very happy with how I played and with my result. The very big highlight was that I knocked out Mike The Mouth and I gave him more MOUTH then ever, plus I gave him a dance when I knocked him out (hope this comes out ok on tv as I am not muchof a dancer, although I did want to be a ballerina but my legs were too harry)
Had some really massive pressure pots in this event with people like Phil Helmuth in the room talking about the best lay down he ever made also seeing Howard Leaderer around made me very thursty for his blood, can not wait to get Howard on my table again hey maybe the next time I fix him up he will shake my hand. My adrenalin was pumping I was after any one that looked like they wanted to win this thing. The bad boy Tony G was back in Monaco after being pretty nice for most of the year I kind of lost control here (its good to lose control when you are having fun and not taking anything like drugs or alchohol to induce it). A very big congartulations to Phil Ivery who won it and took down the $1 million, he is a living legend already 10 time better poker player the the Brat. DoI regret it heck no no way at all, many forums are going mad how bad Iam but I loved every minute in Monaco. I never abuse dealers or swearat the player. Also to get a rub down after i knock you out you mustbe a very good player that I will come up with in the future. I do notdo anything to insult people for no reason, there are wa**** postingon forums about me that have not ever seen me live. I guess these guyscan only sit at home and look for people to criticize. This is a veryhard business to be in and I don’t want to be in there grinding awayevery day, most of the players I come up against are disadvantagedindividuals they are mainly addicted gamblers with very low morals. Isee that others have said that I have to behave on TV since I need tobe an example for young people, I guess that all films need to be anexample as well. Poker on TV is a show to me I love it I love to win Idon’t care what anyone thinks of me.
Outside poker I am very different, I would like to think that I have agood hart compassion and high morals. Life is interesting to me as Ihave very many interests and anything I do I enjoy its not about themoney. I have been very lucky to be bale to do that and its thanks topoker. Not everyone can say that as only very few can do very well outof poker. At the end of the day its control and passion for the game& most important knowing how to manage your money that will enable youto be somebody via poker.

Great news for me today, I get to do what I love best one more time and December the 17th is my 32nd Birthday. I am still in Japan and have ordered a “KIMONO” Samurai suit which I will wear during Bad Boys 2.

Hope to make this a great show and most important to win it.

I have no idea how this show will come out. Will the WPT want me as their new bad boy?

Just so that everyone knows I wanted to win this event really bad and did all I could to win that is within the rules. I came up just short but I loved every minute of playing this final table. I may be rude to you if you are at the table with me in a WPT final but remember, its never personal. Off the table I respect everyone, but when you play with me at a WPT final then its a fight.

The chip leader was my target, and I feel that I got him to play very bad. I hope I was not too nasty; please judge me and let me know what you think about me via this blog as many comments as possible are welcome. All views are welcome. As long as the show was fun for everyone at home then I am ok with any comments and I will leave them all up, just please dont swear. I never ever abuse the dealer or swear when playing. If the majority on here feel that I am bad for poker because of the way I behaved in Paris, then I will change my conduct, and look for help.

Hey Tony,

I’ve got a strategy question for you. I was sitting next to you, or someone that claimed to be you in a Step 5 last night. It was 7 handed at the 50/100 blinds. It was a fairly tight tournament and I had played tight the whole time myself. Well, it folded around to me in the SB, and I shoved all-in for 770, you had 1140 at the time, and everyone had about the same chips, other than one guy at 2500.

You called with A3s. I’m just curious what the thinking is there. Clearly, it’s not a pot odds decision, because it’s hard to imagine you put me on a hand that would give you odds to call with that hand.

Was this just a gamble, or did you have some sort of read on me, or is this a standard play you recommend making?

Thanks,
DblDownTrent

It was me that you were next to. My nickname at party poker is strong32.
In this case, I think I gave you a loose call. I think you had a hand slightly better then mine. I really do defend my blinds. When a small blind raises, and I am on the big blind I am very like to call with any suited Ace in that spot that you mention above.

Also, I would not call on those chip counts if the raise came from an earlier position raiser.

I was deep on Lithuanian forest on the border with Bellarussia. Had a lot of fun in a little resort town called Druskininkai.

Got back to day and was down 5k in my first 5 games. I recovered again played a total of 26 games today and ended up winning over $10,000 Playing mainly single table tournies now since they go faster and I can turnover more money making a little less on turnover on these ones then the 2 table but they go 3 times quicker so its worth it making around 25% on turnover on the single tables and around 45% on turnover on 2 tables so far I am not sure that this will be my win rate for long we will see once I play about 500 games played around 250 so far.

Hope all will have a great 2005 playing poker online and live.

Reflecting on my trip to Las Vegas, the trip was great I was in a fantastic position and if I get in that sopt again I am sure I will do better. First time ever I led a WPT event after day one I think it will not be the last, I felt that I learned a lot especially from Daniel great guy and nice to see him win and dominate the tournament from the start, what a poker player this guy is!!

Back home in Vilnius, Lithuania I am spending time with my two daughters 3 and 5 Melisa and Eve. And playing online poker at partypoker since they have the $1065 2 table sit and go tournaments running around the clock first pays $9000 and fourth $2400 Have played 50 of these tournamnets in the last week adn I am winning $40,000 my nick at partypoker is (adrtho) Last night I also played a satelite to the LA WPT event in February and won it amazing I played that at poker champs my nick at pokerchamps is (wraptduck) Petty the software is slow there and you dont see your opponents cards when you go all inn atherwise it would be a great site, they have the best deal for the pro-player with there rake back system.

Hope all are enjoying xmas and I wish everyone a great 2005