Congratulations to Jo Zupin on winning last nights Series Final, besting 16 other players. the final table saw a number of favourites with their chips all in eliminated by some cruel river cards. Read on for the final table report.
Very early on the final table Ryan Wise went all in with AK and found himself in good shape against Christine McCann's KQ, especially after flopping an Ace. With the river card to come only a Jack could save Christine to give her a top straight and sure enough the Jack came! Ryan picked up $100 for 10th place.
Not long after Nick Reid, who was seriously short stacked with less than the big blind, was knocked out in 9th and Chrstine McCann then dpearted in 8th place, each receiving $100.
Both Brad Roach (substituting for Peter McCann) and Valentina Thai went all in on the same hand, called and seriously dominated by James Ho holding KQ - Brad and Valentina held QJ. By the river only one of two Jacks could save them both, however, it did not deliver on this occasion and both Brad and Valentina departed in 7th and 6th place respectively, winning $100.
Play 5 handed went on for some time with the prizes reconfigured to be $1500,$1200, $800, $500 and $500.
Lee Forster lost a couple of key hands to be seriously short stacked. Firstly Jo Zupin went all in with AK and he called with pocket 9's. The flop was all low blanks, however the turn came an Ace to put Jo ahead and when the river blanked she doubled up to over 15k in chips (85k on the table).
A little later Lee pushed with Q10 suited to be called all in by James Ho with A6. James paired his Ace to leave Lee seriously short stacked with $1400 and the blinds $800/$1600. The next hand he bet the $1400 UTG and was called by James Kirby and Frank Rudolf from the BB. Both players checked it down - James paired his 8 which was enough to eliminate Lee in 5th place.
4 handed all progressed for some time with Frank Rudolf taking the chip lead from James Kirby winning a 30k pot with 2 pair against James middle pair which reduced James's chip stack to around 10k.
Then Frank's fortunes were to change. First he and Jo Zupin called James Ho's all in bet of around 4k. The flop was Jack high and fireworks started. Frank bet, Jo moved all in and Frank insta called. Frank had KK, Jo AJ and James Ho A3 and in serious trouble. The turn blanked, however the river was amazingly a Jack to keep Jo alive and give her the chip lead - James departed in a very creditable 4th place.
Three handed it got worse for Frank who called James Kirby's all in bet on the flop with an over pair - again KK. James had paired his 4 but he hit a 3rd 4 on the river to seriuosly dent Frank's stack. Soon after Frank, with the blinds at 1k/2k raised to 5k in the SB. A K9 holding for Jo was enough for her to call the additional 3k and they saw a K 9 x flop. Frank moved all in with his Jacks and Jo insta called with top two pair. No Jack for Frank and he departed a little unlucky but $800 richer in 3rd place.
There was close to 20 minutes heads up play between Jo and James Kirby with Jo maintaining a clear chip lead. With a 4:1 chip advantage she called James's all in bet on the flop with Ace high. James had paired on the flop, however an Ace on the turn moved Jo ahead and the river blanked to give her a well deserved win.
Congratulations to the players who all participated in very good spirits. for some it was their first taste of a big tournament and international tournament rules.
Special mention to series points winner, Peter McCann, recuperating at present in the RPA. Get well soon Bubble Boy.
Details of the next series of poker tournaments at Harold Park to be announced shortly. Multi venues expected to commence early 2008.
