Maurie Pears' top 30 'True Believers'

[PokerNetwork Promo Support_Carlo]

Who do YOU think should be included in the list? Have any interesting stories about any of the 30 'true believers'?


Part 1: the old days of Poker in Australia

Part 2: The top 30 Australian Poker 'True Believers'

[luckyshades]

lol ... (alleged) drugs, guns, angle shots, fraud, assaults ...

I thought it was the Australian Poker Top 30, not the Australia's Most Wanted Top 30.

Maybe that's a bit too far - some of the people on that list are truly deserving - but if some of those people are among the 30 most influential, the Govt probably should have banned poker 20 years ago !!!

[Strong Play]

What was "the Vanuatu Experience" ?

[moffo47]

What was "the Vanuatu Experience" ?

costs $45 down at the cross mate

[random_chu]

i don't see benn skender on the list?

[JK.]

I can answer that for you Strong Play.
The Comer brothers had the vision and the courage to venture out of Adelaide(home of early Australian poker)and organize Australias' first International Poker competition.Long time before Crown and the Aussie Millions.
Mike and Martin had 30 tables built by Icecream Jacks' furniture factory and shipped them to Vanuatu.
They borrowed 40 poker dealers from the Adelaide casino.The dealers had a free holiday on a Pacific paradise and got paid plenty as well.
Mike and Martin made a trip to Vegas and invited the top American players to participate.Unfortunately the timing was bad.All the terrorists,before Bin Laden,were trying to kill every American who tried to set foot outside of USA.
Many incidents,you must do your own research.Achille Lauro was an example.
So the only ones who turned up were Erich Drake,Donna Harris.Erich was the manager of the Mirage poker room and Donna was his beautiful secretary.

The Comers arranged with the Vanuatu casino all the accomodation,food,drinks etc.
The games were played in the hall next to the swimming pool so players could have a swim between hands or just to cool off after a bad beat.
Cash games were played in Australian dollars,Vatus,American dollars,Euros New Zealand dollars and English pounds.You had to be a genius to follow the betting.

Bendigo helped the Comers to organize the programme.Besides the usual Texas tournaments there were teams events,Omaha,Seven Card Stud and cash games.
Players were playing and betting on Backgammon,Hearts,Chess and Russian Poker as well as the casino games.

Food was great.Hotel/Casino was fabulous.The beach and the pool were just 1st class and we brought our own women.

It was a great poker family get together.Even the losers had a fantastic time.
It was a one off and very unlikely to be repeated poker events.
People who were lucky to be there will never forget the experience.

So there you are Strong Play.My pleasure to help you out.

[random_chu]

in before 6 part youtube exposé

[Strong Play]

Thanks JK.

[SwoopAE]

So basically it's a who's who of poker in Australia prior to 2005-ish

As much as I don't personally get the whole hachem thing, Joe not being on the list is pretty lol it's basically a list of the old guys who are still around. Also Jonno, Christian and co. from crown are missing and should be there for what they've done from 08-11 at crown. Unless only accomplishments before the poker boom matter.

[UnEducaterd]

So basically it's a who's who of poker in Australia prior to 2005-ish

As much as I don't personally get the whole hachem thing, Joe not being on the list is pretty lol it's basically a list of the old guys who are still around. Also Jonno, Christian and co. from crown are missing and should be there for what they've done from 08-11 at crown. Unless only accomplishments before the poker boom matter.

So true, SwoopAE, so true.

I'm with you on this. For sure.

Also, I reckon if it wasn't for FaceBook, there would be no internet. SO thank you Mark Zuckerberg, truly.

Fuck the army bloke who invented the net in 1958 and that Gates bloke that pioneered software and stuff.