The 2012 Melbourne Poker Championship boasts 10 official tournaments ranging from the $200 No Limit Holdem Megastack to the $1,100 No Limit Holdem Main Event. Plus there are daily satellites on offer from $65.

This years Melbourne Poker Championships will feature two major championship events with the $550 Joe Hachem Deepstack 9 kicking things off as the opening event. Already well established this Joe Hachem Deepstack Events feature a repechage format like the Melbourne Championship Main Event and offer fantastic value for the poker player. The $1,100 Main Event itself features a great structure that produces worthy champions. Last years winner Brendon Rubie proved it was no fluke when he backed up his win with victory in the Aussie Millions Opening Event. These combined events are sure to bring the best players in the Country to fight it out for the huge prize pools up for grabs.

Returning to the schedule in 2012 are the ever popular events, the $200 MegaStack No Limit Holdem, a $340 7 Game Mixed Event H.O.R.S.E/NLHE/PLO and $550 Pot Limit Omaha (Double Chance Format), No Limit Holdem Bounties- ($500 per Bounty), No Limit Holdem- 6 Handed Events.

New to the schedule is a $400 Turbo terminator event, with $100 for every player eliminated the action is sure to be fast and loose. Also a first on any Australian Championship schedule is an “Ante Up!” event. In this format the one blind stays at the minimum while the antes are raised every level. With a $200 entry and the last event on the schedule this event is sure to attract plenty of interest. There is also a new twist on an old favourite with this years teams event open to teams of two OR three players. Team-mates will change after each orbit on their table with no team-mate allowed to play more than one consecutive orbit.

Thursday 03-May
10:10am Step 1 Satellite – Main Event (Turbo, 1 in 5 win) $65 (50+15)
12:10pm JHDS Supershot (Turbo, 1 in 5 Win) $130 (110+20)
2:10pm JHDS Supershot (Turbo, 1 in 5 Win) $130 (110+20)
4:10pm JHDS Supershot (Turbo, 1 in 5 Win) $130 (110+20)
6:10pm 1 Joe Hachem Deepstack 9- Flight 1 $550 (500+50)
10:00pm Step 1 Satellite – Main Event (Turbo, 1 in 5 win) $65 (50+15)
Friday 04-May
10:10am JHDS Supershot (Turbo, 1 in 5 Win) $65 (50+15)
12:10pm 1 Joe Hachem Deepstack 9- Flight 2 (Repechage) $550 (500+50)
2:10pm Step 1 Satellite – Main Event (Turbo, 1 in 5 win) $65 (50+15)
4:10pm Step 1 Satellite – Main Event (Turbo, 1 in 5 win) $65 (50+15)
7:10pm Step 2 Satellite – Main Event (1 in 5 Win) $250 (220+30)
10:00pm Step 1 Satellite – Main Event (Turbo, 1 in 5 win) $65 (50+15)
Saturday 05-May
10:10am JHDS Supershot (Turbo, 1 in 5 Win) $65 (50+15)
12:10pm 1 Joe Hachem Deepstack 9- Flight 3 (Repechage) $550 (500+50)
2:10pm Step 1 Satellite – Main Event (Turbo, 1 in 5 win) $65 (50+15)
4:10pm Step 1 Satellite – Main Event (Turbo, 1 in 5 win) $65 (50+15)
7:10pm Step 2 Satellite – Main Event (1 in 5 Win) $250 (220+30)
10:00pm Step 1 Satellite – Main Event (Turbo, 1 in 5 win) $65 (50+15)
Sunday 06-May
10:10am Step 1 Satellite – Main Event (Turbo, 1 in 5 win) $65 (50+15)
12:10pm 2 MegaStack No Limit Holdem $200 ($170+30)
12:30pm 1 Joe Hachem Deepstack 9- Day 2
4:10pm Step 1 Satellite – Main Event (Turbo, 1 in 5 win) $65 (50+15)
6:10pm 3 No Limit Holdem Teams -Non Stop Turbo $300 (260+40)
10:00pm Step 1 Satellite – Main Event (Turbo, 1 in 5 win) $65 (50+15)
Monday 07-May
10:10am Step 1 Satellite – Main Event (Turbo, 1 in 5 win) $65 (50+15)
12:10pm Step 1 Satellite – Main Event (Turbo, 1 in 5 win) $65 (50+15)
2:10pm 4 7 Game Mixed Event H.O.R.S.E/NLHE/PLO $340 (300+40)
4:10pm Step 1 Satellite – Main Event (Turbo, 1 in 5 win) $65 (50+15)
7:10pm Step 2 Satellite – Main Event (1 in 5 Win) $250 (220+30)
10:00pm Supershot – Any $550 Side Event (Turbo- 1 in 5 win) $130 (110+20)
Tuesday 08-May
10:10am Supershot – (Turbo- 1 in 5 win any $550 Event) $130 (110+20)
12:10pm Step 1 Satellite – Main Event (Turbo, 1 in 5 win) $65 (50+15)
2:10pm 5 Pot Limit Omaha (Double Chance Format) $550 (500+50)
4:10pm Step 1 Satellite – Main Event (Turbo, 1 in 5 win) $65 (50+15)
7:10pm Step 2 Satellite – Main Event (1 in 5 Win) $250 (220+30)
10:00pm Supershot – Any $550 Side Event (Turbo- 1 in 5 win) $130 (110+20)
Wednesday 09-May
10:10am Supershot – Any $550 Side Event (Turbo- 1 in 5 win) $130 (110+20)
12:10pm Step 1 Satellite – Main Event (Turbo, 1 in 5 win) $65 (50+15)
2:10pm 6 No Limit Holdem Bounties- $500 per Bounty $550 (500+50)
4:10pm Step 1 Satellite – Main Event (Turbo, 1 in 5 win) $65 (50+15)
7:10pm Step 2 Satellite – Main Event (1 in 5 Win) $250 (220+30)
10:00pm Supershot – Any $550 Side Event (Turbo- 1 in 5 win) $130 (110+20)
Thursday 10-May
10:10am Supershot – Any $550 Side Event (Turbo- 1 in 5 win) $130 (110+20)
12:10pm Step 1 Satellite – Main Event (Turbo, 1 in 5 win) $65 (50+15)
2:10pm 7 No Limit Holdem- 6 Handed $550 (500+50)
4:10pm Step 2 Satellite – Main Event (1 in 5 Win) $250 (220+30)
6:10pm 8 Melbourne Poker Championship Main Event (Flight 1) $1,100 (1000+100)
10:00pm Super Satellite – Main Event (Turbo, 1 in 10 win) $130 (110+20)
Friday 11-May
10:10am Step 1 Satellite – Main Event (Turbo, 1 in 5 win) $65 (50+15)
12:10pm 8 Melbourne Poker Championship Main Event (Flight 2-Repechage) $1,100 (1000+100)
2:10pm Step 1 Satellite – Main Event (Turbo, 1 in 5 win) $65 (50+15)
4:10pm Step 1 Satellite – Main Event (Turbo, 1 in 5 win) $65 (50+15)
7:10pm Step 2 Satellite – Main Event (1 in 5 Win) $250 (220+30)
10:00pm Super Satellite – Main Event (Turbo, 1 in 10 win) $130 (110+20)
Saturday 12-May
10:10am Super Satellite – Main Event (Turbo, 1 in 10 win) $130 (110+20)
12:10pm 8 Melbourne Poker Championship Main Event (Flight 3-Repechage) $1,100 (1000+100)
2:10pm Terminator Qualifier (Turbo,1 in 5 win) $100 (80+20)
4:10pm Terminator Qualifier (Turbo,1 in 5 win) $100 (80+20)
7:10pm APPT Step 2 Satellite -(1 in 5 win) $160 (140+20)
10:00pm Terminator Qualifier (Turbo,1 in 5 win) $100 (80+20)
Sunday 13-May
10:10am Terminator Qualifier (Turbo,1 in 5 win) $100 (80+20)
12:10pm 9 Turbo Terminator- $100 per KO $400 ($360+40)
12:30pm Melbourne Poker Championship Main Event Day 2
2:10pm APPT Step 2 Satellite -(1 in 5 win) $160 (140+20)
4:10pm APPT Step 3 Satellite 10K Start Bank -(1 in 8 win) $700 (625+75)
6:10pm 10 NLH- Turbo Ante Up! $200 ($170+30)
Monday 14-May
2:10pm Melbourne Poker Championship Main Event Day 3

The final day of play at the PokerStars.net Australia New Zealand Poker Tour Sydney Main Event has come to a close. There were 27 players still in contention at the start of the day, but after 12 hours of play only one player could take down the title and that was Gordon Huntly from Scotland.

When the day started it was Nicholas Heather who held the chip lead, but that wouldn’t last long as he faltered late in the afternoon. In the end Heather bowed out just shy of the final table in a very solid 12th place.

Eventually only nine players remained and going into the final table it was Liam O’Rourke who had a monster chip lead. O’Rourke put on a bit of show in the lead up to the final table and continued his aggressive play well into the early hours of the morning.

The first elimination at the final table occurred just a short while after it began, with 2008 APPT Sydney Champion Martin Rowe going home in 9th place. At this point it was O’Rourke who held control of the final table, with the young Aussie seemingly involved in every hand.

Not long after Rowe’s elimination, it was Bradley Lancken who would find himself on the rail in 8th place. Shortly thereafter Craig Blight was eliminated in 7th place, before 2012 Aussie Million Main Event Champion Oliver Speidel joined him on the rail in 6th place.

Jason O’Brien and O’Rourke rumbled for much of the final table and as such it was somewhat apt that O’Brien’s elimination would come at the hands of O’Rourke. O’Brien lost a massive flip holding AK against O’Rourke’s 22 and it was out the door in 5th place.

The final four fought fiercely, but this is when it all slowed down. It took over two hours for the next elimination to occur, but finally it was Stewart Ballard who was eliminated in 4th place.

Going into three-handed play it was Huntly who was the chip leader and from there the Scotsman never looked back. When O’Rourke eliminated Anthony Aston in 3rd place, he would going into the heads-up battle with a slight chip lead, but that would change very quickly.

It took less than half an hour for Huntly to take care of O’Rourke. Huntly chipped away and chipped away before O’Rourke eventually fell to the rail in 2nd place to see Huntly head straight to the rail to celebrate with his friends. For his runner-up finish O’Rourke pocketed a very respectable A$144,754.

2012 ANZPT Sydney Main Event Final Table Payouts
1st-Gordon Huntly-$226,812
2nd-Liam O’Rourke-$144,754
3rd-Anthony Aston-$80,214
4th-Stewart Ballard-$62,696
5th-Jason O’Brien-$48,405
6th-Oliver Speidel-$39,185
7th-Craig Blight-$29,965
8th-Bradley Lancken-$23,511
9th-Martin Rowe-$17,518

Australian Poker Hall Of Fame chairman Maurie Pears announced the 2012 APHOF inductees in a press release earlier this week.

The press release stated “The Australian Poker Hall of Fame at its recent General meeting in July is pleased to announce the Induction for 2011 of two of Australia’s best known poker players and administrators.

LEO BOXELL; a skilled poker player and champion since Poker Tournament commencement at Adelaide in 1987 who has brought much credit to the game.

DANNY MCDONAGH; originally a poker dealer at the Crown in 1997, he later became a tournament director and the host of Aussie Millions. His recent move to domestic and international tournament direction has raised the stature of Poker within Australia.

The APHOF is proud to include them amongst their list of members.

The official induction will be held at Crown Casino before or during the Hall of Fame Classic in January where further inductions for 2012 will also be announced.

When the day started at the PokerStars.net APPT Melbourne Main Event, we knew we were in for a cracking final table. In fact, we knew that on day one when we looked around the field of 260 players and realised how stacked this field truly was. APPT champs, ANZPT winners, Aussie Millions gold rings and WSOP bracelets. Whoever would win this event was going to have to earn it.

So it’s fitting that the man to rise above them all is a man who has a decorated poker career that is the envy of most players in the Australasian region. While Leo Boxell is definitely part of poker’s old guard, his last 18 months have produced some incredibly consistent results as he continues to defy the trends of the modern game to keep the Internet whizz kids under control.

There was certainly a new school versus old school feel to this final table, as well as an intriguing Trans-Tasman rivalry between Australia and New Zealand.

In the thick of both wars was Phil Willcocks who was a dominant force throughout the final table, whether it was pounding on the blinds of Steve Bouya and Leo Boxell, or three-betting the youngsters in Jackson Zheng and Will Jones.

However it was Van Marcus who drew first blood when he doubled up with A♦A♥ against the Q♦Q♣ of Julius Colman. Unfortunately for Colman he just never got out of the blocks and when his 9♠9♥ ran into the K♠K♣ of Will Jones, Colman was first to the cashier in 9th place.

Will Jones and Steve Bouya were the early movers with some big cards, while Jackson Zheng and Phil Willcocks slipped down the chip count leaderboard. Zheng would be next to go when he three-bet shoved his K♣Q♥ to find himself racing with Willcocks’ 4♦4♣. Zheng couldn’t pair up and he was eliminated in 8th place.

The big-ball strategy of PokerStars qualifier Eddie Mascardi saw him come unstuck in 7th place when he ran his A♥8♦ into the A♠A♣ of Will Jones, while Michael Frydman’s similar game plan saw him shove his 9♠9♥ into Leo Boxell’s T♦T♥ to bust out in 6th.

As the dinner bell tolled, it was Will Jones who held a narrow lead over the final five, but the deadlock couldn’t be broken for some time as play became tight and intense. Eventually it was Van Marcus who would be first to crack as fell just short in his quest to become the first player to win two APPT titles. Marcus committed his short stack on a Q♥K♥5♥ flop with K♣J♦ but a sneaky Phil Willcocks had laid the perfect trap with his A♥A♦. Willcocks improved to a flush on the turn to leave Marcus drawing dead and departing in 5th place.

Tasmania’s Will Jones was also gunning for a unique double as he was seeking his second trophy of the week after being part of the successful Tasmanian State of Origin team earlier in the series. He may have picked up the nickname “Willy Lowball” in that event for his Razz prowess, but he proved that No Limit Holdem is his true calling with a strong showing on this final table. In fact, he was unlucky to be eliminated in 4th place in one of the key hands on the final table.

The action flop was 9♠K♦5♠ as Willcocks let out for 175,000. Steve Bouya folded but Jones raised it to 425,000 before Willcocks moved all in. Jones insta-called with 9♥9♦ for a set but Willcocks was far from gone with his 7♠6♠ combo draw. Willcocks made his straight on 8♥ and rubbed salt into the wound with the 3♠ river.

It was the difference between elimination and a monster chip lead as Willcocks set out to pound on his last two foes. He was the most aggressive player, but he was left as merely a bystander when Steve Bouya shoved all in with 9♦9♠ on a J♦5♦2♣ flop. It backfired when Boxell called and opened A♠A♣ as the turn and river bricked out.

Bouya had to be content with 3rd place as Boxell nabbed the chip lead entering heads-up play. From there it was a titanic two-hour struggle where both players had chances to win it all.

After shoving all in preflop on the very first hand of heads-up play, Boxell continued to swing wildly. He regretted this approach when he shoved his 2♥2♦ into the Q♠Q♦ of Willcocks to give the Kiwi a big double up, but he quickly recovered after making a backdoor flush to trump Willcocks’ top pair.

Boxell had a chance at the title with a coinflip holding ace-king against pocket jacks but the bare board gave Willcocks another double up before it was Willcocks’ turn to sweat the trophy. The 6♠5♣7♦ flop saw Boxell call it off with 6♥3♠ for a pair and straight draw against Willcocks’ K♠K♥. Boxell spiked the 4♥ on the turn for a straight to leave Willcocks a dejected man.

Willcocks slid backwards from there until he made his final stand with a triple barrel on a board of 2♥Q♠6♦4♠J♥. Boxell deliberated before calling with 4♣2♠ for two pair which was too good for Willcocks’J♠T♥.

The rail gave Boxell a tremendous round of applause as everyone respected the incredible achievement of the future Australian Poker Hall of Famer. While the APPT trophy is his, he also grabs $330,000 in prize money and the lead in the ANZ Player of the Year race. Congratulations Leo!

Final Table Results

1st Leo Boxell (Australia) – $330,000
2nd Phil Willcocks (New Zealand) – $207,600
3rd Steve Bouya (Australia) – $116,000
4th Will Jones (Australia) – $88,600
5th Van Marcus (Australia) – $73,300
6th Michael Frydman (Australia) – $58,000
7th Eddie Mascardi (Australia) (PokerStars Qualifier) – $45,800
8th Jackson Zheng (New Zealand) (PokerStars Qualifier) – $36,700
9th Julius Colman (Australia) – $27,500

The next event on the local calendar is the APPT Snowfest event in Queenstown, New Zealand which kicks off August 23rd. This is one you won’t want to miss, so make sure you qualify now on PokerStars!

By Heath Chick

Australian Poker Weekly’s annual No limit Holdem tournament which was usually held on the October long weekend is now part of the excitement of the Sydney Championships. Saturday 3rd September is the date to remember for the Australian Poker Weekly $550 NLH (Event 2). With this event being staged in the ‘prime” Saturday timeslot, a healthy roll up is expected creating what should be a very tidy prize pool in the process.

Back to back Australia and New Zealand Poker Tour Player Of The Year Tony Hachem is the host for the Australian Poker Weekly’s annual No limit Holdem tournament. Tony has told us that while he is the host, it does not mean that he will be taking it easy. “I love to compete and I will be trying my best to win the tournament” said Tony.

Date: Saturday 3 September, 12:30 PM
Buy in: $550^ ($500 + $50)
Starting Chips: $10,000 in non-value tournament chips
Blind Level Duration: 40 minutes

Register online: Go to www.biggamepoker.com.au and click on Tournament Registration button.

Notes:
To enter any event in the Sydney Championships, you must be 18 years or over and a Total Star Rewards member or a Sovereign Room cardholder.

*Conditions apply. Prize pool based on 250 players. If there are less than 250 players Star City reserves the right to reduce the prize pool in accordance with the Pay-Out Breakdown in the Tournament conditions. Please refer to the Pay Out Breakdown in the Tournament Conditions above for details of available prize pools and prize values.

^Buy-in non-refundable less than five days prior to the Tournament, except at Star City’s discretion or if the Tournament is cancelled.

Membership to Total Star Rewards is FREE and available at a Total Star Rewards Centre.

Player activity statements for slot machine play are available on request. Think! About your choices. Call Gambling Help 1800 858 858 www.gamblinghelp.nsw.gov.au.