The Nemesis

Over the last few years, several times I've been told I'm a luckbox/lucker/lotto donk/bingo player/etc and I know that there's some pour soul on PokerStars who feels I run like god against them. It's somewhat amusing to me, as I feel I don't run particularly well at all and have my own list of players I simply can't seem to beat when it comes to all-in pots. If I get it in ahead, I'm not holding. If I get it in behind, I might as well close the table right there. I could start naming names of past and present players who fit the mold, but unfortunately none of them are famous enough to elicit much of a reaction. Well, until now.

Last night, I made the final table of the $55 Turbo and as the table dwindled I could smell first place money. This is it, I thought. This will be my big score. With 6 left, the CO shoved for 10 BBs and I giddily re-shipped AK. He tabled the 85cc but unfortunately the board ran out 899T9, giving him two pair, the pot, the chiplead of the tournament, and part of my soul. With only a few BBs left, I busted a few hands later and quickly shared the hand via social media so I could get some sympathy/support out of friends and followers. Most did just that, but one of my buddies noticed the villain's screenname.

Subiime? Isn't that Joseph Cheong?

It is. Cheong finished 3rd in the 2010 Main Event, but is likely more famous for the hand where he "blew up" and 6 bet-shoved A7 into Jonathan Duhammel's pocket Queens. I'm not about to delve into the merit of his play because I'm simply not aware of the table dynamics/reads/other important information needed to make an accurate evaluation. Point is, Cheong is famous.

Despite losing the $55 Turbo, I kept my motivation to grind and continued to do so throughout the night. And a few hours ago, I found myself sitting right next to him in the $25 6-max Hyper Turbo. I tried to get his attention, but unfortunately he either doesn't respond in chat or didn't care enough to do so. Oh well. Just after the first break, I'm dealt QQ in the BB and it's folded to Cheong, who opens shoves. I snap, he has A5. Flop comes A93r and I can't catch up, once again leaving me with only a few BBs.


Full-Tilt Hoodie? Hmmm...

Fast forward a couple orbits -- I've built my stack back up, no thanks to Cheong, and pick up TT in the SB. Table folds to Cheong, and moves in his 8 BB stack. I call, he has Q8, flops an 8 and rivers an 8, sending me to the rail. Believe it or not, I actually cracked a smile after that one.

Although it's only three hands (LOL sample size), I'm anointing Cheong as my nemesis until I beat him in an all-in pot. And considering our stakes rarely overlap, that might be a while. Perhaps more important than the difference in average stake is the difference in luck on our respective sides. Only moments ago while discussing this with a friend of mine, he said "Of course Cheong runs good. He got third in the Main Event!" True. And my biggest score was 3rd in a $22 MTT? I'm not in love with my chances here.