I came in 4th. It was one of the highlights of the event for me, really great job by all involved.
I did have one concern - I believe there was an underage player in the tournament, he was seated at my table briefly.
TAM X Poker Tournament
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I came in 4th. It was one of the highlights of the event for me, really great job by all involved.
I did have one concern - I believe there was an underage player in the tournament, he was seated at my table briefly.
The Central Scrutinizer
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Dumb All Over
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Weren't playing for money? Huh? What, then, was the point of joining a poker tourney that started at 11 p.m.? Insomnia?
ETA: Gratz on coming in fourth, xie!
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No, the prizes had a cash value, and the slip I signed for my prize was an official casino thing, not a TAM thing. I think it was a big deal and the casino would freak out if they knew. You aren't even allowed to have children on the casino floor, let alone sitting at your official poker tables playing for monetary value prizes. I plan on e-mailing the JREF directly because I'd hate for them to not be able to do this, or be less welcome at South Point in the future.
Since it was a fundraiser (the theme of TAM 2012), the prizes were:
1) TAM 11 TAM Experience pass
2) NECSS pass
3-4) SGU shirts signed by the whole gang
5-6) Deck of cards signed by all presenters at TAM 2012
Because of Jay coming in 3rd, we all got bumped up a level
I got my shirt signed by Randi as well and it's one of my favorite memories of the weekend.
edit: Lest anyone worry about not winning money, I won a few hundred playing 1-3 no limit at the Rio on sunday
Since it was a fundraiser (the theme of TAM 2012), the prizes were:
1) TAM 11 TAM Experience pass
2) NECSS pass
3-4) SGU shirts signed by the whole gang
5-6) Deck of cards signed by all presenters at TAM 2012
Because of Jay coming in 3rd, we all got bumped up a level
I got my shirt signed by Randi as well and it's one of my favorite memories of the weekend.edit: Lest anyone worry about not winning money, I won a few hundred playing 1-3 no limit at the Rio on sunday
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halohms
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I came in 6th (7th really but Jay didn't get one of the prizes). Got a deck of signed cards. It was awesome. Will be there next year if I can afford it. There were more people than tables available so some had to get their money back. That was unfortunate.
I was quite disappointed and frustrated with this tournament, and will not participate again.
Although I enjoyed the actual game itself, it was a source of extreme annoyance.
I followed the directions and registered by email. As instructed when I arrived at TAM I attempted to pay the entry fee for the tournament. The person at the counter was unsure how to handle this, and asked me to return later when someone else who apparently knew what was going on could deal with it.
I returned again and another person was there, who again did not know how to handle payments. He took my name and phone number and told me he would call me when whoever knew something about the poker tournament would be present.
The next day, I returned yet again, and was told to go to the book table, and they would take the entry payment. I was told that I barely got in because they had reached the # of players limit. (Huh? I thought I was already registered?).
Then, I finished 6th in the tournament (5th since we all got bumped up one due to Jay making it so far). Nobody seemed to know what prize I won or how to get it. I ran into one of the SGU folks in the bar the next night, and was told that I might be able to get whatever I had won that night, or to send an email.
I sent an email with my name and address. I got home today (went straight from TAM to a business trip, so I'm right now just unpacking my suitcase 2 weeks later), and there's nothing.
I feel I pretty much threw $125 away and wasted hours of my time. This was the only negative experience at TAM.
Although I enjoyed the actual game itself, it was a source of extreme annoyance.
I followed the directions and registered by email. As instructed when I arrived at TAM I attempted to pay the entry fee for the tournament. The person at the counter was unsure how to handle this, and asked me to return later when someone else who apparently knew what was going on could deal with it.
I returned again and another person was there, who again did not know how to handle payments. He took my name and phone number and told me he would call me when whoever knew something about the poker tournament would be present.
The next day, I returned yet again, and was told to go to the book table, and they would take the entry payment. I was told that I barely got in because they had reached the # of players limit. (Huh? I thought I was already registered?).
Then, I finished 6th in the tournament (5th since we all got bumped up one due to Jay making it so far). Nobody seemed to know what prize I won or how to get it. I ran into one of the SGU folks in the bar the next night, and was told that I might be able to get whatever I had won that night, or to send an email.
I sent an email with my name and address. I got home today (went straight from TAM to a business trip, so I'm right now just unpacking my suitcase 2 weeks later), and there's nothing.
I feel I pretty much threw $125 away and wasted hours of my time. This was the only negative experience at TAM.
saganite
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I'm sorry you went through such a frustrating experience, zuma, and the actual tournament does seem to have run into snags despite good initial planning. Some people who registered for the tournament in advance were not able to get into the tournament at all. Since you did get in though, and played well enough to get to the final table, it seems like a stretch to claim that the whole thing was a waste of time and money. I mean, to any further extent than any gambling is a waste of time and money. At the very least you got to enjoy the company of the other players and walk away with bragging rights, right?
Oddly, a couple of people (all women, for what it's worth) were approached at the Del Mar on Friday night by a guy who said the tournament needed more players, and even knew of someone who would pay our entry fee if we promised to show up and play. I'm a decent poker player so I agreed to come, but decided not to when I heard people were having trouble getting in -- no reason to give up prime real estate at the Del Mar.
Just on this point, I was one of the volunteers helping with registration, and I would not have known who to send you to either; the poker tournament was not mentioned at all as something we'd have to deal with. Are you sure the general registration desk was the place you were told to go? We weren't taking payment for anything, the only person who was was Thomas, so I'd have referred to him if it had been me you asked, but I don't know if he knew about it either.
How is it a stretch to say it was a waste of time and money? Beyond the (extreme) frustrations of trying to pay, I spent $125 and 3-4 hours of my time, and got nothing for it despite making the final table.
Unless you expected to win it, what else would you expect to get?
I finished in the top 6 who would receive something. So I did "win".
Fair enough; whoever sent that must have neglected to ensure that the people manning the registration desks knew what to do if someone wanted to pay for the tournament entry.
Sorry, I know little about poker, so I didn't realise that making the final table meant you were in the top 6.
So you didn't get any of these prizes?
Since it was a fundraiser (the theme of TAM 2012), the prizes were:
1) TAM 11 TAM Experience pass
2) NECSS pass
3-4) SGU shirts signed by the whole gang
5-6) Deck of cards signed by all presenters at TAM 2012
Because of Jay coming in 3rd, we all got bumped up a level
Horatius
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Sad to hear they had so many problems. It might be because this is the first time these guys tried running such an event, and didn't realize what all needed to be done.
But when they intended the winners to get prizes, rather than a share of the pot as in other poker tournaments, it's pretty much a no-brainer that the prizes should be on site when the tournament happens.
I suspect it's that "getting them all signed" thing which caused the delay, but again, that seems to me to come down to poor advance planning. Trying to get all the presenters to sign decks of cards sounds like an exercise in frustration to me, and getting it done post-TAM is probably impossible.
Next year, they either need to accept the fact that most tournaments pay out in cash, and thus they'll make less for the JREF (as was done without a hitch in previous years*), or they need prizes that can be ready when the tournament starts, and given to the winners immediately.
*And, P.S., previous winners ended up donating some or all of their prize anyways.
But when they intended the winners to get prizes, rather than a share of the pot as in other poker tournaments, it's pretty much a no-brainer that the prizes should be on site when the tournament happens.
I suspect it's that "getting them all signed" thing which caused the delay, but again, that seems to me to come down to poor advance planning. Trying to get all the presenters to sign decks of cards sounds like an exercise in frustration to me, and getting it done post-TAM is probably impossible.
Next year, they either need to accept the fact that most tournaments pay out in cash, and thus they'll make less for the JREF (as was done without a hitch in previous years*), or they need prizes that can be ready when the tournament starts, and given to the winners immediately.
*And, P.S., previous winners ended up donating some or all of their prize anyways.
Final table is actually 10, but the top 6 were supposed to get the prizes you mentioned. I finished 6th, but since Jay didn't count as a prize-winner, I finished 5th as far as the prize pool is concerned.
Thanks for your patience, I apologise for not reading your earlier post more carefully, as you did cover most of that.
saganite
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So you entered the tournament solely to win one of the listed prizes and not because you planned to get any sort of enjoyment out of the experience of playing or the challenge of seeing how far you could go? Because that seems kind of self-defeating. It could be argued that because your money lasted 3-4 hours, you got more out of the game than everyone else who went out before you. I'm not trying to be intentionally argumentative, I just don't understand where you're coming from with all of that frustration.
Not solely, but the fact that I gave $125 to a good cause was satisfactory. On the other hand yes, I entered knowing that if I did well I'd be able to win one of the advertised prizes. None were forthcoming.
I guess I'm just disconnecting with everyone here, but while the money will not break me, I expected the prize as well. What if I had won first prize which was the "TAM Experience"? Maybe I don't fit in well with TAM/SGU and should not have expected the promised prize, and should have just been happy with doing well. I hope the money goes to a good cause but in the future please give out the prizes promised (or don't promise them at all), make registration easier, and I'm sorry for bitching.
I like your causes but I'm just not a good fit in the TAM/skeptic community I guess.