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With two seats for the national Final the following day up for grabs 215 players registered to play in the warm up event on the Saturday Night. The game was set up in two rooms and play proceeded in a very aggressive manner. Within 1 hour the field was reduced down to the one room.
Bars were opened in both rooms and service while not to tables was very good. Feedback from Bar staff indicated the players were having a good sip. After 4 and a half hours play the field was reduced to the final 8, 2 of the players with a chance to earn a seat in the National Final. As play progressed both of these players were eliminated.
The heads up was a battle of the girls with Kim from SA emerging victorious over Pauline from Nth Qld in a very absorbing battle.
The final five placings:
- Kim Gaskin, Playford Taverner - S.A. $600.00
- Pauline Hill, Rocky Glen - Nth Qld $200.00
- Brett Dykes, Keysborough Hotel - Vic $100.00
- Wayne Gable, Allenstown Hotel - Nth Qld $50.00
- Jorgen Jensen, Villa Noosa - Sunshine Coast $50.00
316 players registered to play in the National Final on Sunday. Play got underway at 10 am with 40 tables located in 2 rooms. Spectators lined the room to cheer on their favourites and it was not long before we lost the first player, 3rd hand of the day, beaten by runner runner straight.
A new concept at this year's finals was to awarded each player a numbered card guard reflecting their finishing position. Players were very impressed with many favourable comments.
Aggressive play was the order of the day and as some players were eliminated others were building chip stacks for the battle ahead. By the Lunch break the field had been reduced into one room with 25 tables. With blind levels increasing every twenty minutes the casualty rate continued to grow before long the field was reduced to 3 tables.
The play of the day would have to be Steve Lohse's $300,000 all in call holding 10 4 spades with a non pair rainbow board. The turn and river delivering spades and a $800,000 pot with only 20 players remaining. Credit to the losing player of the hand Nathan Betteridge from the Sunshine Coast who took the beat without any emotion or carry on, he simply re focused and ensured he stayed in the game. A great example for other players, no ranting and raving, well played Nathan.
With the elimination of Brendan Leclerc from the Sunshine Coast a final table was established. The makeup of the Final Table included players from Vic, SA, NSW & Qld. The game progressed in front of more than 60 spectators all cheering for their favourites. State loyalties to the front as the players battled to secure the top spot.
I can report that Queensland held sway and finished in the top position. NSW finished 3rd, SA 4th, Victoria 7th with Qld filling the remaining positions. - Adam Parkin, Edinburgh Castle Hotel - Brisbane Qld
- Steve Lohse Belmont Tavern - Brisbane Qld
- Wayne Morris Richmond Hotel - New South Wales
- David Hackett Stockdale Tavern - SA
- Nathan Betteridge Pub Mooloolaba - Sunshine Coast Qld
- Marnie Luke Parkwood Tavern - Gold Coast Qld
- Adrian Sticca Doncaster Inn - Vic
- Peter Woff Waterfront - Sunshine Coast Qld
Thank you to all the players for supporting our event and to the Lone Star staff and Management.
Also a big thank you to Emma Love, Christine Kerr, Wade Hawkes and Darren Shaw who worked during the day and ensured things ran smoothly. Without you these events can not run smoothly.
Following feedback from players regarding the prize structure I can announce that break up for future National Finals will be changed. The new structure will be:
- 1st - $10,000
- 2nd - $3,700
- 3rd - $2,000
- 4th - $1,300
- 5th - $1,000
- 6th - $800
- 7th - $700
- 8th - $500
Click here to view photos of the event
Tim Phillips
QLD Manager
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