Hachem claims all the riches in the ANZPT Repechange, Melbourne.

 

With a stacked Repechange event in the Crown poker room, Melbourne last weekend Anthony Hachem rose above one of the most talent soaked tournaments in Crown poker rooms history to claim the inaugural Australian New Zealand Poker Tour (ANZPT) Repechange and the AU$ 181,480 first place prize.

 

Anthony Hachem, son of the world renowned World Series of Poker main event champion Joe Hachem, faced one of the ANZPT tours most impressive final tables with the likes of Michel Bouskila, Michael Kanaan, Fabian Craib, Tony Kondevski, Lori Yogo, Ian Thomson, Dean Francis and Daniel Neilson all sitting down to challenge for the title. Hachem entered the final table with a relatively low stack while Craib, Yogo and Dean Francis all sat behind huge, intimidating towers of almost double Hachem’s count.

 

Below are the chip count totals for the final table.

 

Seat 1: Mishel Bouskia – 1,435,000

Seat 2: Michael Kanaan – 2,845,000

Seat 3: Fabian Craib – 2,900,000

Seat 4: Tony Kondevski – 840,000

Seat 5: Lori Yogo – 1,405,000

Seat 6: Anthony Hachem – 1,320,000

Seat 7: Ian Thomson – 1,585,000

Seat 8: Dean Francis – 2,085,000

Seat 9: Daniel Neilson – 1,285,000

 

The first to fall was an ANZPT relative newbie, Ian Thomson who was knocked out by Yogo collecting his largest tournament cash-out to date AU$ 16,880. Almost immediately after Thomson left Yogo found himself taking down Crown poker room regular Dean Francis with a pair of Aces against pocket Queens, who took home AU$ 21,100 for his four days work.

 

The pace of the final table was fast and furious with all players being aggressive to the point where tournament organizers started to ready the winners prizes. Eventual winner Hachem took down Kondevski who had begun the day short stack but with a couple of quick pay-raises he was still contenting. Kondevski took home AU$ 21,430 for his seventh place finish.

 

One of the most feared players at the table, Daniel Neilson, was next to fall at the hands of Mishel Bouskila. Despite beginning the day with the second shortest stacks Neilson still inspired fear in all the players with his aggressive and smart poker play. Neilson finished up in sixth position collecting AU$ 33,760.

 

Hachem finished off short stack Kanaan and quickly after Fabian Craib (who began the day as chip leader) to send them home in fifth and fourth position respectively. Hachem was hot at this point but it was Japan’s Lori Yogo who sent Sydney’s Mishel Bouskia home in third position.

 

The heads up chip counts were very lopsided with Hachem at 10,150,000 to Yogo’s 5,480,000. Yogo clearly understood the task at hand was going to be difficult as he shot out the blocks, taking in a few good pots to close the gap. Hachem was cool, calm and very collected as he worked Yogo well and eventually calling him all in on blind level 29 with and Ace Queen against Yogo’s King Nine. The board was not kind to Yogo wiping him out in second place and taking home a handy AU$ 126,600 for his troubles.

 

The win for Hachem saw him net AU$181,460 in prize money and etch his name in ANZPT history. This ANZPT win will be added to his already impressive poker resume which includes an Aussie Millions Gold ring. The young Hachem is clearly a force to be reckoned with much like his father, who will no doubt be very proud of his son’s triumph.

 

Viktor “Isuldur1” Blom and Randy “nanonko” Lew win big in SCOOP Main events.

 

Viktor Blom recently wrapped up the Spring Championship of Online Poker (SCOOP) winning the high version of the main event while Randy Lew took home the fourth in the medium event.

 

The SCOOP is known for the high, medium and low events its schedules, allowing players of ranging talents, bankrolls and skills to enter and try their hands. The low event had a $109 buy-in, medium $1,050 and the high hand a $10,300 buy-in. The high main event had a $3 million guarantee but it was easily surpassed as 580 players took part raising the overall prize pool to a staggering $5,800,000.

 

Blom took down prominent online players Noah Boeken, Mike Telker, Sergio Aido and Ravi Raghavan on his way to collecting a Hefty prize and yet another SCOOP title.

 

The medium $1,050 main event featured a well stacked field with a massive 4,039 players taking part, creating a total prize pool of $4,039,000 completely smashing the $2 million guarantee.

 

Team PokerStars player Lew made it to the final table comfortably, showcasing his dominate play throughout much of the tournament. Team PokerStars were hoping for a double victory, following Blom’s high event win, but Lew was unfortunate not to be able to collect as Brazil’s Nicolau Villa-Lobas ended up taking home the medium title and the $472,209.35 prize. Lew finished fourth earning himself $368,445.01 for his strong showing at this years Spring Championship of Online Poker 2013.