2008 PokerNews Cup Championships - Australia

$240 PL Omaha w/ $100 rebuys
Day: 2
Event Info

2008 PokerNews Cup Championships - Australia

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
10975
Prize
22,170 AUD
Event Info
Buy-in
200 AUD
Prize Pool
73,900 AUD
Entries
96
Level Info
Level
19
Blinds
8,000 / 16,000
Ante
0

$240 PL Omaha w/ $100 rebuys

Day 2 Completed

Congratulations to Jamie Pickering, Winner of Event #3 $240 Pot-limit Omaha with Rebuys ($22,170)

Jamie Pickering - Champion!
Jamie Pickering - Champion!
Jamie Pickering began the final table third in chips, but using his Omaha experience, he battled his way through a tough table to take down the win in Event #3 here at the 2008 PokerNews Cup.

Pickering eliminated a total of five players on his way to victory. After coming in second place to Vanessa Selbst in a Pot-limit Omaha event at this year's World Series of Poker, Pickering surely wasn't ready to settle for runner-up honors once again.

Luck was on his side a couple of times in the match during some key hands, with the main turning point being when Pickering hit two pair on the turn and river to take down a massive pot and claim an enormous chip lead. From there on out, Pickering controlled things and only doubled up Kronos one time on his way to victory. When all of the money went in on the final hand, Jamie was holding the nuts with Kronos on the draw.

After a crazy tournament with 574 rebuys and add ons from the 96 entrants, Jamie Pickering stuck it out to be the last man standing. It will surely feel great to take home the title, trophy, and $22,170 in prize money.

Tags: James KronosJamie Pickering

James Kronos Eliminated in 2nd Place ($14,780)

James Kronos
James Kronos
The hand after dropping to 90,000 chips, Jamie Pickering limped in from the button and James Kronos checked.

The flop came down {J-Hearts} {8-Hearts} {7-Clubs} and Kronos checked. Pickering bet 20,000 and then Kronos elected to raise and made it 60,000 to go. Pickering moved all in and put the pressure of elimination on Kronos, who made the call.

Pickering: {10-Hearts} {9-Diamonds} {7-Hearts} {5-Diamonds}
Kronos: {A-Hearts} {J-Diamonds} {3-Diamonds} {3-Hearts}

Kronos needed some help, but he did have a heart draw to give him a chance.

The turn was the {5-Spades}, not what Kronos was looking for though. With one card to come, Kronos was on the ropes.

The river came the {K-Spades} and that sealed the deal. Jamie Pickering's straight held up to give him the title and the $22,170 first-place prize money. Kronos didn't go home empty handed, earning $14,780 for his finish.

Tags: James KronosJamie Pickering

Kronos Down to 90,000

James Kronos raised to 40,000 from the button and Jamie Pickering called. The flop came {J-Diamonds} {6-Clubs} {3-Clubs} and both players checked.

The turn was the {J-Clubs} and both players checked again. The river was the {10-Clubs} and once again, both players checked. Pickering turned up {A-Diamonds} {10-Hearts} {4-Diamonds} {4-Spades} for the winning hand.

Kronos was left with 90,000 chips.

Tags: James KronosJamie Pickering

Kronos Doubles Up

Both players saw the flop for the minimum. The dealer spread the {J-Hearts} {6-Diamonds} {2-Spades} across the felt and Jamie Pickering bet the pot for 32,000. James Kronos raised all in for 108,000 total. Pickering tanked, but eventually made the call.

Pickering: {A-Clubs} {J-Diamonds} {7-Hearts} {4-Spades}
Kronos: {A-Spades} {K-Spades} {10-Hearts} {6-Clubs}

The turn nailed Kronos with the {K-Hearts}, giving him two pair and the lead. The river was the {8-Diamonds} and failed to put Pickering back ahead. A little luck for Kronos and he doubled up to almost 230,000.

Tags: James KronosJamie Pickering

Sitting and Waiting

Instead of attacking the short-stacked James Kronos, Jamie Pickering had elected to sit tight and wait for a good hand to try and bust Kronos. The difference between first and second is over $7,000 and Pickering really wants to take the best of it when he gets his money in with Kronos.

Runner, Runner Luck For Pickering

Sometimes, you need luck on your side
Sometimes, you need luck on your side
Jamie Pickering limped in from the button and James Kronos checked his option in the big blind.

The flop came down {Q-Hearts} {10-Clubs} {2-Clubs}. Kronos checked and then Pickering bet the pot of 32,000. Kronos repotted for 144,000 total. This sent PIckering into the tank and caused him to ask for a count. After some thought, Pickering stuck in another raise and was all in. Kronos made the call.

Kronos: {K-Clubs} {Q-Diamonds} {9-Diamonds} {5-Clubs}
Pickering: {J-Clubs} {7-Clubs} {4-Diamonds} {3-Diamonds}

Kronos was in a prime spot to take down Pickering with a dominating hand and draw, but when the turn and river came the {4-Spades} then the {7-Diamonds}, Pickering made two pair to take down the pot.

After counting down all of the chips, Kronos was down, but not out. He still held 108,000 chips after the hand. Pickering now has a huge chip lead with over 570,000 chips.

After the hand, Kronos said "I think I owed you one for earlier. Can I rebuy?"

Tags: James KronosJamie Pickering

Con Tsapkounis Eliminated in 3rd Place ($10,346)

Con Tsapkounis
Con Tsapkounis
A very short-stacked Con Tsapkounis has just been eliminated from the tournament by Jamie Pickering.

Tsapkounis put his last 14,000 into the middle before the flop and was called by both Pickering and James Kronos, who checked down the {8-Spades} {7-Clubs} {2-Hearts} {5-Spades} {3-Hearts} board.

When the cards were turned over, Pickering had the best of it with {Q-Diamonds} {Q-Hearts} {7-Hearts} {9-Hearts}. Tsapkounis produced pocket jacks, but they came second best and Kronos had only king high.

Tsapkounis will walk away with $10,346 in prize money for his efforts. Pickering and Kronos are now getting set to play heads up for the title.

Tags: Con Tsapkounis

Huge Chip Swing

Con Tsapkounis raised to 50,000 from the button and then James Kronos put almost his entire stack into the middle when he reraised to 210,000. Tsapkounis thought about his decision for a minute before making the call.

Tsapkounis was left with about 50,000 chips and Kronos with about 24,000 when the flop was dealt out {10-Clubs} {10-Spades} {2-Hearts}. Kronos put in his last 24,000 and Tsapkounis matched it.

Tsapkounis: {4-Spades} {4-Clubs} {3-Clubs} {3-Spades}
Kronos: {Q-Spades} {Q-Clubs} {A-Spades} {8-Diamonds}

The turn was the {2-Spades} and Tsapkounis looked to see if his spades would be good if he hit, but then checked Kronos' cards to see that he held two higher spades.

The river was the {K-Hearts} and the massive pot was awarded to James Kronos, leaving Tsapkounis severely short stacked.

Tags: Con TsapkounisJames Kronos

Cards back In The Air

The remaining three players have returned from the break and getting back to the action. Here are their chip counts:

Jamie Pickering - 266,000
Con Tsapkounis - 220,000
James Kronos - 206,000