Oliver primes his poker face

BULLI resident Oliver Kerr will slip on the shades as he gears up for the Australian Poker League Tournament of Champions (APL TOC) in Sydney this August.

The 19-year old qualifier has been a keen player for years and said it all started with games against friends in high school.

“Me and my mates from high school had always played poker,” Mr Kerr told the Wollongong and Northern Leader.

“Once we turned 18 and found that some of the local clubs

offered free poker at the tournaments, we (took advantage) and attended.”

As part of the qualifying process, Mr Kerr had to play at three poker events and win the ‘Steelers Invitational’ tournament held monthly at the Steelers Club in Wollongong.

The win netted him $100.

With only 26 local qualifiers competing in the TOC, Mr Kerr said he feels lucky to have gotten this far but maintains realistic expectations. “They are expecting roughly 1000 people, so I’m not really super-confident,” Mr Kerr said.

“But who knows....the cards may fall my way.”

The three-day poker extravaganza is set to take place from August 8 through to August 10 at the Cube Convention and Entertainment Centre, Campbelltown.

Finalists will battle it out at the venue for their share of a $600,000 prize pool.

Visitors who are not competing can go along and experience free events including a celebrity poker tournament, live bands and a concert performance by Shannon Noll.

The final evening will also feature an ethnic drum beats and fire show, with motorbike competitions and a free holiday giveaway.

All visitors aged 18 and over are welcome to attend with new poker players still able to qualify at events nationwide.

For more information on the event or on APL activities visit www.playAPL.com.