QLD Rhino's State Finals Take Off!

On the 12th April 2008 the APL held the QLD Rhino's State Finals at Kedron-Wavell. 544 of the best players turned up to compete for the biggest QLD State Final ever held.

The first heat started at 11.30am and were given a real treat when we introduced 6 APL superstars who would be playing a superstar 'Sit N Go' at a Wild Turkey Final Table on the main stage. They were quickly joined by Full Tilt Professional and WSOP Bracelet Winner Mark Vos and the face of APL, superstar recording artist Shannon Noll.

We actually lost a player from Mackay in the first hand when his suited all in move UTG was called at the cut off with (of course)!!

With a 5,000 chip deep stack and 20 minute blinds the players had every opportunity to showcase their best game.

260 players made the final and the action was thick and fast. Wayne Saint took out a nice pot when he hit quad aces, proving his 3rd place finish in a previous State Finals was no fluke.

Superstar players Kevin Kelly, Sue Davis, Stephen Harrriot, Franky Gasser, Erin Lyoness and Alex (Poppa Smurf) Rigby all made the final.

Once again regional QLD proved they are a force to be reckoned with and Robin Drury from Hervey Bay finished a creditable 15th. Colin Sonter from Bundeberg finished 14th and Dennis Dempsey from Rockhampton was the highest regional player finishing in 12th.

Mikey Orupold and Eamon Lindeberg were the big stacks left going at it with just 11 players left. With 5 players on their table, Eamon raised and Mikey re-raised pre-flop. Eamon was thinking of shoving all in. He did the right thing by tanking and folding AJ - Mikey showing his .

Mikey Orupold used his big stack and opportunity to bully the table chipping himself right up and giving himself a great chance on the final table.

With 9 players left and the top 8 qualifying for TOC 2008 players really tightened up. Nicole Smith was short stacked and pushed all in with . Mikey Orupold called with and when a 9 hit the turn and Nicole bricked the river she was our bubble.

The players were quick to congratulate her on a huge effort and as we drew for final table seating the players were only just trying to get to terms with having qualified for the flagship event and an opportunity to become superstars at the TOC 2008.

The final table was once again a Brisbane v's Sunshine Coast affair. The last Gold Coast player from a huge 104 qualifying team was Mitch Caton from South. He did them proud with a 13th place finish.

Kate Dickenson was unlucky when she hit a straight on the river only to be beaten by the full house of Jim Bruce and she was out. Kate informs us she will now join her son at the TOC and she left Kedron ecstatic. She should be very proud as she made some huge lay downs to make final table.

Steven Dring from QNW region really played the short stack exceptionally well from around the 30 player mark and he will be a huge threat at the TOC with ultimate discipline and positional play.

Massive congratulations for the effort of Suzanne Phillips who was our highest female finisher and cemented that the girls from Logan are better than the boys!!

5 handed play was aggressive. Mikey Orupold raised from the button and Jim Bruce shoved all in from the SB. Mikey was talking it up in true, "Mike the Mouth", style and Jim had had enough. "I don't believe you mate", said Jim but Mike backed himself and called quickly turning over . Jim grimaced showing just .

The door card was the but was followed by and giving Jim a flush draw and a gut shot straight draw. Jim didn't have to wait long - the hitting on the turn. Mikey was praying for a repeat river but when dealer Kristy Kelly delivered a brick Jim took over the chip lead.

Mikey was still alive but had to re-group. He raised the next hand and Eamon shoved all in. Mikey tanked but made a screaming call and was gutted when Eamon turned over against his . He knew he was a 4-1 underdog. The flop came out and Mikey was back. Eamon played brilliantly and was the unluckiest player in the tournament with an impressive 5th place.

Grumpy Sharp was the quite man of the tournament and after winning a few pots 4 handed busted out in 4th. Grumpy has recently retired from driving big rigs right around Australia. It was quite common for him to be playing in WA on a Tuesday, Adelaide on a Thursday and back in Brisbane on a Sunday! He loves his poker and is proof that anyone can turn up on the day and do something spectacular.

Mikey found himself up against 2 Sunshine Coast players 3 handed but when Daniel Kristen's' Final ended from the short stack we were left with the battle everyone wanted to see.

Mikey v's Jim was everything we expected and more. These two had built up the perfect rivalry and Jim was the aggressor taking pot after pot without showing his hand. Mikey was getting short stacked and after another re-raise shove all in from Jim, Mikey drew the line. He called with . Jim had . Mikey hit the on the flop and a on the river to double up and bring the stacks back to even.

The players did a deal to split the cash at this stage so it was just the Title and all the awesome Rhino's and Wild Turkey prizes at stake. The crunch hand was played when Mikey was all in again with and Jim was marginally in front with . Once again the hit the flop and Jim couldn't improve leaving him with just 200K in chips.

The final hand was dealt up with Mike having his dominated by Jim's . The hit the flop and that was good enough to crown Michael Orupold QLD State Champion. Jim Bruce could have won the title and proved that the Sunshine Coast outperform every other region in the big games. Perhaps next time!

Michael Orupold is a rising star and shows the courage of a lion. These QLD players are going to make a real run for the TOC title so other states watch out the Maroons are coming!!

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