Sydney Championships 2018 Main Event Flight 2
POSTED Sat, 19 May 2018 11:29am
Dejan Boskovic Jr Takes Chip Lead into Day 2 of the Sydney Championships
Posted Sun, 05 Aug 2018 3:16am
290 runners entered today's flight of the 2018 Sydney Championships Main Event. Putting those alongside the 232 from yesterday gives us a record-breaking field of 522 runners. The biggest tournament in the 10-year History of the Sydney Championships, showing that poker is alive and well here in the Harbour City.
The 522 runners will combine to make a prize pool of $1,461,600 which will give a sum of prize money to the winner that is greater than 2017 Champion Henry Tran won. Speaking of Tran, he was eliminated from the tournament today meaning that there will be a new champion crowned this year.
143 players are left to fight for that title with some of the best names in the business. They will all be chasing Dejan Boskovic Jr who was the chip leader from today and for the whole tournament overall with his monstrous pile of chips to the value of 366,600.
There are plenty of big names hot on his heels. Melbourne fashionista, Josh Barret is second from today's flight with 284,900 closely followed by Roma's favourite son Tony Tavella on 257,100 and Opening Event Day 1 Chip Leader, Dmitry Tymoshenko.
The list of quality players left in this field is overflowing and the beauty of an event like this one is that literally, anyone has an opportunity to win.
Make sure you are tuned into StarPoker.com.au/live tomorrow from 12:30pm as we bring you all the action from Day 2 where players try to stay alive as we work our way from 143 players remaining down to 1.
Top 5 Chip Counts (over both flights)
1 - Dejan Boskovic Jr - 366,600
2 - Terrence Clee - 309,000
3 - Josh Barret - 284,900
4 - Tony Tavella - 257,100
5 - Dmitry Tymoshenko - 250,000
BOSKOVIC LOOKING TO END THE NIGHT IN THE LEAD
Posted Thu, 06 Dec 2018 5:36pm
. Boskovic bet out 35,000 and his opponent went into the tank to make his decision, after some time he ended up folding and Boskovic moves up to 390,000 and looking to be clear of the rest of the field. Tournament staff have called for the last three hands of the night.
BARRETT GOING TO THE TOP
Posted Sun, 05 Aug 2018 12:28am
On a board displaying
, Josh Barrett bets out 7,100 and is called. The river is the 
and Barrett bets out this time 10,200 and once again called. Barrett shows 
to win the hand as the other player mucks. Barrett moves up to 290,000.
QUARMBY LETS LOOSE
Posted Sun, 05 Aug 2018 12:20am
On a board of
and about 50,000 in the pot already, Jason Quarmby checks to the two other players in the hand. The next player asks Quarmby how much he has behind, Quarmby replies about 40,000. The player bets out 8,500, Nurlan Boobekov calls the bet and Quarmby moves all in 40,000. Both other players fold and Quarmby collects the chips and is now over 110,000.
ANOTHER 3-WAY ALL IN
Posted Sun, 05 Aug 2018 12:12am
Alex Lee moves all in for 17,500 from UTG he is called by the small blind and Long Dam in the big blind is all in also which has less than Lee.
Lee 
Dam 
SB 
Board: 
With no ace or two on the board both pocket pairs win. Dam triples up to 40,000 while Lee collects the side pot of 5,000.
LAST LEVEL
Posted Sun, 05 Aug 2018 12:04am
Players have returned from their last 10-minute break and are playing their final level of the day 1000/2000 - 300 ante. Lets see how many players can survive this final hour of play.LAST BREAK
Posted Sat, 04 Aug 2018 11:47pm
Players are on their last 10-minute break before the end of Flight 2. There are currently 94 players remaining with only one level of play when they return before we bag and tag.TAVELLA MAKING THE RIGHT DECISIONS
Posted Sat, 04 Aug 2018 11:45pm
UTG raises to 3,500, middle position falts and so does Tony Tavella from the big blind. The flop is 
Tavella checks, UTG bets out 9,000 and middle position flats as does Tavella. The turn is the 
Tavella checks again and our UTG bets out 24,000. Middle position flats as does Tavella. The river brings the 
and Tevella checks once again, UTG bombs for 50,000 and middle position folds, Tavella tank calls. UTG instant mucks as soon as Tevella rolls over 
. Tavella moves to 192,000.
SAFI ELIMINATES ONE
Posted Sat, 04 Aug 2018 11:25pm
Neville Safi is thanking his lucky stars as he gets his whole stack in preflop against his opponent.
Safi 
Opponent 
Safi looking good to add more chips to his stack until the board dropped , Safi was looking worried as how many times does an ace drop on the flop when a player has kings. The river is Sais saving grace as the fell and there were shouts of excitement from Safi and the table.
Safi now sits on 105,000.
SAME AS ME
Posted Sat, 04 Aug 2018 11:17pm
UTG raises to 3,800 and the HJ flats as does two others, Michael Levy in the small blind bumps it up to 14,000. Only the HJ makes the call and we go to a flop of 
. Levy checks and the HJ c-bets 22,000, Levy moves all in 62,100 and the HJ snap calls with exactly the same amount 62,100.
Levy
HJ
The board runs out and Levy moves to 155,000.
HORSE RUNS WELL
Posted Sat, 04 Aug 2018 11:03pm
With four players to the flop, they see the board of . The small blind checks and Luke Hanna (The Star Poker Live Reporting Team Horse we would like to remind you) bets out 2,600 the other two players in the hand fold but the small blind makes the call.
The turn is the and both players slow down and check it through. The river is the 
the small blind check-calls the bet of 4,100 by Hannah.
Hanna 
SB 
(Mucked the other card)
Hanna makes the flush on the river and the small blind shows the and is not happy that Hanna got there. Hanna now sits on 137,000.
Penultimate
Posted Sat, 04 Aug 2018 10:59pm
Play has started here on the penultimate level of Day 1 here in the Sydney Champs Main Event.
The cost of poker is now 800/1,600 with a 200 ante
Deucy Deucy Deucy
Posted Sat, 04 Aug 2018 11:00pm
The very next hand, Luke 'McLovin' Hanna opened from UTG + 2 it folded around to Dmitry Tymoshenko who made the call from the button, Ken Demlakian from the Small Blind. With the action on 'Frank' from the Big Blind, he moved all in for his last 4,500 (after losing the rest of his chips to Demlakian in the last hand).
Hanna made the call, Tymoshenko folded and Demlakian made the call.
The two players then checked their way through the 
board.
As the all in player, 'Frank' was first to act and turned over 
for Queen high. Hanna then quickly turned over 
for a pair of Deuces which Demlakian could not beat. He mucked his cards, Luke Hanna moved up to 130,000 and 'Frank's frank period of coverage in the Star Poker Live Reporting Blog comes to an end!
Ken Demlakian has Alligator Blood... Can't Get Rid of Him
Posted Sat, 04 Aug 2018 10:44pm
it looked like the end was nigh for Ken Demlakian when he moved all in and was called by his neighbour. Let's call him 'Frank'. He appears in the next two posts so he needs a name and he won't be with us after the next two posts so 'Frank' seems fitting.
Demlakian: 
Frank:
Board: 
Demlakian comes from the grave to push his stack back to about 12,000.
"He just won't Die," Ronnie Shabtay said in bemusement as Demlakian stayed in this tournament
BACK ON THE MAC
Posted Sat, 04 Aug 2018 10:43pm
With a raise from mid position to 2,400 the button calls, Jesse 'On The Mac' McKenzie calls from the small blind and so does John Thomson in the big. The four players see the flop of , McKenzie and Thomson both check to the initial raiser who c-bets 3,600. The Button folds and both McKenzie and Thomson make the call. The turn brings the 
and both McKenzie and Thomson check again the bet this time is 11,400. McKenzie moves all in 23,000, Thomson folds and our initial raiser calls.
McKenzie
Raiser 
McKenzie looking to fade any diamond or jack on the river to get a much needed double up as he has been grinding through the whole day. The river brings the and McKenzie doubles up to 60,000.
Pappas Busts One
Posted Sat, 04 Aug 2018 10:53pm
Real Estate Agent, Steve Pappas, is going to need to apply for a DA as he is starting to build a little bit of a chip tower here in this tournament.
He just busted a player when he got all in against on a flop. Pappas has been playing well right through this Sydney Champs but has not managed to make a significant score. Today could be the day he turns it around.
Steve Pappas - 130,000
THOMSON BACK IN
Posted Sat, 04 Aug 2018 10:30pm
After doubling up Jesse McKenzie, John Thomson is all in 18,600 up against the Michael King who has his just barely covered with 19,000.
Thomson
King 
Thomson has King crushed as we run the board out 
. Thomsons king kicker gives him the double up to 40,000 and leaves King with only 400 chips after the hand.
ON THE MAC FOR A DOUBLE UP
Posted Sat, 04 Aug 2018 10:24pm
Jesse 'On the Mac' McKenzie raises to 2,400 and is called by John Thomson on the button plus the small and big blinds. The flop comes action is checked through to Thomson who bets out 6,300. Both blinds fold and McKenzie moves all in for 10,200 and Thomson calls.
Thomson
McKenzie
McKenzie needs to avoid the remaining jacks in the deck to get the double up. The turn and river bring the and .
McKenzie now is on 30,000.
MEHTA CLOSING IN ON 100K
Posted Sat, 04 Aug 2018 10:14pm
Tony Tavella checks and Pratik Mehta (Pictured) bets out 4,200. Tavella makes the call to see another card. The drops and both players check. The river is the Tavella checks once again and Mehta bets out 10,000. Tavella folds to the bet and Mehta rakes in the pot and sits on 95,000, while Tavella drops back to 25,000.
128 players returned
Posted Sat, 04 Aug 2018 10:11pm
128 players have come back to play 600/1,200 with a 200 ante.
There are just three levels left in today's play. How many will make it through to bag and tag for day 2
Break
Posted Sat, 04 Aug 2018 9:33pm
Players are on the second last ten-minute break of the evening.Don't call it Activewear
Posted Sat, 04 Aug 2018 10:02pm
We mentioned when Christine Hia won the Ladies Event earlier this series that we wouldn't be surprised to see Christine Hia win another event at this year's Sydney Championships. As we saw in the WSOP a couple of years ago where Hia won both the Mixed and Omaha events, The Malaysian pro likes to win her tournaments in twos.
Given she is now sitting with over 130,000 in chips, it may very well be the Main Event that she bags her second victory in.
We noticed that Christine was sporting a lovely new Adidas top and commented that it was clever thinking to wear Activewear whilst playing as it meant you were comfy and could focus.
"Activewear?!?!" An enraged Connie Graham, who was standing nearby, shouted at the top of her lungs. That's not Activewear, it is Streetwear thank you very much!
For those that don't know Connie Graham probably owns more Adidas clothing than the Adidas company themselves do. To say she is a fan would be an understatement. So we guess she would know.
Ironically though, today is the first time in the decade that we have known Connie that we have seen her wearing something that is not Adidas, she is currently sporting a very funky Dolce & Gabbana outfit.
It just goes to show, when people cash in a few tournaments they go straight to the Italian designer brands. Given that Christine appears to have employed Connie as her style coach we expect to see Christine kitted out from head to toe in D&G if she wins this tournament and the more than $300,000 first place prize money that will come with it!
ELKASSIR BESTS HASSAN
Posted Sat, 04 Aug 2018 9:26pm
Elkassir bets out 5,500 and Hassan flats behind. The turn brings the and Elkassir bets out once again this time 9,000, Hassan does not budge and calls once again. The river brings the , Elkassir bombs out a bet of 30,000, this time Hassan folds and Elkassir scoops that pot and moves to 83,000.
Yacoub hits the road
Posted Sat, 04 Aug 2018 9:10pm
John Yacoub has been struggling to get anything going in this tournament with the cards not really humming for him so far.
With that in mind, you could understand his excitement when he looked down to see (according to him) the best hand he had seen all day.
Yacoub moved all in and was called by Robert Damelian to his immediate left. Yacoub was in trouble.
Yacoub:
Damelian: 
Board:
John Yacoub can not replicate his spectacular run from the Masters and has been eliminated.
PREMATURE CELEBRATION FOR TYMOSHENKO
Posted Sat, 04 Aug 2018 9:05pm
Dmitry Tymoshenko faces an all in of Vince Wan on a board of 
. Tymoshenko had put a bet out of 3,300 after he was checked to by Wan. Tymoshenko makes the call cause he believed wan was on a draw.
Tymoshenko
Wan
Tymoshenko had made the right call but when the turn came Wan took the lead. The river was the and Tymoshenko was happy he rivered the straight and raised his arm in victory, but then realised as did the rest of the table that Wan made the bigger straight. Wan moves up to 54,000.
McLovin!
Posted Sat, 04 Aug 2018 8:57pm
Luke 'McLovin' Hanna has rocketed his stack up into six figure land after he eliminated Ehsan Amiri from the tournament.
Hanna raised from middle position to 1,800 (last level) and was called by both the button and Amiri in the big blind.
On the flop Amiri checked over to Hanna who made a continuation bet of 1,600. The button folded and Amiri made the call.
Amiri once again checked the turn and Hanna continued with his story, betting 2,600 which Amiri once again called.
The river then came out the and Amiri sprung to action leading out for 4,000. Hanna then raised to 10,500 which caused Amiri to move all in for a total of 27,100. Hanna called.
Hanna: - A Broadway Straight
Amiri: - Three Kings
Amiri leaves the Main Event and enters the Hyper Turbo whilst Hanna rockets his stack up to 112,000!
THREE WAY ALL IN
Posted Sat, 04 Aug 2018 8:51pm
"All in, Call" is shouted across the Star Poker Room and we get to the table to see a three-way all in. The shortest stack is Darren Nguyen, then followed by Chris Ayoub and the third player has both of them covered.
Nguyen
Ayoub
3rd Player
Ayoub with the best of it before the flop and Nguyen needing some help to stay alive. The board runs out . Nguyen spiking an ace on the flop and holding to triple up to 43,000. Ayoub taking the side pot 11,600 but he only had 5,800 after paying off Nguyen.
Blinds Up
Posted Sat, 04 Aug 2018 8:35pm
We are now onto the next level where blinds are 500/1,000 with a 100 ante.
The average stack is about 53,000 in chips so with our 1,000 big blind that means we have a 53 big blind average stack.
See Mum, I can do maths!
COLIN TRAN BUSTS
Posted Sat, 04 Aug 2018 8:53pm
Seven limpers into the hand we see the flop of , it gets checked to Sam Lucisano who bets out 2,200. Colin Tran moves all in for 10,100 action folds to the small blind David Leas (Pictured) who calls. Fold back to Lucisano who ends up folding as well.
Tran
Leas 
Tran could not believe he ran straight into the flopped straight. The turn gave Tran more outs to win and to chop but the river was not it, as it fell the .
Tran leaves and Leas moves his stack to 60,000.
Hyper Turbo - Hyper Value!
Posted Sat, 04 Aug 2018 8:25pm
As things continue to escalate here in the Sydney Championships Main Event, the 10 Year Anniversary Hyper Turbo has gotten underway up in the raised part of the Star Poker Room.
For Poker Room Manager, Stephen Ibrahim, to not have to put his hands in his pocket and pay out an overlay we will need 223 runners to enter to cover the $100,000 guarantee.
We currently have just 80 entrants in this event and you can see the beads of sweat start to develop on Ibrahim's forehead as he says any potential future bonuses being given away as tournament overlays.
Whilst we all like to watch Steve sweat, this kind of value seems too tasty to ignore. Registration is open for the first ten levels so get yourself down to the Star Poker Room and get involved!
Double Kii
Posted Sat, 04 Aug 2018 8:13pm
Dylan Kii has just received a much needed double up at the hands of Tony "Totti" Tavella
Kii moved all in from the cut off for his final 11,900 and it folded to Tavella in the big blind who made the call.
Tavella:
Kii:
Board:
Kii pairs his Ace to seal the deal and boosts his stack up to 25,000 whilst Totti Tavella is sitting with approx 50,000 and still in contention for a Champions League spot.
HUSS FORCES FOLD
Posted Sat, 04 Aug 2018 8:09pm
Huss Hassan opens from UTG to 1,700 and gets called by the player in mid position. The flop comes Hassan bets out 1,400 and is called. The turn brings the Hassan bets out 3,800 which forces the mid position player to fold. Huss adds a few more chips to his stack and is now on 70,000.
BAD NEWS BARRETT, WELL FOR THE OTHER GUY
Posted Sat, 04 Aug 2018 8:03pm
Josh Barrett gets it all in against his opponent and they flip their cards.
Barrett
Opponent
Board: 
Barrett's opponent saw the bad news that he had run into Barrett's pocket aces, the board did not help him as he left the Star Poker Room. Barrett is now on 150,000.
Back in the mix
Posted Sat, 04 Aug 2018 7:54pm
We are back here in Level 7 of the 2018 Sydney Championships. The blinds are 400/800 with a 100 ante and there are 189 players left!Players are on a dinner break
Posted Sat, 04 Aug 2018 8:08pm
Players are currently halfway through a 30 minute dinner break at the momentAmit Shahi Doubles
Posted Sat, 04 Aug 2018 7:23pm
Amit Shahi just got all in on a flop of and looked to be in trouble.
Shahi: 
Guy that is about to get two outered:
As you may have gathered, the hit the turn sending the other dude to the rail and Shahi up to 55,000.
Fogel Loves A Squeeze
Posted Sat, 04 Aug 2018 7:08pm
We just went to check in on our horse in today's event, Luke "McLovin" Hanna and he is doing quite nicely for himself.
We just caught the action on a hand where the under the gun + 1 player had raised to 1,600 and received calls from three other players including Ken Demlakian and Ehsan Amiri.
When the action got to Hanna in the big blind, he raised to 8,600. The original raiser stared at Hanna and smiled the kind of smile that said "I know you don't have anything and I want to call but with all these other players to act behind me I guess I have to fold," which presumably was exactly what Hanna was going for. The original raiser folded as did all the other players and Luke 'McLovin' Hanna builds his stack up to 85,000 which is almost double the average stack!
AUSTIN MAKING THE RIGHT CALL
Posted Sat, 04 Aug 2018 7:02pm
Sosia Jiang makes a raise to 1,400 in late position and gets called by David Sebesif on the button, Manu Austin in the small blind and Adrian Pacheco in the big. The flop comes and all four players check. The turn is the and Austin bets out 3,100, Pacheco folds, Jiang calls and Sebesif folds as well. The river is the and Austin checks this time, Jiang puts a massive bet of 15,000 on the river. Austin thinks about the call before making it.
Jiang
Austin
Austin made the right call with top pair and he goes up to 62,000.
ARRILUCEA GOES RUNNER RUNNER
Posted Sat, 04 Aug 2018 6:45pm
Luis Arrilucea raises to1,400 and get the big blind to defend his blind. The flop comes and the big blind bets out 1,600, Arrilucea makes the call and we see the on the turn. The big blind once again bets out 3,200, Arrilucea falts and the comes on the river. The big blind bets out 4,200 on the river and Arrilucea raises it to 13,000. The big blind thinks about it trying to figure out the play before making the call.
Arrilucea shows for a full house and the big blind open folds for the bottom end straight. The big blind commented that he could not put him on a six the way the hand played out hence the call. Arrilucea goes up to 85,000.
Poker and Food?!?!
Posted Sat, 04 Aug 2018 6:39pm
The great team here in the Star Poker Room has once again put on a delicious spread of canapes and snacks for the players here in this Sydney Championships Main Event.
Tuna dishes, crab dishes, pork buns, and the most delightful looking sliders that the Star Poker Live Reporting Team has ever seen.
As avid readers are aware, the Reporting team here is committed to truth and factual journalism above all else. It was for this reason that we decided we would have to sample one of the sliders to ensure that the taste was to an acceptable standard. Well, that's why we sampled the first one anyway. The next eight were just because they tasted amazing!
Like Going Fast? Get into the Turbo!
Posted Sat, 04 Aug 2018 6:22pm
ATTENTION ALL PLAYERS WHO FIND REGULAR POKER A LITTLE SLOW
You do not want to miss tonight's Sydney Championships 10 year Hyper Turbo Event!
To celebrate Ten years of the Sydney Championships we are doing all things 'Ten' in this event.
Players will start with ten thousand in chips and will play ten minute blind levels.
The only things that isn't 'ten' is the prize pool, with this event carrying a massive $100,000 guarantee.
The tournament starts at 8:15pm tonight and has a $500 buy in. Also, there are UNLIMITED RE-ENTRIES for all players for the first 60 minutes.
If you like your poker fast-paced and action packed then this is not something you want to miss!
TRAN DOUBLES THROUGH ZHU
Posted Sat, 04 Aug 2018 6:20pm
Wei Zhu and Ashleigh Tran go all in pre.
Tran
Zhu
Board:
Trans aces hold and she doubles up to 75,000, Zhu is still in and now is on 55,000.
NUT FLUSH FOR WONG
Posted Sat, 04 Aug 2018 6:09pm
With a raise to 1,000 from mid position, Henry Wong makes the call from late position and Luke Martinelli in the high jack. The flop comes, mid position checks, Wong makes it 1,200 Martinelli folds but the mid calls. The turn brings the and the mid position check-calls a bet of 2,400 by Wong. The river brings the and another check-call by mid, this time Wong bet out 5,400. Wong shows for the turned nut flush and collects the pot and is now sitting on 48,000.
Blinds Up
Posted Sat, 04 Aug 2018 6:04pm
We are onto level 6 where players are playing 300/600 with a 50 ante.
215 of our initial 290 players remain. This is the last level before the dinner break.
What Aman What Aman What A Mighty Good Man
Posted Sat, 04 Aug 2018 6:02pm
Rafe Aman finished 4th in this Main Event last year picking up a very tidy $100,000 for his efforts. He is focussed on doing better than that this year and after a hand we just witnessed it seems like this could possibly become a reality.
With a raise to 900 in front of him from the Middle Position and a call from the player on the button, Rafe Aman decided to defend his big blind and made the call.
The flop came out and Aman checked over to the preflop raiser who made a bet of 2,500. The button folded and the action was back on Aman who then check-raised to 7,000.
The action was back on the preflop raiser who looked dubiously at Aman. After a few moments, he then re-raised to 17,500 putting the pressure back on. Aman thought for a few moments before announcing he was all in, pushing all 36,500 in chips to the middle. The preflop raiser called and the cards were on their back.
Aman:
Preflop Raiser:
The turn was no help and Aman moves his stack up to 70,000 whilst the preflop raiser who Aman slightly had covered tries to figure out what to do with the rest of his weekend.
Peace out Pizanias
Posted Sat, 04 Aug 2018 5:50pm
A very disgruntled Jim Pizanias has just exited the tournament arena.
He was eliminated after calling an opponent's all in with on a board. The other player held for nothing but Ace high with a backdoor flush draw.
As you may have guessed the turn and river both came out hearts to send Jim Pizanias to the rail
MAJEED GETS THE DOUBLE UP
Posted Sat, 04 Aug 2018 5:43pm
Dhiya 'Dean" Majeed raised to 1,000 he gets re-raised from CO to 3,000. The button calls and so does Majeed. The flop comes Majeed checks the flop the initial raiser bets out 5,500, the button folds and Majeed moves all in 25,400 and gets called.
Majeed
CO
Majeed flopping top pair and a better flush draw than the CO who was making a move. The turn brings the and the river gives Majeed the double up to 55,000.
QUARMBY PUTS THE PRESSURE ON
Posted Sat, 04 Aug 2018 5:13pm
On a board of Jason Quarmby shoves all in after facing a river bet of 8,000, his opponent thought about it and looked at how much chips he had remaining after his bet. He eventually opted to fold his hand as he believed he had plenty of play left in these early levels. Quarmby moves his stack up to 85,000.
Records Broken
Posted Sat, 04 Aug 2018 5:11pm
The 290 runners today combined with the 232 yesterday give us a total field of 522 which smashes the record of last year where we had 496 runners.
In its 10th year the Sydney Championships are bigger and better than ever.
Last year's champion, Henry Tran won $300,000 for taking home the title. The winner this year will be more. Who will it be?
Level 5
Posted Sat, 04 Aug 2018 5:02pm
Players just had a ten-minute break and are now onto level 5 where we are playing 200/400 with a 50 ante.
We had 290 runners in today's flight and 249 remain. This gives us an average stack of 34,000
Straight Roundin'
Posted Sat, 04 Aug 2018 4:52pm
Ashleigh 'Rounders' Tran means business here today in the Star Poker Room, setting the message very early on that her big blind will not be given away cheaply.
On a recent hand, the player in the cutoff made it 800 to go and it folded around to Tran in the big blind who defended.
On the flop Tran checked over to preflop aggressor who made another bet of 800. Tran was having none of it though immediately check-raising to 2,700. The other player quickly folded and Tran made her statement loud and clear early on in this tournament.
HERE COME THE HABIBS
Posted Sat, 04 Aug 2018 4:49pm
Bassam Habib raised to 900 and was re-raised to 3,100 by the small blind. Habib made the call to see the flop of the small blind checked and Habib put out a bet of 6,500. The small blind announced all in and Habib snapped called.
Habib
SB
Habib flops a set on pocket aces and is looking to hold. The turn comes the and river is the and Habib doubles up to 60,000.
COOLER ZONE
Posted Sat, 04 Aug 2018 4:41pm
Wow what a hand we just witnessed on the opposite table, Sammy Salha raised to 800 and two callers the three players saw the flop of Aaron Berenstein bet out 1,500 and was raised by the big blind to 3,000. Salha called then action was back on Berenstein who made it 10,000 to go. The big blind looked back at the action, with all that was happening then moved all in 43,725. Salha was shocked and was not sure if his hand was good and choose to fold. Berenstein tanked about the call before making it.
BB
Berenstein
The big blind flopped a full house and was ahead of Berenstein who flopped trips. The turn was the which gave Berenstein a bigger full house. The river was the and Salha couldn't believe it as he folded pocket kings.
Berenstein had the big blind covered and eliminated him from the event. Berenstein now sits on 95,000.
TYMOSHENKO BACK IN
Posted Sat, 04 Aug 2018 4:09pm
Tymoshenko checked and the initial raiser c-bet 2,100 the other player folded and only Tymoshenko only called. The turn is the and both players check. The river is the and Tymoshenko bet out 300 and got called. Tymoshenko showed the to win and got up to 45,000.
Back to regular proceedings
Posted Sat, 04 Aug 2018 3:53pm
The situation has been cleared up and we are back on the way.
We are also onto the next level. The blinds have not gone up but we have introduced a 25 ante into the game.
Currently 280 runners registered.
STOP THE FIGHT
Posted Sat, 04 Aug 2018 3:40pm
There is some confusion about proceedings on Table 2 of the tournament arena. So the clock has been stopped and while we go to the video ref for review.
The Tournament Director has asked players to kindly stay in their seats until this resolved, this appears to be a futile request though as everyone from the tournament tables, the cash tables, the bar and even the craps table has wondered in to see what all the fuss is about!
NUTS FOR TRAN
Posted Sat, 04 Aug 2018 3:35pm
, the first three players check and Colin Tran on the button bets out 800, he is called by Robert Spano and the big blind only. The turn brings the and all three players check their option. The river brings the and it is checked once again to Tran who bets out 1,625 and Spano folds, but Tran is called by the big blind. Tran rolls over for the nuts and gets paid. Tran moves back up to 32,000.
Loaded Field
Posted Sat, 04 Aug 2018 3:35pm
Our field today is loaded with notable players, it seems the entire poker community is here in the room trying to get in on the action of the Sydney Championships Main Event.
Here are a few of the people we have spotted so far.
Alan 'Casa Del' Casas
Peco 'The Magician' Stojanovski
Jarrod 'Iron Lady' Thatcher
'Gentleman' John Thomson
Frank 'Martini' Martino
Sosia 'Kiwi Krusher' Jiang
Ashleigh 'Rounders' Tran
Corey 'Worthington' Kempson
Suzy 'Best in the Family' Khouies
Colin 'Yo-Time' Tran
Didier 'DeeDee' Guerin
Dean ''The Splat' Blatt
Matthew 'Worldwide' Howearth
Robert 'Bobby' Damelian
Mele '#TongaStrong' Pouivaati
Huss 'Do you even lift bro?' Hassan
Ryan 'Botto' Otto
Jessie 'OnTheMac' McKenzie
Nurlan 'Boobie' Boobekov
Jim 'Yimmy P' Pizanias
Steve 'Price on Application' Pappas
And last but not least, our defending champion from this event last year, Henry Tran, is here to defend his title!
THOMSON DOING IT TOUGH
Posted Sat, 04 Aug 2018 3:19pm
Sydney Champs 2018 5k Challenge Champion John Thomson is doing it tough after dropping to under 10,000 in chips at this stage of the tournament. We quickly walk past his table and see him involved in a hand with two other players. They see a flop of and player first to act bets out 1,325, the two other players involved one of which is Thomson make the call. On the turn , it goes check, check, to Thomson who bets out 2,375. This produces a fold by the two other players and Thomson now moves back up to 12,000. We wish John Thomson all the best and hopefully see him increase his chip stack as he tries to run deep in the Main Event.
Our Horse is McLovin It!
Posted Sat, 04 Aug 2018 3:35pm
It was pretty easy for us to pick a horse for today's event. None other than Luke "Fogel/McLovin" Hanna.
Hanna has had a string of impressive cashes recently. He cashed in the Opening Event here at the Sydney Championships and he cashed in his first ever WSOP event this year, the Millionaire Maker. Hanna is certainly a player on the up and up.
The other thing on the up and up is his chip stack. He has been busying himself in lots of pots so far in this tournament. Including a recent hand where he held against an opponent's and managed to get three streets of value after flopping top pair.
McLovin is looking for a big run in this tournament and as the Star Poker Live Reporting Team horse we are hoping he can go all the way!
POULIVAATI STARTING STRONG
Posted Sat, 04 Aug 2018 3:09pm
Mele Poulivaati has started strongly here in Flight 2 of the Sydney Championships 2018 Main Event. Catching the action on the river on a board of Poulivaati was checked to and she bet out 3,300 and was called. Poulivaati showed for the river straight to claim the early pot. Poulivaati has been doing well this series and continues to do so on the big stage. Poulivaati is now moving up in chips and has 45,000.
What's doing?
Posted Sat, 04 Aug 2018 3:36pm
We are now on Level 3 with blinds of 150/300. There is no ante.
Levels go for 60 minutes and there is a break after every second level. Our next break is a ten-minute one and the break after that will be 30 minutes in case our players want to sit down for a spot of dinner.
We will be playing ten levels today which should mean wrapping up at around midnight!
Let's Go
Posted Sat, 04 Aug 2018 3:36pm
Welcome back to the Star Poker Room for Day 1 Flight 2 of the Sydney Championships Main Event!
We pick up the action at the start of Level 3. We currently have 264 runners in today's field which when added to the 232 from yesterday gives us a total of 496. Just one short of last years 497. With over two hours left to register though we should smash that and end up with an even bigger prize pool than last year when champion, Henry Tran, took home $300,000 first place prize money!