Poker News

A dentist has won more than $180,000 at the ANZPT Gold Coast.

Nauv Kashyap, who only entered the event because he had a day off last week, beat some of the biggest names in Australian poker to land the title and massive first prize.

The 26-year-old, who has been playing poker for about five years, but struggles to find the time to pursue his hobby, said: "I only played because it was a public holiday in Brisbane on Wednesday.

"I was posting on PokerNetwork to see if there were still seats available and when iI realised there were, I decided to play!"

That decision saw him turn his $2,500 entry into a win of $182,965 as the field of experienced players parted before him.

Online sensation Dominic Coombe and the consistent Michael Spilkin were the first to go at the Jupiters Poker Room when they both ran into Kashyap's pocket queens.

After several early eliminations the play slowed and Aaron Benton, second in chips, looked a major threat to Kashyap.

But when he ran into Ricky Kroesen's pocket kings he was struggling and, on a Q♦T♠8♥ flop against Liam O'Rourke, he pushed all in.

Benton showing Q♠8♠ for top and bottom pair, but O'Rourke held Q♣T♦ for top two pair which held on the A♠ turn and 3♦ river. Benton was crippled and Nauv Kashyap finished the job a few hands later to eliminate the 2009 APPT champion in 4th place for a payout of $50,255.

Soon it was O'Rourke short-stacked and he moved in when he saw a flop of 6♦Q♥4♥ against Ricky Kroesen. O'Rourke held A♠Q♦ for top pair, top kicker as Kroesen's Q♣T♣ was in trouble. But Kroesen caught a ten on the turn to send the promising 18-year-old packing with $64,575.

After more than two hours of tense heads-up play Ricky Kroesen made a big check-raise on the turn on a board of 9♦A♦5♦3♠ only to find Nauv Kashyap had flopped the nut flush, leaving Kroesen drawing completely dead.

It left him on the brink and, when he pushed with king-deuce, Kashyap snap-called with pocket tens. The board bricked out 5♦7♠7♣7♥8♥ and the dentist made his final extraction.

ANZPT Gold Coast - Final Results

1st Nauv Kashyap - $182,965
2nd Ricky Kroesen - Online qualifer - $116,235
3rd Liam O'Rourke - Online qualifier - $64,575
4th Aaron Benton - $50,225
5th Joel Dodds - $41,975
6th Brad Wilson - $34,440
7th Le Vuong Van - $27,265
8th Michael Spilkin - $21,525
9th Dominic Coombe - $16,145

* For more information on the ANZPT go to www.anzpt.com