I'm interested in taking on a backer for major live events, WPTs especially. My tournament results have been outstanding, both live and online.
Let me first begin by offering you some background information, in case you're unfamiliar with my play. I have played professionally for almost 6 years and am primarily a cash game player. While I was in college, I was among the top 10 winners in the $3/6 NL (6max) games on PartyPoker under the screennames: "Garganasaur/DrunkPPlaya/AlwaysPlayDrunk." For the last 3 years or so, and currently, I've regularly played stakes ranging from $5/10 NL to $25/50 NL. This year, following the success of my good friend "Jcada99," whom I like to think of as my "protege," I began to take a serious interest in tournaments. My new commitment was met with almost immediate success when I placed third in the Sunday Million for some $70,000 or so. I was very confident in my play and looked forward to the WSOP, having won 4 seats to the main event via the sunday $650 and $530 qualifiers on Pokerstars and Fulltilt. I arrived in Las Vegas late, because of a wedding that I had to attend and finally met up with my roomates: Dave "Raptor" Benefield, Joe Commisso, and Craig Marquis, who all had tremendous success. I also didn't disappoint, cashing in one of my first events ($2500 6max I believe) and finishing 10th in one of the large $1500 NL fields. Totally, I was a bit disappointed to play only 6 or 7 events because of scheduling conflicts and illness, but I more than paid for my trip. Immediately after, I placed 61st in the Bellagio Cup. I thought that I played a tremendous and world-class game during the summer, but I've continued to work and study aspects that I hadn't considered at such great length in the past: namely, akward stack sizes and the importance of image in live tournaments as it applies to a loose style. Shortly after my return, I won the WCOOP $325 Second Chance for $60,000. Just a few days ago, I placed 3rd in the Pokerstars $500 weekly tournament for around $50,000 while siumltaneously placing 3rd in the Fulltilt $100 Turbo Rebuy for $12,000. I also final tabled two others and had several other deep finishes.
Let me expound on my playing routine and style, so you can get a better feel for my level of experience and maturity as a player. I generally play very loose, but have a good sense of when individuals are ready to take a stand. While I open many pots, years of cash games experience has made me very proficient at recognizing hand ranges, flop textures, and various lines. I can quickly tell what boards and opponents are likely to produce folds and when a player is trapping or married to their hand. I have attended Joe Navarro's seminar and consider myself more than proficient in reading people. I have no problem going with my gut, and I am always going to be playing to win. At the table, I generally sit silently, focusing on the action and taking notes in my phone or repeating observations to myself, such as, "So-and-so doesn't value bet thin, so-and-so pops limpers w/crap hands," etc. I announce every bet, so as to not make mistakes with grabbing inappropriate chips. I do sometimes try to make conversation with the players immediately next to me, as it is their blinds I will most often be stealing and a ruport is quite helpful. I check my cards and conduct myself in the same manner every hand. I never yell or throw my cards, because of a badbeat or otherwise, because I think those reactions tend to snowball into greater problems. Years of playing in the fast-paced jungle of online cash games has really tempered me psychologically and emotionally. I really just focus on making the best decisions I can, right now, in this hand. People often compliment me on the restraint I show at the table, whether it be extended to an unlucky river or an unruly opponent. Before I play, I ALWAYS excercise and think about the kinda game I want to play that day. I also usually warm up my mind with poker-related literature or puzzles. I am 24 years old and have done enough partying in college to last me for awhile, hence, I rarely drink and never before a tournament. I am super easy-going and a very easy person to work with. Could I support myself on the tournament trail? Yeah, I think I could. I certainly have thus far. But then every moment in between tournaments would be spent in cash games. I've tried to be one of those "super-grinders," playing a million hands a year for 2BB's/100. It's just not the life for me. I would much rather be able to take breaks when things aren't going well and put in slightly less play with much larger winrates.
Here are my online results for 2008 on Pokerstars (DrunkPPlaya on PS, UB, FT, AP):
http://officialpokerrankings.com/pok...B01E9.html?t=2
(Adjust the filters anyway you see fit, I usually sort by MTT's throughout 2008)
A couple things that may be noteworthy: I generally only play tournaments once a week on sunday, because of the time commitment, and it's my favorite day of the week consequently. I never mix cash games and tournaments, because I believe the two require drastically different approaches.
For some reason, my results aren't really noteworthy on Fulltilt:
http://officialpokerrankings.com/ful...A2BA9.html?t=2
I think it's kinda ironic, considering that some of my best cashgame results have been there. Maybe just variance or something to do with the "bet pot" button?
I typically start play at about 4:30 EST w/the Sunday Million and it might be of interest to you, that I have final-tabled every sunday major that I regularly play w/the exception of the $750K, including: the Sunday Million, the Second Chance, the Mulligan, the UB 200K, the AP 150K.
I am more than willing to play some mega satellites to offset our variance and increase our bottom line. These tournaments particularly appeal to my style. While other players slowdown (far too soon) hoping they have enough chips to fold their way in, I am accutely aware of the kinds of stacks that will get seats and drive the action to guarantee myself a spot. I have satellited into 2 of the last 3 WSOP Main Events, and, as mentioned above, won 4 seats this year online. I won several seats to the $5200 WCOOP as well as this last year's Bellagio Cup. I am also more than willing to skip preliminary events that we don't think offer the best expectation, like $5K's. I am looking for a long-term live deal with makeup, and am open to suggestions on all fronts. Here are my live stats:
http://www.cardplayer.com/players/re...-Gargano/47762
This list is missing two $10K seats and I recently finished 22nd in the Heartland Poker Tour - Detroit for $4000.
To be quite honest, I have no doubt that I am going to make us both a lot of money. I am an absolute silverback, a full-blown baby-eater, and probably a backer's wet dream. I think it's incredibly rare that you find my level of talent in a player who also possesses mental toughness and the kind of good habits that result from 6 years of experience. If Scott Montgomery can shoot for it all w/practically no outs, offering his opponent better than 4:1 and Brandon Cantu can call it all away w/T5, I have no doubt that I can and will win a major live tournament. But you can't win if you dont play.
Since I don't often post on 2+2, here are some players that I am good friends with in real life that can attest to my level of skill and the quality of my character:
Dave "Raptor" Benefield, Joe "Magistr_Ludi/Tao Jones" Commisso, Dean "MSUsFinest" Hamrick, Justin Scott, Shannon Shorr, "Jcada99," "rtkoss," Noah Boeken, Craig Marquis
Please message me with any interest, comments, or questions. Thanks.
Best Wishes,
Tony
"DrunkPPlaya"
