Well, I literally just got home from Vegas. The drive is never too bad, just not ever something I look forward to doing alone. The best reward though was walking in the door tonight and being greeted by my beautiful babies-Winnie, Katie, Boomer and Casper. Katie and Winnie are the criers. They whimper and whine when they’re happy to see you-it’s the cutest thing. They definitely know how to make you feel loved. So I spent a lot of time sitting and petting them-telling them how much I missed them. My friend Sloane lives downstairs and takes care of them when I’m gone. It’s the perfect situation because they never mind too much when I leave because it doesn’t alter their routine at all. In fact, all of them but Winnie are downstairs with Sloane now. They basically said, “Hi mom! Welcome home-we missed you and love you. Well…we’re going back downstairs now to crash-been a long day.” I love my babies and missed them dearly!
I wish this had been a better World Series for me. I guess the reality is that I’m an actress who plays poker-not a poker player who acts. So I still have a lot to learn, and if nothing else this series really motivated me to want to improve my game…a lot! So even though my real focus being home will be acting, my secret part time focus will be improving my game. It’s time that I try some new things and practice some new strategies. I’ve been reading a great book (that I swore to someone I’d never reveal the name of) and I’ve been talking over hands with players I look up to. So my future will hold a lot of practice, both online and in the casinos here. That is, depending on how busy I am with my acting, directing and producing. I have some pitch meetings this week, starting tomorrow. I also need to do another big rewrite on one of the scripts I’m producing. So-the entertainment industry comes first-yet-I really already just want to go play some more poker. It’s sick, right?! I should want a break after the month in Vegas I just had…but I don’t. I guess that’s how I know I’ll get better. It’s something I really want and know I will find a way to make happen.
The highlight of my series was the Ante Up For Africa charity tournament that happens right before the main event starts.
This is Don Cheadle and Annie Duke’s event and they’ve made quite an impact with it over the last four years. I think all of my luck for the year was saved up and used strictly on this event. I don’t know what it was, but I was getting very lucky that day. And you kinda need luck with an event like that. The structure is fast and furious. You’re going to be all-in a lot because of how fast the blinds jump. I was crippled early going all-in with 10s just to run into Annie’s Kings. Luckily, I had her covered and from that moment on just had a really good run. I have to say it felt really great. The funny thing is that the longer I survived and closer I got to the end the more nervous I got. You know how when you get really nervous you suddenly feel like you need to pee, even if you just went? LOL-Well, I felt like that for hours at this event! I was so nervous as we got closer and closer to the final table. And then the final table was really tough because the only real move anyone had was all-in. Once I made it to heads-up with Phil Gordon I was so happy and beyond satisfied with how far I’d made it. He had me way covered in chips and I knew that this was where it was going to end. Heads-up lasted for all of 2 hands. The first hand I folded and the second hand I pushed all-in with King/10 and was called by Phil’s Queen/3. I knew he’d probably call me with any two cards, and he did. A Queen right on the flop sealed our fates and with that the tournament was over. It was such a fun event and what an amazing feeling to run that good. It’s something I hadn’t felt in a really long time. What made it even better was that we were able to help with such a great cause-I gave half of my winnings back to the charity right away. It was definitely the highlight of my month!
I wish I could say I ran that great in my Main Event-but alas, I did not. My first hand I played I had flopped bottom set, but the guy to my left flopped Broadway. So I wasn’t off to a great start. I was never able to get much going, but did survive to play Day 2. Day 2-first hand-pocket 9s. The guy to my left had pocket Kings. I was eventually able to lay it down, but that left me even shorter than when I started. My third hand, in the big blind, was King/Queen suited. There was a small mid-position raise, so I decided to see a flop. The flop didn’t help me at all, so I got away from that. The very next hand, in the small blind, I had Ace/Queen. There was a mid-position raise-but at this point my only move was all-in. The raiser called with pocket 8s and the board ran all low. So that was the end of my main event. L
Now I’m home. I already have a load of jeans in the wash and am unpacking way too much stuff that I took with me. I’m contemplating running to a friend’s house who has a small cash game tonight. I don’t really want to play, but would love to say hi and see my friends. I think I need to go eat some dinner and see how I feel though. With all the things I should do, I of course just want to play some more. I’ll always try to keep you updated on Twitter (@ShannonElizab) and there will definitely be another blog very soon. Have a great week everyone! XOXO – Shannon
There were many pros that had a tough time this series too. You are a great ambassador for the Poker community because you love the game. Good luck in all you do.
Shannon, we as fans are proud of you in your charity run, and also in your main event run. We all appreciate what you do for the animals and the people of our fine planet. Here’s to next year doing better and ending in the money. I hope to be there myself, as I hope to qualify on one of the sites freerolls. Best of luck on the pitches this week, and hope to see more of your movies soon, including Night of the Demons. Take care of the kids, cause I know how animals can be, they need love. and thank you for reading this if you do
Michael Purvis
gulf coast
Thanks for the update, Shannon! Sorry the Main Event was not kind to you. Was rooting to see you at the final table, esp. after your great run in the charity event. I was only able to play in the $1500 HORSE event this year. I was lucky enough to catch you — (p.s. you walk *really* fast) — as you were heading through the Rio for your dinner break during Day One of the $3000 HORSE tourney, but you were still gracious enough to stop and pose for a quick photo with me. It was greatly appreciated! Best of luck to you in next year’s WSOP.
I believe you will find your way-Don’t doubt yourself as a poker player alot of people do believe in you.