Many talked about it, but it wasn't until the first hand was dealt on a sweltering Adelaide afternoon back in February that Australia and New Zealand finally had a poker tour to call their own.

The first season of the PokerStars.net Australia New Zealand Poker Tour has been run and won, with PokerStars Qualifier Scott Kerr taking out the ANZPT Queensland title and the first prize of AUD $168,075.

The 21-year-old from Newcastle in New South Wales deals poker games at Star City Casino in Sydney, and showed he knows a thing or two about what's happening on the other side of the table.

He joins Karl Krautschneider (Adelaide), Paren Arzoomanian (Sydney), Chris Levick (Melbourne) and Danny Chevalier (Queenstown) as season one ANZPT champions - a spot in local poker history that can never be erased.

Kerr's win ended a PokerStars.net ANZPT season that surpassed all expectations. The tour, which featured events at SKYCITY in Adelaide and Queenstown, Sydney's Star City and Crown Casino in Melbourne, ended with an innovative event in Queensland - the first time major tournament poker had come to Australia's Sunshine State.

For the first time in regional poker history, day one and two flights were played concurrently at two different venues - Conrad Treasury Casino in Brisbane and Conrad Jupiters Casino on the Gold Coast, about an hour to the south.

The field of 249 for ANZPT Queensland meant the tour drew a total of 1309 players in its first year, with 334 of those winning their spots via PokerStars sponsorship or qualified via ANZPT satellites on PokerStars. The prize pool of AUD $622,500 for ANZPT Queensland meant almost AUD $3 million - AUD $2,982,196 to be exact - was up for grabs in the tour's first season.

Not only were players afforded the opportunity to play in quality, well-organised events, the ANZPT provided the ultimate poker tourism experience, especially in the last two stops of Queenstown and Queensland.

After three days of play, the remaining 40 players converged on Jupiters where they played down to a final table of eight yesterday. Joel Dodds was chasing his second final table of the ANZPT season after placing seventh in Sydney, and brought a massive chip lead forward from day three, but the cards didn't run his way and he was out in third.

The heads-up contest featured a pair of PokerStars Qualifiers - Kerr versus New Zealander Phillip Willcocks. This was the first time the two nations that host the ANZPT were featured in a heads-up contest on the tour.

It was going to be an uphill battle for Kerr, who trailled Willcocks by a margin of more than 3:1. It drove the Aussie to take down several sizeable pots early, applying the pressure before eventually securing a big pot to overtake the New Zealander.

With the blinds at 15,000/30,000 and a 3,000 ante, Kerr made it 75,000 to go on the button before the flop. Willcocks re-raised to 200,000; Kerr then three-bet to 450,000 and Willcocks made the call. Both players checked the flop of [9s] [4d] [js].

On the turn of the [9h], Willcocks checked to Kerr who made it 500,000 to go. Willcocks thought about it for a long time before letting it go into the muck circle. That put Kerr ahead for the first time at the final table.

The final hand came not long after when Willcocks raised to 75,000 from the buck; Kerr made it 350,000 to and Willcocks insta-shoved for around 1.4 million. Kerr snap-called and the cards were revealed Kerr [ah] [qc] and Willcocks [qs] [js].

The flop of [2s] [10c] [8h] missed both players, however the [qh] spiked on the turn. This gave the pair to both players, but kept Kerr in the lead with the ace kicker. The last card for the season was the [6c] - and it was over. Kerr looked stunned as the enormity of his win and AUD $168,075 prize started to sink in, while Willcocks looked well pleased with his AUD $112,050 for second.

The Conrad Treasury and Jupiters teams could easily qualify for ANZPT rookie of the year status. Never before had a casino in the state hosted a poker tournament, but the teams in Brisbane and the Gold Coast put on a quality event despite the added hurdle of using two venues for the one event. Dealer shoes, chips lists instead of bags, etc ... all part of the charm of ANZPT Queensland.

PokerStars.net Team Australia Pro Tony Hachem finally emerged from his older brother's shadow in emphatic fashion to win the ANZPT Player of the Year. PokerStars.net Team Pro Joe Hachem was among the first congratulate Tony when he was confirmed as the first ANZPT Player of the Year after cashes in Adelaide (15th), Sydney (17th), Melbourne (16th) and Queenstown (18th).

WP Hash, and congratulations to Chris Levick and Joel Dodds who also won PokerStars sponsorships packages for finishing second and third respectively.

We poke a lot of fun at ANZPT commissioner Danny McDonagh, but he has filled more roles than Subway during season one of the ANZPT. From tour director in Queenstown to bus driver in Queensland, Danny has added to the experience of every player on tour with his boundless energy and enthusiasm. Can't wait to see what he has in store for season two!

We can actually reveal that the first piece of the puzzle for 2010 has been filled with Adelaide set to again host the opening event of the PokerStars.net ANZPT. SKYCITY Casino in the South Australian capital will host ANZPT Adelaide from February 9-14.

On behalf of my blogging partner Landon Blackhall and the entire ANZPT team, we've been thrilled to share the excitement of our very own tour over the past six months.

Our focus now turns to the first event on season three of the PokerStars.net Asia Pacific Poker Tour at the Grand Lisboa Hotel and Casino in Macau from August 25-30. Good night from Jupiters on Australia's Gold Coast, see you in Macau!

By Landon Blackhall

The heads-up duel has been decided for the PokerStars.net ANZPT Queensland Main Event, with the great trans-Tasman rivalry set to be reignited by the battle between PokerStars Qualifiers Phillip Willcocks from New Zealand and Aussie Scott Kerr. This is the first time that the two nations in which the ANZPT is played have been represented in the heads-up showdown.

The Aussie and All-Blacks have been battling on sporting arenas as diverse as cricket, rugby, league and football for decades - it's always a fierce battle and the Kiwis love putting one over their rivals on the western shore of the Tasman Sea.

Kerr's father Stephen walked out to get some air at the wrong time, missing the hand with which his son eliminated Joel Dodds in third place.

Kerr was first to act, raising to 75,000 from the buck. Dodds re-raised to 215,000, only to see Willcocks sweeping his hands across his stack to motion that he was all in. Kerr got out of the way as Dodds snap-called with pocket queens, ahead of Willcocks' [js] [jc].

Willcocks stood silent, but it was Kerr that was calling for the jack. It appeared in the window; the flop reading [4s] [8h] [jd]. A repeat [4d] came on the turn, giving Willcocks the full house and leaving Dodds with only two outs to stay alive. The river bricked out [ks], eliminating strongplay and earning him AUD $62,250 for his efforts.

Security staff have just deposited the first prize money of AUD $168,000 and change on the table and after a 15-minute recess, the combatants have taken their seats with blinds at level 23 (15,000/30,000 with an ante 3000).

The PokerStars.net ANZPT Queensland Main Event has been turned on its head with a new chip leader and two quick eliminations leaving just four players chasing the first prize of AUD $168,075.

New Zealand's Phillip Willcocks has nosed ahead of Joel Dodds in the chip count, not that the Sydneysider's stack has declined. Willcocks has been the major aggressor in the past hour, and when he sent Scott "Punty" Smith to the rail in fifth place, his stack had grown above two million.

But action started earlier in level 22 when Danny Joukhadar found himself all-in again holding the red jacks, and found a caller in Scott Kerr who held [ah] [qh]. The flop came down [8s] [10d] [ac], sending Kerr into the lead. "No jack," Kerr shouted loudly. "Jack, one time," Joukhadar's supporters roared.

Kerr's request was duly acknowledged as the board ran out [3h] [5c], eliminating Joukhadar in sixth place for AUD $31,125 - his second ANZPT cash.

Willcocks closed the gap on Dodds when he shoved all-in over the top of Dodds bet of 265,000 on a flop of [7c] [8d] [6c]. Dodds folded, and Willcocks closed to within 100,000 of the chip leader.

The Kiwi was it again in a pre-flop raising war with Scott Smith that ended when he slid in a pile of yellow 25,000 chips, with Smith eventually making a reluctant fold.

Willcocks then sent Smith to the rail in fifth - the New Zealander raised pre-flop, Smith pushed in for his last 470,000 and Willcocks called showing [ah] [kh], and it was off to the races against the New South Welshman's [8d] [8c]. The board fell [6h] [2s] [ad] [4d] [9d], leaving "Punty" out in fifth for $40,462.

Willcocks then climbed to around 2.4 million, putting the pressure on Joel Dodds. On a board reading [3d] [4d] [8d], Dodds led out for 170,000, only to have Willcocks announce all in. "Gambling with the ace of diamonds, are you?" Dodds asked before angrily throwing his hand into the muck.

Scott Kerr's stack is now looking healthier after eliminating Melburnian Shoshiro Karita in third place. The money was all in the middle with Shoshiro's [ah] [9c] well ahead of the [10d] [8d] of Kerr. However the flop of [10c] [10s] [qc] and the turn of [2d] would end the PokerStars Player's tournament life. A meaningless [ac] came on the river; we say sayonara to Shoshiro, but he'll be all smiles after receiving AUD $49,800.

With the elimination of Danny Joukhadar in sixth position, Chris Levick was been confirmed as the runner-up in the ANZPT Player of the Year count behind Tony Hachem while Joel Dodds has edged ahead of Joukhadar for third place. Congratulations to all three players.

By Landon Blackhall

Level 21: It took most of the level for the next elimination with the hopes of a local player winning the first PokerStars.net ANZPT Queensland title ending. Danny Joukhadar kept his hopes of a top-three finish in the overall points title alive when he took out Brisbane's Paul Gibson in seventh spot (for $21,787.50).

Joukhadar and Gibson had been sitting tight and hardly played a hand though the other players were paying them respect every time they raised or moved all-in pre-flop, letting them steal the blinds and antes.

Eventually, the duo went to battle against each other - Joukhadar moved all-in holding pocket tens, only to have Paul Gibson wake up with pocket kings. Both players jumped up out of their seats and paced the room in an almost mirror-image fashion; each player went to their support groups on the rail.

It was the latest chapter in the fierce interstate rivalry between New South Wales and Queensland But NSW would draw first blood against their fierce Queensland rival, the flop bringing the [10s] in the window, followed by [3c] [3d]. The turn of [js] was a little scary for Joukhadar, but was relieved to see the wrong kind of paint. "This is interesting, it's not over yet," Gibson quipped.

Unfortunately, it would be the wrong kind of paint again - the dealer burned then rolled up the [jc]. After the stacks were cut down, Gibson was found to be the shorter of the two stacks and he was off to the cage.

Meanwhile Joukhadar's PokerStars Pro-padded peanut gallery cheered their delight, much to the curiosity of the blue-rinse brigade playing the slots.

In contrast, PokerStars Qualifier Scott Kerr has been quiet this afternoon, though has played a couple of pots but with not much to show except for a decrease down to 365,000 in chips. Melbourne-based Japanese-born PokerStars Player Shoshiro Karita has seen the most action, reflected in the wild swings in the size of his stack, which currently comprises 340,000.

Joel strongplay Dodds remains the dominant chip leader on 1.8 million, and we could be heading for our first Australia versus New Zealand heads-up confrontation on the ANZPT with Kiwi PokerStars Qualifier Phillip Willcocks now in a strong position, holding second chip position with 1.065 million, mainly thanks to Scott Smith (currently on 735,000).

On a flop reading [8h] [jh] [ah], Willcocks led out for 60,000 and Smith made the call. The action would then end on the turn of [6d] after Willcocks fired out 110,000. Punty would no longer gamble and didn't look too concerned as the Kiwi stacked up his newly-acquired chips.

Players are on a 15-minute break, with blinds up to level 22 (12,000/24,000 with an ante of 3000). The chip average is 960,000.

By Landon Blackhall

Level 20: It's strongplay all the way in the early going with Joel Dodds extending his lead at the head of the chip count in the PokerStars.net ANZPT Queensland final table.

More and more people are joining the rail as the afternoon ticks by, from where they've watched Dodds boost his stack to more than two million while UK PokerStars Qualifier became the first elimination of the day, finishing eighth and taking home AUD $16,496.25.

Players have been here for five days, but that didn't stop a moment of confusion when New Zealand PokerStars Qualifier Phillip Willcocks attempted to raise to 26,000 with the blinds at 8000/16,000 with a 2000 ante. Under Queensland gaming legislation, should a bet not constitute the size of a full raise (i.e. it should have been to 32,000 in this case), unlike other casinos, the bet is considered a call and the excess refunded.

Groans went up from all at the table, but the action continued with Shoshiro Karita and Danny Joukhadar limping in. The flop of [2h] [As] [Qd] saw Willcocks fire out a big bet quickly; the others got out of the way and the Kiwi raked in the chips.

The very next hand, Willcocks made a correct raise to 40,000 under the gun. The action folded around to Lee Fraser who called as the others got out of the way. On the flop of [6s] [5h] [6c], Willcocks made it 46,000 to go and Fraser called.

The turn of [qd] saw Willcocks check-call Fraser's bet of 60,000, then doing the same on the river [2d] after Fraser's bet of 85,000. Though the possibility of a flush was out there, both players turned up black cards at the showdown - Fraser with [kc] [jc], Willcocks holding [ac] [qs] for two pair. The pot was shipped to the Kiwi and he went up to 720,000, while Fraser's cheer squad could only sit quietly, watching their boy struggle on 150,000.

He was all-in moments later holding [ks] [qs], with Joel strongplay Dodds snap-calling with [as] [qh]. The flop came down [8h] [8s] [jh], improving neither hand, but the turn of [9h] saw Fraser stand up, tapping the table and egging on a 10 to peel off on the river.

Not this time - a repeat [9s] came up, sending the likeable larrikin from Manchester to the rail in eighth place to collect AUD $16,496.25. This also sent Dodds' stack soaring up to more than 2,000,000 in chips.

Early in level 21 (10,000/20,000 with an ante of 2000), Dodds holds two million, Willcocks 740,000, Smith 650,000, a resurgent Shoshiro Karita on 610,000, Kerr 360,000, Joukhadar 265,000 and Gibson 210,000.

By Landon Blackhall

Though we are in the in the heart of the Conrad Jupiters Casino on the Gold Coast, with the whizzing and clunking and trickling of gaming machines and table games operating around the poker area, the PokerStars.net ANZPT Queensland final table began in more subdued fashion.

After a few media commitments were fulfilled with a photo shoot and introductions of the players by tournament director Martin Coughlan, play got underway just after 12.30pm AEST.

ANZPT Commissioner Danny McDonagh is playing MC today, calling the action for the benefit of the spectators on the rail, which has now built to two- and three-deep. Our UK PokerStars Qualifier Lee Fraser has brought quite a number of those spectators, who have been following his progress since yesterday and are stoked to see their fellow Brit have his moment in the sun.

Sydneysider Scott Kerr has his father Stephen on the rail watching him nervously. Scott "Punty" Smith and Joel strongplay Dodds also have many followers, mostly made up of fellow young online poker players and big name pros, including PokerStars Team Australia pros Eric Assadourian and Grant Levy.

Dodds took down the first pot of the day, then clashed with short-stacked PokerStars Player Shoshiro Karita after four players went to a flop of [7c] [jh] [4h]. The action was checked around to Karita who made it 50,000 to go from the cut-off, only to see Dodds raise it up to 186,000.

The others got out of the way; Karita went into the tank for five minutes, muttering to himself and Dodds before eventually mucking his hand. With that early action, Dodds has moved up to 1.7 million in chips, while Karita moved down to 160,000.

Blinds have ticked back up to 8000/16,000 with an ante of 2000 (level 20), with no players eliminated in the first hour of play.

The final day has dawned on the first season of the PokerStars.net Australia New Zealand Poker Tour, with the final eight players starting to arrive for the final table in the PokerStars.net ANZPT Queensland Main Event.

There are one or two sore heads in the room after last night's ANZPT farewell party. Indeed, the players who've trekked down to the Gold Coast from Brisbane have enjoyed their time at Jupiters Hotel and Casino so much that when the bus arrived to take them back to the state capital, only one player turned up!

The mad Manc Lee Fraser was whooping it up along side the PokerStars.net Team Australia pros at the party last night but has pulled up remarkably well for his run at the title. Now living in Surfers Paradise, the PokerStars Qualifier starts today with 458,000.

Chip leader Joel strongplay Dodds has just meandered into the tournament area, and is quietly confident that he will celebrate his maiden live tournament win today. He's in the box seat, holding a massive 1.582 million in chips.

Dodds will have to outlast good mate and respected young Aussie pro Scott "Punty" Smith, who has led this tournament at numerous points during recent days. Smith has almost half the chips of Dodds (806,000) but is in clear second position heading into the final table.

Sydney's Danny Joukhadar is ranked the best outsider today, especially with the added incentive of a possible second-place finish in the overall ANZPT points race. But with 431,000, he has an uphill battle ahead today.

Paul Gibson arrived with a big band of supporters from Brisbane, who've snatched up every seat on the rail to watch their man claw back from seventh chip position after his gutsy comeback late yesterday from just 30,000 in chips.

PokerStars Player Shoshiro Karita is beaming at the thought of playing for his first major tournament title, even though he brings the outright short stack of just 239,000 to the table. Likewise, PokerStars Qualifier and Star City poker dealer Scott Kerr (532,000) is pinching himself at the thought of being on the opposite side of the fence today.

Final player to arrive was Auckland's Phillip Willcocks, a PokerStars Qualifier who is quietly confident of a deep run today after staying under the radar and out of trouble on day three. The New Zealander has 536,000, more than enough chips to have a major influence on the results today.

Blinds have been wound back to level 19 (6000/12,000 with an ante of 1000), with the final table being played on the main gaming floor overlooking Broadbeach and another glorious Gold Coast afternoon. Play will be underway shortly. The structure for today's play is:

Level 19: 6000/12,000 (ante 1000) - 30 minutes remaining
Level 20: 8000/16,000 (ante 2000)
Level 21: 10,000/20,000 (ante 2000)
Level 22: 12,000/24,000 (ante 3000)
Level 23: 15,000/30,000 (ante 3000)
Level 24: 20,000/40,000 (ante 4000)
Level 25: 30,000/60,000 (ante 5000)
Level 26: 40,000/80,000 (ante 5000)
Level 27: 50,000/100,000 (ante 10,000)
Level 28: 60,000/120,000 (ante 10,000)
Level 29: 80,000/160,000 (ante 20,000)
Level 30: 100,000/200,000 (ante 30,000)

Official chip at start of day 4

Seat 1: Paul Gibson, Brisbane, Qld, Australia (352,000)
Seat 2: Phillip Willcocks (PokerStars Qualifier), Auckland, NZ (536,000)
Seat 3: Scott Smith, Kempsey, NSW, Australia (806,000)
Seat 4: Scott Kerr (PokerStars Qualifier) Newcastle, NSW, Australia (532,000)
Seat 5: Lee Fraser (PokerStars Qualifier) Manchester, England (458,000)
Seat 6: Shoshiro Karita (PokerStars Player) Melbourne, Vic, Australia (239,000)
Seat 7: Joel Dodds, Sydney, NSW, Australia (1,528,000)
Seat 8: Danny Joukhadar, Sydney, NSW, Australia (431,000)

Seat 1: Paul Gibson, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia (352,000 in chips): Down to just 30,000 in chips with 11 players remaining, this 35-year-old from Brisbane clawed his way back into contention for the title in dramatic fashion. Currently out of work, he's been playing poker for two years and elected to roll the dice by buying in for the full $2500. He's cashed in past events at Crown in Melbourne but this looms as his biggest ever tournament payday. "It's just awesome to have a tournament like this in Queensland, at last," he said.

Seat 2: Phillip Willcocks (PokerStars Qualifier), Auckland, New Zealand (536,000 in chips): One of only two internationals at the final table, this 26-year-old from Auckland qualified for ANZPT Queensland via PokerStars, as was the case when he placed 21st in the 2008 PokerStars.net APPT Grand Final in Sydney. A former molecular biologist, he now turn his microscope to the science of online poker after a friend "pushed" him into poker. He is third in chips heading into the final table and just one double-up away from being a serious threat.

Seat 3: Scott Smith, Kempsey, NSW, Australia (806,000 in chips): This quietly-spoken 24-year-old lives in the NSW country town of Kempsey but there's nothing understated about his poker game. Now a full-time pro, he cashed 15th in last year's PokerStars.net APPT Grand Final at Star City in Sydney. The former actuaries student, known through poker circles by the nickname "Punty", mainly plays online but has started playing more live events in recent months.

Seat 4: Scott Kerr (PokerStars Qualifier) Newcastle, NSW, Australia (532,000 in chips): This 21-year-old from Newcastle has been playing Hold'em for seven years but this is his first major poker tournament. There's a good reason too: he's normally dealing the cards instead of playing them in his job as a dealer at Star City Casino in Sydney. A PokerStars Qualifier, he started playing poker with his father Stephen, whose been on hand to watch his son's roller coaster ride to his first final table.

Seat 5: Lee Fraser (PokerStars Qualifier) Manchester, England (483,000 in chips): There promises to be a party atmosphere at tomorrow's final table with a big contingent of friends railing this 32-year-old electrician, who relocated to Surfers Paradise from Manchester in the UK earlier this year - "because of the weather". He started playing pub poker at home and has honed his skills playing online since moving to Australia. His motto for the final table: "Take a walk on the wild side!"

Seat 6: Shoshiro Karita (PokerStars Player) Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (239,000 in chips): Born in Japan, raised in Brisbane and now residing in this Melbourne, this full-time poker player can be considered a young veteran at 24. He has several years of live cash-game experience and has recorded a respectable list of results playing online MTTs and in some of Australia's major events (he was 15th in the recent Melbourne Poker Championships Main Event). He enters his first major final table as the short stack.

Seat 7: Joel Dodds, Sydney, NSW, Australia (1,528,000 in chips): Fresh from his first full summer campaign in Las Vegas (where we hear his golf game came on a treat), this 25-year-old student is celebrating his second ANZPT final table after finishing seventh in his hometown of Sydney back in May. He is among the form players in the country, having cashed in the 2009 Aussie Millions Main Event while he also took out the Pot-Limit Omaha title at the Melbourne Championships. He holds a massive chip lead and almost 30 per cent of the chips in play.

Seat 8: Danny Joukhadar, Sydney, NSW, Australia (431,000 in chips): One of the chip leaders throughout all three days of play so far, this 24-year-old poker pro from Sydney remains in contention for a top-three finish in the overall ANZPT points title after cashing 25th in the field of 496 at ANZPT Sydney. Now a full-time poker player, he has four years experiencing and is a regular on the cash tables at Star City. "This is the winner, right here," PokerStars.net Team Australia pro Eric Assadourian told us.

The final table has been decided for the final event in the first season of the PokerStars.net ANZPT, with Joel strongplay Dodds in the box seat to take home the chocolates.

Dodds takes a massive chip lead into tomorrow's final table with almost 30 per cent of the chips in play and a 2:1 chip lead over his nearest rival, good mate Scott "Punty" Smith. Dodds finished seventh in the PokerStars.net ANZPT Sydney Main Event, but is determined to go all the way to become the first ANZPT Queensland champion.

A total of 40 players returned for day three and for the first time, the survivors were all at the same venue - Conrad Jupiters Casino on the Gold Coast. Action was fast and furious early in the day with the bubble (27) breaking in less than two hours.

Reigning Aussie Millions champion and PokerStars Qualifier Stewart Scott placed 22nd while Linda Tyler was confirmed as the highest placed female player when she bowed out in 20th place after qualifying via a $100 satellite at Jupiters Casino.

PokerStars Sponsored Player Lee Nelson was eliminated in 15th place for a $6225 payday - the first ANZPT cash for the 2006 Aussie Millions winner. Play stalled at 11 players for more than an hour before three players were eliminated in successive hands meaning the final table will comprise only eight players.

Tim luckyshades Horan endured a brutal evening as he butted heads with PokerStars Qualifier Scott Kerr before running [ah] [jc] into Joel Dodds' pocket eights. The board missed both hands, and Horan was unbelievably out in 11th while Dodds had climbed to a tournament-high 1.4 million.

Charlie Gang's tournament ended when Danny Joukhadar declared all-in with [10c] [9c], and the PokerStars Qualifier couldn't wait to get his money in with [ac] [kd]. All good - until a 10 landed on the flop and another 10 fell on the turn to disband Gang's final table hopes.

Gang hadn't left the tournament area when Scott Smith pushed all-in for 385,000 on the adjacent table, with Eric Sclavos (holding an identical amount of chips) making the call. It was [ks] [kh] for Sclavos against the [as] [qs] of Smith. The board fell [7s] [5h] [3s] [6s] [6d] giving Smith a flush and eliminating Sclavos in ninth.

The overall points competition is very much alive with both Danny Joukhadar and Joel Dodds on the final table. Joukhadar wins ANZPT sponsorship for season two if he can win the event, while Dodds, the monster chip leader, can deny Joukhadar this sponsorship and even overtake him for third place and sponsorship valued at $10,500 if he finishes a handful of places in front of him.

Intriguing stuff, we'll be back at 12.30pm tomorrow - fresh from a few bevvies at tonight's ANZPT "wrap" party - for the finale to season one of the PokerStars.net ANZPT.

Saturday night's alright for ... dragging out the shortest skirt in your wardrobe, slapping on three inches of make-up and tagging along with five other girls for some rainbow-coloured cocktails at Jupiters, judging from tonight's crowd.

But the faux catwalk parade going on adjacent to the tournament area isn't distracting the remaining players in the PokerStars.net ANZPT Queensland Main Event, with final table spots now firmly within reach for the 11 survivors.

There were three quick eliminations after the last break. The short-stacked Chris McCovert invested his last 51,000 with black deuces but PokerStars Player Shoshiro Karita glanced down to find [qs] [qd], which swiftly dispatched McCovert to the rail in 14th position.

Zhicong Wu's tournament ended with a one-two punch combination that sent him to the canvas in 13th. The PokerStars Qualifier was crippled when his [ac] [4c] came up against Scott Kerr's [qs] [7s], but the board of [2d] [10d] [jc] [7h] [5h] missed Wu and left him with just 13,000. He limped out to Joel Dodds in the next hand.

Brad Wilson was rarely near the chip average all day but hung on grimly and was rewarded with 12th spot and a payout of $8715. His tournament life was snuffed out when his pocket queens ran into the pocket aces of Danny Joukhadar's pocket aces - neither hand connected with the board as Joukhadar's stack turned north for the first time in two hours.

The aggression of Joel strongplay Dodds in the past 30 minutes has paid off with the popular Sydneysider taking the chip lead. He's been happy to take on PokerStars Player Shoshiro Karita at every opportunity, and took down a massive pot when he shoved all-in over Karita's raise to 175,000 on a board showing [ks] [8d] [2d] [kc]. Dodds is up to 960,000, almost 20 per cent of the chips in play, while Karita fell to 320,000.

We're at the midpoint of level 20 (8000/16,000 with a 2000 ante), with the chip average now 445,000.

Lee Nelson's hopes of adding another major regional title to his long list of achievements have ended with a respectable 15th placing in the PokerStars.net ANZPT Queensland Main Event.

This was the first ANZPT cash for the PokerStars Sponsored Player from New Zealand, but that's a rare blip on otherwise stellar tournament record that includes the 2006 Aussie Millions Main Event title (he's also final-tabled more Aussie Millions events than any other player) plus three PokerStars.net APPT in-the-money finishes (tied for the tour high).

He made his way from the Jupiters tournament area after pushing all-in with [ac] [9h] only for the ascendant Scott Kerr to wake-up with [ah] [kh]. The board ran out seven-high, and Nelson made a typically gracious exit ... a book from which some of the more rambunctious players on tour could take a leaf. With his father Stephen watching from the rail, Kerr had charged to 570,000 and within sight of the chip lead.

But not for long ... most of his chips now reside in the stack of Joel Dodds after Kerr bravely ran [as] [qd] into Dodds' [10c] [10h] after a fierce pre-flop raising war. The board ran out [jd] [4c] [3c] [7s] [js], Dodds was up to 600,000 and Kerr fell to 230,000. Just like that.

The list of names near the top of the chip count hasn't changed much today, but that's just changed with Danny Joukhadar taking a big hit to his stack, courtesy of Kiwi PokerStars Qualifier Phillip Willcocks.

In response to Joukhadar's raise from the small blind, Willcocks slammed in his remaining 190,000, with Joukhadar snap-calling. The New Zealander sheepishly showed [qs] [9h], which trailled Joukhadar's [ad] [kd]. The window card was the [9d], and that was enough for Willcocks (up to 430,00) to shear a big slice of chips from the Sydneysider, who dropped to 230,000.

Players are just about to take their third break of the day and when they return, blinds will be at 6000/12,000 with an ante of 1000 (level 19), with the chip average at 350,000.

After a veritable "red spot" of activity at Jupiters all afternoon, the diminishing sunlight has signalled diminishing action as play tightens up considerably late on day three of the PokerStars.net ANZPT Queensland Main Event. Just 15 players remain - six short of the final table, which will be decided tonight.

It's shaping up as one of the tightest tussles in the short history of the PokerStars.net ANZPT. Scott Smith has slipped back to 530,000, meaning the top four players are separated by just 50,000. Tim Horan has 520,000, Eric Scavlos (490,000) and Danny Joukhadar holds 485,000. Giddy up.

Brisbane's Lyle Higgs, a Treasury Casino qualifier, was the first player eliminated after the redraw when his [as] [ks] raced the [9d] [9c] of PokerStars Qualifier Phillip Willcocks. There was no joy for Higgs with the board running out [8d] [6c] [4s] [6s] [qd], and he was out in 18th.

After bubbling in the ANZPT Queenstown tournament less than two weeks ago, PokerStars Qualifier Tim Clarke quickly rid that monkey from his back with a 17th-place finish here.

Despite all the action today, it was one of the few occasions where it came down to pair versus pair, with Clarke's fours running into the pocket queens of Charlie Gang. Neither hand improved, and Clarke was off to collect a cheque for AUD $6225.

Jevon Harvey had climbed to almost 400,000 in the early going but his final table dreams steadily evaporated before PokerStars Sponsored Player Lee "Final Table" Nelson delivered the killer blow. It was the suited connectors of Harvey, [10h] [9h] against Nelson's [as] [qc], with the turn [ac] extending the New Zealander's lead in the hand, this eliminating Harvey in 16th.

At the other end of spectrum, let's give a shout-out to PokerStars Qualifier Scott Kerr. After impressing the early going at Brisbane's Treasury Casino, he looked on the cusp of elimination earlier in the day but has clawed his way back to 270,000.

Many of those chips came from the stack of Joel strongplay Dodds. Kerr shoved from the small blind with [jh] [9h], with Dodds along for the ride with a big blind special of [as] [6s]. Dodds led until the [9c] fell on the river, giving Kerr a pot worth 270,000 while Dodds is down to 190,000.

The Scott "Punty" Smith show continues as the laid-back Sydney youngster comfortably leads midway through day three of the PokerStars.net ANZPT Queensland.

With the weekend crowd curiously watching the action - not surprising since this is the first major tournament played here at Jupiters - players are taking a breather while they are redrawn into two tables of nine.

Table 9

Seat 1: Brad Wilson 82,000
Seat 2: Shoshiro Karita 160,000
Seat 3: Lee Nelson 295,000
Seat 4: Jevon Harvey 200,000
Seat 5: Eric Sclavos 530,000
Seat 6: Scott Kerr 110,000
Seat 7: Joel Dodds 470,000
Seat 8: Zhicong Wu 270,000
Seat 9: Tim Horan 500,000

Table 10

Seat 1: Lyle Higgs 114,000
Seat 2: Paul Gibson 127,000
Seat 3: Lee Fraser 95,000
Seat 4: Scott Smith 660,000
Seat 5: Danny Joukhadar 436,000
Seat 6: Christopher McCovert 185,000
Seat 7: Phillip Willcocks 310,000
Seat 8: Tim Clarke 120,000
Seat 9: Charlie Gang 150,000

That came after Julian Cohen, who snuck into the field at Jupiters as an alternate on day 1A, pushed all-in with [qs] [jc] with Eric Sclavos making the call and showing [ac] [9s]. The board ran out [9h] [4s] [6c] [3h] [7c], with the pair of nines good enough for Scavlos to send Cohen to the rail in 19th.

After starting the day with just 41,000 in chips, Scavlos is now on 540,000 and among the chip leaders. During the most recent break, Scavlos remained seated at his table, deep in thought and contemplation. Serious stuff.

Linda Tyler's gallant run came to an end in 20th place after Lee Fraser took his A-J to battle against the Jupiters satellite winner's K-9. The board came [js] [9h] [6h] [ac] [qs], ending Tyler's hopes of joining Lisa Walsh and Celina Lin as the only female players to reach an ANZPT final table this season.

Chris McCovert also started the day among the short stacks with 52,000 but is in good shape after KOing Brisbane's Will Mauga in 21st place. PokerStars Qualifier Phillip Willcocks called the all-ins of both McCovert (100,000) and Mauga (75,000).

Willcocks showed [7h] [7c], Mauga held [as] [qs] and McCovert revealed [ah] [kc]. The board ran out [jd] [8s] [6c] [3c] [ac], eliminating Mauga, almost tripling McCovert to 290,000 and dropping Willcocks to 210,000. Mauga celebrated successive ANZPT cashes after he finished eighth in the ANZPT Queenstown Alpine Adventure just a fortnight ago.

We're in the early stages of level 18 (5000/10,000 with an ante of 1000) while the chip average is just under 290,000.

The riches to rags story of Tom Zhou is complete after the former chip leader's charge towards the PokerStars.net ANZPT Queensland title ran off the rails early on day three at Jupiters.

After losing that massive pot to Scott Smith, Zhou's stack ricocheted up and down like the Giant Drop at Dreamworld until he committed his last 70,000 with [kd] [js], with Tim Horan making the call and showing [8h] [8d]. The flop was a scary [as] [4s] [7s] for Horan, but the [qc] and [9c] didn't help Zhou who was out in 25th.

George Conomos became the first Queenslander to cash in an event on home soil when he was KOed in 27th. Playing in his first major event, Conomos, holding [kh] [jh], thought this top-pair was good on the flop of [jd] [5c] [4c] until Charlie Gang turned over his [4h] 4d]. The board ran out [2c] [3d]. A payday of almost $4700 was a good return on economos for Conomos.

Michael Soranson bowed out in 26th after his [qc] [qs] was outflipped by the [as] [kd] of Zhicong Wu. In a battle of the PokerStars sponsored duo, Soranson led until the [ac] sailed down the river to give Wu top-pair and almost 300,000 in chips.

Adam Ralphe was happy to have his remaining chips invested with [kh] [ks] against the [ad] [10h] of Scott Kerr, but the PokerStars Qualifier took the lead on the {10s] [9s] [ac] flop, and stayed ahead on the [7d] turn and [2d] river. Kerr was up to 235,000 and Ralphe was outski.

Linda Tyler, who qualified here at Jupiters for just AUD $100, just suffered a bad beat of sorts when she caught out Zhicong Wu on the bluff. She called his all-in with [as] [qs], with Wu in a world of hurt holding [6d] [3s].

The flop came [9h] [4c] [qc] but the dealer forgot to burn a card, so back went the [9h]. The new board ran out [4c] [qc] [3c] [10c] [kc], for a split. Bad for Tyler, but woo for Wu.

Our Swiss-French sage Serge Mazza was next to go when his [ad] [jc] found a willing caller in Tim Horan, who held [6h] [6d], after the flop of [ah] [6s] [4d]. Horan's hot run continued as the board bricked [7c] [jd], improving his stack to almost 480,000.

Stewart Scott's tournament life looked precariously placed after Joel Dodds paired his ace on the river against the Gold Coast local's pocket queens to leave him with just 60,000. Dodds, eyeing a second ANZPT final table berth, has 360,000.

The end came not long after for Scott the last of his chips went in, and it was another former Aussie Millions winner in Lee Nelson who was the conqueror as his [kh] [3s] made two-pair on the flop while Scott's [qc] [5d] didn't get a sniff. He was out in 22nd, but adds another impressive result to the CV of the 2009 Aussie Millions winner.

The remaining 27 players are having a group hug just outside the tournament area to celebrate their in-the-money finish in the PokerStars.net ANZPT Queensland Main Event here at Jupiters Casino on the Gold Coast.

No hand-for-hand play was required after Daniel Neilson shoved all-in over the top of Lee Nelson's pre-flop raise to 10,000. The PokerStars Sponsored Player called and showed [10d] [10c] while Neilson held [kd] [qs]. Nelson made a set on the flop of [ac] [10s] [4h], and brick [2h] and brick [4d] sent Neilson out in 28th.

In the lead-up to the bubble, Scott "Punty" Smith returned to the chip lead in emphatic fashion in a massive hand against Tom Zhou. Smith shoved all-in on the board of [4s] [4h] [2s] [js] [ac], with Zhou only making the call after minutes in the tank. But his cards quickly flew into the muck when Smith showed [2h] [2c] for a full-house and a pot worth 650,000. That took Zhou down to just 145,000.

There were nice double-ups for Tim Clarke, whose pocket threes improved to a straight against the A-K of Michael Soranson and Serge Mazza, a locally-based Swiss-Frenchman, who used black queens to put a big dent in the stack of US PokerStars Qualifier Corbin White.

Dan Magro had started the day promisingly but his day went to hell in a big pot against Jevon Harvey. It was pocket aces for the PokerStars Qualifier against the red threes of Harvey. The PokerStars Qualifier didn't have to wait long for the agony, with the [3c] landing in the window. The board ran out [jd] [2c] [qc] [6s], and Magro was out.

The impressively-named Kieron Olm-Milligan was also out close to the bubble when he committed his short stack in great shape with [ah] [ad], and found a willing caller in Tim luckyshades Horan with [kd] [kh]. The flop fell [8s] [8d] [4h] but the [ks] on the turn had Olm-Milligan gathering his personals and heading for the rail while Horan was up to more than 250,000.

The remaining players are guaranteed at least AUD $4668.75, but all eyes are on the first prize of AUD $168,075. There's also some added spice in the race for second and third in the overall ANZPT points title. Tony Hachem has first-place locked up, but Chris Levick can be overtaken for second place if Danny Joukhadar (currently among the chip leaders) wins this event. If Joukhadar falls short and Joel Dodds wins, he can sneak into third behind Levick.

And the prizes for the minor placings are mighty impressive. The overall points runner-up wins sponsorship to all Season 2 ANZPT events (worth approximately AUD $25,000) while the overall points third place player wins a combination of Main Event entries and packages to the value of AUD $10,500.