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.

We're quickly closing on the bubble in a lightning quick start to day three of the PokerStars.net ANZPT Queensland Main Event. Already nine players have been sent to the rail today, meaning we're just four spots short of the money in the last ANZPT event for 2009.

Lyle Higgs nosed ahead of the field (Tom Zhou has since regained the chip lead) after claiming the first scalp of the day. It was looking good for Shaun Elliott when his [ks] [jh] connected with the flop of [6c] [kc] [7d] against Higgs' [ad] 6d]. The turn was a friendly [4h] but the river was an unfriendly [ac], sending Elliott out in 40th and Higgs to more than 300,000.

Laconic US PokerStars Qualifier Corbin White found himself in action early against fellow PokerStars Qualifier Brent Nichols. It was White's black kings against the [ah] [qd] of Nichols. The flop of [kd] [10h] [ac] had something for everyone but White stayed in front as the board ran out [9s] [8h] to take him to almost 200,000.

Leading lady Linda Tyler was in action early, with her [10s] [10h] up against the overcards of Steven Waters. However, the board of [4s] [5s] [7c] [3d] [5d] missed Waters' [qs] [jc], and Tyler climbed to 170,000.

In quick succession, Jim Doumit was KOed by PokerStars Qualifier Dan Magro before Glen Grice followed moments later. We've also lost Jeremy Norton after his short stack was committed with [as] [5d], but increased action between Michael Soranson and Zhicong Wu had the PokerStars Qualifier looking concerned.

Wu showed [ah] [5h] while Soranson (also all-in) was in good shape with [ad] [kh]. And it so it proved as the board fell [2h] [7s] [10h] [qs] [9d], eliminating Norton, dropping Wu to 130,000 while Soranson was up to 145,000.

The field was reduced to 33 in a massive pot between big stacks Scott Smith, Tom Zhou and Shaun Weston. Smith made it 14,000 pre-flop, Zhou bumped it an extra 28,000 then Weston push all-in for 76,000.

Smith agonised before folding, Zhou snap-called and showed [8d] [8c] while Weston was racing with [as] [kh]. The flop of [ad] [8h] [9d] hit both players, but Zhou stayed ahead on the turn [ks] and river [4s]. He is again outright chip leader on 390,000, Smith dropped to 270,000 and it's adios to Weston.

And for those with a bent for the bizarre, we just watched Paul Gibson attempt to return the cards with which he'd won the previous hand while the next hand was being dealt, luckily with a different colour deck. The floor was quick to intervene, but Gibson was none too pleased to have the hand exposed. The floor staff are now keeping a close eye on the miscreant.

Yep, you guessed it, mild and sunny again here on Australia's Gold Coast (we could get used to winter here) as our top 40 take their seats in the chase for the final title in the first season of the PokerStars.net ANZPT.

After three days of play with the field spread between Conrad Treasury in Brisbane and Conrad Jupiters here in Broadbeach on the Gold Coast, the remaining players in the PokerStars.net ANZPT Queensland Main Event are now all seated in the Jupiters tournament area.

In the early minutes of play (with 48 minutes remaining in level 14 with blinds at 1500/3000 and an ante of 500), there's an intriguing dynamic in the tournament.
With just four tables in use, many of the players are getting their first sight of their rivals - normally by this stage of the tournament, the remaining players would have played alongside at least of their main rivals.

Sydneysider Scott Smith brings a narrow chip lead to day three ahead of Tom Zhou with Joel Dodds, Lyle Higgs and Danny Joukhadar completing a very tight list at the top of the count. PokerStars Sponsored Player Lee Nelson (177,800) and 2009 Aussie Millions winner Stewart Scott (145,400) are also well placed for a charge at the PokerStars.net ANZPT Queensland title.

The structure for today's play is:

Level 17: 4000/8000 (ante 500)
Level 18: 5000/10,000 (ante 1000)
Level 19: 6000/12,000 (ante 1000)
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 3

Scott Smith (Australia) 261,800
Tom Zhou (Australia) 260,600
Joel Dodds (Australia) 249,500
Lyle Higgs (Australia) 249,400
Danny Joukhadar (Australia) 237,200
William Mauga (Australia) 197,500
Shoshiro Karita (Australia) PokerStars Player 192,200
Lee Nelson (New Zealand) PokerStars Sponsored Player 177,800
Charlie Gang (Australia) PokerStars Qualifier 164,900
Zhicong Wu (Australia) PokerStars Qualifier 164,500
Timothy Horan (Australia) 159,700
Jevon Harvey (Australia) 158,900
Stewart Scott (Australia) PokerStars Qualifier 145,400
Lee Fraser (Australia) PokerStars Qualifier 144,500
Paul Gibson (Australia) 140,900
Tim Clarke (Australia) PokerStars Qualifier 139,600
Andy Meldrum (Australia) PokerStars Qualifier 122,600
Phillip Willcocks (New Zealand) PokerStars Qualifier 121,800
Julian Cohen (Australia) 121,200
Scott Kerr (Australia) PokerStars Qualifier 118,100
Corbin White (United States) PokerStars Qualifier 114,600
Linda Tyler (Australia) 114,000
Kieron Olm-milligan (Australia) 107,800
Shaun Weston (Australia) 102,900
Dan Magro (Australia) PokerStars Qualifier 98,700
Serge Mazza (Switzerland) 92,300
Brad Wilson (Australia) 91,100
Brenton Nichols (Australia) PokerStars Qualifier 89,500
Daniel Neilson (Australia) 73,200
Adam Ralphe (Australia) 57,000
Glen Grice (Australia) 55,400
Chris McCovert (Australia) 52,700
Michael Soranson (Australia) PokerStars Player 52,000
Jim Doumit (Australia) 51,300
Brett Oliver (Australia) PokerStars Qualifier 46,800
Steven Waters (Australia) 42,000
Eric Sclavos (Australia) 41,600
Shaun Elliott (Australia) 33,300
George Conomos (Australia) 23,700
Jeremy Norton (Australia) PokerStars Qualifier 13,600

For latest chip counts, click here