Extreme Poker

Following 35 knot winds, there were clear skies yet blustery conditions as Sydney recently played host to the fourth International tournament of Extreme Poker suspended over the cliffs of North Head, Manly opposite the Harbour Bridge.

Perched on a platform, six players faced a 90 metre vertical drop if they lost their chips. But it was only Hugo Asenjo from Sydney that was permitted to walk off the platform on to solid land as he took the title of Extreme Poker Champion.

Extreme Poker’s ‘Cliff Hanger’ was all about playing poker under extreme conditions, and that was hard for Mathew Horton who was first to loose all chips and to take the 90m plunge to the rocks and ocean below.

Soon to follow was Cameron Stewart from Melbourne and Matt ‘The Rat’ Delbridge whose family emigrated from Cornwall, England.

Donna Conlan, the only female in the game was holding on to her position but was soon literally dropped from the table leaving just Andrew Cha Cha and Hugo Asenjo. Hugo had a massive lead with 90% of the chips. Andrew Cha Cha fought back valiantly but after three hands he was dealt a vicious blow and had to take the ultimate leap.

Hugo Asenjo’s win will see him participate in the Extreme Poker Underwater Final 2007, joining other players from around the world. The game will take place on the ocean floor in the Caribbean in November.

Hugo was understandbly chuffed to the max: “I’m surprised and ecstatic to win, the fear of having to jump off the platform kept me going with grit and determination – and it worked… now for my next challenge I need to learn to scuba dive and get myself a passport!”

Peter Marcus, Founder of Extreme Poker has taken the tournament to the Caribbean, the Arctic Circle and over the Nevada Desert, but this latest tourney in Australia upped the ante: “Sydney has been the most extreme game yet, and exactly what I had expected from a country that invented extreme sports. We’re definitely coming back next year… we just need to find the challenge… and would love ideas from the public which can be registered at www.extremepoker.com.”