Tournament feedback from Craig Young
Here is a copy of the feedback report that Craig sent back.
Entire and unedited.
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Feedback from Craig Young, a qualifier who finished second place overall
When I qualified on line for the 888 open v, Probably about 6 months ago, the first contact I had from 888 was via email from a guy/girl called Fran lee…I remember thinking the name was familiar, wasn’t he a footballer??….anyhow I sent back the details he asked for and began the long wait…little did I know that Fran would become, in my opinion, a true friend!!, to both me and my dad and I’m sure to many other people at the event, not just the on-liners!
On the first morning of the event Fran contacted me in my room to say I was more than welcome to join him at the studios for the celebrity heat that morning or he’d be coming back to the hotel before my heat that afternoon…straight away I felt at ease with no pressure to be somewhere now!
I first met Fran a few hours later in the hotel lobby where my dad instantly tried boring him to death with his rubbish stories of touring Ireland, a less nice man than Fran would have made his excuses and found a safe hiding place! Fran didn’t!!
In the few hours before my heat started I was obviously extremely nervous…but Fran and tony(forums)did everything they could for me and the other two qualifiers to make us feel at ease and importantly, not out of our depths!!
By luck or by judgment I came through the heat and had around ten days to go home/work and think and sweat!! Fran kept me informed in the meantime who I would face in the semi final..
Upon my return I had obviously grown a little in confidence but still had my feet firmly on the ground and wasn’t going to blow things by being over confident or cocky! If I was going home after the semi then these guys were going to have to move me! I wasn’t going to make it easy for them!
In the bar the night before Fran and Tony let me bounce my ideas and feelings off them and they were both thoroughly supportive of everything I had to say and both sent excellent advice back my way regarding the pro’s and how they will try to affect my game..we all agreed on pretty much everything we had discussed and I felt more ready and confident taking onboard the advice they had given. Boy were they right about the pro’s!!!!!!!!
Anyway the day came and the guys were again ready to do anything for me and the other on-liners!! I went through the same nerves and mental preparation as I had for the heat..Fran and Tony were there if I needed them of course but also I think they could tell I wanted to prepare and respected that I didn’t want to talk!
I don’t remember much about the game (cant wait to see the footage)but I think it was pretty faultless, I do remember being stuck between James Akenhead and Mark Goodwin 3 handed for about 2 hours and going through probably the most emotionally draining experience of my life ever!!! I do quite a mentally tough job but work had never asked as much of my brain as that afternoon did and probably never will!! anyway again I had my little share of luck at the right time and again came through!! needless to say when I left the studio Fran, Tony and his wife were alongside my dad ready to congratulate me!!
The next day Ii was relaxed while the other two semi’s were played and the guys support turned to Mike Partridge (great player) and Larry the legend and their quest to make the final table…I’m sure these guys along with the other on-liners would agree that Fran and Tony were ever supportive!
Again, that evening in the bar, we talked about the final table and the guys (knowingly or not) made me feel more and more confident about my chances the next day….after all I was 3rd chip leader and although I wouldn’t have said so, I couldn’t see a reason why by using the same game plan and getting my share of the luck I couldn’t go on to win the event..I knew what I had to do!!….no drinking, go to bed!!!
Final day arrived and I was nearly 2 hours early for the short minibus ride to the studio! again I was nervous, but by the time we hit the studio my head was exactly where it needed to be! all the make up ,all the interviews, all the advice was done!! time to see what we could do!
To be honest after the battle in the semi I expected a long, long, grueling day, it didn’t really turn out that way! a lot of the hands,(not involving me) played themselves and people got up and left! I had made a few small mistakes (like not raising enough to get Michael Keiner off a pot that I was winning….and getting confused between the value of the chips in one hand..I hit myself hard during the break for that!) I put this to the back of my mind and like i said a few people left which meant I’d gone from the short stack 5 handed to the short stack 3 handed without doing anything as far as I remember!
Now i made my moves…..and hit my bit of luck…and was heads up with Keiner….he’s a legend, he looked after me!
Within a few hands we were dealt cards that was going to effectively end the game! I think I preferred it that way, the alternative could have been he spent the next few hours slowly taking the chips! You couldn’t have scripted the hole cards, the flop the turn or the river!(mad Marty Wilson (tour director) must have been under that table shuffling the cards! J) I went into the flop losing and knowing it! but had to call!, hit a flush on turn and came out of the hand losing to a full house on the river, but I’m not gonna grumble…had my luck to get there! Just a shame, as the Q of hearts would have finished the event in some style (giving me a Royal flush and the title)! and I was gutted when I saw the trophy!
However, like I say I’m not going to grumble! I am however going to try to get my hands on it next year! so…all you fellow on -liners, you know you can do it and we’re all just one big result away from changing our lives!..I cant retire but my life has changed!
Finally I would like to put on record my thanks and respect for Fran and Tony from 888, they’ll say they’re just doing they’re jobs! Maybe! but I may not have been runner up if hadn’t of been for the support thy showed!
I’m forever in your debt guys and will never forget you! Maidstone was a better place for you two being there, I hope 888 realize that and send you both again next year, I shall be coming to see you, competing or not!
Craig and dad
