Ramblings of a Poker Junkie!
http://www.azimkassam.com/blog/index.php
WPT - 2007 North American Poker Championships, Niagara
http://www.azimkassam.com/blog/index.php?entry=entry071030-072641
Octoberfest @ Seneca Casino, Buffallo, New Nork
http://www.azimkassam.com/blog/index.php?entry=entry071028-072130
$1000 Freezeout @ Club 151
http://www.azimkassam.com/blog/index.php?entry=entry071017-072005
European Poker Chanpionships 2007 - London, England
http://www.azimkassam.com/blog/index.php?entry=entry070922-071826
Everton 0-1 Man Utd
http://www.azimkassam.com/blog/index.php?entry=entry070917-120403
MATCHDAY 15/09/07 - GAME 6
Nemanja Vidic's late header gave Manchester United victory in a tight encounter with Everton.
The home side and United were closely matched until Vidic arrived at the near post to power home Nani's corner after 83 minutes to seal a crucial win.
Paul Scholes had earlier wasted United's best opportunity, volleying over from 10 yards.
But he rescued United just after half-time when he scrambled Andrew Johnson's header off the line.
United again struggled to mount any serious attacking threat but Vidic's goal gave them their third successive 1-0 win.
Manchester United kept Wayne Rooney, fit after a broken foot, on the bench but Cristiano Ronaldo was able to return after suspension.
Everton were without former Old Trafford keeper Tim Howard, who dislocated a finger playing for the United States against Brazil, so summer signing from FC Cologne, Stefan Wessels, was handed his debut.
But the German and opposite number Edwin van der Sar were barely troubled in a first 45 minutes in which chances were at a premium.
Carlos Tevez played three clever passes in the opening stages but Everton held firm, with Joleon Lescott an imposing figure.
Everton left-back Leighton Baines was crudely hauled down by Michael Carrick after racing into the area but even though the home fans screamed for a penalty, the offence was clearly outside the box.
Vidic wasted United's best chance on the half-hour when he turned wide at the near post after Everton's defence failed to deal with Ryan Giggs' corner.
United suffered a blow five minutes before half-time when Mikel Silvestre collapsed with no-one near him and he was carried off with what appeared to be a bad knee injury, to be replaced by Nani.
Scholes was walking a tight line after being booked by referee Alan Wiley for throwing the ball away and he was fortunate not to be sent off for a late challenge on Mikel Arteta just before the interval.
Everton started the second period well and Scholes was forced to hack Johnson's header off the line when he flicked on Arteta's corner.
Scholes wasted the best opportunity of the match after 53 minutes when he volleyed over from only 10 yards from Tevez's flick, with Everton's defence nowhere.
Ronaldo was booked for diving as the atmosphere hotted up, tumbling under a challenge from Leon Osman on the edge of the area.
Everton made a double change, sending on Victor Anichebe and Steven Pienaar for Osman and the tiring Yakubu.
But it was United who made the breakthrough with seven minutes left, Vidic powering home Nani's corner at the near post.
Everton sent on Scotland's midweek hero James McFadden in the closing minutes and he instantly brought a fine save from Van der Sar, with Joseph Yobo unable to turn in the rebound.
# Everton manager David Moyes: "I thought our boys did very well. It's disappointing to lose a goal from a corner at any stage, but especially in the last few minutes.
"We've got a big week coming up with a Uefa Cup tie, so I don't want us to feel too down after this.
"Our forwards caused them problems but their defenders played very well."
# Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson: "We are delighted with the win because people will see a very improved Everton this season. Teams will find it very hard coming here.
"But we stood up to Yakubu and Andrew Johnson, who will be handful for anyone, and our defenders showed great determination.
"Nemanja Vidic is a marvellous defender but he can get a goal as well. It's a bit of a concern that we are not scoring as many goals as we want, but until we get everyone back we will play like this.
"We are determined, we have a good team ethic, we have got a good shape and we had good passing. We will work away and this is a very good result."
Man Utd: Van der Sar, Brown, Ferdinand, Vidic, Silvestre (Nani 41), Ronaldo, Carrick, Scholes, Evra, Giggs (Saha 63), Tevez, Nani (Pique 85). Subs Not Used: Kuszczak, Gibson.
Booked: Scholes, Ronaldo.
Goals: Vidic 83.
Att: 39,364.
Ref: Alan Wiley (Staffordshire).
SOURCE: BBC SPORT WEBSITE]]>$1000 freezeout @ Club 151
http://www.azimkassam.com/blog/index.php?entry=entry070913-120209
Played in Ottavio's tournament last night. 27 players, $20,000 in chips and 30 minute blinds. Didn't play a hand for the first 30 minutes, not that I didn't want to I just didn't get any playable hands. Add to that, both my horses were on my table. Ottavio in seat 3 and Shyam in seat 10 (I was in seat 4).
Finally got QQ when the blinds were 100/200 and I was UTG+1. I raised to 1000 even and got 1 caller. The flop came down 8 9 J. I led out for 2200 and he raised me to 5000, I called. The turn came a Queen giving me top set and I checked, as did my opponent. The river came a 3 and I decided to bet out 7,000 (half the pot) he called and turned over 10 Q offsuit, he flopped the nut straight. I thought I was good when I bet the river because he checked the turn but I was very wrong! This pot crippled me and by the time we reached the first break after 2 hours, I had 3000 in chips.
I doubled up right after the break and just held on for the next 3 hours with a very short stack. When the blinds were 1000/2000 I doubled up with QQ against 77 and was up to about 20,000.
11 players left (1 before the final table) and I get QQ again in the big blind. Blinds are 1500/3000 and Shyam raises to 9000. I go all in and he thinks. I told him there was no shame in folding but Shyam being Shyam decided to "double you up bro".
The flop came 2 2 4, a good flop for me. A harmless K on the turn and I looked in great shape to double up to about 45,000. Bang! a 5 on the river to give him the wheel straight and I was out.
Shyam ended up coming 3rd and cashed so I got a little money back. Congrats to Amer for winning and Joe Zappia for coming 2nd.]]>Man Utd 1-0 Sunderland
http://www.azimkassam.com/blog/index.php?entry=entry070903-002401
MATCHDAY 01/09/07 - GAME 5
Substitute Louis Saha scored the winner as Manchester United edged out Roy Keane's Sunderland side.
Saha headed in at the near post from Nani's corner with 18 minutes to go after former United favourite Keane's side had frustrated the champions.
Black Cats keeper Craig Gordon had earlier brilliantly denied Saha while Nemanja Vidic volleyed over.
Sunderland rarely looked like getting on the scoresheet and Owen Hargreaves was close to adding a second.
United were still some way from their fluent best and Keane, who was given a rapturous reception from the home fans on his first appearance at Old Trafford as a manager, will be disappointed with the way the game was decided.
It was a poor goal to concede, with Saha allowed a free header and Gordon blotting his otherwise impressive copybook by coming for the cross and getting nothing but fresh air.
Until then Sunderland had limited the home side to only a handful of attempts in goal, with their 4-5-1 formation proving a tough barrier to break down.
When United did manage to find the target, Gordon proved a safe pair hands to hold efforts from Anderson and Chris Eagles.
United's best chance of the opening half came right at the end when a well-worked free-kick from Nani provided Paul Scholes with a shooting chance 25 yards out, but his strike deflected off Danny Collins and flashed just wide.
Anderson's uninspiring debut came to an end at half-time, as he made way for Saha - and the Frenchman's introduction immediately livened up United's attack.
He found a hole in the Sunderland defence before lashing a shot that was headed for the bottom corner, but Gordon was more than equal in pulling off a stunning one-handed save.
From the corner Vidic arrived late to volley over unconventionally.
A Hargreaves long-range shot troubled Gordon before he gathered at the second attempt, taking a smack in the face from Scholes in the process.
Then came Saha's goal and despite Sunderland enjoying plenty of possession in the final quarter of an hour they rarely looked like summoning an equaliser.
It was Keane's name that the fans were chanting as he and United boss Sir Alex Ferguson walked off the pitch together after the full-time whistle.
But it was the master who got the better of his young apprentice this time.
# Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson: "The first half our passing was far too slow and we were not making many chances.
"Louis Saha gave the players a target. He's very much needed, with his speed and his strength we've missed him so we're delighted to have him back.
"I thought we deserved to win the game but it was a long day."
# Sunderland manager Roy Keane: "When you lose to a set-piece it's very frustrating. One lapse and you can lose the game.
"I'm delighted with the overall performance. It would have been nice to test their goalkeeper a bit more but overall I'm delighted with the players' efforts.
"The United fans were fantastic - and the Sunderland fans were too - but we're still leaving with no points."
Man Utd: Van der Sar, Brown, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Eagles (Fletcher 66), Hargreaves, Scholes, Nani (O'Shea 84), Anderson (Saha 46), Tevez. Subs Not Used: Kuszczak, Carrick.
SOURCE: BBC SPORT WEBSITE]]>Poker Ramblings......?
http://www.azimkassam.com/blog/index.php?entry=entry070828-021257
I would just like to apologize to my readers for the lack of poker ramblings on my blog in the last few weeks. I have been extremely busy and I am moving into a new apartment with my wife. On top of this there is a lack of live tournaments in the Toronto area because a lot of the underground clubs are being shut down by the police.
I will return to my poker playing and blogging soon. In the meantime I am blogging about my 2nd favorite thing in life... Manchester United.]]>Striker Solskjaer set to retire
http://www.azimkassam.com/blog/index.php?entry=entry070828-021013
Manchester United striker Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is set to announce his retirement from football on Tuesday.
The 34-year-old Norwegian has been plagued by a series of knee injuries.
Solskjaer, who scored the winner in the Champions League final against Bayern Munich in 1999, made several comebacks during the past four years.
He joined United from Molde for £1.5m in 1996 and the former Norway international has made 366 appearances for United, scoring 126 goals.
He also collected six league championship and two FA Cup medals with United.
Solskjaer scored 11 goals as the Red Devils reclaimed their Premier League crown last season.
His last game for Sir Alex Ferguson's side was the FA Cup final defeat to Chelsea on 19 May when he came on as an extra-time substitute at Wembley.
He has already spent time at United coaching young players and was appointed a club ambassador last year.
The retirement of Solskjaer leaves Ferguson with only three strikers - Wayne Rooney, Louis Saha and Carlos Tevez - the latter being the only one presently fully fit.
Ferguson has been linked with a move for Bolton's Nicolas Anelka and Spurs striker Dimitar Berbatov, although the latter has insisted his immediate future lies at White Hart Lane.
United have sold fellow strikers Alan Smith to Newcastle and Giuseppe Rossi to Villarreal.
Tevez has also been included in Argentina's squad for the friendly against Australia in Melbourne next month, which could further stretch Ferguson's resources.
Saha, whose own United career has been dogged by injury, had hoped to make his return against Spurs at the weekend but his comeback was aborted.
He is expected to be fit to face Sunderland at the weekend, but his persistent knee problems have proved a major cause of concern.
Solskjaer returned to fitness last term, and was hopeful of playing a meaningful role this season, despite undergoing minor knee surgery in June.
But he has had problems during his rehabilitation and recently admitted he fully expected this to be his last season.
Now the announcement that one of Old Trafford's most popular figures is quitting the game has been brought forward.
SOURCE: BBC SPORT WEBSITE]]>Man Utd 1-0 Tottenham
http://www.azimkassam.com/blog/index.php?entry=entry070826-102352
MATCHDAY 26/08/07 - GAME 4
Nani drilled in his first goal for Manchester United to hand the champions a precious first win of the season and frustrate a brave Tottenham display.
After Robbie Keane hit the bar for Spurs in the first minute United dominated, with Michael Carrick and Paul Scholes going close to an opener.
The visitors held firm, though, and had appeals for a penalty turned down after Wes Brown's apparent handball.
And Nani compounded their misery when he fired in the winner from 25 yards.
It was harsh on Tottenham, who had mixed a solid defensive display with the odd good chance, but United were good value for something from a game they had dominated for long spells.
Sir Alex Ferguson had boldly stated "we will win the game on Sunday" before the match, and the fact that Spurs had failed to beat United at Old Trafford in nearly 18 years suggested the Scot's pre-match confidence was well placed.
But it was some indication of the recent turmoil surrounding Tottenham that most of the talk before the game centred around Martin Jol's position as manager, rather than the fact that United began the match second from bottom.
The Dutchman cut a relaxed figure before the match, though, and having received vocal support from fans and players in recent days, it was little surprise the visitors began full of purpose.
In fact, there was barely a minute on the clock when Dimitar Berbatov and Steed Malbranque linked up well to set up Keane for the visitors' best first-half effort, the Irishman's curler dipping onto the bar from 20 yards.
With United struggling to find early rhythm, Spurs had plenty of possession and when Rio Ferdinand allowed the ball to run in the box, only a block tackle from Nemanja Vidic prevented Berbatov's shot going in.
However, having seen off Tottenham's early endeavours, United upped the ante on 20 minutes and it was almost exclusively a backs-to-the-wall effort from Spurs for the rest of the half.
First Ryan Giggs's cross-shot was pushed away by Paul Robinson, and then Carrick's rasper from 25 yards was deflected inches past the post.
Scholes was the next United player to go close, clipping over from Giggs's pass, before Nani's run and shot flew past the post.
It was proving a sound defensive effort from Spurs, though it was not hard to understand why United had scored just once in five matches before the game, so lacking was the final pass or shot on occasion.
The second half began much like the first, with the visitors' all-action approach frustrating the visitors, and Rocha wasted a glorious chance to hand the visitors the lead when he headed a Bale free-kick wide from six yards out with the goal gaping.
With United struggling to find early rhythm, Spurs had plenty of possession and when Rio Ferdinand allowed the ball to run in the box, only a block tackle from Nemanja Vidic prevented Berbatov's shot going in.
However, having seen off Tottenham's early endeavours, United upped the ante on 20 minutes and it was almost exclusively a backs-to-the-wall effort from Spurs for the rest of the half.
First Ryan Giggs's cross-shot was pushed away by Paul Robinson, and then Carrick's rasper from 25 yards was deflected inches past the post.
Scholes was the next United player to go close, clipping over from Giggs's pass, before Nani's run and shot flew past the post.
It was proving a sound defensive effort from Spurs, though it was not hard to understand why United had scored just once in five matches before the game, so lacking was the final pass or shot on occasion.
The second half began much like the first, with the visitors' all-action approach frustrating the visitors, and Rocha wasted a glorious chance to hand the visitors the lead when he headed a Bale free-kick wide from six yards out with the goal gaping.
With United struggling to find early rhythm, Spurs had plenty of possession and when Rio Ferdinand allowed the ball to run in the box, only a block tackle from Nemanja Vidic prevented Berbatov's shot going in.
However, having seen off Tottenham's early endeavours, United upped the ante on 20 minutes and it was almost exclusively a backs-to-the-wall effort from Spurs for the rest of the half.
First Ryan Giggs's cross-shot was pushed away by Paul Robinson, and then Carrick's rasper from 25 yards was deflected inches past the post.
Scholes was the next United player to go close, clipping over from Giggs's pass, before Nani's run and shot flew past the post.
It was proving a sound defensive effort from Spurs, though it was not hard to understand why United had scored just once in five matches before the game, so lacking was the final pass or shot on occasion.
The second half began much like the first, with the visitors' all-action approach frustrating the visitors, and Rocha wasted a glorious chance to hand the visitors the lead when he headed a Bale free-kick wide from six yards out with the goal gaping.
With United struggling to find early rhythm, Spurs had plenty of possession and when Rio Ferdinand allowed the ball to run in the box, only a block tackle from Nemanja Vidic prevented Berbatov's shot going in.
However, having seen off Tottenham's early endeavours, United upped the ante on 20 minutes and it was almost exclusively a backs-to-the-wall effort from Spurs for the rest of the half.
First Ryan Giggs's cross-shot was pushed away by Paul Robinson, and then Carrick's rasper from 25 yards was deflected inches past the post.
Scholes was the next United player to go close, clipping over from Giggs's pass, before Nani's run and shot flew past the post.
It was proving a sound defensive effort from Spurs, though it was not hard to understand why United had scored just once in five matches before the game, so lacking was the final pass or shot on occasion.
The second half began much like the first, with the visitors' all-action approach frustrating the visitors, and Rocha wasted a glorious chance to hand the visitors the lead when he headed a Bale free-kick wide from six yards out with the goal gaping.
Suddenly it was Spurs who were asking the questions and Berbatov twice went agonisingly close, the first when he tapped past Edwin van der Sar only for Rio Ferdinand to clear on the line and then when his shot from six yards out struck Brown and flew wide.
Replays suggested the ball struck the defender on the arm and Spurs were furious no spot kick was awarded, but Howard Webb waved the appeals away.
And, as if to add salt into the wound, United took the lead minutes later.
After Carlos Tevez's drilled shot had been cleared off the line by Jenas, the subsequent attack saw the ball fall to Nani 25 yards out and the winger drilled a superb effort into the roof of the net to send the home fans wild.
It was certainly hard on Spurs, but in truth United had always looked capable of something special.
Jol responded by bringing Adel Taarabt and Jermain Defoe on, but it was Berbatov that came closest to a leveller, the Bulgarian turning and shooting in one movement only for his effort to curl millimetres over.
The ensuing Spurs rally brought little reward as United held out to leap up the table and ensure a difficult week for the Londoners and Jol ended in defeat.
Tottenham manager Martin Jol: "Of course I am bitterly disappointed because we absolutely deserved something from this game - maybe even the win. "We were comfortable throughout, I thought, and we had as many chances as they did. Plus we should definitely have had a penalty - Brown has used his arm and spread himself to block the shot like a keeper and you can't do that.
"They scored a marvellous goal but we had chances too, we just needed a bit of luck or a decision to go our way.
"As for me - I'm not under pressure. The chairman's backing me and you can see today how the players are desperate to play for this team so there is no problem."
