The Sydney Championships 2017 Main Event

Congratulations to Henry Tran! The 2017 Sydney Champion! - $300,000

Posted Mon, 07 Aug 2017 7:44pm

The 2017 Sydney Championships in the Star Poker Room have officially come to an end. After three weeks of non-stop poker action it would be local rising star Henry Tran who would outlast them all to be crowned the Champion of Sydney and to take home the title and the $300,000 prize money that comes with it.

496 players put up the $3,000 buy-in to enter this event and Tran is the last one standing after all is said and done. This wasn’t exactly his plan at the start of the week, in fact, being a disciplined man when it comes to his bankroll, he hadn’t intended to put up the $3,000 entry to take part in the tournament. But some good fortune during the week changed his mind.

“I had only intended to play the Opening Event and the Monster Stack,” Tran told the Star Poker Live Reporting Team. “But after I final tabled the Monster Stack I felt I was playing well and decided I would enter the Main Event”.

Another man who had no intention of playing the Main Event was third place finisher Damon Zhou. Zhou, amazingly, had never played a tournament before. He walked into the poker room a week ago to play some cash games. As the wait list was too long he sat down to play a satellite to the main event. He won and tried to sell it only to be told (as per the Terms and Conditions) that he wasn’t allowed to. So, he played the tournament, finished fourth and won $135,000. Not bad for a $300 investment.

It was a hand against Zhou that Tran found a significant factor in his surge to the title. “There was a hand that we played where I turned a higher straight. That was a 3,300,000 pot and changed the dynamic of the whole final table.”

If anyone changed the dynamic of the final table, it was Brad Hawkins. Our runner up impressed many with his play. He showed throughout the tournament that he is not afraid to get chips into the middle and put his opponents to the test. He held a monster chip lead on day one and was thereabouts for all of day two. It was a fantastic performance which confirms that his fourth place at the 2016 WSOP Sydney Main Event was no fluke. Expect more big things from Hawkins in the future.

It was Tran’s ability to make the right moves at the right time which saw him excel in a high quality field, which included the likes of 2005 WSOP Champion Joe Hachem (9^th) and APPT and ANZPT champion Grant Levy (5^th).

“I just focussed on making the best decision possible at all times,” Tran told us. “Looking for the right spots, finding the right times and making the right bets.”

When describing how he felt about the tournament and the win, which is the biggest cash and title of his career, Tran could barely contain his emotions.

“It feels, unreal,” Tran continued. “I am so happy. This is a great event, it has such an excellent structure. I really like deep stack poker and this tournament is perfect for that.”

Tran is the Sydney Champion and he is now heading to Melbourne to show those down there that the Harbour City is the home of Australia’s best poker players. From there he is heading to Macau before coming home to Sydney for the WSOP in December.

A great performance from a deserved champion, expect to see more of Henry Tran in the very near future!

Bradley Hawkins Eliminated in 2nd - $185,000

Posted Mon, 07 Aug 2017 7:03pm

Bradley Hawkins has gone from a massive chip leader to second place in a few hands.

After the players had a brief talk. Hawkins moved all in on the very next hand. Tran made the call.

Tran: 

Hawkins:

Board: 

The very next hand Hawkins moved all in again, once again Tran called.

Hawkins: 

Tran: 

Board.

Bradley Hawkins is eliminated in second place and Henry Tran is our 2017 Sydney Champion!

Tran Doubles Again!

Posted Mon, 07 Aug 2017 6:54pm

The players took a flop with no raise and it came out . 

Henry Tran bet 150,000 on the flop and Brad Hawkins raised to 400,000. Tran made the call.

On the  turn brought a check from Tran. Hawkins then bet 1,700,000 and Tran moved all in. 

Hawkins made the call but said he was definitely behind.

Tran: 

Hawkins: 

Hawkins needed a diamond to close this thing out. The  was not a diamond. Tran doubles up and now only has a little less than Hawkins!

Henry Tran Gets The Double Up!

Posted Mon, 07 Aug 2017 6:41pm

Henry Tran moved all in and Hawkins made the call.

Hawkins: 

Tran: 

Hawkins was a long way in front, that was until the  flop came out giving Tran a straight. 

The turn and river did not get Hawkins back in front and Henry Tran is now on 3,900,000

Heads Up Chip Counts

Posted Mon, 07 Aug 2017 6:34pm

Hawkins has a massive chip lead here heads up

Damon Zhou Eliminated in 3rd Place - $135,000

Posted Mon, 07 Aug 2017 6:28pm

Damon Zhou moved his short-stack all in for his final 550,000 and the action was on Bradley Hawkins

Hawkins looked at his cards and said "alright, let's gamble" and tossed in the chips to call.

Hawkins: 

Zhou: 

Board: 

Hawkins can do no wrong today, he busts another and we are heads up for the title!

Rafe Aman Eliminated in 4th Place - $100,000

Posted Mon, 07 Aug 2017 6:30pm

All good things must come to an end and the same can be said about Rafe Aman's amazing run in this tournament.

Hawkins raised to 200,000 from the button and Aman called from the big blind.

The flop came  and Aman checked to Hawkins who bet 250,000. Aman then check-raised all in and Hawkins snap called slamming his monster hand onto the table.

Hawkins:

Aman: 

Aman wasn't dead though with an up and down straight draw. However, he did not get there on the river and was eliminated in 4th place. A fantastic effort that received a warm round of applause from his fans on the rail.

Aman Doubles Again - Crowd Erupts!

Posted Mon, 07 Aug 2017 6:14pm

The Rafe Aman 'Ultras' have erupted as Aman gets a second double up to bring a faint pulse back to his tournament.

Bradley Hawkins raised to 225,000 from the button and Aman called from the big blind.

Aman: 

Hawkins: 

Board:

Aman is now sitting on 1,300,000 in chips!

Aman Doubles - Crowds Goes Wild!

Posted Mon, 07 Aug 2017 6:07pm

A short-stacked Aman moved all in and was called by Damon Zhou.

Zhou: 

Aman:

Board: 

Aman gets three fives and doubles up!

There is quite a rail here for Rafe Aman and they are going balistic!

Zhou Doubles! Aman Decimated!

Posted Mon, 07 Aug 2017 6:04pm

Damon Zhou has just received a huge double up at the expense of Rafe Aman.

Zhou moved all in under the gun for his final 910,000. It folded to Aman in the big blind who made the call, leaving himself just 450,000 chips behind. We were off to the races.

Aman: 

Zhou: 

Board: 

Zhou approaches 2 million while Aman is moved to the casualty ward.

Grant Levy Eliminated in 5th Place - $75,000

Posted Mon, 07 Aug 2017 5:47pm

Grant Levy has lost a race to our chip leader, Brad Hawkins, to be eliminated from the tournament. Levy moved all in and Hawkins made the call.

Levy: 

Hawkins: 

Board: 

Levy could not hit any of the cards he needed and will go home in 5th place leaving us four handed.

All four of our remaining players have a six figure pay day waiting for them!

Back from the break

Posted Mon, 07 Aug 2017 5:25pm

Chip counts of the final 5 at the break

Posted Mon, 07 Aug 2017 5:17pm

Levy is the new Lazarus

Posted Mon, 07 Aug 2017 5:13pm

Just two hands after being put on life support by Damon Zhou's river Ace, Grant Levy is back in business!

Hand 1:

Levy got his final 350,000 all in against Brad Hawkins

Levy:

Hawkins:

Board: 

Hand 2

Then immediately after that, Levy got his new found chip stack all in against Henry Tran

Tran: 

Hawkins:

Board: 

Levy is now back moving and shaking here at the final table as the players head for a ten minute break

Damon Zhou - A double for you

Posted Mon, 07 Aug 2017 5:08pm

Grant Levy raised to 130,000 from under the gun. It folded around to Damon Zhou in the big blind. He moved all in for his final 730,000.

Levy would be left with just 350,000 if he lost so he took the decision carefully. Eventually, he made the call.

Levy: 

Zhou: 

Board: 

Levy had taken the lead with a King on the flop but the Ace on the river game the pot to Zhou.

Grant Levy is now on life support.

Suzy Khoueis Eliminated in 6th Place - $57,000

Posted Mon, 07 Aug 2017 4:58pm

Suzy Khoueis moved her final 725,000 all in from the button and was called by Brad Hawkins in the big blind. Hawkins was in front but Khoueis was very much live.

Khoueis: 

Hawkins: 

The  flop was both good and bad for Khoueis, she paired her Queen but the three clubs gave Hawkins a flush draw. Khoueis survived the  turn but the  hit the river and Suzy Khoueis was eliminated in 6th place.

Amazing Aman!

Posted Mon, 07 Aug 2017 4:51pm

Rafe Aman is right back in contention in this tournament after winning a huge race to double up to 2.5million in chips!

He was all in vs Henry Tran

Tran: 

Aman: 

Board: 

Rafe Aman ends up with a club flush and is now a real force to be reckoned with at this 2017 Sydney Championships Main Event Final Table

Chris Tran Eliminated in 7th Place -$44,000

Posted Mon, 07 Aug 2017 4:48pm

The very next hand, a now short-stacked, Chris Tran moved all in. He was called by Grant Levy and the two of them went at it again.

Levy: 

Tran:

The  flop gave Levy a flush draw which got there on the  turn leaving Chris Tran drawing dead. He is our seventh place finisher after a fantastic tournament!

Grant Levy Doubles!

Posted Mon, 07 Aug 2017 4:43pm

It folded around to Chris Tran in the small blind who moved all in, putting big blind Grant Levy at risk. Levy made the call.

Levy: 

Tran: 

"Wow, your hand is much bigger than I thought!" Levy said when he saw Tran's hand.

The flop came out  putting Levy in the lead, he stayed there for the  turn and  river and got a valuable double up.

The final table is set!

Posted Mon, 07 Aug 2017 4:17pm

Let's get ready to rumble!

Steve Pappas Eliminated in 8th Place - $34,000

Posted Mon, 07 Aug 2017 4:07pm

Our final table is set!

Steve Pappas was all in against Brad Hawkins preflop.

Hawkins: 

Pappas:

Board: 

After a fantastic run this week Steve Pappas is our 8th place finisher. We will now pause the clock and move over to the feature table

Blinds are currently 30,000/60,000 with a 10,000 ante

Posted Mon, 07 Aug 2017 3:58pm

Brad's not here to fold

Posted Mon, 07 Aug 2017 3:58pm

Bradley Hawkins (pictured) raised to 150,000 from middle position. It folded to Suzy Khoueis in the big blind who called.

Both players checked the  flop and when the  hit the turn Khouies bet out for 125,000. Hawkins called.

On the  river Khoueis bet again, This time for 200,000. Hawkins called.

"You got me Brad, I've only got threes," Suzy Khoueis said as she flipped over .

Brad Hawkins flipped over  for a pair of fours which was enough to take down the pot.

Hassan Hussein is one of the biggest fan boys and rail birds in the Star Poker Room and he could barely contain his excitement at this hand.

"Far out! Brad's not here to fold!" Hussein said as he jumped up and down and clapped with glee.

Unofficial Final Table Chip Counts

Posted Mon, 07 Aug 2017 3:31pm

The chip counts for our unoffical final table are as follows:

Please not we will redraw for seats when we go to our actual final table

Joe Hachem Eliminated in 9th Place - $28,000

Posted Mon, 07 Aug 2017 3:23pm

2005 WSOP Main Event Champion Joe Hachem has been eliminated from the tournament.

Bradley Hawkins raised from late position and Hachem moved all in over the top. 

The action was now on Damon Zhou who called the all in. Hawkins folded.

Hachem: 

Zhou: 

Board: 

We are down to eight players. It has been great to have Joe Hachem here for the 2017 Sydney Championships. We hope to see more of him in the Star Poker Room in the future.

Chip Update

Posted Mon, 07 Aug 2017 3:18pm

We are trying to get you a chip update but the action is happening thick and fast here in the Star Poker Room.

We will get you a seat draw and chip counts shortly

Double Pappas

Posted Mon, 07 Aug 2017 3:18pm

Steve Pappas has just gotten a valuable double up as soon as players reached the one table.

He was all in preflop against Grant Levy

Levy: 

Pappas:

Board:

Pappas wins and is sitting prety

Rory Young Eliminated in 10th Place - $22,365

Posted Mon, 07 Aug 2017 3:14pm

Rory Young raised to 110,000 from the button. Henry Tran (who was just moved to the table) defended from the big blind.

Young and Tran check the flop and turn bringing out a board of .

On the river Tran bet out 125,000 and Young moved all in for 750,00. Tran made the call and had beautifully trapped Young.

Young:  - Ace high

Tran  - Three Kings

Rory Young is eliminated, Tran builds on his lead and we are now down to our unofficial final table!

Matthew Rolfe Eliminated in 11th Place - $22,365

Posted Mon, 07 Aug 2017 3:07pm

A short-stacked Matthew Rolfe was very happy to see a  flop when he was holding . He got his stack into the middle and was called by Grant Levy. 

Unfortunately for Rolfe, Levy held  and without any improvement on the turn or river Rolfe was eliminated.

One more elimination needed before we reach our unofficial final table!

Massive Double up for Henry

Posted Mon, 07 Aug 2017 3:05pm

Henry Tran was struggling when we started play today but he has been tracking up and up here on Day 3 of this event.

In a recent hand he called the bets of Damon Zhou on every street to get to a board reading .

When Zhou bet 400,000 on the river, Henry Tran moved all in for 1,000,000 in total.

Zhou eventually made the call which prompted Tran to turn over the  for the straight. Zhou mucked and Tran is now one of our chip leaders

Adrian Attenborough Eliminated in 12th - $22,365

Posted Mon, 07 Aug 2017 3:00pm

Adrian Attenborough raised from the cut off to 110,000 and was called by Brad Hawkins in the small blind and Rory Young in the big blind.

On the  flop Hawkins and Young checked over to Attenborough who bet 230,000. With the action back on Hawkins he moved all in (putting Attenborough all in). Young folded and Attenborough made the call.

Attenborough: 

Hawkins: 

There was no salvation for Attenborough on the river and he is out in 12th

Back to it

Posted Mon, 07 Aug 2017 2:46pm

Players are back from the break. We are now playing 25,000/50,000 with a 5,000 ante.

Break

Posted Mon, 07 Aug 2017 2:37pm

Players are on a 10 minute break.

We will be back in (more or less) ten minutes

Attenborough wins a nice one

Posted Mon, 07 Aug 2017 2:36pm

Matthew Rolfe raised to 90,000 from the button, Grant Levy folded in the small blind and Adrian Attenborough made the call in the big blind.

Both players checked the  flop and Attenborough checked the  turn which brought a bet from Rolfe of 80,000.

When the  hit the river Attenborough sprung to life and counted out a bet of 215,000.

Rolfe gave it a lot of thought but on such a draw heavy board decided he couldn't call.

Rolfe is now down to less than 250,000 and will need to make something happen quickly.

Approximate chip counts with 12 remaining

Posted Mon, 07 Aug 2017 2:11pm

Rory Young Doubles

Posted Mon, 07 Aug 2017 2:03pm

Rory Young (pictured) has just gotten a valuable doulble up off Adrian Attenborough bringing his stack up to 1,000,000.

Attenborough:

Young: 

Board: 

Matthew Rolfe gets a double up

Posted Mon, 07 Aug 2017 1:52pm

A short-stacked Mathew Rolfe moved all in from his final 300,000.

Rory Young made the call.

Rolfe: 

Young:

Board: 

Blinds Up

Posted Mon, 07 Aug 2017 1:43pm

Blinds are currently 20,000/40,000 with a 5,000 ante.

12 players remain in this tournament.

Rafe Aman Doubles Again - Is Now Our Chip Leader

Posted Mon, 07 Aug 2017 1:42pm

Bradley Hawkins raised to 60,000 and Rory Young 3-bet to 200,000. 

The action folded around to Rafe Aman who moved all in. Hawkins called and Young folded.

Aman: 

Hawkins: 

"We had the same hand," Young said to Hawkins, which is not what he wanted to hear.

Board: 

Rafe Aman now gets up to 2,200,000 in chips and is our new chip leader!

Sailendra Sha Eliminated in 13th Place - $18,276

Posted Mon, 07 Aug 2017 1:32pm

Sailendra Sha moved all in from the small blind for 450,000 and Grant Levy in the big blind made the call.

Levy: 

Sha: 

Board: 

Sailendra Sha goes home in 13th. Our remaining 12 players are now guaranteed at least $22,365

Hachem Blinks First

Posted Mon, 07 Aug 2017 1:18pm

Henry Tran raised to 60,000 from middle position only to be three bet to 140,000 by Joe Hachem.

With the action back on Tran he took his time before moving all in for a total of 575,000.

It was back on Hachem who after giving it some thought folded.

"If you didn't have to think so long to make a decision I would have called you," Hachem told Tran as the pot was headed in his direction

Hyung Kim Eliminated in 14th Place - $18,276

Posted Mon, 07 Aug 2017 1:07pm

Hyung Kim moved all in and the action was on Damon Zhou who after some thought made the call.

Kim: 

Zhou: 

Board: 

Hyung Kim bows out in 14th place 

Aman Doubles!

Posted Mon, 07 Aug 2017 12:59pm

Rafe Aman has gotten an important double up here in the Main Event!

Grant Levy raised from the cut off to 60,000 and was called by Aman on the button and Rory Young in the big blind.

On the  flop it was checked around to Levy who bet 90,000. When the action came around to Aman he moved all in for 380,000 more.

Young folded and Levy made the call.

Levy:

Aman:

Levy couldn't catch up on the turn or river and Rafe Aman moves up to 1,000,000 in chips!

We are back

Posted Mon, 07 Aug 2017 12:44pm

Our final 14 players are back here in the Star Poker Room as we play down to our champion here in the 2017 Sydney Championships 

We play down to our champion today!

Blinds are currently 15,000/30,000 with a 5.000 ante.

Average staxck is 1,062,657.

Lets go!