WSOP Ladies Event(Re-Entry)

Amanda Gillard Wins 2017 WSOP Sydney Ladies Event! - $10,534

Posted Mon, 04 Dec 2017 2:00am

When Amanda Gillard came to the Star Poker Room today to take part in the 2017 WSOP Sydney Ladies Event she was very clear as to why she was here.

“This is what I came here for,” Gillard told the Star Poker Live Reporting team whilst holding up her WSOP Sydney Circuit gold Ring. Well Amanda… mission accomplished.

Poker has become a growing part of Gillard’s life this past year. She is a very proud member of the ‘APL Outer West’ Poker Team and she also took her first trip to Vegas this year to compete in the WSOP Monster Event. Whilst she didn’t cash there it was obvious to everyone watching today that a big tournament score was inevitable.

“An hour into today’s play I was down to just 2,900 chips,” Gillard said. A very low figure considering the 10,000 start stack.

“I just stayed focused and kept playing my game. There was a key hand with two and a half tables to go. I had pocket sixes and was all in against two other players. I held there and that gave me the chip lead.”

Gillard never looked back from that point, she was either on or near the chip lead for the rest of the tournament.

The final table was no easy task for Gillard though with several good players sparring against each other. Her heads up opponent, Leanne Haas, has plenty of experience. Sadly, she is best known for being on the wrong end of a previous heads up battle. She finished runner up during the 2013 WSOP Ladies Event and was hoping to go one better today. Unfortunately Gillard stood in her way.

Our third place finisher was Quin Jian. Jian was a very tricky opponent for Gillard, sat to her immediate right. Eliminating her was a large part of the reason why Gillard was able to go all the way this evening.

“She was so aggressive, she would just go all in every hand,’ Gillard recalled. “I had to find a time to go up against her and I couldn’t get one. Finally I got  when she had  and was lucky enough to win and eliminate her.”

From there it was really never in doubt, Gillard went from strength to strength and took home $10,354 as well as a prized WSOP Circuit Gold Ring.

Today marked the first trip for Amanda Gillard to the Star Poker Room and it certainly won’t be her last.

“This place is amazing, it is a great place to play poker,” Gillard said. “I will definitely be back here when the Star Poker Festival is on next year to represent my APL Outer West team!”

If Gillard is back then, everyone else better watch out. She could be looking for title number two!

Leanne Haas Eliminated in 2nd Place - $6,508

Posted Mon, 04 Dec 2017 1:08am

Leanne Haas has been eliminated after an extremely short heads up battle.

The chips went all in preflop.

Haas: 

Gillard:

Board: 

Quin Jian eliminated in 3rd Place -$4,633

Posted Mon, 04 Dec 2017 1:02am

After a great run Quin Jian has been sent home in 3rd place.

She moved all in for her final 207,000 and was called by Amanda Gillard.

Gillard: 

Jian: 

Board: 

Quin Jian is off to the rail and we are heads up!

22

Posted Mon, 04 Dec 2017 12:51am

Blinds are up.

We are now playing 10,000/20,000 with a 2,000 ante.

Evelyn Ruiz Eliminated in 4th Place - $3,366

Posted Mon, 04 Dec 2017 12:50am

Absolute heartache has taken over the Star Poker Room as Evelyn Ruiz's vacant stack has been eliminated from the tournament.

After being blinded out down to her final 3,000 she was all in for the small blind.

Her good friend, Quin Jian, raied to 37,000 to give her protection. It worked and the two went all in heads up. Amazingly Ruiz was in front!

Ruiz: 

Jian: 

Board: 

Jian made two pair and sent Evelyn Ruiz to the rail... well she would have if she was still here.

Breaks over

Posted Mon, 04 Dec 2017 12:43am

Our three, well four, remaining players are back from the break.

Blinds are 8,000/16,000 with a 1,000 ante.

Average stack is 292,500

That's a bold strategy Cotton, let's see if it pays off.

Posted Mon, 04 Dec 2017 12:52am

We often see players utilise peculiar strategies in poker tournaments. However, the one we are seeing from Evelyn Ruiz right now is right out of left field.

Ruiz has left the tournament arena and will not be taking any further part in tonight’s festivities.

She had an unavoidable commitment and she had to leave, it is obviously very frustrating for her especially considering how well she was playing.

Because of this her stack is being blinded down and will do so until she is all in on her last hand.

This is definitely an unusual strategy, however, considering I have never played a hand of poker well in my entire career, it could actually be beneficial for me to give it a go.

We will keep an eye on Ruiz's stack and let you know if there are any developments.

Break Time

Posted Mon, 04 Dec 2017 12:40am

Players are on a 10 minute break 

Queenie Kim Eliminated in 5th Place - $2,493

Posted Mon, 04 Dec 2017 12:40am

After a miss timed bet, the chip leader heading in to the final table, Queenie Kim has been eliminated.

Amanda Gillard raised to 45,000 preflop and was called.

The flop came . Kim again called Gillard’s 60,000 bet.

Both players checked the  turn and then when the  hit the river Queenie Kim moved all in. Gillard quickly called and showed the nuts.

Kim: 

Gillard: 

After an ill timed step Queenie Kim is our 5^th place finisher.

Stephanie Lee Eliminated in 6th Place - $1,882

Posted Mon, 04 Dec 2017 12:39am

Stephanie Lee has been eliminated in 6^th place from this tournament.

The bulk of her chips were lost in a hand with Amanda Gillard.

Gillard: 

Lee: 

Board: 

This left Lee with just 6,000 chips. She was eliminated just a couple of hands later.

The rise and fall of Leanne Haas

Posted Mon, 04 Dec 2017 12:38am

Leanne Haas has been on quite the roller coaster this past two hands.

Firstly she was all in against Quin Jian.

Jian 

Haas:

Board: 

Hass lost 115,000 in that exchange.

The very next hand she was all in against Evelyn Ruiz.

Ruiz: 

Haas: 

Board: 

She got 72,000 back from that exchange.

Miki Wan Eliminated in 7th Place - $1,447

Posted Sun, 03 Dec 2017 11:44pm

Mele Fishiihoi Eliminated in 8th Place - $1,134

Posted Sun, 03 Dec 2017 11:43pm

In a simply amazing hand we have lost two players with Mele Fisiihoi being eliminated in 8^th place and Miki Wan being eliminated in 7^th place.

Fisiihoi moved all in from early position for 20,500 and was called by Evelyn Ruiz. The action then folded to Miki Wan who move all in for 45,000. It folded back to Ruiz who made the call and we had a three way all in!

Wan: 

Ruiz:

Fishiihoi: 

If you were hoping for a sweat you didn’t get one. The flop came out  giving Ruiz the nut flush and an unassailable lead!

Fishiihoi was eliminated in 8^th place by virtue of having a shorter chip stack and collected $1,134.

Evelyn Ruiz now has over 300,000!

Luba Pase eliminated in 9th

Posted Sun, 03 Dec 2017 11:25pm

Luba Pase has been eliminated in 9th place for $904. Luba just barely scraped through the bubble but managed to hang on to the final table for the jacket and sweet bragging rights.

After getting it all in two hands in a row, Pase's  ran into Stephanie Lee's . Pase was behind and failed to improve, leaving the tournament.

Pase was thankful just to survive the bubble and was in good spirits as she left.

The Final Table is Set

Posted Sun, 03 Dec 2017 11:27pm

The final nine ladies have taken their seats at the final table. Giulia D'Andrea leads the final table with nearly a third of the chips in play.
In order from Seat 1-9 the chip stacks are as follows:

Monica Nio eliminated in 11th

Posted Sun, 03 Dec 2017 10:34pm

It pays to be Luba Pase

Posted Sun, 03 Dec 2017 10:33pm

Luba Pase was looking glum as the bubble approached and she slowly blinded out. Pase was down to her final 500 ante and managed to double up to 1,000 against all odds. While she ran (jogged) it up, the bubble burst on the table next door and she has secured herself at least min cash!

Pase's mood has significantly improved and she slowly climbs the ladder 

Vuka Mania goes from Chip leader to bubblegirl

Posted Sun, 03 Dec 2017 10:29pm

The bubble has burst after 30 minutes of hand for hand play. Vuka Mania fell from glory as one of the big stacks all day to be eliminated with nothing but a story. All ladies still in the tournament will be taking home a minimum prize of $733!

Miki Wan moved al in pre-flop for 63,000 and Vuka Mania (pictured) made the call with her short stack. 

Wan: 
Mania: 

Mania did not improve and is eliminated in 13th place.

On the bubble

Posted Sun, 03 Dec 2017 9:57pm

Ladies are back from their break and we're on the bubble.

Blinds are 3,000/6,000 with a 300 ante as we begin level 17.

Supergirl has left the building

Posted Sun, 03 Dec 2017 9:51pm

Fidan Chevket has been eliminated in a recent hand meaning we are now on the bubble. When players return from their 10 minute break we will be hand for hand until the bubble burts. 

A mincash here is worth $733 and top spot gets the WSOP Circuit Ring and $10,534 cash!

Stephanie Lee takes a huge pot from Queenie Kim.

Posted Sun, 03 Dec 2017 9:49pm

On a limped flop:  Queenie Kim checked, Lee (pictured) bet and Queenie moved all in. Lee snap called for her last 81,300 and her tournament life was at risk.

Queenie: 
Lee: 

The turn and river came:  and Lee's ships it with a full house. You would forgive Queenie for calling in this position with a hand like that.
 

The bubble approaches

Posted Sun, 03 Dec 2017 9:33pm

Run it up

Posted Sun, 03 Dec 2017 9:13pm

Giulia D'Andrea is running up her stack as the both the money and the final table looms.

D'Andrea was all in for around 35,000 and mid position called all-in for her remaining 29,000. 

D'Andrea: x
Mid: 

The mid position players fives did not hold as the board showed 

D'Andrea is now up to around 82,000 chips.

Blinds are up

Posted Sun, 03 Dec 2017 8:56pm

Dodging bullets

Posted Sun, 03 Dec 2017 8:46pm

Liz Morris one of the big stacks out of the 21 remainders, bet out for 11,600 and Monica Nio called. The  flop was checked around and when the turn came  Nio snap shoved 28,000, Morris snap called.

Nio: 
Morris: 

Nio was up and out of her chair and her rail cheered as it was smooth sailing for Nio's boat down  river. Nio scoops the pot and is up to 85,000.

"You've been in my way all day!" Nio said as she stacked the chips that Morris used to own.

Level 14

Posted Sun, 03 Dec 2017 8:28pm

Morris busts Liu

Posted Sun, 03 Dec 2017 8:26pm

Liz Morris and Ling Liu went two way to the flop . Morris bet out 11,200 and Liu moved all in for her remainig 20,500 chips. Morris called the 9,300 and we were off:

Morris: 
Liu: 

Liu had Morris' flush draw crushed if she could just dodge the gutshot but neither of them could expect what happened next. When the turn came  no one could believe it. The  river was not the heart Liu was after and she is out of the tournament.  

"I had you on the ace but I didn't have you on the flush draw" Morris said as Liu hit the rail.

Barton doubles up

Posted Sun, 03 Dec 2017 8:13pm

The short stacks in the room are feeling the pinch with the bubble approaching. Mallorie Barton got it all in from the highjack for her remainng 11,800. Action folded around to Mikki who called from mid position.

Barton: 
Mikki: 

The board ran out  and Barton doubles to around half average stack.

Back from break

Posted Sun, 03 Dec 2017 8:02pm

We apologise for the lapse in reporting on this event, as the final table of the Opening Event came to a conclusion on the other side of the room. 

Our remaining 28 ladies have returned to the tables after a short break playing Level 13 for 1,000/2,000 and a 300 ante.

Just under half of the field will be getting paid and the pressure to cash is mounting!

Morris moving up

Posted Sun, 03 Dec 2017 7:25pm

On a two way flop  the cut-off bet 6,000 and was called by Liz Morris (pictured). The turn came  and the cut-off fired again for 6,000 and Morris called. Cut-off three barrell the  river and Morris made the call turning over  to beat her opponent's .

Morris moves up to 70,000 to be one of the big stacks in the room.

The bickies

Posted Sun, 03 Dec 2017 6:43pm

The tournament director has crunched the numbers and the prize breakdown is in! The 117 lovely ladies who each invested $330 today will be playing for a total prize pool of $35,100 and the second WSOP Circuit Ring of the series. With the title away from Suzy Khouies grasp, it's anyone's game but Vuka Mania is the favourite to win it.

The top 12 will cash and we are fast approaching the money with around 40 players remaining.

Level 10

Posted Sun, 03 Dec 2017 6:38pm

Mania heads to the top

Posted Sun, 03 Dec 2017 6:37pm

As one of the table's short stacks moved all in for 3,700, we were about to witness a grudge match that would result in building a monster stack.

The highjack came over the top and made it 10,700 to go. Vuka Mania (pictured) made the call from the button.

The flop read:  and highjack lead out for 10,000 with Mania calling again. 

On the  turn highjack continued their aggression tossing 15,000 more into the middle. Mania was more than happy to comply going all-in for her remaining 60,000 causing the highjack to fold. The river came  and Mania tabled  to win the hand, cripple one opponent and send another to the rail.

Vuka Mania is now one of our big stacks with around 109,000, 5 times the average stack!

Quads keep Ruiz alive!

Posted Sun, 03 Dec 2017 6:20pm

Evelyn Ruiz was seriously short stacked during a two-way all in and 1 caller. The three ladies went to the flop with two tournament lives at risk:

Ruiz: 
All in: 
Mid position: 

Unwittingly the ladies had all signed up for a true emotional rollercoaster when the board fell:  and Ruiz rivers quads to bust one and beat a set of aces. Ruiz thanked the dealer with a hug and a smile and gets some much needed equity.

Back to it

Posted Sun, 03 Dec 2017 6:05pm

Khouies is out and Ladies Champion is there for the taking

Posted Sun, 03 Dec 2017 6:04pm

We have received word that three-time Ladies Event champion Suzy "Triple Crown" Khouies has been eliminated from the tournament and will no longer be able to defend her WSOP Sydney Ladies Champion title. Suzy's signature table talk and strong mental game have been an institution in ladies tournaments from start to finish for the past 12 months.

With plenty of talent left in the field, it’s now time to find our new champion.

The ladies are on a break

Posted Sun, 03 Dec 2017 5:59pm

Liu busts chambers

Posted Sun, 03 Dec 2017 5:58pm

Ling Liu (pictured) moved all in pre-flop from late position for 7,075 and Tara Chambers made the call from the button for her remaining 4,000 chips. The remaining players got out of the way and we're off to the races:

Liu: 
Chambers: 

Board: 

When the  hit on the flop Chambers was up and out of her chair giving her best wishes. Liu wins a nice pot and Chambers if off to the rail.

Blinds are up

Posted Sun, 03 Dec 2017 5:31pm

The Sportsmanship is strong at the Ladies event

Posted Sun, 03 Dec 2017 5:19pm

The small blind moved all-in for 5,600 and Quinn Jian (pictured) called from UTG+1. 

Small Blind: 
Jian: 

The board fell  and the small blind failed to improve. There was no bad blood between the two over the elimination as hugs and "good luck!"s were shared all around.

Blinds are up again

Posted Sun, 03 Dec 2017 5:12pm

McGovern Mcwinning

Posted Sun, 03 Dec 2017 5:11pm

On a 5-way flop reading , Amanda Wong bet out 675 from the big blind and was called by both Chris McGovern on the button and the small blind. On the  turn, Wong fired again this time for 1,700 and McGovern made the call. The  river was checked around and McGovern turned over  prompting Wong to muck.

McGovern picks up a tidy pot as we settle into Level 7.

Moore gets more

Posted Sun, 03 Dec 2017 5:02pm

The cut-off moed all in 2,525 and foudn two callers and we're off to the flop.

Flop:

Mid position bet out 2,000 and Atapo Moore made the call. After the  turn, Moore moved all-in and her opponent folded. 

All-in: 
Moore: 

The all-in player failed to improve on the  river and is eliminated from the tournament. Moore grabs a big pot and asserts her dominance over the table.

Blinds are up!

Posted Sun, 03 Dec 2017 5:02pm

Chambers claims an early scalp

Posted Sun, 03 Dec 2017 5:02pm

On one of the more stacked tables in the room, including Monica Nio, Suzy "Triple Crown" Khouies and Lagi Tupua, Tara Chambers has claimed an early scalp just before level's end.
Short stack moved all in from the big blind for her remaining 3,250, Nio folded around to Chambers on the button.

Chambers made the call and turned over  way infront of the small blinds .

Board ran out  and Chambers scoops the pot with the nut flush.

Getting Blind

Posted Sun, 03 Dec 2017 3:31pm

The Ladies have just had the blind levels going up.

They are now playing 100/200. A Start stack is still worth 50 big blinds, meaning there is still loads of play available.

We have also just tipped over 100 entries in this event. Given there is still about 45 minutes left to enter expect his field to grow even more!

Notable Ladies

Posted Sun, 03 Dec 2017 2:22pm

It is our humble opinion that every single lady that plays poker is a notable. However, here are some of the ladies we have spotted after having a quick glance around the poker room.

Amanda Wong, Hannah Lee, Suzy Khoueis, Mele Poulivaati, Fidan Shevket, Jen Bernard, Michelle Psarras, Ashleigh Tran, Jane Howard, Erolyn Strang and Despina Yiannikoulias are all here.

We already have more than 75 runners registered, expect that number to grow with two hours left to register!

Hey Ladies!

Posted Sun, 03 Dec 2017 1:43pm

Get your lipstick, nail polish, hair spray and any other ‘poor taste’ stereotypes you can think of ready. The Ladies Event at the 2017 WSOP Sydney held in the Star Poker Room is about to get underway.

All contestants will start with 10,000 chips which is 200 big blinds for the 25/50 first level meaning there is plenty of play available.

With registration open for 2 hours we should see a big field for this event and we are expecting a vast array of the exceptional female poker talent that resides in Sydney and abroad to take part.

There is one question on everyone’s lips though. Can anyone beat Suzy Khoueis? Suzy won this event at the 2016 WSOP Sydney. She then won the Ladies Event at the 2017 Star Poker Festival and then she won it again at the 2017 Sydney Champs. That means Suzy has won EVERY SINGLE Ladies Event held in the Star Poker Room over the past 12 months! If she can win a fourth title today that will be truly remarkable.

There are plenty of quality poker players here though that are going to try and take her down so this is not going to be easy. Either way there is going to be lots of action.

The Star Poker Live Reporting Team will be providing limited coverage of this event whilst the nine remaining contestants in the Opening Event battle it out for their six figure first prize!

We will be putting our full focus to this when we get down to the business end of the tournament!