ANZPT MELBOURNE – LEE ‘FINAL TABLE’ NELSON HAS ANOTHER GREAT VICTORY AND IS THE 2011 ANZPT MELBOURNE CHAMPION

Tonight at Crown Casino Lee Nelson became the 2011 ANZPT Melbourne Champion. He negotiated his way through the 309 players to take home $156,550 and the winners trophy.

Lee is one of New Zealand’s best known and most respected poker players. A member of the Australian Poker Hall of Fame and a former winner of the Aussie Milliions.

Lee is also well known as an author of some of the most popular and intelligent poker literature. Kill Phil probably the most recognisable title he has written. A gracious winner, he took the victory in his stride and congratulated all his opponents.

Click here to download ANZPT MELBOURNE HI-RES WINNER’S SHOT

The day started with eleven players the early action saw the final table reached within an hour. The unlucky final table bubble honour went to Seonglee Ang. Seonglee was especially unlucky because in the pot with Lee Nelson both players were all-in pre-flop and Seonglee was ahead. He held a pair of kings against Lee’s pair of queens but a queen fell on the flop. Seonglee was eliminated and our final table was set.

Once play resumed it slowed down considerably and it was two hours before Justin Sanchez was eliminated in 9th position. There was a slew of eliminations just prior to the dinner break, seeing only four players return to the table. Lee Nelson was an overwhelming chip leader at this point being the giant slayer taking out Phillip Willcocks moments before dinner.

The play did not slow after dinner and it was only 30 minutes later that we went to heads up. Lee Nelson had 4,675,000 to Nick Georgoulas’ 134,500 chips. It was not long before the final hand was dealt. Nick went all in with his pair of fours and Lee called with the jack, ten of hearts. The dealer peeled off the flop to reveal 8h, Ah, Kh and our champion was virtually decided. Nick’s fate was confimed with the 9h on the turn and the 2s on the river. Lee Nelson was our 2011 ANZPT Melbourne Champion.

Click here to download ANZPT MELBOURNE FINAL PLACINGS & PAYOUTS

The big mover in the ANZ Player of the Year race is Danny Chevalier who moved up from out of the prizes in fourth place, into second. He is a real chance to over take the lead from Leo Boxell. As we go to the final event of the year there are four people who can still win player of the year. Like last year the ANZ Player of the Year is going down to the wire and ANZPT Darwin will decide how the race will be won.

Click here to download the current ANZ PLAYER OF THE YEAR LEADERBOARD

For a full wrap of the event, please visit the PokerStars Blog. Event photography can be viewed on the ANZPT’s official facebook page.

PokerNZ.com will have a full story & interview up this week.