Michael Roros and Paul Stevens take out the SA APL Pro Open!

34 of South Australia's best poker players gathered on Saturday at Skycity casino for the 2nd SA APL Pro Open.

The event was a $120 buy in event open to APL members only. Up for grabs was a Wild Turkey Poker Classic seat for every 14 entries. With 34 players, seats were awarded to the top 2 players.

Unlike similar events in the past, play started out in aggressive fashion. In the very first hand we lost Craig Hillier from Mount Gambier. Craig drove 5 hours to play in the Pro Open and is the proud owner of Mac's Hotel who hosts 2 APL games per week.

It didn't take long to sort out the men from the boys. Robert Lark took an early chip lead when his pocket J's Held up against Pocket 10's. Nicola with her pocket 10's flopped a set however the J came on the turn and sent Nicola to the side games.

Other players to feature early on were George Apat and Michael Roros who accumulated large chip stacks in the mid stages of the game.
With only 34 players the final table was established in lightning time. Michael Roros was chip leader with 67k when the action began.
The play did not slow down with Skye Jones the first to be eliminated in the initial couple of hands. Skye has featured highly in the POW, POM & POY promotions. She has won $6000 and a WTPC seat in the last 3 months.

Players were dropping like fly's with Paul Stevens and Michael Roros dominating the final table. When Russell Gibbie was sent packing we were down to 3 players.

George Apat was short stacked compared to the skyscrapers of chips that Michael and Paul had between them. George had no choice but to pull the trigger after the other two made it clear they were not going to hunt each other. At one stage Paul folded pocket Q's rather than pay the minimum raise that Michael posted.

George went all in with his A3. Michael quickly called and through over Ak. The flop came 2, 4, J. The AK in front. The turn was a 3 to put George in front with only the river to come. The gallery went crazy as George is one of the most popular players on the circuit. Only a K could prevent George doubling up! The dealer turned the final card and……you guessed it – a K. George was gone. As always he took the loss like the gentleman that he is.

The SA APL Pro Open was all over ! .

Michael Roros and Paul Stevens find themselves playing for $500,000 at the WTPC at Crown Casino in February. Paul won the SA State Final in October therefore he now has 2 entries to the WTPC.
Michael played his 1st APL game in late December and is confident he can cash in big at Crown.

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