We knew after we walked to the Crown Poker site this morning that we weren't going to be leaving for some time. With 34 players joining us for Day 3 of the ANZPT Melbourne Main Event, we were still a long, great distance from crowning a champion and awarding the $253,000 top prize.
Some 33 eliminations, 16 hours of play, numerous coffee and a Red Bull or two later, and young gun Edison Nguyen has written another chapter in his rapidly blossoming poker resume as our ANZPT Melbourne champion!
Three-handed play was a brutal affair. Dennis Huntly, Edison Nguyen and Corey Kempson all had very contrasting styles which saw the chips ebb and flow for well over three hours. All three players had moments where they ruled the pack, but in addition they experienced moments at the verge of elimination.
In the end, we knew it might need to take something nasty to wreck the deadlock and when Dennis Huntly got his last chips within the middle with A♥K♠ against Edison Nguyen's J♦7♣, Huntly was more than likely expecting a double up. The flop of J♥A♠6♦ kept Huntly in front, and the 2♥ turn changed nothing. But the 7♥ river brought two pair for Nguyen and the top for a gallant Huntly in third place for $87,800 in prize money.
Corey Kempson would hold a 5.4 million to 4.9 million lead over Edison Nguyen as heads-up play was set to commence, but that is where things got just a little murky.
The two players decided to take a look at a possible deal. It was clear that Kempson was keen while Nguyen was reluctant, so it might take a generous offer to seal the deal. Despite holding the chip lead, Kempson conceded to present Nguyen $210,000 to Kempson's $195,500 with the remainder $7,500 left within the middle to play for everybody. was happy and the cards were back within the air.
However it was clear that something else was going on.
Kempson desired to make it known that he was extremely tired and was able to gamble for the title and go home. Fair enough, but some strange play would see Kempson raise for 90% of his chips before folding for the remaining when Nguyen moved all in.
The clock was paused as ANZPT Commissioner Danny McDonagh and Crown Poker Tournament Director Joel Williams discussed the location. McDonagh returned and questioned both players over the play which seemed to suggest a deal were struck over the trophy. McDonagh implored both players to play it out with integrity, and with that, the sport continued.
Kempson managed to get the chips back as regards to even before the 2 players agreed to head all in without taking a look at their cards to complete things once and for all. Kempson showed 6♦4♦ but Nguyen had that covered with Q♥6♣ because the final board could be spread 7♠9♥Q♦9♣4♥ crowning Edison Nguyen our champion!
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At the beginning of the day, the 34 players all had the taste of finals fever as they harboured dreams of changing into the only to boost the trophy.
Michael Chrisanthopoulos (34th) was a surprise early casualty, while Anthony Aston (30th) and Phil Willcocks (27th) were also at the rail within the first two levels of the day.
The "Lukes" became heavily fascinated about the following session of play with Luke Brabin (23rd) and Luke Edwards (21st) failing to progress, while Luke Spano soared into the chip lead.
Anthony Legg (15th), Joe Reina (12th) and Robert Damelian (11th) were among those to fall wanting the general table, but dinner plans were placed on hold until the general table was reached.
An interesting dynamic at the final table bubble saw all five big stacks seated at the same table, because the shorties scrapped at the other. There have been quite a few double ups but eventually Michael Caruana was the only to fall because the final table of nine was set.
Dennis Huntly would carry the chip lead into the overall table and he extended that advantage with the early elimination of Cameron Bryce. It was pocket sixes for Bryce but he ran smack bang into Huntly's aces to kick off the overall table with a bang.
However from there, the eliminations dried up and it will take another two hours to lose our next player. Gabriel Messo fell in eighth place which opened the floodgates with three eliminations within the space of fifteen minutes thanks largely to a double knockout. Corey Kempson's A♥Q♠ took on both Dylan Honeyman's A♦2♥ and Vincent Chua's pocket jacks but four spades on board sealed the deal for Kempson to flush two to the rail.
Wayde Rickhuss bumped into pocket kings to leave in fifth place and he was followed by Luke Spano in fourth when his A♣3♥ was no match for Corey Kempson's pocket nines.
It wasn't even midnight and with just three players left, we thought we were a possibility to circumvent an extreme finish. Unfortunately some stubborn three-handed play dragged us into the wee hours of the morning before a slightly anti-climactic finish to the tournament left Edison Nguyen on top as our ANZPT Melbourne champion. Nguyen takes home $217,500 in prize money and has now taken over the lead within the ANZ Player of the Year race.
ANZPT Melbourne Final Table Results1st Edison Nguyen - $217,500*2nd Corey Kempson - $195,500*3rd Dennis Huntly - $87,8004th Luke Spano - $69,7005th Wayde Rickhuss - $54,2006th Vincent Chua - $43,8007th Dylan Honeyman - $33,5008th Gabriel Messo - $25,8009th Cameron Bryce - $18,550
* denotes private heads-up deal
That wraps up our coverage of the ANZPT Melbourne event. Thanks for following along! The following major event at the local calendar is the APPT Auckland Event to be held at SKYCITY Auckland from November 15-23 and you'll qualify at this time online at PokerStars. We are hoping to peer you there!
Heath "TassieDevil" Chick is a contract Contributor for the PokerStars Blog.
Read More... [Source: PokerStarsBlog.com :: Australia New Zealand Poker Tour]
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