Sydney Championships Main Event Day 3

Nebojsa Blanusa is the 2018 Sydney Championships Main Event Champion - $314,265

Posted Mon, 06 Aug 2018 10:40pm

They say poker is a game of changing gears and we have not seen a greater example of somebody doing that then we did today from Nebojsa Blanusa in the Sydney Championships Main Event.

He started the day near the bottom of the chip counts and stayed there all the way through to the final table. On the final table again, Blanusa played a game of patience. We actually had very little to report on Blanusa and when we did refer to him we did so as the quiet type, assuming he was happy to just ladder jump his way through the prize pool.

With that in mind, when we got to heads-up play, we thought this would end quite quickly, with Lam taking his chip advantage to run over the top of Blanus, how wrong we were.

Whilst there was certainly some luck in the first two double ups which brought Blanusa back to even, that's poker and an important part of the game is making most of the opportunities that are given to you. When they were back to even however, Blanusa turned into a completely different person and stamped his authority on this event. 

Blanusa completely steamrolled Lam when heads up and chipped away at his stack relentlessly. It became only a matter of time before Blanusa would land the killer blow and take down the title to be crowned the 2018 Sydney Champion. 

Ironically, whilst Blanusa was ferocious in heads-up play, it was Lam who would completely annihilate the rest of the final table. Lam was a single-handed wrecking ball wreaking havoc on anyone who got in his way. The Kiwi based Lam eliminated most of the players in the final table and built a commanding chip lead, in fact with 6 players left he nearly had half of the chips in play. Brian Lam played a phenomenal tournament and it will not be too long before we see him go one step further and take down a major title.

A special mention must also go out to Suzy Khoueis, the matriarch of the Star Poker Room. Khoueis finished 6th in this event last year and went one better this year with a 5th place. A nice treat considering today was her 50th birthday. It seems every time we are reporting in Sydney, Suzy Khoueis is in the pointy end of the competition, as her game continues to grow and evolve we will definitely be seeing her lifting a Main Event trophy sometime in the very near future.

But not today, today the man of the moment is Nebojsa Blanusa, the champion of the 2018 Sydney Championships Main Event!

Brian Lam Eliminated in 2nd Place - $194,290

Posted Mon, 06 Aug 2018 9:43pm

Brian Lam raised to 325,000 and Nebijsa Blanusa defended his big blind. The flop fell  Blanusa bet 300,000 and Lam made the call. The turn was the  and Blanusa bet out once again  for an amount of1,100,000. Lam made the call once again.'

The river fell the  and Blanusa moved all in, Lam called.

Blanusa 

Lam 

Blanusa wins the pot with the full house and has Lam covered. Lam finnished runenr up and collects $194,290!

Nebojsa Blanusa is our champion!

Blanusa Bolting

Posted Mon, 06 Aug 2018 9:14pm

We haven't seen any hands go past the turn but we are seeing Nebojsa Blanusa go into absolute overdrive here in this heads up battle.

Without needing to show a card Blanusa has steamrolled over the top of Brian Lam and now has a 2:1 chip lead

Nebojsa Blanusa - 10,000,000

Brian Lam - 5,000,000

Dead Heat!

Posted Mon, 06 Aug 2018 8:59pm

Amazingly, our two players now have the exact same amount of chips!

And another double!

Posted Mon, 06 Aug 2018 8:58pm

Just a few hands later and Blanusa has done it again!

He raised to 250,000 preflop and was called by Lam. He then bet 200,000 on the   flop and was check-raised to 575,000. Blanusa called and we saw the  hit the turn.

Lam checked once more and this time Blanusa moved all in. Lam made the call.

Lam:  - A Straight to the Seven

Blanusa:  - A pair of Sevens and a Jack High Flush draw

The  hits the river and Blanusa makes his flush. He is right back in this heads-up battle!

Blanusa Doubles

Posted Mon, 06 Aug 2018 8:52pm

Nebojsa Blanusa has a small slither of life support after an important double up.

Brian Lam moved all in and Blanusa made the call.

Blanusa: 

Lam:

Board: 

Blanusa doubles up and now sits on 4,000,000!

A little about Brian

Posted Mon, 06 Aug 2018 8:49pm

Brian Lam is from New Zealand, that means literally nobody in the room (with the exception of Kiwi High Roller Champ, Sosia Jiang) wants him to win.

However, he sits with a massive chip advantage at the moment which is going to make him very difficult to overcome.

Lam is looking to get the biggest cash in his career by far today. Prior to this, his biggest cash was in the 2015 March Poker Classic in Auckland where he picked up NZ$20,600 (that's approximate AU$3.80).

Lam has played a great game today and has been responsible for most of our final table eliminations. Just one more elimination stands between him and the Sydney Championships Main Event Title!

A Little about Nebosja

Posted Mon, 06 Aug 2018 8:44pm

Although he hails from Adelaide, Nebojsa Blanusa is no stranger to the Star Poker Room.

In fact, he had the best cash of his career in this room back in December last year when he won the WSOP Sydney Omaha event. He picked up $31,677 for that and will get a score of approximately 10 times that if he can turn around the massive chip deficit he is facing and take down the title!

Wolf in Lam clothing

Posted Mon, 06 Aug 2018 8:34pm

Brian Lam has just knocked one of the legs of Nebojsa Blanusa on a huge hand that just went down!

Blanusa raised to 260,000 and was 3-bet by Lam to 900,000.

Both players checked the  flop and when the  hit the turn, things got real!

Lam bet out 800,000 only to be raised to 2,000,000 by Blanusa. Lam thought long and hard before making the call.

Both players checked the  river and Lam turned over  for a King high flush. Nebosja Blanusa could not beat that and is now down to 3,000,000 while Brian Lam is in complete control with 12,000,000

Heads Up Play Begins

Posted Mon, 06 Aug 2018 8:22pm

We are now heads up for the title and Brian Lam has an approximate 2:1 chip advantage over Nebojsa Blanusa

Charlie Hawes Eliminated in 3rd Place - $141,935

Posted Mon, 06 Aug 2018 8:17pm

Charlie Hawes is our 3rd Place finisher. 

He moved all in over the top of a 400,000 bet from Brian Lam preflop at the wrong time.

Lam: 

Hawes: 

Board: 

Hawes cannot improve and is sent to the rail after a fantastic tournament. We are now heads up for the title!

Dhiya Majeed Eliminated in 4th Place - $105,220

Posted Mon, 06 Aug 2018 8:09pm

After starting today as our chip leader, Dhiya Majeed has been eliminated in 4th Place.

He moved all in from under the gun for his final 1,045,000 and Brian Lam called from the button.

Both Nebojsa Blanusa and Charlie Hawes folded from the blinds and we learned that Lam had called with a monster!

Majeed: 

Lam: 

Board: 

Majeed improves to a flush but unfortunately so does Lam, a bigger one. Dhiya Majeed and is sent to the rail in fourth place with $105,220 to ease the pain!

Brian Lam has 6,200,000 chips 

Happy Birthday Suzy!

Posted Mon, 06 Aug 2018 8:03pm

Today will be memorable for Suzy for many reasons. Not only did she finish 5th in the Sydney Championships Main Event, picking up the biggest cash of her career but she did it on her birthday!

Today is a milestone birthday for Suzy, we would never divulge her age as that is not a gentlemanly thing to do (but if you look at the cake you might work it out). Such is the love that the Sydney Poker Community has for Suzy that a cake was organised for her so she could celebrate here in the Star Poker Room. 

The number of friends Suzy has on the Sydney poker scene is countless, this is in part due to the sheer size of her family but more importantly due to her great warm nature, fun attitude and fearless play at the poker table.

The entire Star Poker Live Reporting Team, as well as the staff here in the Star Poker Room, would like to wish Suzy a very happy and memorable birthday. We look forward to seeing more of you for a long time to come and look forward to watching you next deep tournament run!

Happy Birthday Suzy!

Back in the mix

Posted Mon, 06 Aug 2018 7:51pm

Dinner

Posted Mon, 06 Aug 2018 7:14pm

Lam Likes Hawes

Posted Mon, 06 Aug 2018 6:58pm

Charlie Hawes raised to 225,000 from the button and was called by Brian Lam in the big bind.

Lam checked the flop and Hawes made a continuation bet of 150,000. It all seemed pretty standard until Lam check-raised to 425,000!

Hawes made the call and we saw the hit the turn. Both players checked this which brought out the on the river. Lam sprung to life with a bet of 850,000. Hawes folded and Brian Lam scoops another pot.

Brian Lam has 5,800,000 and Charlie Hawes has 4,100,000

Blanusa makes a Noose

Posted Mon, 06 Aug 2018 6:52pm

Brian Lam raised to 225,000 from the button and was called by both Nebojsa Blanusa and Charlie Hawes in the binds.

All players then checked through the  flop which brought out the  turn. Blanusa and Hawes checked once more, this time Lam fired out a 300,000 bet. Blanusa called and Hawes folded bringing us heads up to the river.

The river came out the  . Blanusa checked one more and Lam bet 650,000. Blanusa made the call and showed  for a rivered pair of Queens.

Nebojsa Blanusa gave Lam enough rope to form a noose and is now on 3,900,000. 

Suzy Khouies eliminated in 5th place - $79,131

Posted Mon, 06 Aug 2018 6:34pm

The Sydney Championships is heading out of Sydney after Suzy Khouies was eliminated from the tournament.

Charlie Hawes raised to 200,000 from under the gun and with the action on Khouies she moved all in for her final 825,000. It folded back to Hawes who quickly made the call.

Khouies was in front with  against Hawes' !

All Khouies needed to do was avoid an Ace, unfortunately, the  hit the flop and the rest was history.

This 5th place caps off another amazing run for Suzy. She finished 6th in this event last year and went one spot better this year. Suzy is the leading lady here in the Star Poker Room and we all know it won't be too long until she is back on another big final table!

Blinds up

Posted Mon, 06 Aug 2018 6:18pm

It is getting pretty expensive to play poker around here.

The blinds are now 50,000/100,000 with a 10,000 ante. 

Our remaining five players have an average stack of 3,132,000

Suzy feeds the Lam

Posted Mon, 06 Aug 2018 6:17pm

Brian Lam raised to 180,000 from the cut off and was called by Suzy Khouies in the big blind.

Suzy then check-called a bet of  on the flop and both players checked the   turn. When the came out on the river, Khouies checked once more. This time Lam made a bet of 365,000. Khouies made the call.

Lam showed  for a pair of Queens and Khouies mucked her cards.

Suzy Khouies is on life support with just 1,000,000 chips whilst Brian Lam is healthier than ever with 4,600,000

Blanusa Blossoms!

Posted Mon, 06 Aug 2018 6:10pm

Nebojsa Blanusa moved all in for his final 1,530,000 from under the fun It folded around to Brian Lam in the big blind who made the call.

Blanusa: 

Lam: 

Board: 

Blanusa doubles up to 3,100,000 whilst Lam takes a hit but is still looking good with 3,500,000

It's coming home

Posted Mon, 06 Aug 2018 5:54pm

With five players remaining in this Sydney Championship, we have just learned an extremely worrisome piece of information.

Just one of the players left to fight for the title of Sydney Champion is from Sydney. The rest are all invaders from abroad.

Left at the table we have two Kiwis, Charlie Hawes and Brian Lam, Dhiya Majeed from Melbourne and Nebojsa Blanusa from Adelaide. 

Basically, the hopes of the entire city rest on Suzy Khouies the Star Poker Room regular. Come on Suzy, let's bring this home!

Everybody - "It's coming home, It's coming home..." 

Michael Levy Eliminated in 6th Place - $60,364

Posted Mon, 06 Aug 2018 5:43pm

The short stack on the table has just been eliminated by the quietest man on the table, Nebojsa Blanusa. 

Levy moved all in from the cutoff and Blanusa on the button immediately sprung to life, also moving all in! The action folded through the blinds and the cards were on their backs.

Levy: 

Blanusa: 

Board: 

Levy manages to hit has Ace twice but with Blanusa hitting the Jack he makes a full house to send Levy home.

Blanusa came in to today's play as the short stack and was also the short stack coming into our final table. He has managed this field perfectly so far and is now guaranteed at least $79,131. Now that he has some chips, can he go all the way?

Approximate Chip Counts

Posted Mon, 06 Aug 2018 5:31pm

Here are some approximate chip counts for our final six players. The next player out will pick up $60,364!

Martin Ward Eliminated in 7th Place - $46,698

Posted Mon, 06 Aug 2018 5:23pm

A short-stacked Martin Ward needed to get something happening so when he looked down to see  that was enough for him to move his stack into the middle. 

It looked like his bet was going to make it through without question as it folded right around the table, until it got to Brian Lam, seated to his left. Lam looked down , made the call and we were off to the races.

The run out of  sealed the deal and Brian Lam slays another. He moves up to 5,300,000 and has more than one-third of the chips in play whilst we are six handed!

Back

Posted Mon, 06 Aug 2018 5:18pm

Michel Bouskila Eliminated in 8th Place - $36,642

Posted Mon, 06 Aug 2018 5:14pm

Michel Bouskila has been eliminated in 8th place in the last hand before the break.

Bouskila moved all in for his final 195,000 from the cut off and was called by Brian Lam in the big blind.

Bouskila:

Lam: 

Board: 

After a great run in this tournament and a fantastic Sydney Championships overall #TeamCoogee member Michel Bouskila has been sent to the rail.

Brian Lam is 4,420,000!

Players are now on the second ten minute break of the day

Posted Mon, 06 Aug 2018 5:01pm

More room in the ward as Martin doubles!

Posted Mon, 06 Aug 2018 5:00pm

As we come towards the second break of the day Martin Ward has gotten a much needed double up to stay alive at this final table.

In a blind vs blind encounter, Brian Lam moved all in to put the pressure on Ward. Ward responded to the pressure brilliantly making the right call.

Ward: 

Lam: 

Board:n 

Martin Ward doubles up to 1,000,000 whilst Lam still has around 4,000,000

Mohammed Elkassir Eliminated in 9th Place - $29,158

Posted Mon, 06 Aug 2018 4:53pm

Brian Lam raise to 125,000 from middle position and it folds to Mohammed Elkassir in the small blind who moves all in for his final 800,000. Charlie Hawes folds the big blind and with the action back on Lam he makes the call and is a big favourite.

Lam: 

Elkassir: 

Board: 

Elkassir can't find the miracle and is eliminated in 9th place!

Brian Lam is sitting on 4,350,000!

Suzy Gliding!

Posted Mon, 06 Aug 2018 4:30pm

Just a few hands later, Suzy Khouies got a much needed double up!

Khouies moved all in from the hijack and was called by Martin Ward in the big blind. Khouies was in trouble.

Khouies: 

Ward: 

The first card out on the flop was the giving Khouies a set!

She holds on to double up to 2,100,000 leaving Martin Ward crippled with 400,000.

When Suzy Khouies sat down at seat 8 on this final table she thought it would be a lucky seat. The eights were even kinder to here there keeping her alive in this Main Event!

Suzy Sliding

Posted Mon, 06 Aug 2018 4:24pm

Suzy Khouies raise to 130,000 from the button and both Dhiya Majeed on the button and Brian Lam in the big blind made the call.

On the  flop, Lam checked over to Khouies who bet 135,000. Majeed got out of the way and Lam made the call.

Both players then checked down the turn and river, Lam showed which was good as Khouies tossed her hand into the muck and is left with just 900,000.

Brian Lam is sitting pretty with 3,000,000.

Blind it up

Posted Mon, 06 Aug 2018 4:04pm

We still have nine players remaining and are onto our next level.

Blinds are now 30,000/60,000 with a 10,000 ante.

Majeed Fattens the Lam

Posted Mon, 06 Aug 2018 4:00pm

Dhiya Majeed raised to 150,000 from the button and was called by Brian Lam in the big blind.

On the  flop, Lam check-called the 100,000 bet from Majeed which brought out the  on the turn.

Both players checked this card and when the  came on the river Lam opened for 375,000. Majeed made the call and quickly mucked when Lam showed  for a rivered straight.

Brian Lam is now on 2,900,000 and Dhiya Majeed is on 2,100,000.

Hawes score big with three Kings!

Posted Mon, 06 Aug 2018 3:51pm

With the action on Charlie Hawes on the button, he made it 100,000 to go. Both Suzy Khouies in the small blind and Dhiya Majeed in the big blind made the call.

On the flop of  , Khouies led out for 150,000. Majeed folded and Hawes made the call bringing out the  on the river which both players checked through.

On the  river, Khouies checks once more and then calls the 350,000 bet from Hawes.

Hawes shows  for a flopped set of Kings. This makes Khouies cringe with disgust as she shows  for a flopped set of Sixes.

Suzy Khouies has 1,350,000 left and did well not to lose her whole stack there.

Its been a busy day for Hawes, already picking up 4,600,000!

Best Hands Here to help

Posted Mon, 06 Aug 2018 3:40pm

If you think playing the final table of a Main Event is stressful, try sitting on the rail!

Sam Capra is here today cheering on two of his #TeamCoogee teammates, Michel Bouskila and Michael Levy who are both representing the surfside club on the final table.

It has all gotten a little too much for Capra, the great team from Best Hands Massage came by to see if any of the final table players needed a massage. They didn't get a chance though, as Capra grabbed their services before they could even make it here!

As someone who has had one of their massages before I can completely understand where Sam is coming from. If you have never tried a Best Hand Massage befre then we strongly recommend you give them a go! You will not regret it.

Suzy Eats a full Rack of Lam

Posted Mon, 06 Aug 2018 3:15pm

Suzy Khouies has just gotten a timely double up from our chip leader, Brian Lam.

Khouies made it 125,000 to go from late position and with the action on Lam on the button, he moved all in - effectively putting everyone else all in (The perks of being the chip leader).

The blinds folded and with the action back on Khouies, she made the call.

Lam: 

Khouies: 

Board: 

Khouies holds to double up to 1,900,000!

Brian Lam is still sitting pretty with 2,200,000

Play is underway

Posted Mon, 06 Aug 2018 3:12pm

Meet our Final Table

Posted Mon, 06 Aug 2018 3:04pm

Just nine of the original 522 players remain.

Who will be our champion?

Jason Quarmby Eliminated in 10th Place - $23,515

Posted Mon, 06 Aug 2018 2:48pm

Just one hand back from the break we are ready for our final table!

Brian Lam raised to 125,000 from the button and with the action on Quarmby he moved all in over the top.

Lam called.

Lam: 

Quarmby: 

Quarmby was in trouble and found no help on the  board. He heads to the rail in tenth place and our final table is set!

We're back

Posted Mon, 06 Aug 2018 2:43pm

Break

Posted Mon, 06 Aug 2018 2:30pm

Chop Suey

Posted Mon, 06 Aug 2018 2:24pm

Jason Quarmby raised to 110,000 from under the gun. It folded around to Brian Lam in the big blind who made the call bringing us heads up to the  flop.

Lam checked and Quarmby fired out another bet of 110,000. Lam made the call. Both players then checked the   turn and  river and the cards were turned over.

Lam:   A Pair of Queens with an Ace, Jack, Nine Kicker

Quarmby: A Pair of Queens with an Ance, Jack, Nine Kicker

Chop it up!

Ash Gupta Eliminated in 11th place - $23,517

Posted Mon, 06 Aug 2018 2:12pm

A short-stacked Ash Gupta moved all in from middle position and was called by Mohammed Elkassir in the big blind.

Gupta: 

Elkassir: 

Board: 

Gupta hits the rail and Elkassir moves up to 1,300,000 in chips. We have just ten players left. One player away from our final table!

Majeed Magic!

Posted Mon, 06 Aug 2018 2:09pm

Martin Ward raised to 80,000 from the cut off and with the action on Dhiya Majeed he reraised to 260,000. Ward called and we saw a flop of  which was checked by both players.

The  hit the turn and Ward checked once more. This time, Majeed was having none of it, sliding out a bet of 500,000. After a lot of thought, Ward made the call. 

On the  river Ward checked for a final time. Majeed did not slow down though and moved all in, effectively putting Ward all in. This was too much for Ward who released his hand.

Dhiya Majeed remains our chip leader with 3,650,000 whilst Martin Ward slips just below average with 1,200,000.

Andrew Lock Eliminated in 12th Place - $23,517

Posted Mon, 06 Aug 2018 1:48pm

Andrew Lock is our 12th place finisher.

Jason Quarmby moved all in from the small blind to put pressure on Andrew Lock in the big blind. 

Andrew Lock made the call.

Quarmby: 

Lock: 

Board: 

We have lost our first player for the day and are now just two eliminations away from our final table!

Bouskila Bounces Back!

Posted Mon, 06 Aug 2018 1:42pm

Michel Bouskila has just gotten a much needed double up!

Michael Levy raises to 100,000 from the button and it folded to Bouskila in the big blind who moved all in for his final 275,000. Levy called.

Levy: 

Bouskila: 

Board: 

Michel Bouskila is back to 600,000 whilst Michael Levy has 1,610,000

Level 24

Posted Mon, 06 Aug 2018 1:36pm

We did not lose any players in our first level of today's play. 

Our final 12 players are now playing 20,000/40,000 with a 5,000 ante.

Double for Gupta

Posted Mon, 06 Aug 2018 1:34pm

Ash Gupta moved all in for his final 485,000 and was called by Charlie Hawes.

Hawes: 

Gupta: 

Board: 

Gupta moves up to 1,000,000 whilst Hawes is still one of our bigger stacks with 2,100,000

Quad Goals

Posted Mon, 06 Aug 2018 1:32pm

Michael Levy has just one a big pot with Quads.

Mohammed Elkassir raised to 70,000 from the cut off. Charlie Hawes folded the button and Michael Levy and Ash Gupta both called from the blinds.

The flop came out  and both Levy and Gupta checked over to Elkassir who fired out a continuation bet of 95,000. This was called by both players bringing out the  turn which was checked through by all players.

On the  both Levy and Gupta checked once more, prompting Elkassir to fire out a bet of 200,000. With the action back on Levy he moves all in. Both players fold and Levy is awarded the pot but flips over his hand of  to show quad tens!

Michael Levy is up to 1,700,000 in chips!

BOUSKILA DOUBLES UP EARLY

Posted Mon, 06 Aug 2018 1:05pm

Michel Bouskila has found a nice double up early on the first level of play on day 3 here at the Star Sydney Championships 2018 Main Event. Charlie Hawes opens the action UTG with a raise to 65,000. Folded around to Bouskila who moved all in for 295,000, then Mohammed Elkassir moved all on over the top from the big blind 1,440,000. Hawes asked for a count of Elkassirs all in but ended up folding. 

Bouskila 

Elkassir 

Board: 

Bouskila flops a pair of aces and holds to earn a double up and moves to 670,000. Elkassir drops down to 1.1mil.

Blanusa Bamboozles Lock

Posted Mon, 06 Aug 2018 12:51pm

Pretty standard fare really, it folds to you in the small blind and the big blind is short stacked so you move all in to put pressure on them.

That is what Andrew Lock just did when it folded around to him with table short stack, Nebojsa Blanusa, in the big blind.

The only problem was that Blanusa looked down at  and quickly called.

Lock was in trouble with   and got no help from the  board. 

Blanusa doubles up to 930,000 whilst Lock slips back to 1,100,000

Table Draw

Posted Mon, 06 Aug 2018 12:42pm

This is how our final 12 players currently line up

Now or Never

Posted Mon, 06 Aug 2018 12:35pm

Play is underway here on Day 3 at the Sydney Championships Main Event.

Just 12 players remain to try and pick up the $314,265 first place prize money. We will know who our winner is before play ends today.

Blinds are 15,000/30,000 with a 5,000 ante and the average stack is 1,305,000 for a very comfortable 43 big blind stack.

Shuffle up and Deal!