SA Season 3 Semi Final Review

[Matty Norwood]

Well, another SA 888PL Semi Final Weekend is done and dusted. And what a great weekend it was!

Saturday 30th October kicked off at midday with the 888PL Teams Challenge. This is the second of these events run at West Adelaide and this event had promised to be as fiercely fought as the first.

After 2 rounds of 8 per table shoot outs, it came down the final four teams to play off for the first prize. Using all the skill they could muster, TEAM ON TILT took down the Teams Challenge and walked away with the $1400 cash first prize.
Congratulations & well played to

TEAM ON TILT
George Apat
Chris Bonato
Chris Whiting
Robert Lark
Matt Dehay
Craig Ivey
Russell Gibbie
Carmine DeSciscio

Runners up in the Teams Challenge were team SIN 2 WIN represented by Samantha Dodd, Peter Kepler, Jo McDonald, Peter Cooper, Phil Lambert, Nisha Lambert, Dave Larcombe and Mike Subacius.

Event #2 on Saturday was the 888PL $50 Buy In Event. 40 players battled it out for $2000 in cash with Kon Koroneos victorious and taking the title. Congratulations also to John Flanigan & 888PL Tournament Captain John Leach, 2nd & 3rd respectively.



Sunday 31st October saw 394 players register for their chance to take home the title and a share of $30,000 in cash and prizes in Event #3, the SA 888PL Semi Final Main Event.

Players started the day with 10,000 in chips and after 12 grinding hours 10 players were ready to see who would be crowned the 888PL Season 3 Semi Final Champion.

THE FINAL TABLE

Ryan Schultz 820,000
Pete “Pistol” Dietrich 685,000
Chris Shilling 600,000
Chris Morris 580,000
Carmine DeSciscio 305,000
John Joannou 260,000
Andre Villani 260,000
old-man daryl Westley 225,000
Chris Smith 195,000
Gloria Elder 195,000

The final table saw some great strategic poker and it wasn’t long before we lost Andre Villani in 10th place. Andre pocketed $800 and an 888PL Grand Final ticket for his efforts.

Next to go in 9th place was old-man daryl Westley. At one stage during the tournament old-man daryl was down to his last 2,000 in chips and bravely fought back to make a well deserved final table. old-man daryl took home $900 and scored himself a ticket to the next 888PL Grand Final in March.

John Joannou hit the rail soon after in 8th place and found himself $1000 richer and the proud winner of an 888PL Grand final ticket.

Seeming to never lose a showdown all day, the poker gods finally caught up with Carmine DeSciscio who was busted out in 7th and earned himself $1200 and an 888PL Grand Final ticket to go with his share of the winnings from the Teams Challenge the day before. Great weekend Carmine, well done!

Out in 6th place was Chris Smith. Chris played a great poker all day and battled hard to get to the final table. Chris cashed for $1400 and an 888PL GF ticket.

Gloria Elder was the sentimental favourite on the final table. Having made many admirers for her gritty determination on the feature table and her unwavering stare downs, the elder stateswoman of the final table held her own against a tough field of young upstarts! During the tournament Gloria’s black pocket 2’s busted AA and KK to the same unfortunate player in back to back hands. For her 6th place finish Gloria walked away with $1600 and an 888PL GF ticket. We all look forward to seeing Gloria on another final table in the future.

4th Place went to Chris Shilling. Chris played some fantastic poker over the course of the day and was unlucky no to go all the way. 4th earned Chris a very healthy $2000 and an 888PL GF ticket.

With just 3 remaining the play was cool and calculated and the next to hit the rail was Pistol Pete Dietrich. I’m sure that Pete would be very pleased with the way he played over the weekend and the well deserved $2500 and a ticket to the March 888PL Grand Final.

So heads up we went. Chris Morris vs Ryan Schultz. The room fell silent, the actions of both players were slow and deliberate, neither wanted to give an inch to the other. For about half an hour the crowd didn’t get to see a flop. Then after some great heads up play it came down to a two outer on the river for Chris to make his straight and we had our Season 3 888PL Semi Final Champion.

Chris drove over from the Yorke Peninsula and takes the winner’s trophy, an 888PL GF ticket and $5,500 back to his region. After outlasting 393 other opponents, Chris Morris proved he was the best player on the day! A big congratulations to Chris and we’re sure his poker future will reach even bigger heights!

Congratulations to our runner up, Ryan Schultz who went to the table as the chip leader and managed his big stack superbly during the final table. Ryan played premium poker from start to finish and although unlucky not to take the title, was a deserved runner up and played some fantastic poker. Well done Ryan!


Event #4 on Sunday was the 888PL $50 Buy Grand Final Buy In Event. 48 players coughed up $50 a piece to battle for 4 x 888PL Grand Final tickets valued at $2000 + $400 in cash.

Congratulations also to Josef Thomas, Darryl Steel, Ash Owens and Gerard Kenny who each scored a $500 888PL GF ticket.

And with that, the S3 Semi Final was over. Thanks to all the players for once again making this an event to strive for a weekend to be remembered. Thanks also to all the 888PL contractors who worked tirelessly to ensure the day went off without a hitch.

We hope to see you all at the next Season 4 SA Semi Finals. Until then, good luck on the felt!