APT Official Results 11/06/2005

The latest round of the Australian Poker Tour was held at the world famous “House of Pain” with a record turnout of 10 of the countries finest pros. Located in the leafy suburb of Armadale, the House of Pain, or HOP, is the home ground of some of Australia’s toughest poker champs. So far this year the HOP has lived up to it’s formidable name, as no outsider has been the last one sitting at the final table. But like all fairy tales (or nightmares) it had to come to an end. And so this week the House of Pain has become the House of Joy for now 3 time APT Champion Brook (Yellow Fly). In what was a tournament full of early frantic betting, cool calls and big all-ins, history was made, and the path of a future champ was paved in her début appearance.

Final Standings and Prize Money

1^st Brook (Yellow Fly) $170

2^nd Amanda (-) $20

3^rd Dougal (atrophy) $10

4^th Drew (dmorph)

5^th Sammi (sammi B)

6^th Pete (sparkneon)

7^th Dave (ddsmen)

8^th Theo (-)

9^th Anto (antmanaman)

10^th Bridge (Thunderpuss)

Highlights

As mentioned in our opening, the betting at this week’s table started FAST and FURIOUS. Pre-Flop raises and re-raises were being splashed into the pot quicker than any APT event so far.

With so much action there was sure to be an early victim, and so it was with short stacked Bridget being knocked out after calling “All In” on a stone cold bluff. The Champ from our last event feeling what’s been coined “Winners Curse”, and she now joins past cursed winners Brook and Anto, who also got knocked out in the first round after winning the previous week.

Three time championship winner Anto, was next to leave the table. Having a frustrating time at the table, Anto couldn’t find the cards when he needed them and was slowly drained of chips. Life support could only last so long, and he was pronounced D.O.A. with his chances of a fourth title having to wait another week.

Making his début appearance at an APT event, Theo presented an interesting challenge to his opponents. His lack of poker skills were made up with his psychology of playing people, and a legendary stone face that would make a judge blush. A good performance from this future champ, Theo will be drawing on what he learnt in this baptism of fire for future events.

If Anto was on life support, then Dave was at a funeral. Nothing but dead cards. A quiet night in the corner seemed to drain Dave of conversation and chips, and left the one time champ cursing his bad luck.

Poker Face Pete could not rely on his mirrored glasses to help him finish higher than 6^th in this weeks table. Pete played his usual tight style, and proved how good a champ he is after laying down a number of big hands that could have gotten him into a lot of trouble. Pete traded blows with Drew and Dougal throughout the night, but finally bowed out, as exhaustion and an early start the next morning finally took its toll.

Sam was seen as the most improved player of the event, shifting gears dramatically from previous events - playing very smart, very aggressive. Stealing blinds and big raises were the call of the day for Team Sammi as this poker pro found a new path to future championship glory.

Drew “Mr. Comfortable” played his usual style of banana lounge poker. Steady take-downs kept Drew’s chip stack healthy for most of the night, and as the table now only had four players, Drew was sitting in good position with the second highest chip stack. However, on the hand of the night, all that changed. Brook had K 2, Drew K 6. The flop came down with a K. Both had top pair, both thinking the other had something, but not a King. A heavy round of betting ensued, Brook trying to intimidate splashed in 10 dollars. Drew countered and re-raised to All In. Brook looked pained as the thought of doubling up Drew brought back memories from a disastrous showdown with Pete in last months event. But Brook did not think Drew had a K, and the temptation of knocking out a feared competitor was enough for him to make the call. Brook showed K 2, Drew K 6.

Then the Turn, nothing for either player. Now Drew was in a commanding position with top pair and a higher kicker in the 6. Only a miracle 2 on the river could prevent Drew from doubling up and taking a large chunk from Brooks stack. The river card…… was a 2, giving Brook two pair and the win. The 3 in 52 long shot came up and Drew’s final table dream was over.

Dougal was third, having lost a large hands to Drew in the previous rounds, his short stack could not compete with the wealth of chips Brook now enjoyed. Having survived an early All In call, Dougal played very solid – aggressive poker. The chip leader earlier in the night, Dougal showed all heart with his “Raise or go home attitude”. Featuring in the prize money was welcome relief for Doug, who has been bitten by unlucky early All In’s in the past.

Also making her début was Amanda, and she took the poker world by storm. Table jitters saw her sit out a number of the hands in the early part of the night, but has her confidence grew, so did her chip stack. Brook lost over $50 dollars to her in a number of hands, two of the biggest ones featured Jacks. Out of respect, and to make up for his bruised ego, he has labeled Amanda “The Grey Nurse” because she turned out to be a lethal poker shark. However a few bad hands late in the night saw her chip stack too small and the blinds too high to compete. A phenomenal 2^nd place, plus prize money, for this future pro in her first appearance at an APT event.

And so this week’s Australian Poker Tour Champion is Brook, who breaks the House of Pain, claims his third bracelet, and fights his way through the biggest and toughest field of players yet.

Until next time, stay tuned for the next event on the Australian Poker Tour.