PartyPoker.com qualifiers shine down under!
Two PartyPoker.com qualifiers finish in final six
PartyPoker.com's online qualifiers fared excellently in the recent Aussie
Millions at the Crown Casino in Melbourne, with two players finishing in the
final six. Bobby Neary, a 21-year-old business student from Sonoma State
University in Northern California finished second, scooping $689,700 AUD
(approx. $520,000 USD), while 20-year-old Shannon from Tuscaloosa, Alabama
finished fourth, winning $271,700 AUD (approx. $205,000 USD). Of the three
Americans in the final six, two were online qualifiers from PartyPoker.com and
both had never been to Australia nor played live poker before.
Bobby started playing online two years ago and his second-place finish in
Melbourne was remarkable considering it was his FIRST live event
appearance.
"I have a golf scholarship so poker is something I do when I'm not studying
or walking the course," said Bobby. "I went over to Australia with no
expectations - in fact, I thought I would spend most of my time doing the usual
tourist things like seeing kangaroos and surfing with my buddies. I didn't get
to do any of this, so I'm going to use my winnings to go back some time
soon."
At one point, Bobby found himself on a table where everybody was a pro except
him, "They all knew each other. I suppose it was an advantage that they
didn't know me. I was just so happy to make it to the final table."
Does Bobby fancy himself as the next Tiger Woods or the next Phil Ivey? "I
wouldn't mind being either," said Bobby and when asked what he'll do with
the money, he said, "I'm at school to learn how to invest it
properly."
Shannon, 20, used to be a Civil Engineering student at the University of
Alabama but gave it up to play online poker for a living.
"This was my first big event but I hope to hit the live circuit in a major
way when I'm 21”, said Shannon. "My parents were a little hesitant to
support my decision to quit school, but my win in Melbourne has helped them
start to accept it." "I never really thought I would get anywhere. When
playing online I used to talk or even shout at the screen, but, playing live, I
had to keep in all my emotion. It was a fantastic experience and it was neat to
get the respect of the pros." Shannon is now off to The Bahamas for the
PartyPoker.com Canadian Poker Championships.
Shannon and Bobby were among over 80 online qualifiers from PartyPoker.com
competing in Melbourne, but neither had the chance to play against Australian
hero Joe Hachem. "I hung around with five guys I'd met playing online",
said Shannon, "it would have been great to play against Hachem but it
wasn't to be".
PartyPoker.com spokesman Warren Lush said, "Bobby and Shannon did
brilliantly. Both have the potential to be poker stars of the future."