He’s got a collection of number one smash hits, goes nowhere without his huge (but very polite) bodyguard, wears diamond earrings more expensive than my house, and is happy to give his time up for worthwhile causes. But Nelly, the U.S rapper who topped the charts with It’s Getting Hot in Herre and Dilemma, will not be an EPT champion. Not yet, anyway.
After turning out for PokerStars’ Ante Up for Africa tournament on the eve of the EPT Season 5 finale here in Monte Carlo, Nelly was looking forward to playing the $10,000 main event.
He warmed up yesterday with a couple of small games (“I made a bit of cash”) and then pitched up this afternoon to play day 1b.
Alas, his dreams of shooting up the leader board and chasing the estimated $8,500,000 pool were dashed early in the second level. After already taking a big hit to his 30,000 starting stack, he found his A-10 was no match for Andrew Feldman’s A-K.
“There was an ace on the flop – A-3-5, I think,” Nelly explained as that hulking bodyguard of his checked what I was noting down. “We both slow played our pair and then the money went in on the turn and river. He had me all along!
“I know a fair bit about how to play – but after that hand I realise I clearly don’t know as much as I need to! I am very competitive and hate losing, so I will keep learning as I quite like the idea of playing this sort of tournament again.
“I have had such a great time. PokerStars brought me here to play in Ante Up for Africa – a very worthwhile cause. I got to play with Daniel Negreanu and Joe Hachem, both great guys. I’ve seen them play on TV and they’ve seen me perform on TV, so it was fun to meet up around the poker table.
“Monte Carlo is a beautiful place. What an experience.”
And with that, the singer was off. Exit stage right, pursued by bear-like bodyguard.
* Don’t forget you can now follow the PokerStars Blog on Twitter. Team PokerStars Pro Vicky Coren is playing day 1b and plans to update her progress on her Twitter page, as does Vanessa Rousso.
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