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Blogs, Events/live poker, Team PKR
James666 (right) with Team PKR in Macau
I've been thinking about the past few weeks away from my beloved 'Bombay Bad Boy' pot noodles, and 'Lazy Boy' armchairs (a blessing since flatmate Andy brought them to our flat). PKR has had a very successful live expedition to Asia this month for the APT/APPT duo, which I am sure many of you already know by now had some nice live cashes by PKR players. Initiated by Adrien (zlatan35) finishing a very honourable 1st in the APT Macau for just shy of $400K USD, and culminating with another 1st place finish by the rail's favourite high stakes cash game player Beyne (I'll not even try to spell his real name). His win in the APPT High Roller event was equally fine if not more so, where he outlasted a heavyweight field to overcome poker legend and ten-time WSOP Bracelet winner Johnny Chan heads up for $250K USD!
Beyne: the legend
The first I heard of Beyne's win was when I got a phone call from him asking where I was and whether I wanted a quick beer before he flew home, and I went to my last film shooting. I agreed, suspecting something was up when he told me he'd phone me when his helicopter (not ferry or taxi) arrived in Hong Kong (where I'd been based for a week). When he arrived, I was readying myself for the shoot, and another 13 hours of waiting for my shot (for the new film Poker King - due for release late October).
When I opened my hotel room door, in wandered a dishevelled, unshaven guy with a huge plaster (Ed - very Hip Hop!) rumoured to cover some strange and exotic infection - nice! Anyway, after a little idle chit chat, he asks if I have a safe to store his plastic bag while we go for a drink. I felt this was a little curious, as there are very few items 'The Beyne' would ever be worried about losing. That and I could only guess the contents to be some knock-off underwear or watches from the local night market! No, no...in the bag was $2,000,000 HKD (just shy of $250K USD) in bricks of $1,000 HKD notes. He'd been walking around all day with that epic stack of cash in a cheap plastic bag!
We went for drinks to celebrate his win, but because we only had 40 minutes or so, we only had time for a few. Beyne came down with me to the hotel lobby where I was being picked up by the casting director of the film, and waited with me as the small herd of poker players, also involved in the film, discussed whether Johnny Chan had won the previous evening's heads up battle! I introduced Beyne to Liz Leiu, Chino Rheem, Nam Le and my fellow 'token white guy' Christer Andersson, who all promptly congratulated him on his result. Only when enquiring into the contents of the plastic bag he was holding onto very tightly, did they discover that he'd been carrying his winnings (plus more) til he could find a shop which sold a secure briefcase!
Beyne, you're a complete nut case, I love you! For more on my movie experience and a grumpy end to my trip, keep an eye out for Part 2 of this blog, coming next week...
GL at the tables, may the flop, turn and river be with you,
James 'james666' Sudworth