{"id":2210699,"date":"2022-07-15T16:18:00","date_gmt":"2022-07-15T16:18:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/?p=2210699"},"modified":"2025-12-29T14:08:02","modified_gmt":"2025-12-29T14:08:02","slug":"wsop-diaries-for-the-love-of-the-game","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wsop-diaries-for-the-love-of-the-game\/","title":{"rendered":"WSOP Diaries: For The Love Of The Game"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

I want this last WSOP Diary entry to be a positive one, so I\u2019ll get the weekly bad beat story out of the way first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Depressing Return To South Point<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

My roommates this summer have been patient with me with a number of things, but at the top of the list has been my continuous praise and mentioning of South Point Hotel and Casino. When I first started playing tournament poker in Las Vegas, South Point was my favorite spot, as the stakes were low and although I was no crusher, the skill level of the field provided an edge for a player who studied the game regularly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Linking up with my fellow WSOP Media Intern (Class Of 2018) Erik, we met up at Bally\u2019s and made our way to South Point for what I assumed would be my triumphant return to glory. In the past, I\u2019ve done quite well at South Point. Despite the continuous run-bad that has been this summer (I busted another tournament at Caesar\u2019s by the way), I assumed that my home away from home would provide me the positive energy I needed to secure that elusive bink.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There Is No Poker God<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

During the first level of the tournament, I successfully doubled up after getting a player to overvalue their weak-kickered ace, pricing them all-in with A-K. After this hand, I thought the prodigal son had truly returned, but we all know what eventually happened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Down to 17 big blinds, three players limped preflop when I looked down at pocket kings in the small blind. Looking for value and hoping a bigger stack would try to bully me, I raised 4x instead of ripping. The big blind, who had been giving me the business all night, called with only two big blinds left in his stack. After the remaining players folded, we saw a safe flop of 9-6-2 rainbow. I immediately put the player all-in for his remaining 2 remaining big blinds, he snap-called flipping over A-9 offsuit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He had top pair, but your favorite blogger had the overpair. The overpair didn\u2019t matter though, as another nine came on the river.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That hand was certainly annoying, but I still had some chips and was fortunate to double up the following hand with pocket queens. Back up to about 18 big blinds, the pocket kings hand no longer mattered, or so I thought.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rethinking Signing My Las Vegas Lease<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Widdled down to 11 big blinds, Jonathan Little\u2019s favorite employee was ready to make a move. Following an early and middle position limp, I looked down at K-Q offsuit on the button and shipped it. Only the early position limper called, revealing A-10 suited. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I was behind, but not out. My heart skipped a beat as both a king and<\/em> queen crept across the board on the flop. As I began to whip out my phone, telling Erik the midnight steak special would have to wait, ace on the turn, ace on the river, and it was time for a cheap steak dinner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Poker Minus The Poker Part<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The past few weeks have been a lot of fun, while there has been a major decrease in the amount of time the crew and I have been spending at the tables, we have been having the time of our lives conducting PokerCoaching.com business, and by PokerCoaching.com business, I mean taking part in incredible events hosted by the company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Getting Some Cash Game Reps In<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

I usually avoid playing cash games at all costs, but when the company hosts a meet-up cash game at the Aria poker room, you have to make an exception. Arriving with PokerCoaching.com hats and hoodies to give out to fans and members, we dispersed all of the swag quickly so we could find our reserved seats. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was quite the stacked table, not only did we play with Jonathan, James Romero, and Jonathan Jaffe, but the boys from Next Gen Poker (Rosie, Frankie, and Jack) came through as well to give us a taste of Texas poker. Despite not being a cash game player, I knew that pocket aces were a good hand to have at the table. Following an early position raise for $10 and a $60 three-bet from Jack in middle position, I mentally totaled how many Denny\u2019s grand slams $70 could get me and moved all-in. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The early position player folded, but after a bit of tanking, Jack made the call with A-K. My American Airlines held, but Jack would get revenge later in the night when his loose play with J-3 got there on the river against my paired ace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Jack,<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

(Left To Right) Jack, Frankie, Yours Truly, and Rosey. Follow Next Gen Poker on their YouTube Channel<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Justin Saliba Makes A WSOP Final Table<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Justin<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

For those wondering, Justin’s rail was not the one saying Hellmuth was “dressed like a Spice Girl”<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The cash game meet-up would be somewhat short-lived, as our very own Justin Saliba had made it to the final table of the WSOP $3,000 Freezeout. Duking it out with the likes of Phil Hellmuth, we knew we had to make our way to Paris\/Bally\u2019s ASAP to rail JustGTO.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We exited the Aria, but rolling 13 dudes deep we panicked as we tried to work out who would take what Uber with who and all the other logistics. Noticing an empty party bus nearby, Jonathan sprang into action, providing the driver with enough cash to get our team across the Strip to the WSOP. It was nothing but excitement as we anxiously waited to arrive. The vehicle was rowdy, our eagerness at a peak, until five minutes into the ride we read the update that Justin had been eliminated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not going to lie, what had been a true spectacle of festivity quickly became just thirteen dudes in a bus, scrolling Twitter in silence. But hey, the bus was snazzy, and we were among friends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The After Party Following The $200,000 Cash<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Of course, we were all disappointed that Justin came up just short of his 2nd WSOP bracelet, but I have to say in my short time in the poker industry, I haven\u2019t met as many guys as gracious and humble as Mr. Saliba. Despite the finish, Justin was in good spirits, as he reserved us some tables at the Bally\u2019s casino bar to chat and celebrate his $194,525 score. Outside of getting to support Justin, his run also had the benefit of putting us in touch with some more members of team PokerCoaching.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Crushers Behind PokerCoaching.com Study Sessions<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The hosts of one of the two recurring PokerCoaching.com study sessions (special shout out to Louis-Philippe), I had the privilege of finally meeting Shaundle \u201cCrazy Sixes\u201d Pruitt and Jarred \u201cGodsBigToe\u201d Gabin. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although I have had some success since entering the world of online MTT\u2019s, the abilities demonstrated by Shaundle and Jarred on the virtual felt are something I aspire to every day. Not only are these two online crushers, but they are incredibly kind people, working tirelessly every day to help the PokerCoaching.com community improve their poker abilities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was a privilege getting to chat with them both at Paris\/Bally\u2019s and our top golf event, and I look forward to studying with them regularly in preparation for WSOP 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Crushers<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

(Left To Right) Shaundle \u201cCrazy Sixes\u201d Pruitt, Their Most Obnoxious Student, and Jarred \u201cGodsBigToe\u201d Gabin<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

PokerCoaching.com Study Session Schedule<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Louis-Philippe and The Sharks: Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 7 AM PST<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Poker Coaching Study Sessions With CrazySizes and GodsBigToe: Thursdays and Saturdays at 9 AM PST<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To take part in PokerCoaching.com Study Sessions, be sure to join our Discord<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meeting The Littles<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Although I have had the pleasure of speaking with Jonathan on multiple occasions, the virtual dynamic of our company had yet to bring us face to face until this year\u2019s WSOP. Upon our first in-person introduction, JL made me and the guys feel right at home, ushering us immediately to our own private table to take part in the cash game meet-up. Along with the incredible company outings at Top Golf and Brad Garrett\u2019s Comedy Club, the boss didn\u2019t hold back at all when it came to treating not just us, but the entire company to some phenomenal meals on the Strip. From a guy whose favorite culinary establishments are Denny\u2019s and The Cheesecake Factory, it was quite the experience, although I\u2019m okay never having caviar again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Brad<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Brad Garrett shouted out Jonathan during his act, it was pretty sick.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

PokerCoaching.com Member\u2019s Breakfast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

One of the highlights from the past few weeks was attending the yearly PokerCoaching.com Member\u2019s Breakfast. Not only did I get to interact with our incredible members, but I also got to meet some special people who have been with PokerCoaching.com and Jonathan since the very beginning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Member's<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

For those wondering, the pup is named Toby Keith<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSweetie, you need to sit down and eat.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As I stressfully moved boxes and sorted hoodies and hats by size, I heard the kindest voice behind me insist I take a moment for myself. I\u2019m sure it\u2019s no surprise to anyone that Jonathan\u2019s Mom and Dad are incredibly nice people. Inviting me to join them at their table, I had the pleasure of not just getting to know them, but heard stories about how they supported Jonathan early on in his poker career. By far my favorite was listening to them recount helping JL move to Las Vegas in his early years, as well as hearing his Aunt share crime stories from her time as a police officer in Florida.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019ve never seen it, highly recommend viewing Jonathan\u2019s episode of Pokerography by PokerGO:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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