One more for my old dinasaur mates before I take my Milo and Argyrol

CHRISTCHURCH CASINO POKER
March 4 1999 saw Christchurch Casino enter the arena as New Zealand’s first (and currently only), venue to provide Poker to compliment its Gaming operation. John Beagle and Keith Sloan were instrumental in the push for Poker to be recognized as a valuable and needed addition to what was a very successful and well-managed casino. Arthur Pitcher, CEO of Christchurch Casino, also recognized the possibilities of broadening the player base and enhancing the facilities offered at the casino. Arthur felt that Poker was a spectator game and in order for its popularity to grow it needed to be accessible to the public to gain maximum exposure. This innovative decision saw Poker become part of the main Gaming floor, and not hidden away in a dark corner of the Casino. Keith was contracted to Christchurch Casino to submit operating rules and procedures to the New Zealand Casino Control Authority. Once in place, Keith was put in charge of training 20 local staff in eight games including, Omaha, Holdem, Manila and Draw Poker. Of the 20 staff, Keith identified six supervisors who were trained to a higher level of competency in order to oversee the running of the games in the casino.

March 24 1999 saw the first New Zealand Poker Championships held at Christchurch Casino. This event attracted players from all over New Zealand, Australia and even as far as the United States. The
six Poker tables were in operation continuously over the five-day event. To date Christchurch Casino has hosted four National Poker Championships, each drawing great interest from some of the big local
New Zealand names in Australasian Poker including Andrew Loizou, Jamil Dia, Dino Focas, Alistair Robb, Constantine Harach and Paula Brough to name a few. The growth and popularity of the game in Christchurch has established a loyal base of customers, who regularly meet to do battle across the felt.Local players including Greg Matheson, Dawn Evans, Luke Chezick and Percy Lee are now more than able to competently compete against Australasia’s best in the various styles of Poker played. The future of Poker in Christchurch is bright, and the growth of the game is evident. Plans are now well under way for New Zealand’s 5 th Poker Championships in 2003, under the watchful eye of Paul Wilson the Gaming Manager. Overseas visitors are always welcome to Christchurch for those who wish to call in on the way home from Australia.

THE AUSTRALIAN CASINO ASSOCIATION
This was established in and promoted by the Executive Director John Beagle in 1992. Initially it struggled with inter Casino and State priorities but eventually established a lobby in Canberra for a Federal influence.


THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF GAMBLING STUDIES (NAGS)
Jan Macmillan and a group of academics established this Association in 1988. John Beagle became President for a number of years. Initially it provided a number of broad based gambling seminars. Over the years its direction changed dramatically due to funding problems and it became virtually the “National Anti Gambling Society”. It is currently low key and runs period seminars, annual meetings and
presents publications on addiction.

POKERNETWORK
Pokernetwork was commenced by Keith Sloan and Danny McDonagh Sept 1999 with a party of 15 American players including Tom McEvoy and Mike O’Malley who came to Crown for the 1999 Australasian Poker Championships and then traveled on to New Zealand (arranged by PNW) for a special challenge against the Kiwi players. There was the belief that there was certainly a demand for an internet site established in Australia that would assist in building the profile of poker down under in Australia & New Zealand and also be the means for players interested parties from Australia and New Zealand to travel overseas to play poker and assist in attracting internationals in coming to Australia and primarily Crown Casino to play poker.

Achievements
The Website was established December 1999. Travel packages were arranged for Australians to the 1999 TOC Vegas, 2000, 2001 & 2002 New Zealand Poker Championships and a number of European tours. Live Internet coverage of all major Crown tournaments since May 2000 has been achieved. A packaged trip to Moscow for the 2000 Moscow Poker Championships October 2000 (27 Australians and
Kiwis) was successfully conducted. Promotion and live Internet coverage of this championship was promoted on the Internet. There was 32 day escorted trip in May/June 2001 to Venice, Slovenia (Torneo di Poker), Vienna (World Heads Up Poker Championship) & St Petersburg (Taleon Club special poker tournaments) for a group of 24 players from Australia & New Zealand. Pokernetwork contracted to cover on the Internet the Torneo di Poker, Slovenia and World Heads Up Poker Championship in Vienna. During this trip Pokernetwork was established as the major marketing vehicle for “Aussie Millions” and poker in general at Crown. Given the events of September 11 PNW now shys away from arranging fully escorted overseas trips. The primary focus was now on building the 2003 Australasian Poker Championships into a truly international poker event. Pokernetwork and its activities, in conjunction with Crown have taken Australasian Poker onto the World stage. The up to date news coverage and communication have inspired many hesitant players into full time activity. It is difficult to visualize the state of Australasion poker today without Pokernetwork and Crown. Indeed it may not now be in existence. Most certainly there would be no Aussie Millions. It keeps on going on thanks to the chief cook and bottle washer Danny McDonaugh. From all the players – thanks guys and dolls.

Maurie the Master purchased Pokernetwork in 2003 and since then its traffic has developed to major international level. The website was taken over by Pokernews Ltd in 2006.

THE CARDS MAGAZINE
Perhaps the most significant event for the advancement of Poker in 1993 was the establishment of Cards, the magazine that serviced Poker Players and the Industry for 8 years until its closure in December 2000. The magazine recorded all Poker events throughout Australasia and was on display in all Poker rooms and to many subscribers. All Casinos, at one time or another advertised in this magazine. For the complete history of Australasian Poker you would have to go to the collection of 50 editions now being held by Crown Casino. Articles covered all aspects of Poker. Many were reproduced in American publications. Poker owes a great debt to Dazzler for this effort, which was costly, and in many ways unrewarding. Like a true player he did so at great personal expense. Unfortunately domestic circumstances and lack of advertising funds prevented its continuance. The advent of the electronic media and Pokernetwork replaced this valuable historic record. The wake was held in Dazzler’s home in December 2000 where players expressed their thanks for the bi-monthly news event and the search for their own particular photo in “the press”. The magazine has been sorely missed. Cards and Dazzler were part of the Pioneers of the Poker Industry in Australasia.

"I got a million of em" Jimmy Durante

Another little gem from the past

CROWN CASINO
Steve Fox from the USA with John Beagle and Keith Sloan made the initial discussions with Crown for the establishment of a Poker room in 1995, in the old Convention Building. In 1997 in the new room, in the new Crown, the Las Vegas Poker room opened.

The Dealers
Bendigo and Maree Barrow set up the Dealers School in 1997. It formed the basis of the group of talented and enthusiastic dealers in Crown today, Since its opening in 1997, There was a record home game for the staff at Wilson’s place, where 22 runners turned up, The first game was dealer’s choice $1-2 with a small half pot at the back of the house. Everything was great, 3 tables going but only enough chairs for one! From then on, it was weekly games at different locations as too many peanuts were falling into Wilson’s piano. The morning shifters loved Manila, usually at “Ace’s” place. And the other shift played a mixture. On hot weeks, we saw up to 2 games weekly. Now after nearly 5 years, the regular games are up to $6-12 at lovely “garage” locations some where. Occasionally they play $10-20 or half pot to juice things up. The culprits are/were: Grumpy, Dan the man, Slow Dog, Barramundi, Ace, Crawfish, Noodles, Magic Dam, Minh the merciless, Harry the bastard, Little Dog, Scoop, Lionheart, Gecko, Black Panther, Curly B, ... to name a few (other real names it is wiser not to mention.

So far only one of the original dealers has crossed over to try life as a professional poker player (Noodles). And he is just the first guinea pig, the next few will definitely bite! Who says dealers can’t play? Not now but soon. Check “the away” competitions at Adelaide, Canberra and Christchurch. They know. The Australian dealers play without tips. They do a great job and the players are thankful for this.

A recent dealer’s event in Canberra disclosed the following champs: Dan “The Man” Beahan, Dave “Grumpy” Parlor, Brett “Chopper” Patton, Mark “Gecko” Popplewell, David “The Master” Dam, Wilson “Barramundi” Lim, Harry “The Bastard” Chandler, Sam “Black Panther” Beasley, Jase “Slow dog” Turner, Theo “Togs off” Ilko, Carlene “If I win I get new boots” Blake, Jonno Pittock, Alan Jackson, Matt “The Craw” and mystery Russian guest (was that Noodles?). Chris from Star City scooped the pool. Star City players took out 90% of the brass.

HISTORY OF TOURNAMENTS AT CROWN
Crown Casino’s first major tournament was in July 1998, the 1st Australasian Poker Championships. The tournament attracted good numbers but certainly not all of the leading Australian & New Zealand Poker Players. The main event was Limit Holdem, with many of entries coming from satellites won by Crown Casino local small limit players who had won the weekly Sunday satellite. In fact, one of them, Ken Eastwood, went on and came second in the main event, won by Alex Horowitz. Total prize money for the championship was $306,150 (17 days).

The next big event was the qualifiers for the Tournament of Champions in Las Vegas 1999. A big team represented Australia and New Zealand dressed in Crown Jackets with Bendigo managing. Mike and Martin Comer, Kiwi G Putt, Alex Horowitz, Wes and Jenny Bugeira, Pokergal Lynette Marino, the Boxells, Gofor Athanassiou, Larry Jones, Brian Hull and Maurie Pears. Sister Hannah carried the banner and led the Grand Parade. Martin Comer made the final table. This was the first big International event for the Crown team. You could write a book on it. Fortunately nobody did.

The 2nd Australasian Championships was held in September 1999. These championships placed Crown on the map as a class poker venue for both tournaments and live games. In addition to the cream of Aussie and New Zealand poker players, there were just on twenty American players, including a group of 15 who won satellites at Gila River Casino in America. Notable names included Tom McEvoy & Mike O’Malley. One of the group, Adam Haman, actually went on to play heads up in the main event with none other than Milo Nadalin, at that time an unknown player outside the Brisbane private games scene. Milo has since proved himself as a class poker player, adding a second Australasian Championship in 2000 to the main event he won in 1999. The Dazzler went heads up with Tom McEvoy and won. The main event this time broke the 100k barriers for the first time, in fact there were 109 entries and the total prize pool for the championship was $235,760 (9 days). During the 1999 Australasian Poker Championship, Sydney high limit player Jason Gray put forward the following idea. Why not host a big buy in tournament, say $5,000. This was no doubt the start of the defining moment in Crown Casino poker management having the belief of working towards hosting a truly international major poker championship, which of course is the aim for this Aussie Millions January 2003.

The $5,000 tournament was given the go ahead and a new tournament championship introduced at Crown, the 2000 Crown Summer Championship, incorporating both a 5k buy in Pot Limit Omaha championship and also the 1k buy in No Limit Holdem Mike Comer Classic. The January timing was very well received and the High Stakes event attracted 29 entries with 9 rebuys and a total prize pool of $195,000 (5k added by Crown). Jeff Lisandro flew in from Russia and picked up a cool $100,000 as winner of this event.
The 2000 Australasian Poker Championships was moved forward to August with the Sydney Olympics and the buy-in increased to $1,500 once again.

Summer Championships
Draw Bill Argyros $10800, Limit Holdem Theo Koumis $12600, Limit 7 Card Tom Motherwell $9700, No Limit Holdem Milo Nadalin $12475, Pot Limit Omaha Kiwi G Putt $22722, NL Holdem Main Leo Boxell $65225
2001 Results
NL Holdem Jason Gray $18900, (Our international Marsha Waggoner came second $10800)
2000 Results
PL Omaha Joe Cabret $85000, Super Sat L Boxell/M Judah $5100, Limit Omaha Jeff Lissandro , $100,000
1999 results (including TOC satellites)
Glen Gofor, Maurie Pears, Leo Boxell, Milo Nadalin, Jeff Lisandro, Alex Horowitz, Brian Hull, Wes and (Wendy) Bugiera, Lynette Pokergal Marino, Larry Jones, Kiwi G and (Princess Di)

mbp

For the benefit of StPeter, JK and other interested parties, some extracts from the past:

POKERNETWORK COMES OF AGE

From Bendigo and Danny’s garage 1999, to The Masters’ aged tutelage 2003 and now to a worldwide network in association with Pokernews, the Pokernews/Pokernetwork portal is the largest in the world. Our thanks go to the players and online and offline Casinos for their support over the years. We couldn’t have done it without you.

All roads on PNW now lead from online tournaments, free rolls and satellites to live offline Casinos throughout Australasia. At present Crown and Christchurch lead the Tournament circuit but others are soon to follow? Online qualification with live Casino Tournament play is central to Pokernetwork policy. Whilst the Crown Aussie Millions and the Christchurch New Zealand Championships are leading the field at present it may only be a matter of time before the other major Casinos in Australia and New Zealand join the tournament field. Already Poker is spread in all major Casinos and PNW is in active support of this. Adelaide, Hobart and Canberra may return to their former Poker glory. Perth may join the east coast? The Star Chain Sydney, Gold Coast and Brisbane with the Sky Chain New Zealand must be examining the benefits of tournament Poker.

The major Australasian Poker Tournament that is supported by PNW, continues to be the Crown Aussie Millions which, has grown from a small field of players with a $100K prize pool 1999 to the massive fields of the new century 2007 where up to 500 players local and international will test their skills for a bumper $5M. This can only be good for players and Casinos all over Australasia.

During the 2006 Millions PNW doubled its bandwidth to accommodate some 12M hits, 3M page views and 30K new users. The Crown Aussie Millions 2007 is any body’s guess, but the Pokernews/Pokernetwork Portal in support of Crown will be doing its level best to up the ante and beat all previous records.

Poker is on a roll “down under”. We believe, that, with the help of TV, Pokernetwork and Bluff Australasia, it will continue to be a major Casino entertainment. Poker is a social game. People like to play eyeball to eyeball and others like to watch. We look forward to the days when Tournament Poker is played in all licensed Australasian Casinos.

Pokernetwork is now owned overseas by Pokernews Ltd, but it is operated by a new, young and vigorous Australasian management team of Gaz, Johnny and Terry. With our international associate Pokernews, the future has no limit.



THE GOLDEN YEARS 1985 TO 2003

CASINO POKER – THE GOLDEN YEARS 1985 TO 2003

Competition poker began in Wrest Point 1973, Ron Hurley, when occasional but regular competitions were held. Some big events followed over the years. The pioneering effort for Poker and other Casino games, especially Blackjack must go to Tasmania. From the beginning it attracted thousands of punters including regulars from New Zealand. Mel Judah and Gary Benson were prominent. There is even an Album in the High Rollers room Christchurch showing the early boyish teams from New Zealand. Mel stars in these photos.
During the eighties a number of high roller Poker Competitions were staged culminating in the 1987 Federal Casino 5 Card Stud Competition. Joe Cabret was the first finalist eliminated and Jimmy Siu was runner up. Local cab driver Egal Levy was the first National Poker Champion. Local Tasmanian journalist “Chips” aka John the Baptist recorded events for the local papers. After that Poker took a big step forward at the Adelaide Casino in 1987, thanks to the foresight of John Stephens, Val Saunders, Mike Comer and John Beagle. Extensive advertising and lobbying in the eastern sates by Val amongst the “sporting fraternity” led to a massive 200 plus entry. Casino Poker has come a long way since then not so much in its form but in its presentation and three Casinos now present major competitions as a regular feature, Christchurch, Canberra and Crown. Adelaide has restructured and fallen by the wayside
after establishing a 13-year reputation as the “Home of Australian Poker”. Much has been said about these events and the winners but little is recorded of those who have helped the game over the last fifteen formative years.
Ron Hurley and the Aspinall push at Wrest Point gave Poker its first kick-start. Hobart was the Mecca
for gamblers (apart from the illegals which turned over massive fortunes) for some years. Even teams
from Christchurch New Zealand were amongst the early visitors to Hobart. The Adelaide push 1987, John Stephens, Val Saunders, Mike Comer and John Beagle (Karen Van der Pol and Annie Goddleman, David Galpin, Italo Frank Carmen, John Kocbek and Mark “The Mouth” Firth Australian Poker’s most famous compere were there also) for their foresight in getting the bigger competition game off the ground. Nearly 200 players entered the first comp. John went on to bigger things overseas and on the water, Val gave another push in Canberra and Jupiters, Mike remains an avid enthusiast and player here and overseas, Karen, Annie and John remain involved one way or another and John Beagle keeps on keeping on as Australia’s premier Casino Consultant, (perhaps the only one?). Johnny Kocbek leads the way in Moscow with Michael Sampieri, Jeff Lisandro and Billy Marczak.

And then there was Canberra in the lean days with its new Poker school and later on Christchurch Casino.
Casino Poker has not been very popular with Casino Management. It is space and labor intensive with a very small return per square metre compared to the slots and the other table games. It has a prestige appeal for some Casinos. Over the years it has been a constant battle to keep Casino Poker going to its
present stage of success because the population is not great and the pool of regular players small. Canberra is going ahead because of slot restrictions in the ACT and Crown because of the large Melbourne Poker population and adequate Casino space.

But for the enthusiasts, Andrew MacDonald, Bob Crossman, John Beagle, Danny McDonagh, Mel Judah, Billie the Croc, Crown Management and Keith Sloan it is difficult to image Poker being where it is today.
But for visitors to Australia Casinos are big treats. No tipping and no Tax. It must be Casino heaven! To top this all Casinos are placed in cities near magnificent tourist attractions.

In the past days of the Dinosaurs there was a decent book (Mansion) run for the Aussie Millions and before that a regular at Adelaide.. I remember losing a massive bet on a Kiwi winning the Millions. Lo and behold Lee came good and I lost what I thought was a certainty. There was also a book on how many players would enter the Aussie Million. Tino, Fitt, Croc where are you. I want a bet. 819 entrants for the millions?

The true believers 060819

Ref: FinalTrueVeterans060819

The current poker boom didn’t just happen overnight nor is it due to one location, event or group alone. It was a long hard road from 1985 to 2003 with very little corporate support.

From 2003 onwards, Million dollar events, Online satellites, Television and the Crown Aussie Millions have played a major part in the born again Poker explosion and no doubt made the big difference but it was the passion and perseverance of the early poker aficionados, the “True Believers”, the Bad Weather supporters who set Poker on the road to the destination we know today.

Apart from the multitude of keen veteran players who stuck with it through the hard years of the eighties and nineties we should pay our respects and our thanks to the following.


Ron Hurley (with his Aspinall associates) who introduced Casinos to Australasia (1973) as well as our first freeze out Poker competitions in Launceston and Hobart (1981, 83 and 87).

John “the Baptist” Beagle, Casino journalist (“Chips”) and consultant at large, who has assisted the formation of many poker rooms, from Hobart to Adelaide to Canberra and Crown.

Our early Poker internationals Mel Judah, Marsha Waggener, Gary Benson and Billie Argyros followed by Jeff Lisandro and Tony Guoga.

Keith “Bendigo” Sloan, entrepreneur, Tournament Director, and promoter of Speed Poker. He was the catalyst in many poker rooms from Adelaide to Crown, Moscow to Macau to Las Vegas and now is overseas in World Poker development. He has been a driving force behind Poker in Australasia since 1985

John Stephens, Mike Comer, Val Saunders and Johnny Kocbek for the first ‘big one’, the Adelaide Australasian Championships (1987) and the following annual pilgrimages.

Mike and Martin Comer (and Ice Cream Jack’s Tables) for the Vanuatu experience and constant support of Poker.

Andrew MacDonald for some Corporate Casino leadership when it was most needed,

Mike Manion and Ron Waugh for the Sydney clubs pre casino.

The Road Runners Graeme “KiwiG” Putt, Marco Conjir, Billie Saliba who play any game any time anywhere.

Casino Canberra for filling a much-needed gap.

Steve Fox, Bendigo, Baptist and the Crown Crew, for the first Las Vegas Poker Room,

Pokernetwork. By itself, must get a jersey for providing the forum for Casino events, results and player comments from 1999 onwards, to its peak and sale in 2006. Now set for further massive expansion.

Cards Magazine and Darryl “the Dazzler” Lanyon who was the first to give us the “Cards” news on Poker in Australia a long time before Pokernetwork,

Joe Meissner and Glen “Gofor” Athanassiou for the introduction of the Australian Poker Association,

Arthur Pitcher, Christchurch Casino and “The Kiwis” for Casino Poker in the long white cloud,

Johnny Parker, Danny McDonagh who made the Las Vegas room what it is today

And last but NOT least The Crown Casino Management, Richard Longhurst, Sean McCreery, who have breathed new life and initiative into Poker in Australia and overseas with massive expansion and promotion.

Without Crown, The Aussie Millions, Pokernetwork, Bendigo, our players and Television the game would not be where it is today.

There will be others, champions and promoters who will make their marks now and in the future. May they do as well as those of the past?

My poker dinosaur friend and arguably one of the three poker enthusiasts who have sponsored the growth of the game in Australia during the eighties to the present time, namely John “The Baptist” Beagle, was one of the many principals who outlined proposals for improvement. The others, for those who are new to the Casino Tournament Poker, who make up the three, are Keith “Bendigo” Sloan and “Judge Joe” Meissner. These, plus many other enthusiasts including Casino professionals John Stephens Adelaide, Andrew MacDonald Adelaide, Gold Coast and Melbourne, Warren Richards Canberra, Arthur Pitcher Christchurch and Richard Longhurst Crown Casino Melbourne make up the group that made Australian Casino Poker what it is today.

A big welcome back to Bugsy from 'magister, futue te ipsum'. Have been trying for years without success.

Thank you Nickkaka for your reference to Yo and his Reply of the Century. It will be a long time before there is another YoYo which is a great pity. He remains my favourite graduate.

Very sad Joe indeed. Like you, John was one of the stalwarts of the old PNW and a veteran of many games from Adelaide through to Crown. Every player adds a little to the panorama of the game and the poker family. They leave their foorprints along the way to be remembered..

A bit out of date now but may help.PNW Honour rollalso check the WAML in Aussies at WSOP thread.

I'm afraid the world all time money lists didn't shape up too well. Maybe Jeff? WAMLTimes they are achangin. Tournament Poker ain't what it used to be.

A special thank you to Sean who has been covering the WSOP for us.Great work by the young gun Aussies. Congrats to all who made the pilgrimage and a special thanks you to our commentators Heath and Tim.Cashes at the WSOPName Event Place CashMark Vos 2 146th $4558Sarah Bilney 2 174th $4290David Steicke 3 34th $4574Mark Vos 5 55th $8971Sarah Bilney 7 153rd $3477Andrew Scott 9 32nd $6917Dominic Sinagra 9 33rd $6917Jeff Lisandro 10 19th $6247Gary Benson 10 23rd $6247Tony G 11 32nd $16,920David Steicke 13 94th $5784Jeff Lisandro 18 2nd $347,004Tony G 18 6th $78,076Jamie Pickering 19 2nd $145,459Rayan Nathan 21 13th $34,357Sarah Bilney 21 61st $10,650Tony Dunst 21 46th $11,681Billy Argyros 22 31st $6284David Steicke 23 4th $166,333Andrew Jeffreys 23 8th $63,598Sean Keeton 23 59th $6849Jeff Lisandro 26 20th $4019Jason Gray 27 26th $17,360Dominic Sinagra 27 154th $3509Sarah Bilney 27 200th $2954Tony Dunst 27 230th $2954Jamie Pickering 28 13th $61,718Tony Dunst 29 8th $54,344Julius Colman 29 48th $6718Jim Sachinidis 29 49th $6718Michael Chrisanthopoulos 31 53rd $6284Roy Vandersluis 31 71st $4655Mark Vos 31 82nd $4189Arthur Kalantzis 32 95th $4402Michael Guzzardi 34 7th $90,267Tino Lechich 34 15th $30,089Michael Zowie 34 19th $19,257Julian Powell 34 25th $19,257Roy Vandersluis 36 25th $16,032Sean Keeton 36 124th $4008Jason Gray 37 3rd $209,855Trevor Lawson 38 30th $5505Michael Guzzardi 39 86th $5569Tony Dunst 39 189th $3155Kelvin Beattie 39 53rd $9653Michael Guzzardi 41 24th $5687Mike Comer 42 159th $2018Sam Khouiss 43 24th $5601Joe Hachem 43 35th $4619Roy Vandersluis 44 71st $8748Tony Hachem 46 39th $14,377Craig Duffy 46 43rd $12,107Sarah Bilney 48 103rd $5060Alexandre Schwab 49 87th $5565Theos Rippis 49 112th $4081Savvas Zenonos 49 112th $4081Emmanuel Seal 49 164th $3153Billy Argyros 50 4th $268,605Julian Powell 50 14th $44,767Jamie Pickering 50 27th $28,651Joe Hachem 51 23rd $6686Kent Hunter 52 103rd $4043Matthew Walker 52 182nd $3124Tino Lechich 53 44th $5055David Saab 54 46th $135,100Mark Vos 54 80th $77,200Haibo Chu 54 186th $38,600Tony Clark 54 187th $38,600Michael Pedley 54 242nd $35,383Tyron Krost 54 249th $35,383Tino Lechich 54 272nd $35,383Peter Ling 54 304th $32,166Emad Tahtouh 54 609th $21,230Roy Vandersluis 54 655th $21,230Jeff Lisandro, Jason Gray and Billy Argyros, Daqvid Saab and Jamie Pickering seemed to star?

Nice one Crocky 268 High Society?

Sean Callander from Bluff has been reporting overviews from the WSOP supporting the quite outstanding live coverage from Pokernews and Pokernetwork team.Most of us have been glued to the daily coverage but are we sure who is playing for Oz?Sean has sent me a mail with the perovisional list which I thought you may share. If you check the PNW latest news above you will see that Bluff will also be covering Poker in Oz on the airways as a regular feature. Pokernetwork will be in there helping.Thanks Sean and thanks Pokernetwork for our coverage of the WSOP. Almost like being in the room?Cashes at the WSOPName Event Place CashMark Vos 2 146th $4558Sarah Bilney 2 174th $4290David Steicke 3 34th $4574Mark Vos 5 55th $8971Sarah Bilney 7 153rd $3477Andrew Scott 9 32nd $6917Dominic Sinagra 9 33rd $6917Jeff Lisandro 10 19th $6247Gary Benson 10 23rd $6247Tony G 11 32nd $16,920David Steicke 13 94th $5784Jeff Lisandro 18 2nd $347,004Tony G 18 6th $78,076Jamie Pickering 19 2nd $145,459Rayan Nathan 21 13th $34,357Sarah Bilney 21 61st $10,650Tony Dunst 21 46th $11,681Billy Argyros 22 31st $6284David Steicke 23 4th $166,333Andrew Jeffreys 23 8th $63,598Sean Keeton 23 59th $6849Jeff Lisandro 26 20th $4019Jason Gray 27 26th $17,360Dominic Sinagra 27 154th $3509Sarah Bilney 27 200th $2954Tony Dunst 27 230th $2954Tony Dunst 29 8th $54,344Julius Colman 29 48th $6718Jim Sachinidis 29 49th $6718Michael Chrisanthopoulos 31 53rd $6284Mark Vos 31 82nd $4189Arthur Kalantzis 32 95th $4402Michael Guzzardi 34 7th $90,267Tino Lechich 34 15th $30,089Michael Zowie 34 19th $19,257Julian Powell 34 25th $19,257Sean Keeton 36 124th $4008Jason Gray 37 3rd $209,855Trevor Lawson 38 30th $5505Michael Guzzardi 39 86th $5569Tony Dunst 39 189th $3155Kelvin Beattie 39 53rd $9653Michael Guzzardi 41 24th $5687Mike Comer 42 159th $2018Sam Khouiss 43 24th $5601Joe Hachem 43 35th $4619Tony Hachem 46 39th $14,377Craig Duffy 46 43rd $12,107Sarah Bilney 48 103rd $5060Alexandre Schwab 49 87th $5565Theos Rippis 49 112th $4081Savvas Zenonos 49 112th $4081Emmanuel Seal 49 164th $3153Billy Argyros 50 4th $268605Some nice cash outs for Argyros, Lisandro, Pickering, Guoga, Gray and newcomer Steicke. All in all good results from Downunder.Over 50 cash outs so far. Anyone like to add them all together?

All the best Rebo from all the pokernetwork team 1987 to date. Just keep the sheep out of the room? Make sure you post some details for all.

The recent Melbourne Championships saw some changes in the Points list for Player of the Year. After the Victorian Champions, the PNS Cup and any other Casino major events Adelaide, Burswood, Star we will have the 2008 Championship Players. Stay in there - one major event can make a difference.PokerNetwork Australasian Rankings (PAR)Leader Board 2008 Rank Player Points 1 Robert Wang 2,063 2 Sam Youssef 1,733 3 Michael Chrisanthopoulos 1,600 4 Christopher Chronis 1,568 5 Vincent Wan 1,563 6 Jamie Pickering 1,405 7 James Broom 1,313 8 David Borg 1,300 9 Peter Ling 1,280 10 Michael Pedley 1,238 11 David Gorr 1,130 12 Marlon Goonawardana 1,125 13 Nino Marotta 1,120 14 Brendan Edmonds 1,055 15 John Pye 1,050 15 Panayotis Flourentzoo 1,050 16 Eric Assadourian 1,030 17 Tony Hachem 975

Thank you AArdvark. I'll be following all events on PNW live and thanks

All the best in your new endeavour. You were a breath of fresh air on the Notice Board and will be sorely missed. I treasure the memories of the early days 6/7 years ago. It was a great poker journey and I am glad you have reached the destination. See you around I hope.

AndBelieve it or notPiano Man Marcos came home with a chip and a chairto make his way tothe finals of the $230 NLHE today. There is life in the old dog yet?