The PokerListings Daily 3-Bet is a brief-but-uplifting moment of zero gravity before you're dragged down into the gravitational pull of the afternoon poker news mire.
Any suggestions for a future 3-Bet, feel free to drop a note in the comments.
Today in the 3-Bet we find Phil Galfond blueprinting Viktor “Isildur1” Blom, Maui police losing their minds over a $1/$2 home game and Jens “Jeans89” Kyllönen going to space. Seriously. Like, actual outer space.
1) Phil Galfond Gets to Last Level of Legend of Isildur
Introspective and analytical high-stakes icon Phil Galfond is known for putting himself under the microsope and examining his inner and outer poker life in detail on his well-trafficked blog.
He rarely turns that precision on other players, however, so his in-depth blog post yesterday breaking down the game and career of Viktor “Isildur1” Blom was a revelation.
Mapping out Blom’s rise and fall as he sees it -- often from as close as the other side of the heads-up table -- Galfond gives perhaps the most precise portrait of the Swedish mystery man ever published.
He also makes it very clear he has a ton of respect for not only Blom’s game but for him personally. It's certainly worth reading the whole thing, perhaps a few times over even, but here's a brief excerpt:
“In my opinion, Viktor Blom clearly has more raw poker talent than I do. He impresses me on every level - Not only his game, but his competitive drive, his love of poker, and his refreshingly happy disposition.
"Frankly, I’m a legit Viktor Blom fan. You just have to respect someone who has his money from poker but plays the toughest games and highest stakes available for fun.”
Read the full post here.
2) Maui Police Fail to Recognize They're Living in Crazytown
While virtually every newspaper in the free world has acknowledged a federal judge’s declaration last week that poker is a game of skill, it seems news has yet to make it to Hawaii.
Nine people were arrested last week in a machine-gun toting raid of what one of the participants says was a simple $1/$2 home game.
No rake taken by the house. No food being sold. No other "illegal" activities. Just a simple poker game in someone’s house.
Which seems, well, a little crazy. And means either the player isn't telling the whole story or Maui police have a problem with common sense -- even if, according to Hawaii law, “gambling” is still illegal.
The player, who posted on 2+2 asking for help from the poker community, says that despite the abusrdity of the situation the consequences are very real:
"We were arrested, held in jail overnight, booked, charged with 'gambling' and recently our names and pictures were featured all over the state of Hawaii like we are criminals.
"All our the money on the table and in our pockets/bags were seized and is lost forever. The media coverage has basically portrayed us as criminals in the same class as any other murderer, drug lord, or any other criminal.
"All of this over a case of guys getting together and playing a $1-$2 weekly home game."
To which we say Maui, please.
3) Jens “Jeans89” Kyllönen is Going to Outer Space
In what might possibly be the best use of poker money ever (save, say, the charity part of the Big One for One Drop or any future curing of cancer), poker superstar Jens “Jeans89” Kyllönen is about to become Finland’s third-ever space tourist.
Finnish media reported last week that Kyllönen has confirmed a spot on Virgin Galactic’s next space trip, which reportedly cost Jeans about $200k.
“Space has always fascinated me,” Kyllonen said via the travel agency who arranged the trip for him.
“So when I had the opportunity to try out one of the first space flight, I took the opportunity."
Participants on the flight get 3-4 days of training at the Space Center Spaceport America in New Mexico capped by a two-hour space flight.
No statement was made as to the acceptability of Kyllönen's ubiquitous blue bathrobe for his space travel, but if the ambitious photoshops of 2+2 are to believed there's a 50-50 chance Jens will wear it.
That is a truly wonderful robe.