The PokerStars Australia New Zealand Poker Tour stopped in Perth on March 17th to hold the second event of Season 2. The tour had previously stopped in Adelaide before heading to Perth. The event had 221 players competing and in the end it was Tony Hachem who earned the first place win.
Hachem has been on a roll in the ANZPT events. He went to Adelaide and made the final table and then moved on to Perth to win the event. Hachem has an impressive record at ANZPT events. He has cashed out in all but one since the tour began in February 2009.
Hachem was very happy on the win and he commented: “I am so over the moon, winning this means so much to me. I have come so close it is fantastic to finally have a title to my name.”
The tournament took place at the Burswood Entertainment Complex and saw several poker pros competing including: Grant Levy, Bryan Huang, Eric Assadourian, Emad Tahtouh, Billy Argyros, Michael Pedley, Jeffrey Lisandro and Amanda DeCesare.
When final table play began, seven of the nine players seated at the table were locals. This made the final table much more exciting and fans were going crazy as they watched the tournament play out. Once the final four remained Hachem began to work his way toward the win. He eliminated Dale Marsland in fourth after his A-Q dominated Marsland’s A-6.
Hachem then took out Vesko Zmukic in third with his pocket three’s. heads up play would then begin between Hachem and Aleks Lackovic. It would not last long, only ten hands, but it would be an exciting ten hands. On the final hand, both went all in pre-flop. Aleks Lackovic held A diamond King diamond and Hachem held pocket jacks.
The flop showed 9 Diamonds, 3 clubs and Queen clubs and Hachem was saying ‘keep it low’ and the cards decided to listen. The turn was a 5 of hearts and a 3 of diamonds was the river card. So Lackovic was out in second place while Hachem earned the first place victory.
With the win, Tony Hachem now sits at the top of the Australia New Zealand Poker Tour Player of the Year leader board for 2010. And since he has cashed out at almost every ANZPT event, I would not be surprised if Hachem continues to stay at the top of the leader board for some time.
1st: Tony Hachem (Victoria, Australia) $132,750 ANZPT Points – 104.1
2nd: Aleks Lackovic (Perth, Western Australia) $84,250 ANZPT Points – 49.5
3rd: Vesko Zmukic (Perth, Western Australia) $47,500 ANZPT Points – 45.1
4th: Dale Marsland (Perth, Western Australia) $38,300 ANZPT Points – 41.8
5th: Tu Le (Perth, Western Australia) $32,000 ANZPT Points – 39.6
6th: Jimmy Wong (Perth, Western Australia) $26,800 ANZPT Points – 38.5
7th: Zaffer Soemya (Perth, Western Australia) $21,700 ANZPT Points – 37.4
8th: Eoin Kennedy (Tipperary, Ireland) $16,600 ANZPT Points – 36.3
9th: Wade Beavis (Perth, Western Australia) $12,750 ANZPT Points – 35.2