Paul Stevens takes out SA FullTiltPoker.Org State Finals!
2008-10-15 APL Team
On the 12th October 2008 the APL held the Full Tilt.Org State Finals for SA at South Adelaide Football Club. 114 of the state's most accomplished poker enthusiasts turned up to compete for the most prestigious SA State Final ever held.
With $5000 in prize money along with four Wild Turkey Poker Classic Seats up for grabs, qualification into this event had been highly sought after. The WTPC is to be held at Crown Entertainment Complex, Melbourne in February with an expected $500,000 in cash and prizes to be given away.
Play commenced at 1.30pm and the room errupted in applause as George Apat, Mark Reid, Skye Jones, Robert lark, Craig Ivey and David Hackett were brought up on stage for their recent efforts in the APL's POTW,POTM & POTY promotions.
The atmosphere was electric in the early stages of the tourney as players settled into their game. Malcolm Johnson was the first casualty of the day when George Apat caught a full House on the river to eliminate Malcolm with his set of kings.
Play was very conservative leading up to the first break. Eugene Wong was the chip leader at the conclusion of the first session of playwith 16.9k in chips.
Gavin Reynolds flopped a Royal flush draw with the blinds at 1000/2000 on a board of . All players checked and the turn brought the which gave Gavin (holding ) a Royal Flush. An unknowing John Williams & Rita Burke both moved all in unwittingly and the river produced a to make a straight on the board - unable to save either player. Gavin knocked them both out and took down a huge pot!
At the beginning of the final session Nathan Donald was our new chip leader with 42k. 39 players remained with the blinds at 1500-3000.
As we approached final 16 play tightened up significantly. Finally Cory Jones busted the bubble as his off suit was smashed. 16 were left. We were in the money!
Julie Olivieri was the big mover leading up to the final table knocking out four players in quick succession. Nathan Donald also secured an earlier chip lead with some solid poker. Philip Marsland was knocked out in 9th position to take us to the final table.
The final table stacks were as follows
Julie Olivieri - 180k
Nathan Donald - 135k
Eugene Wong – 105k
William Chappell – 70k
Paul Stevens – 50k
Chris Platten – 50k
Natalie Leighton – 35k
Robert Phillip Goss – 10k
Each player was introduced individually, walking down the red carpet to the final table. The crowd cheering with each player's entrance.
Inside the first three hands we lost three players. In 8th place was Chris Platten. 7th place was William Chappell who only started playing APL a couple of months ago. Natalie Leighton fished 6th when Paul Stevens 2 pair was too strong for Natalie's pair.
Our chip leader coming to the final, Julie Olivieri had no luck in the early stages of the final table. Her chip stack had been whittled down and Nathan put the last nail in Julie's coffin with 3 of a kind.
An amazing story of the final table was that of Robert Goss. Robert was all in and won – seven times on the final table and twice during top 16. On his 10th life he came unstuck when both Nathan and Paul checked it out to the river.
We now have our three qualifiers for the WT Poker Classic.
The next 40min saw no casualties as Eugene kept dodging bullets to stay alive. Eugene eventually lost the battle when Paul trapped Eugene into moving all in with the losing hand, leaving us with Nathan and Paul with equal chip stacks.
Heads up lasted 8 hands with neither player taking a significant chip lead. The tournament was decided with and all in bluff pre-flop by Nathan who was holding with a quick call by Paul who held . The board showed making Paul Stevens our October 2008 South Australian State Champion.
A great day was had by all with amazing prizes and branding proudly brought to us by FULL Tilt.org and Wild Turkey.
Many players commented on the fact that there has never been a poker game like this in South Australia.
The Final Standings were as follows:
1st – Paul Stevens (APL358772)
2nd – Nathan McDonald (APL246454)
3rd – Eugene Wong (APL232289)
4th – Robert Phillip Goss (APL149149)
5th – Julie Oliveri (APL221758)
6th – Natalie Leighton (APL221068)
7th – William Chappell (APL354362)
8th – Chris Platten (APL221002)
9th – Phillip Marsland (APL246200)
10th – Gavin Reynolds (APL221672)
11th – Simon Lane (APL246387)
12th – Russell Gibbie (APL221672)
13th – Gaye Rose (APL221200)
14th – Leigh Hockridge (APL246344)
15th – Alana Pearce (APL169394)
16th – Jeff Gilbert (APL221543)
On the 12th October 2008 the APL held the Full Tilt.Org State Finals for SA at South Adelaide Football Club. 114 of the state's most accomplished poker enthusiasts turned up to compete for the most prestigious SA State Final ever held.
. All players checked and the turn brought the 
which gave Gavin (holding 
) a Royal Flush. An unknowing John Williams 
& Rita Burke 
both moved all in unwittingly and the river produced a 
to make a straight on the board - unable to save either player. Gavin knocked them both out and took down a huge pot!
off suit was smashed. 16 were left. We were in the money!
. The board showed 
