State Finals were nearly here and with a week to go, players were asking each other if they were going or not, trying to organise rides with each other to travel from far away regions. The buzz had certainly begun.
The day arrived and the queue to register was slowly building, with the doors open at 10am. Player after player the numbers grew, with 30 mins to go until start time, we had gone over the 320 mark. Wondering what numbers we would have today? Would it be more or less than the last State Finals of 364 players? That soon passed and we filled our maximum licenced seating of 368 players, then the reserves started and reached 43. With the total players reaching 411, a new WA record was set for the most players seated in a one day poker event anywhere in WA!
The Sizzle Reel started players talking, with the event that they were playing for, displayed in all its glory. This set the mood, with big name Poker Players Joe Hachem and Gus Hansen shown on the big screen. The Tournament staff congratulated everyone on their last season and the Region Leaders all received their certificates:
WBM - (Bunbury / Margaret River) Paul Springate
WCC - (Perth Central City) Tony Nakhoul
WNE - (Perth North East) Graeme Wright
WNW - (Perth North West) Jeffrey Field
WSE – (Perth South East) Thomas Pohe
WSW – (Perth South West) Luke Nilen
The Leader of the State also received his certificate, again well done to Graeme Wright.
The venues across WA were thanked and away we go, it was time to put on those 'Poker Faces' and 'Shuffle Up and Deal'. Within the first blinds, all of the 43 reserves were seated and 43 players had already bowed out. After 80 minutes of play it was time for the first break with the field narrowing slightly with a head count around the 300 mark. Players enjoyed their break, having something to eat and sitting on the grass around the building watching the local cricketers battling it out in their league, while the APL battled was about to continue to rage inside.
Now with full stomachs, it was time to get back to the tables, put friends aside and try and win that next pot. The murmur of different bad beat stories grew along the sidelines. Wild Turkey was selling like hotcakes at only $5.50, what a bargain and why would you drink anything else! The players knocked out were remaining at the event, either watching the excitement of the Tournament, playing a Sit and Go or even trying their luck on the more serious Cash Table.
The Next break was after the 1000 – 2000 Blinds and everyone was then chipped up, certainly good news for some of the low stacked players. Around 120 players returned from the break to begin the real battle down to the Final Table. 50 players left, then 40, 30, as the crowd grew to watch the final 4 tables, the cheer squads rooted for their favourite players and the applause came after each player was knocked out of the running.
With 9 players left and hand for hand about to start, one table lost 2 players, Benjamin Breadsell with the higher chip stack comes in at 8th and scores a Bottle of Wild Turkey. We have a Final Table, these final 7 now draw their seats and ultimately their dealing positions. In Seat 1 facing the small blind of $25,000 is 'Sarah Holmes' from the WSE Region with $45,000 in chips. In the $50,000 Big Blind Position is 'Michael Peter' from the WNW Region with $90,000 in chips. Under the Gun is 'Andre Seet' from the WCC Region with $210,000 in chips. Seat 4 is taken by 'Lee Telfer' (and his little Yoda Lucky Charm) from the WNW Region with $210,000 chips. In Seat 5 is 'Carl Simonetti' from the WCC Region with $40,000 in chips. Seat 7 was picked by Chip Leader 'Charmaine Thorpe' from the WNW Region with $425,000. In Seat 8 is 'Chris Monaghan' from WSW with $380,000 in chips. The table is now ready to begin.
In the first hand we lose Carl and Michael, Carl takes 7th position with less chips than Michael in 6th. Sarah hung in there winning some nice hands and building her stack but was unfortunate to be blinded away in 5th position. Andre was the next to go in 4th position leaving us with the final 3 players. With the blinds at $50,000 - $100,000 Charmaine's Big Stack was slowly eaten away and she bowed out in 3rd Position. The heads up battle began and this could be seen as a game of tennis with chips going from one side of the table to the other. Every time Lee touched his cards, Yoda would touch them first.
The final hand saw both players All In pre-flop, Lee had Ace Diamonds and 4 of Spades and Chris had Jack of Hearts and 8 of Diamonds. The Flop comes down with 4 of Hearts, Ace of Clubs and 7 of Hearts, Lee is looking good with 2 pair on the flop, the Turn card comes down, King of Hearts. Now Chris is looking for a Heart on the River to give him the Flush. The River is a King of Spades, Lee has Chris Covered and is the New WA State Champion!
Lee receives a Bottle of Rare Bread Wild Turkey and a seat into the APL Tournament of Champions, where he'll be in with a chance of winning part of the Massive Prize Pool. Lee also wins 12 Tickets into the NSW APL Pro Open, which he can use every month or just take 11 mates into 1 tournament.
Now it is time to get back out there and enjoy your weekly events and we'll see you at the next State Finals!
State Finals were nearly here and with a week to go, players were asking each other if they were going or not, trying to organise rides with each other to travel from far away regions. The buzz had certainly begun.
