Todd is giving updates on Twitter on how well he is doing or not doing in the events. He's in a $1500 Omaha 8 tournament as we speak.
https://twitter.com/DanDruffPoker
Printable View
Todd is giving updates on Twitter on how well he is doing or not doing in the events. He's in a $1500 Omaha 8 tournament as we speak.
https://twitter.com/DanDruffPoker
Thanks, mickey. Much appreciated. We try to follow him each year.
It looks like druff has made day 3 of the big fifty. It's officially the biggest tournament ever at 28K entrants. He's in the final 1600 with about an average stack.
Hopefully Dan wins! :D We're rooting for you, Dan! :DQuote:
Originally Posted by mickeycrimm
Finished 666th. Busted against the hand 666.
Wow.
And I currently have 666 followers on twitter. I wish someone would follow or unfollow to get me off that number.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dan Druff
666 is just an AWFUL number. :( I am so sorry, Dan. :(
Did you leave alone? Was your mind blank? Did you need time to think, to get the memories from your mind?
The sign of the BEAST todd. Is someone trying to tell you something?Quote:
Originally Posted by mickeycrimmAnd I currently have 666 followers on twitter. I wish someone would follow or unfollow to get me off that number.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dan Druff
I started reading this thread at 7:06pm. If you add 60 minutes and subtract an hour, then it’d have been 6:66pm.
Coincidence?
YOU DECIDE!!!!
I'm up to 674 followers on twitter so I'm off that 666 number.Quote:
Originally Posted by RS__
Todd went out early in the Millionaire Maker but I like the way he played the hand. He open raised in middle position with 10/9 of clubs. Got reraised and called. Flop came KJ7 with two clubs. Gets in a raising war and goes all in. Villain is holding pocket Aces. Todd has a 12 outer which I think makes him a slight favorite. If he hits he doubles up early. Turn and River were bricks and he was out.
Todd busted out of the 1K Double Stack and won't be back to the WSOP until June 25.
Latest updates showing Todd with 300,000 chips in the ME.
Cool!Quote:
Originally Posted by jbjb
It's basically an average stack. Leaders have around a million or so.
Big fan of Todd and his dad, Doyle.
Is Doyle playing?
Let's see Dan win. Why not? Every year some different nobody wins this thing, simply because of the way the cards fall. Maybe he can get some good luck.
WSOP.com showing him 157th with about 464k chips.
PB, we're talking about Todd Wittelles, aka Dan Druff, the owner of this forum. BTW, Doyle retired from tournament poker.Quote:
Originally Posted by PIGGY BANKER
That Todd is still in too with about 500k. Ours just dusted off about 100k now down to 367kQuote:
Originally Posted by mickeycrimmPB, we're talking about Todd Wittelles, aka Dan Druff, the owner of this forum. BTW, Doyle retired from tournament poker.Quote:
Originally Posted by PIGGY BANKER
Back up to 522k after break.
He's getting close to the money. Last tweet 46 minutes ago. He's got 427K with 1440 left. 1256 will be in the money.
He avoided a big hit just before break, folding pocket 10s he had raised 15K to an all-in raise to 85K. The all-in had KK. He sits with 385KQuote:
Originally Posted by mickeycrimm
Looks like Dan is in the money and at $15k minimum payback. I think?
I am rooting for you Dan.
FAB
Good news for the forum, well played Todd.
We're all rooting for him, but why is it good news for the forum? Did I miss a post where her promised to share the prize money equally among members?Quote:
Originally Posted by PIGGY BANKER
Todd is the greatest ! He ALWAYS wins in the end. He'll get that main event bracelet and fell all that come before him. You heard it here first.
And if not.. well I may have just jinxed him.
Good Luck !
Up to almost 700k and moving to one of the tv tables.
Keep it up Dan, excellent playing.
Currently 243rd out of 550 left with 706k in chips.
Here's a question. I've been following, but I'm no poker expert. Todd made a big laydown after raising 175K. The table he was on appeared to have no hole cams. So I take it we will never learn what the guy who went all in had that hand. Damn. Inquiring minds and all that. Why would the third feature table have no cameras? That seems messed up.Quote:
Originally Posted by jbjb
Hard to say. Saw a guy on the main table fold JJ on the button to a single raise.Quote:
Originally Posted by redietzHere's a question. I've been following, but I'm no poker expert. Todd made a big laydown after raising 175K. The table he was on appeared to have no hole cams. So I take it we will never learn what the guy who went all in had that hand. Damn. Inquiring minds and all that. Why would the third feature table have no cameras? That seems messed up.Quote:
Originally Posted by jbjb
Why no card readers on the third table, I dont know.
Here's someone Rob can root for. Former NE Patriot Richard Seymour is still in with about a million in chips.
I didn't know that but I'll still root for Dan. He needs the money more than Seymour does.Quote:
Originally Posted by jbjb
Yeah I saw that. He folded to Allan Cunningham’s A-K....I think they were close to the money cutoff and Cunningham had him chipped...understandable, but sometimes you gotta be willing to die with a hand, especially pre-flop like that....scared money seldom is a recipe for successQuote:
Originally Posted by jbjbHard to say. Saw a guy on the main table fold JJ on the button to a single raise.Quote:
Originally Posted by redietzHere's a question. I've been following, but I'm no poker expert. Todd made a big laydown after raising 175K. The table he was on appeared to have no hole cams. So I take it we will never learn what the guy who went all in had that hand. Damn. Inquiring minds and all that. Why would the third feature table have no cameras? That seems messed up.Quote:
Originally Posted by jbjb
Why no card readers on the third table, I dont know.
From the article I just read Dan has 919,000 in chips and he's guaranteed about $34,845 minimum. The leader has 4,800,000, with about 300 players between them. Not much of a chance of winning it but he could take home a decent amount.
"Not much chance of winning" !?!? This is Todd!Quote:
Originally Posted by Rob.Singer
His chances of winning are far far higher than anyone at the start of the tournament. Even the guy in #1 doesn't have "much chance of winning". You know how gambling works?
Get'em Todd!
There are days of play left. At this point that gap means very little.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rob.Singer
I'm a believer in how anything can happen, so that's right.
I just saw a guy take a 700,000+ chip pot from another guy who had a FH 7's over 4's.
He's down to under 700k last update.
Doubled with KK vs QQ on last hand before before break. Up to 1.5 million.Quote:
Originally Posted by jbjb
As of a few minutes ago he's got average stack with just 285 left. That's only 4% of the field left. Guaranteed a cash of at least 44K.Quote:
Originally Posted by jbjbDoubled with KK vs QQ on last hand before before break. Up to 1.5 million.Quote:
Originally Posted by jbjb
New article about Todd in Poker News:
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...vp_jFbJLSDE4sU
Todd is on his greatest life run and will destroy all. I've known Todd as an acquaintance for 15 years now.Quote:
Originally Posted by mickeycrimm
And let me just tell you folks, this is his TIME TO SHINE !
Seriously though, great to have someone to sweat from back home. I disagree a lot with Todd but he runs a pretty mean forum and puts it out there and takes the abuse. Being open about depression is admirable too. Not enough people do so. They feel shame. It seems shameful to be able to look at the world and not be depressed. LOL. fucking sociopaths!
I just read his last update. Who the hell would criticize him for "playing the pay jumps?" Geez, tough crowd.
People who look at the world and feel shame and depression are only looking as far as themselves with a feeling there's no way out for them. I was here when Dan tried to explain his troubles, only he wasn't very good at it. If his interview above is accurate, it further confuses the issue. And for him to now say, In the middle of a tournament where he is doing well, that he is happily recovering from his issues, only tells everyone that gambling losses have had a lot to do with his mental issues. If I were him, after collecting his big check from this, I'd leave poker behind for good.
Feeling shame and depression are 2 completely different things. Having shame OVER your depression is what I was referring to. Lots of people are depressed but would avoid talking about it publicly. I applaud Todd for that.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rob.Singer
I've known lots of people with depression. It tends to run in people who are smarter than the average bear. Your simplistic take on it all explains why you believe in weird gambling systems that have no real basis. It has little to do with "no way out".
"People ... only looking as far as themselves" ? WTF are you going on about? Oh don't answer.
192 left but still sitting on about 1.6 million.
On the ropes. Some asshole slow playing AA is the culprit. Send out positive vibes for a massive comeback.
Ooof.....out in 128th place. Well played Todd and better cards next year.
Outlasted over 8300 other players.....good show Dan
Nice run, Todd. Top 2%. Impressive.
Big question. Any famous names left in the field?
Antonio Esfandiari is the most recognizable name still left. There are a few others like a Jeff Madsen that aren't so recognizable unless you follow poker a lot.Quote:
Originally Posted by mickeycrimm
Well played Dan, congrats.
Dan cashed out at almost $60k. He did well and he should consider that a success. But will he? It all starts right there.Quote:
Originally Posted by accountinquestionFeeling shame and depression are 2 completely different things. Having shame OVER your depression is what I was referring to. Lots of people are depressed but would avoid talking about it publicly. I applaud Todd for that.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rob.Singer
I've known lots of people with depression. It tends to run in people who are smarter than the average bear. Your simplistic take on it all explains why you believe in weird gambling systems that have no real basis. It has little to do with "no way out".
"People ... only looking as far as themselves" ? WTF are you going on about? Oh don't answer.
Dan is a value grinder. We have no idea what all he does for money. To blame his depression on gambling, when we really have no idea how good/bad he runs set me off. (Maybe if you listen to his show and know more..?) Life is far more nuanced and complicated. It is a bit insulting to give him advice to stop gambling. Perhaps there was something in the conversation I missed. I think he'll consider it a success, but there is always that dream. Thats why tournament players play tournaments. That dream. I prefer to not waste my time, but I've been considering playing tournaments.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rob.SingerDan cashed out at almost $60k. He did well and he should consider that a success. But will he? It all starts right there.Quote:
Originally Posted by accountinquestionFeeling shame and depression are 2 completely different things. Having shame OVER your depression is what I was referring to. Lots of people are depressed but would avoid talking about it publicly. I applaud Todd for that.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rob.Singer
I've known lots of people with depression. It tends to run in people who are smarter than the average bear. Your simplistic take on it all explains why you believe in weird gambling systems that have no real basis. It has little to do with "no way out".
"People ... only looking as far as themselves" ? WTF are you going on about? Oh don't answer.
You seem to be taking this personally.Quote:
Originally Posted by accountinquestionDan is a value grinder. We have no idea what all he does for money. To blame his depression on gambling, when we really have no idea how good/bad he runs set me off. (Maybe if you listen to his show and know more..?) Life is far more nuanced and complicated. It is a bit insulting to give him advice to stop gambling. Perhaps there was something in the conversation I missed. I think he'll consider it a success, but there is always that dream. Thats why tournament players play tournaments. That dream. I prefer to not waste my time, but I've been considering playing tournaments.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rob.SingerDan cashed out at almost $60k. He did well and he should consider that a success. But will he? It all starts right there.Quote:
Originally Posted by accountinquestion
I'm not begrudging Dan for doing what he enjoys or having a dream to hit it big in poker. I'm simply reacting to his history of health issues as he's reported here, as well as to his interview a few days ago. It only makes sense that his saying how great he's feeling in the middle of a good run at WSOP is the result of not running badly. Which, In turn, can and should be taken as winning being the cure....and losing very likely being what sets it off. It IS his life, and everyone finds they must make changes to survive comfortably in their lives. Dan publicly identified his health issues, and I'm responding to what I see and how I see it. I believe he should end his poker career on this high note if he wants to stay healthy. There's nothing wrong with that. The roller coaster ride really gets to many people.
LOL interesting discussions about me here.
Okay, I'll break this all down.
I am fine with what happened at the Main Event.
Do I wish I was at the final table right now, playing for millions? Yes.
Do I think about how close I was sometimes, given that 8596 entered, and I was down to the final 128? Yes.
Do I have any crushing regrets? Not really.
Honestly, I didn't have any hot runs after mid-Day-2, and survived all the way to near the end of Day 5 by dodging landmines and not running into any coolers/beats to bust me. So I kind of just hung out until something bad did happen -- I lost a race with QQ versus AK, and I was down to critically low chips. Then I tripled up, but ran into AA a few minutes later, and I was gone.
I didn't make any kind of stupid mistake to lose my chips. I just ran out of cards.
You're not going to get to the final table of this thing unless you run hot at the right times. You can't just coast into it.
The guy who is probably going to win -- Hossain Ensan -- was sitting directly to my left on Day 5. Good player, but kept getting lucky. I'm shocked that I was able to double up off him earlier in the day (I had KK, he had QQ).
I still took home $59,285. I paid $10k to enter, so it's a $49,285 profit.
Not millions by any means, but not meaningless money, either, and it was fun experiencing the deep Main Event run once again.
I say "once again" because I had a very similar run in 2010, where I ultimately finished 88th. In that one, I was also crippled by a QQ versus AK hand.
Hopefully I'll get there again in fewer than another 9 years, and hopefully this time I'll run hot at the right moment.
Four guys from this forum came down to see me during Day 4, and I enjoyed seeing them. Thanks for that.
Regarding my psychological issues last year, they were NOT from gambling. They sprung from various physical issues at the time, as well as a bad reaction to a certain fairly common medication. At one point, I was in such terrible shape that I had zero quality of life and zero ability to experience any pleasure of any kind. Let me tell you that the period of mid-August to mid-September 2018 was, by a wide margin, the worst month of my life. I'm so thankful that I've recovered from it. Some of the recovery happened on its own, and some of it happened because I figured out best what works for ME (not for other people), and guided my own brain to return to what it once was.
Congratulations on the run and the finish. Your twitter feed is pretty comprehensive so, as usual, we followed it here. My girlfriend stayed awake for the whole "down to nine" bit the other night, which ended at 5:30 AM or so Eastern. She's a more dedicated poker fan than me.
Here's a question -- with all of the inconsistent breaks and hassles, why doesn't the WSOP just use a conference room for a buffet/sandwich spread for the players? I mean, c'mon, just limit it to those who've paid 10K or above in total entries, give 'em a wristband, and let them eat. It would seemingly solve a lot of hassle issues. The horse handicapping world championship tournaments, which only have 500-1000 people, manage to do it without charging the players. Why can't the WSOP swing something like that? In the old Binion's days, I realize there were only a hundred players, but there were courtesy rooms and pretty much anyone could wander in and eat/drink for free, including the press.
And finally, I may have mentioned this, but I was prescribed an antibiotic five or six years ago that could have killed me and really messed up my heart at the time. Doctors couldn't figure it out and thought I had a heart attack at first. I wound up wearing one of those EKG jackets for a week. It was only because one particular doctor had the same covert heart condition and was aware of the medication effects that I was eventually diagnosed. Had I taken more than the two doses I took, it could easily have killed me. The point is, many times a commonly prescribed drug can knock a good percent of the population (in my case three or four percent) for a loop.
Questions: Didn't you sell part of your play, and was that profitable or not? How are your overall results for WSOP in the long run?
What happened to that idiot who pulled his pants down and threw a sneaker onto the table?
No one needs you to explain any medical issues you brought up in the past. Whatever the cause or causes, it's your own business. And no one would ever admit gambling being the culprit on a gambling forum either. So we're left with opinions based on presumed true facts given publicly and that's all they were. Stay well.
He mentioned on PFA that he had (and always does have) 100% of himself in the ME.
He said the same thing on twitter.Quote:
Originally Posted by jbjb
What does that mean....that he doesn't ever sell any part of himself in the ME?Quote:
Originally Posted by mickeycrimmHe said the same thing on twitter.Quote:
Originally Posted by jbjb
I was still wondering if he made or lost $$ from wherever he sells himself. I read that on twitter.
He does not take any investors in the Main Event. That could be a general rule for him. It could also be that it's the softest of the tournaments with the highest projected EV, so why sell a piece of yourself?
Then that must mean that his overall profit from this year's WSOP was more than $49,285 because he didn't do as well in those smaller tournaments where he sold pieces of himself? And while he had to pay $10k to enter the ME, we're those smaller tournaments free?
I just went over Todd's twitter feed. He played a dozen events, payed 32K in entry fees, and cashed 4 events for a total of 72K.
Oh, so there are fees for entering the smaller tournaments also, and his +$49k got reduced by about $9k because of them? I imagine he also had to pay a little of that $40k to investors in the smaller tournaments.
I didn't realize people had to pay to play in all those tournaments. If they play in half a dozen and never cash out, it sounds like quite a loss. No wonder the prizes are so high.
Why don't you get to the point you are trying to make?Quote:
Originally Posted by Rob.Singer
There are fees in every tournament. The prize pools will always be less than the entry fee amount. The only ones I think that is exempt are from these fees are the special charity type tournaments like the Big Drops and such.
Actually even the One Drop charity tournament is raked, which is why I refuse to play it.
The only non-raked event I know of is the new $1500 Bracelet Winners Only event, but of course that event is very hard.
I don't sell pieces of the Main Event because I don't want to give away millions if I end up winning it.
Do you buy pieces of other players actions?Quote:
Originally Posted by Dan Druff
Belated congrats on a successful run.
I'm just trying to understand what these people who play in that series of tournaments have for expectations vs. results. IE--is/was the money you make worth all the time, and if you're an annual regular guy participant like Dan is, has it been worth it financially. This is assuming you're not one of the few who hit it big, or one of the many who don't ever win anything.Quote:
Originally Posted by MaxPenWhy don't you get to the point you are trying to make?Quote:
Originally Posted by Rob.Singer
I have two friends who play in just the ME every year and they never win anything. They each get 10-20 people to split the fee with them. Dan's a different story. He pays his own fees, and he cashes out some. How does it compare?
Rob-that is exactly why I stopped participating in the NHC (horse racing tournament). The time and money to qualify and participate was not worth it for the longshot chance to be one of a few large winners. I find it better to pick my spots in real money tournaments, whether on-line or in person. Just playing for $$$ now, not to gain entry to the big contest.
I only play a couple contests now, if any, for qualification to the NHC. Haven't played but one this year because I go to Keeneland every year anyway and they have the best contest.
There was also a big ego thing in qualifying but once you have done it a number of times it passes.
It looks like 15% of the field is being payed these days. The rake has gone sky high compared to the old days. Their raking 10% in the $1500 events and 6% in the 10K events.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rob.Singer
Phil Hellmuth used to say his expectation was 500% of the buy-in. I've heard other pros say 300%. But I really don't know with these huge fields and computer wiz kids today.
I mostly play the WSOP for fun. I don't play many tournaments outside of the WSOP, so I'm a little rusty every year when I come in, but I quickly get back into the mindset.
I'm much more of a cash player.
I really play for the excitement of running deep and maybe winning another bracelet or hitting a big score.
Gotta admit, it started really getting exciting when I passed the final 150 mark in both 2010 and 2019. You start wondering "What if I start running hot now?" and picture yourself winning 10 million and going down in history as the Main Event champion.
I do not sell pieces of the Main, nor do I swap, nor do I buy pieces of others.
I own 100% of me, 0% of everyone else.
I do sell off other events, though.
However, I also won't sell pieces of events under $1000, because those are too small for me to want to start splitting up the prize money (nor is the risk/variance very high for such events, compared to my bankroll).
I find the "buying a piece" concept kind of interesting. We have this in blackjack with some of the bigger teams selling pieces in the form of investors who invest in the bankroll, but don't play and then own a piece of the profits that the team earns. The big difference is in blackjack unlike the WSoP, there is no public scoreboard and posting of results, so team, team members and investors are on the honor system. The investor has no way to check that the team and/or players won or lost what they say.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dan Druff
And with all the top blackjack teams trust is always the factor that does them in. Even if no one is cheating or skimming off the top, just a general negative run, completely within the parameters of "normal" variance can quickly turn longtime team members and friends against each other. It is the ugly side of human nature. This is why with one exception, my brother, I have always declined any kind of team play. And while I have never really had the opportunity to be an investor, I wouldn't want any part of it with blackjack play. Now if there was a public scoreboard, with public results like poker....that would be a different animal. A way to spread the risk and win opportunity around. :)
There are other angles that even a scoreboard won't fix. I could sell 250% of myself at 50% markup, then tank in the tournament and walk away with more than a guaranteed min-cash. I don't think this sort of thing happens very often, but given the right situation and network/player it can.Quote:
Originally Posted by kewlJI find the "buying a piece" concept kind of interesting. We have this in blackjack with some of the bigger teams selling pieces in the form of investors who invest in the bankroll, but don't play and then own a piece of the profits that the team earns. The big difference is in blackjack unlike the WSoP, there is no public scoreboard and posting of results, so team, team members and investors are on the honor system. The investor has no way to check that the team and/or players won or lost what they say.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dan Druff
And with all the top blackjack teams trust is always the factor that does them in. Even if no one is cheating or skimming off the top, just a general negative run, completely within the parameters of "normal" variance can quickly turn longtime team members and friends against each other. It is the ugly side of human nature. This is why with one exception, my brother, I have always declined any kind of team play. And while I have never really had the opportunity to be an investor, I wouldn't want any part of it with blackjack play. Now if there was a public scoreboard, with public results like poker....that would be a different animal. A way to spread the risk and win opportunity around. :)