With another late start, due to the card room not being set up for 12 o’clock, we managed to get under way about 1.30pm with 61 players trying to win their way to the National Finals and the lure of a week at the Wynn. Will the stranglehold of the Royalty Bar at the last Regional, with the Viking snapping at their heels continue, or will we see some new players make it to the final table.
It didn’t take long for our first “casualty” of the day with Terry McCairns of PJ Champs pushing with Ace high on an 8 2 9 flop, to be called by Kerr Harris with pocket treys to send Terry to the rails after just 15 minutes.
Table 6 was to be the “table of death” this time around. With Terry being the first, another 11 found themselves knocked out from here before the dinner break. John Moore, again of PJ’s, flopping the wheel and quickly moving in with a big bet, but Rob Torrie from the Aboukir was not going to let his trip threes go, and with the board pairing on the River Rob doubled up with his Full House.
John Paterson of the Abbotsford in Perth found a handy double up with his AK, against Charlie Johnston’s AA. The Q J 10 flop helped a lot when Charlie thought his aces must be good and pushed, and John called with his Broadway Straight to move into the chip lead.
The table of death once again brought a moment of madness with George Dunlop holding KK, Kerr Harris QQ and James Hewitt from the Viking Bar holding JJ, and with a low flop being dealt the predictable madness followed. The Kings held and Kerr and James, although not out, were left to lick their wounds and try to re-build.
Play restarted at 5pm after dinner with 46 players left in the field. Dougie Blore was first to fall after the Spaghetti Bolognese when his Jacks ran into Nines and the third Nine fell on the Turn, and Danny Currie nearly followed when he put his tournament life on the line with KJ clubs and found a caller with A3, but was lucky to spike his Jack on the river.
There was mixed fortunes for previous winners after dinner, Jeanette Campbell double up with a pair of Jacks, but Stephen Scanlon’s 99 hitting 10 10, and Q10 hitting K10, a second trip to the Nationals was not to be.
37 players remained at 6pm, and everything continues at a very sedate pace as the field slowly started to fall down to 24. Short Stack Simon Wilde tried to make his move with KK, only to run into John Paterson with AA. Billy Graham decided it was time with his AJ, only to find callers in Jeanette Campbell and Danny Currie, with Jeanette winning with the flush with her KQ which was the weakest hand pre-flop.
With most other Regional looking for a final table about 7pm, we were just down to two tables as the battle continues. Arvin Sood and Andy Gilbride were the last to go before we made it to the last ten at 7.30pm
This left us with a final table of –
George Parker – Viking Bar 23k
Andrew McDonald – Rio Cafe 11k
Steve Martin – Abbotsford Lounge Bar 28k
Fred Lawson – Abbotsford Lounge Bar 47k
Danny Currie – Craigie Bar 22k
John Paterson – Abbotsford Lounge Bar 65k
Jamie Martin – Abbotsford Lounge Bar 20k
Brian McLafferty – Royalty Bar 11k
James Murphy – Rio Cafe 35k
Alan Brunton – Aboukir Hotel 36k
Jamie Martin was first to go, which brought us to the National final Bubble, and Brian McLafferty moved in with Danny and Alan both making the call. The flop cam 3sQdJs and Alan lead out for 6k with Danny making an “Instacall”. The turn brought the 7h and Alan once again bet only for Danny to call. The river brough 4h, Alan bet again and Danny with only 2k left amazingly chose to fold his hand. Alan turned a Q3 for two pairs and with Brian showing AJ the qualification bubble was burst and we knew who the final 8 would be.
The next hour was really all about who wanted to bet. With the blinds at 4k/8k and the average stack 75k there was not much room to do anything other than shove. Danny Currie left us in 8th, quickly followed by Andrew McDonald. Alan Brunton was left confused after calling Fred Lawsons’ raise and Fred moved All-in before the cards were dealt!! Alan’s verbal deliberations didn’t help as the only logic he had was nobody would do that with Aces as they would not get any value, and as the board has come King high, and as he was holding a King he made the call. Yes, you can guess the rest Fred was holding Aces and Alan left us in 6th place with a national final seat and enough for his train fare home.
John Paterson was next to go, followed by the previous winner George Parker leaving us with only 3 players at 9.30 and moving on to level 14 with the blinds at a nosebleed 8k/16k. James now adopted the all in strategy leaving the others unable to call, until possibly frustration set in with Steve making a call with Q5 suited, only to run into A3 leaving him out in 3rd place. Heads up commenced at 9.45pm and did not last very long with Fred finding a hand after 5 deals, and a very quick call from James. Little wonder as he was smiling as he called, as he turned a pair of Aces!!! Good enough to win the tournament and the money.
Thanks to all players, especially Jason and Andy in the card room who always provide us with great help and assistance.
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