Seat 1: Steve McHugh (Australia) – 304,000

Hailing from Perth, local Steve McHugh is a self-employed 39 year-old who’s been playing poker for 10 years. He got into the game after watching it on TV and despite not cashing, the highlight of his poker career so far was playing the 2010 WSOP Main Event.

McHugh only has two live scores to his name and by locking up at least ninth place this week he’s already guaranteed to more than triple his total live earnings. After starting Day 3 with the third shortest stack, he managed to grind it out and survive to remain in contention for the title.

Seat 2: Navin Bechar (Australia) – 237,000

Businessman and Perth local Navin Bechar is 42 years old and has over 20 years of poker experience. These days he plays mainly $1/$2 online when he’s not in a tournament.

Bechar’s biggest score came in 2009 when he placed 2nd in the Perth Sapphire Series for $35,000. Away from the tables he’s a fan of traveling, and visits Las Vegas every year.

Seat 3: Raiden Kan (Hong Kong) – 448,000

Raiden Kan is a 30 year-old poker pro who’s been playing for seven years. He’s already had a great start to the poker year with a tenth place finish in the Aussie Millions Main Event last month, and a seventh place finish in the $25,000 event.

Kan’s best result came in 2011 when he won the Macau Poker Cup for US$160,591. Aside from poker, he’s a big fan of Starcraft, and says he’s had a relaxing week here in Perth.

Seat 4: Robert McLean (Australia) – 406,000

From Balcatta Western Australia, Robert McLean says he loves that Crown Perth is so close to home. A 31 year-old Carpenter with 15 year poker experience, McLean says his chip stack has been steadily building for the past 3 days of play.

This final table is his biggest poker highlight since cashing in a WSOP event, and McLean enjoys anything sporting related away from the felt.

Seat 5: Michael Guzzardi (Australia) – 537,000

This year’s ANZPT Perth Main Event is the third time 30 year-old Michael Guzzardi has made the final table of an Australia New Zealand Poker Tour event after finishing third in the 2012 ANZPT Melbourne for $112,000 and sixth in the 2014 ANZPT Auckland Main Event for NZ$26,500.

Guzzardi is normally found at the PLO cash tables, but has proven himself as quite the tournament player amassing almost US$400,000 in results. During that time, Guzzardi claims that “meeting Danny McDonagh” has been the highlight of his career.

Outside of poker, Guzzardi likes to play basketball.

Seat 6: Michael Doyle (England) – 195,000

Michael Doyle is a 29 year-old salesmen from the UK who has been playing poker for ten years. Doyle says that he plays “all sorts” of poker games and limits and that he got started in poker at friends’ houses.

Doyle says that “easy money” is the biggest influence on his poker game and credits a big flip for his tournament life with ace-king versus pocket jacks as the defining moment of his tournament. This will be Doyle’s largest career tournament result no matter where he finishes at the final table.

Seat 7: Greg Wheeler (Australia) – 390,000

52 year-old contractor and Perth local, Greg Wheeler says he’s been playing poker for eight years. He started playing with friends in pubs and with only one prior live cash to his name, this final table will be his biggest score to date.

Outside of poker, Wheeler loves to go fishing, and says he’s enjoyed his time this week in the ANZPT.

Seat 8: Michael Kane (Scotland) – 382,000

Michael Kane is a 26 year-old poker pro who got started playing at school with mates and claimed Andrew Hawksby is his biggest influence. Kane usually plays ₤5/₤10 cash games online.

Kane says that a “raw big bluff on Day 2” was the defining moment of his tournament so far and that the “charming staff” is what he has enjoyed most about ANZPT Perth.

Seat 9: Bryan Huang (Singapore) – 779,000

Team PokerStars Pro Bryan Huang is a 29 year-old poker player from Singapore who has been playing poker almost ten years. Huang got started in poker during university and since then has become one of the most revered players in the region.

Huang credits the 2010 Asia Player of the Year award as the highlight of his poker career and says that winning a 150 big blind pot on Day 2 was the defining moment of his ANZPT Perth run.

Outside of poker Huang enjoys food and travel and has thoroughly enjoyed his Perth trip so far thanks to the nice weather, great dealers and winning a last longer bet in the Main Event.

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