Monday night’s season champion went to none other than Mick Strazdins, who ousted his father Eddie Newman to win in a voracious display that demonstrated the consistency and poise necessary for a player like Strazdins made the final table more often than he did not.

Thursday night runaway champion was Mitch Jakins. There was daylight separating Jakins from his closest rival Ben Headley, with Mitch habitually making the final three players on the night in what truly was a dominant season for the relatively new player.

Friday night last season came down to Jason Tilney and Luke Worsley. Both players played 11 games and both players have a great degree of skill, but there had to be a winner and Tilney ended up a minuscule nine points ahead of Worsley after what was truly a stellar season for both players.

Ian Forrester proved to all that experience and consistency can pay dividends, when his steady and reliable style of poker placed him in the upper echelons of poker in last season’s Gulgong game. Ian Forrester finished merely 65 points ahead of Veronica Trgo after 14 weeks of play. Eddie Newman ousted his son Strazdins by a meager point when he came in at third place at the venue.

An honourable mention must go to Joshua Maloney and Dennis Bennett, who both hovered around the third and fourth overall in all of their regular games. Joshua Maloney ended up coming fifth place overall in a region that stretches as far as Cobar and includes Dubbo.

Overall, a largely enjoyable season was had by all players, with royal flush jackpots going off, new additions to families and an overall enjoyable season of poker that was played in a spirit befitting of the towns of Mudgee and Gulgong. This was whether the players were playing for the social aspects or the attempt at gaining the skills, prowess and the guile that is necessary to win a tournament.