Friday, 29th March 2024 05:32
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9:45pm: Bubble bursts with double elimination!
Level 16: Blinds 2,500/5,000 (500 ante)

Both Patrick Donker and David Evans will split the 63rd place prize after being eliminated simultaneously on different tables.

Donker had dwindled down to less than two big blinds and committed his last 8,000 from the hijack preflop. He was called in three spots by the button and the blinds before the flop fell 3♠ 6♠ 3♣ .

The small blind led out for 8,000 into the empty side pot and with the big blind out of the way the button made the call to see the 7♦ turn.

Donker was up from his seat and looking less than confident as the small blind fired again for 12,000. The bet was met by another call and the Qâ™  rolled off on the end.

After a final barrel from the small blind for 18,000 the button called and the bettor tabled 6♣ 6♦ for a flopped full house. Donker was forced to show his A♥ 10♦ but was informed that there was an all in on the table across the room, and if Evans was eliminated that the two players would split the 63rd place prize money.

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Patrick Donker awaits his fate

That’s exactly what happened as the crowd moved as one and shifted their focus to Table 32. The start of the hand saw Nikolaos Haidaris raise to 11,000 from under the gun before Richard Zebrovius called from the cutoff.

Evans then moved in for 53,000 from the small blind and the decision was back on Haidaris. He asked for a count before moving all in over the top for around 135,000. Zebrovius thought about it for a few seconds before opting for a fold.

Evans: K♠ K♦
Haidaris: A♦ K♣

Evans was a favourite to double until an ace fell on the J♣ 6♦ A♥ flop. He failed to catch up on the 9♦ turn or 2♠ river and would have to be content with chopping $4,290.

And with that, play concludes. We’ll have a full recap of today’s proceedings and a Day 3 seating draw up as soon as the chip counts are finalized.

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David Evans sweats his tournament life

9:30pm: Play resumes
Level 16: Blinds 2,500/5,000 (500 ante)


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9pm: Dinner break

Despite only needing one more elimination until the conclusion of play, a 30-minute dinner break has been called. Coverage will resume soon.

8:55pm: Evans survives the bubble!
Level 15: Blinds 2,000/4,000 (500 ante)

The action started with the player under the gun raising to 9,000 before Richard Zebrovius bumped it up to 27,500 from middle position. David Evans looked down at his cards from the cutoff and moved all in for his final 21,000. The original raiser folded and the two players waited until every other table finished their hand. 

Evans: A♦ A♥
Zebrovius: K♦ K♠

Evans was the player at risk but had the lead with the over pair. The remaining players crowded around the table eagerly anticipating a potential bad beat. 

The dealer cut out the three cards and fanned out a A♠ K♣ Q♣ . The rail of players erupted as both players flopped a set each. 

Evans was still in front and held on to double as the turn and river brought the 9♠ and 6♦ .

8:35pm: Hand-for-hand play begins
Level 15: Blinds 2,000/4,000 (500 ante)

We’re now on the direct money bubble with only 64 remaining. Let’s find out who will be our APPT Melbourne Main Event bubble boy.

8:20pm: Fitzpatrick doubles through Donker
Level 15: Blinds 2,000/4,000 (500 ante)

End-of-Day 1a chip leader Patrick Donker raised to 9,000 from under the gun before Geoffrey Fitzpatrick moved all in for 51,000 from the hijack. The decision fell back on Donker who quickly made the call. 

Fitzpatrick: A♠ Q♥
Donker: K♣ K♠

It looked all over for Fitzpatrick after the flop of 7♥ Q♣ K♥ improved Donker to a set of kings. However, the board ran out perfectly with the A♥ on the turn and 9♥ on the river giving Fitzpatrick the flush and the winning hand. 

Fitzpatrick moves up to 122,000 while Donker drops to 48,000.

8:05pm: Broom scores a knockout
Level 15: Blinds 2,000/4,000 (500 ante)

The player in the cutoff moved all in for 40,000 and was quickly called by James Broom on the button. The blinds folded and the two players tabled their cards. 

Broom: A♦ K♣
Opponent: A♣ 9♣

The board ran out 2♥ Q♣ 7♠ J♦ Q♠ to see Broom take down the pot with the superior kicker moving him up to 175,000.

7:50pm: When you just know
Level 14: Blinds 1,500/3,000 (500 ante)

Srdjan Brkic just recalled a big hand that occurred on his table. 

Daniel Gabriel raised to 6,500 from under the gun and was called by Brendan Ng on the button as well as Brkic in the big blind.

The flop came ten-nine-deuce and Brkic checked. Gabriel threw out a continuation bet totalling 8,500 which only Ng called as Brkic folded. 

Both players checked as a nine repeated on the turn before a five completed the board. 

Gabriel led out for 18,000 then Ng slid out 58,000. Despite holding ten-nine for a full house nines full of tens Gabriel just flat-called. Ng then tabled pocket tens for tens full, much to the surprise of the table, who all reacted in disbelief. 

Ng moved up to 260,000 whilst Gabriel dropped down to 195,000 following the hand. 

7:35pm: Maggs doubles through Thoo
Level 14: Blinds 1,500/3,000 (500 ante)

Rahul Rastogi raised to 7,000 from middle position and was called by Dylan Kii in the hijack as well as Ming Ken Thoo on the button. Arthur Maggs then moved all in for 61,500 from the small blind which saw Rastogi and Kii fold their hands. Thoo asked for a count, then pondered for a moment, before making the call. 

Maggs: K♥ K♦
Thoo: 7♦ 7♠

The board ran out 2♣ 6♦ A♣ 5♥ 5♠ to see Maggs hold with his over pair as he moved up to 144,000. 

7:20pm: Hopkins doubles through Hong
Level 14: Blinds 1,500/3,000 (500 ante)

A player under the gun raised to 9,000 and was called by Ryan Hong in the cutoff. James Hopkins was seated in the small blind and shoved all in for 39,600 which sent the original raiser into the tank. A minute passed before he reluctantly folded. Hong reluctantly called and the cards were tabled. 

Hopkins: A♥ Q♠
Hong: K♣ Q♣

The board ran out A♣ 4♥ 3♦ 8♥ 2♦ to see Hopkins improve to a pair as he took down the pot. Hong dropped down to 132,000 following the hand. 

7:05pm: Burns busted by Tran
Level 14: Blinds 1,500/3,000 (500 ante)

Reigning APPT Manila champion Linh Tran is still in contention and chipping up after picking off a bluff from Kahle Burns.

With the board reading K♦ 9♠ Q♣ J♦ 8♣ Tran checked it over to Burns who moved all in for his last 45,000. Tran cut off out a call and after giving it some thought he slid the chips into the middle.

Burns tabled A♥ J♠ but it was no good against the flopped top two pair of Tran who held K♣ Q♠ .

Burns heads for the exit while Tran moves up to a stack of 165,000.

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Linh Tran


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6:45pm: Scheduled break

Our remaining 88 players have commenced a 10-minute break.

6:35pm: Derias flushes his opponent
Level 13: Blinds 1,200/2,400 (400 ante)

The player in the big blind raised to 5,400 and was called by Sherif Derias in the small blind. 

The flop came 3♥ 3♠ K♥ and Derias quickly bet out 10,000. His opponent called. 

The turn brought the 6♣ and without hesitation Derias tossed out 15,000. The bet was called shortly after. 

With the 10♥ completing the board, Derias announced all in, and pushed in his remaining 85,300 forward. The bet threw his opponent off, who deliberated for a few minutes, then pushed in the call. 

Derias then confidently tabled his J♥ 2♥ for a flush and took down the pot after his opponent mucked his hand in disappointment. 

Derias now sits on a stack worth 238,600. 

6:15pm: Cabret doubles through Doria
Level 13: Blinds 1,200/2,400 (400 ante)

Joe Cabret moved all in for 22,200 from under the gun and watched as Mario Doria then moved all in over the top for around 130,000. The bet scared the rest of the table away before both players tabled their cards. 

Cabret: 9♥ 8♥
Doria: Aâ™  Kâ™ 

The board then ran out 2♥ J♥ 10♥ 2♣ Q♦ giving Cabret the winning hand after flopping a flush to see him survive in the tournament. 

6pm: Bridge gives his double a standing ovation
Level 13: Blinds 1,200/2,400 (400 ante)

The player in middle position raised to 6,200 before Jeffrey Bridge moved all in for 40,500 from the hijack. The decision fell back on the original raiser, who asked for a count, then called after contemplating his decision for a minute. 

Bridge: K♣ 10♣
Opponent: 7♦ 7♥

Bridge was behind with his king-high and stood up from his chair after the dealer dropped a nine turn card on the 2♦ 4♦ 2♣ 9♠ board. The K♥ then completed the board and Bridge was left to take in the large double after his pair of kings took down the pot. 

5:40pm: Corey Kempson cruising
Level 12: Blinds 1,000/2,000 (300 ante)

Corey Kempson just took down a healthy pot and sored to around 255,000 in chips.

We caught the action on the turn with the board showing 3♦ 5♥ 6♥ 7♠ . The action was three-handed and after the big blind checked, Kempson checked from early position and the player on the button fired for 16,500.

The big blind threw his hand away but Kempson stuck around to see the 9♥ river.

After a check from Kempson the player on the button deliberated for a moment before barrelling again for 27,500. Kempson waited around a minute before moving all in with enough to cover his opponent’s 85,000 behind.

After several minutes in the tank the hand was folded and the pot was pushed Kempson’s way.

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Corey Kempson

5:30pm: Lim sent packing by Prasad
Level 12: Blinds 1,000/2,000 (300 ante)

Jay Prasad raised to 4,500 from the button before Aaron Lim went into the tank from the small blind. A minute passed before Lim announced all in for around 10,000. Patrick Vo folded from the big blind before Prasad snap-called the remainder of the bet.

Prasad: A♠ 6♥
Lim: Q♦ 9♦

Lim was at risk until the flop came Q♣ 7♣ 4♣ to give him the lead with a pair of queens. He was able to fade danger on the K♥ turn but the A♥ on the river saw Prasad improve to a higher pair to send the two-time APPT champion to the rail and move his own stack up to 180,000.

5:25pm: Tartaglia eliminated by Cohen
Level 12: Blinds 1,000/2,000 (300 ante)

The action started with Tony Tartaglia raising to 4,500 from the hijack. Julian Cohen was in the big blind and re-raised to 15,000 which was matched by Tartaglia. 

The flop came 5♦ A♥ Q♦ and Cohen tossed out 15,000. Tartaglia almost beat him to the pot announcing all in for around 45,000. Cohen snap-called. 

Cohen: Q♠ Q♣
Tartaglia: A♣ 8♣

Cohen had Tartaglia crushed and both players watched the J♠ and 10♣ complete the board. Tartaglia was sent to the rail and Cohen raced up to one of the biggest stacks in the room with 232,000. 

5:15pm: Chip count update
Level 12: Blinds 1,000/2,000 (300 ante)

We now have only 117 players left in the hunt from a starting field of 523. Here’s how some of the notable names are stacked up.

Srdjan Brkic – 235,000
Peter Aristidou – 225,000
Corey Kempson – 190,000
Linh Tran – 120,000
Kahle Burns – 95,000
Chen-an Lin – 90,000
Tom Grigg – 19,000

5pm: Szmelcer rivers a double
Level 12: Blinds 1,000/2,000 (300 ante)

The player in middle position raised to 4,500 before Henry Szmelcer moved all in for 29,200 from the button. 

With the decision folding back around to the original raiser, he asked for a count, then called. 

Szmelcer: A♠ J♥
Opponent: 7♥ 7♠

Szmelcer was in trouble and had to wait until the river on a 4♥ 8♠ 2♦ 9♠ J♣ to spike a higher pair than his opponent to take down the pot and stay alive in the tournament. 

4:35pm: Scheduled break

It’s time for the second 10-minute break of the day.

4:25pm: De Cesare eliminated by Chevalier
Level 11: Blinds 900/1,800 (200 ante)

On a board reading K♦ J♠ 4♦ A♦ 10♥ Amanda De Cesare committed all her chips and was matched by Danny Chevalier. 

She tabled Q♣ J♥ for the nut straight but was trumped by Chevalier’s 8♦ 9♦ which had made a flush. 

Chevalier moves up to 81,000 after the hand. 

4:05pm: Kempson catches Hong
Level 11: Blinds 900/1,800 (200 ante)

On a board reading 5♠ 3♦ 6♠ 8♥ Ryan Hong bet out 5,700 from the big blind and was matched by Corey Kempson in early position. 

The river brought the 7♥ and Hong quickly bet 9,700. Kempson didn’t take long to toss in a few chips to denote a call. 

Hong then rolled over his A♠ 2♣ for ace-high before Kempson showed his J♥ J♠ for an overpair and the winning hand. 

With that hand Kemspon moves up to 140,000 in chips and Hong drops to 101,000. 

3:50pm: Chen-an chops it up
Level 11: Blinds 900/1,800 (200 ante)

Chen-an Lin is the last remaining Team PokerStars Pro in this Main Event and he just chopped a pot blind versus blind.

On a flop of 10♥ A♣ A♥ Lin led for 1,800 from the small blind and the big blind made the call to see the 2♠ turn. The action then went check-check almost immediately before the A♠ completed the board.

Both players checked again and Lin tabled K♠ 9♦ . His opponent hesitated momentarily but then tabled K♥ 3♣ for a chopped pot.

They were refunded their wagers and Lin still has 96,000 in play.

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Chen-an Lin

3:25pm: Mai moves on up
Level 10: Blinds 700/1,400 (200 ante)

Ziad Katebian raised to 3,500 from the hijack before Huy Mai bumped it up to 10,000 from the cutoff. The decision folded back around to Katebian, who deliberated for a minute, then called. 

The flop came 5♥ 6♥ 4♠ and Katebian checked. Mai immediately moved all in for 26,600, and after requesting a count, Katebian called. 

Mai: A♥ K♠
Katebian: 8♦ 8♥

Katebian made the right call and was leading with his over pair in front against Mai’s ace-high. 

The 4♣ on the turn changed nothing but the A♣ on the river gave Mai the winning hand with a higher two pair. 

Katebian drops to 37,000 following the hand as Mai rises to just over 77,000. 

3:15pm: Guerin doubles through Stavropoulos
Level 10: Blinds 700/1,400 (200 ante)

2015 Aussie Millions Main Event champion Manny Stavropoulos raised to 3,000 from the hijack before Didier Guerin moved all in for 32,000 from the big blind. Stavropoulos quickly called and both players tabled their cards. 

Guerin: Q♣ J♣
Stavropoulos: Aâ™  Kâ™ 

Guerin was at risk until the board ran out 6♣ 10♦ Q♥ 2♠ Q♠ seeing him flop a pair and improve to trip queens on the river to double to 66,500 and leave Stavropoulos on 22,000.

3pm: Brkic building
Level 10: Blinds 700/1,400 (200 ante)

The action folded around to Jonathan Bredin on the button who came in with a raise. The player in the small blind then moved all in for 16,800. Srdjan Brkic was in the big blind and also moved all in which forced a quick fold from Bredin. 

Brkic: A♦ K♥
Opponent: K♠ Q♣

The board ran out 6♥ 4♣ 4♥ 2♦ A♥ to see Brkic improve to two pair as he moves up to 210,000. 

2:45pm: Lin leaves us
Level 10: Blinds 700/1,400 (200 ante)

Team PokerStars Pro Celina Lin informed us that she was eliminated just before the first break of the day.

On a board reading 6♣ 10♦ J♠ 8♠ the under the gun player fired for 5,000 and after the button called, Lin popped it up to 18,000 to go. The initial raiser relinquished his hand but the button then moved all in over the top for a total of 70,000. Lin called off for her 45,000 behind holding the nuts but saw that she had a sweat.

Lin: Q♥ 9♥
Opponent: Qâ™  9â™ 

Both players had turned a straight but Lin’s opponent was free-rolling to a flush. 

Unfortunately for the Team Pro, the Kâ™  landed on the river to complete that flush and the 165,000 chip pot was snatched away from her as she found the exit.

Randy Lew has also been eliminated so the only Team Pro remaining is Chen-an Lin.

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Celina Lin


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2:25pm: Time for a break

The first break of the day has just begun. Play resumes in 10 minutes.

2:15pm: Cooler sees Hachem gone
Level 9: Blinds 600/1,200 (100 ante)

Tony Hachem recalled how he was recently eliminated from the tournament. 

He raised from early position for 2,600 and found four callers including Tristan Bain.

The flop came jack-eight-deuce with two hearts as the decision was checked to Hachem. He moved all in for 23,000 and was only called by Bain. 

Hachem revealed pocket kings but had run into Bain’s pocket aces. The board bricked and a disappointed Hachem would find himself on the wrong side of the rail in the early stages of Day 2. 

2:05pm: Lim doubles after losing big hand
Level 9: Blinds 600/1,200 (100 ante)

Two-time APPT champion Aaron Lim is back up to 35,500 after firstly losing a big hand against Jay Prasad then doubling through Patrick Vo in the following hand. 

In the first hand the player on the button limped in followed by Jay Prasad who called from the small blind. Lim then put in a large raise from the big blind which saw the button fold. Prasad then reached for his chips and dumped a large stack forward. Lim called before both players saw the flop come A♣ 2♥ 4♠ .

Prasad then committed his last 4,500 and Lim called before the cards were tabled. Prasad was in the lead with K♣ K♦ leading Lim’s J♣ J♦ .

No help came for Lim as the board ran out 4♥ and 5♥ to see him drop down to 16,200 as Prasad moved up to 99,000. 

The following hand saw the players in the hijack and on the button limp in before Lim moved all in for 16,100 from the small blind. Patrick Vo asked for a count from the big blind then called forcing the other two players out. 

Lim: 3♥ 3♠
Vo: A♦ Q♦

The board ran out 6♥ 2♠ 2♣ 4♥ 5♥ to see Lim improve to a straight as he raked in the double. 

1:55pm: Grigg gets there
Level 9: Blinds 600/1,200 (100 ante)

The player in the cutoff decided to move all in for 17,000 as the decision fell on Tom Grigg in the big blind. He called with 16,600 behind before both players tabled their cards. 

Grigg: Kâ™  Qâ™ 
Opponent: A♣ 4♠

Grigg was almost out of his chair until the board ran out K♣ 8♠ 9♠ 7♥ 9♦ giving him two pair and the winning hand to see him stick around for a little while longer. 

1:45pm: Aristidou pips Derek
Level 9: Blinds 600/1,200 (100 ante)

Peter Aristidou raised to 2,700 from the hijack and was called by Davor Derek in the cutoff and Bradley Nicholson in the big blind. 

The flop came K♠ 8♦ A♣ and Nicholson checked. Aristidou bet out another 3,600 and Derek called. Nicholson folded. 

The turn brought the K♦ and Aristidou didn’t slow down, betting 4,200, almost instantly. Derek looked at the board for a moment then called. 

Aristidou reached for his chips and tossed out 5,100 after the 7♦ completed the board. Derek didn’t look overly confident but called. 

Aristidou then tabled A♥ J♣ for two pair and sat there waiting for Derek to react. 

“You pipped me by one,” joked Derek, before showing his A♦ 10♣ for the same two pair with a lesser kicker. 

Derek drops down to 61,000 following the hand and Aristidou climbs to just over 100,000. 

1:35pm: Battle of the high cards
Level 9: Blinds 600/1,200 (100 ante)

Henry Szmelcer raised to 2,600 from the cutoff and was called by the player in the small blind as well as Mario Doria in the big blind. 

The flop came 3♦ 4♣ 5♦ and the blinds checked over to Szmelcer who threw out a continuation bet totalling 3,600. The small blind snap-folded and Doria called. 

Both players then checked the 10♣ on the turn before the 3♠ completed the board. 

Doria paused for a moment before splashing out a bet of 12,000. Szmelcer obliged a minute later and watched as Doria tabled 9♥ 7♣ for nine-high. Szmelcer looked surprised before rolling over A♦ 6♠ for ace-high and the winning hand. 

Szmelcer moves up to 75,000 as Doria drops down to 16,000. 

1:20pm: Evans eliminates Glazier and Guzzardi in same hand
Level 8: Blinds 500/1,000 (100 ante)

Hugh Cohen recently informed the media team of a double knock-out on his table. 

The action started with Jackie Glazier moving all in for her last 18,000 from early position before the decision fell on David Evans on the button. He then moved all in over the top for around 25,000. Michael Guzzardi was seated in the small blind and also committed his remaining 13,000 forcing the big blind out of the hand. 

Glazier was in great shape to almost triple up as her pocket kings were dominating Evans’ pocket jacks and Guzzardi’s ace-king. 

That was until the flop produced a jack to see Evans storm to the lead with a set. No cards came on the turn or river to help Glazier or Guzzardi as they both simultaneously hit the rail leaving Evans to rake in a massive pot sending him to over 55,000. 

appt melbourne jackie glazier.jpg

Eliminated – Jackie Glazier

1:05pm: Clarke’s day cut short
Level 8: Blinds 500/1,000 (100 ante)

The action folded around to Tim Clarke on the button who moved all in with his short stack. Roy Browne made the quick call from the big blind and the cards were tabled. 

Browne: 9♦ 9♥
Clarke: A♦ 10♣

Clarke was behind and found no help as the flop fell 2♣ 7♣ 6â™  . However, the 10♥ on the turn shot him to the lead with his pair of tens leading Browne’s pair of nines. 

The dealer then spiked the 8♥ on the river to give Browne the unlikely straight eliminating Clarke in the process. 

Browne moves to around 92,000 in chips following the hand. 

12:50pm: Brasile busts Bobbin
Level 8: Blinds 500/1,000 (100 ante)

On a board reading 7♣ K♥ 5♠ 4♥ Ian Bobbin committed the last of his stack and was snap-called by Peter Brasile who had him covered. 

Brasile: A♦ K♠
Bobbin: K♦ 3♦

Both players had top pair but Bobbin needed to improve to stay alive in the tournament. 

The 4♣ repeated on the river to see Brasile take down the pot with the superior kicker as Bobbin’s day came to an end. 

12:40pm: Cohen eliminates Wenjian
Level 8: Blinds 500/1,000 (100 ante)

Julian Cohen raised to 2,100 from the button before Qui Wenjian moved all in for his remaining 18,000 from the small blind. 

The big blind folded prompting Cohen to ask for a count. He then called and the cards were flipped over. 

Cohen: A♠ J♦
Wenjian: K♦ Q♦

The board ran out 10♦ 2♣ 7♥ 4♣ 6♦ to see Cohen hold with his ace-high resulting in Wenjian hitting the rail. 

12:25pm: Cards in the air!
Level 8: Blinds 500/1,000 (100 ante)

Play is now underway here on Day 2.

Welcome to Day 2!

We’re back again for Day 2 of this APPT Melbourne Main Event. It won’t be long before our 262 survivors make their way into the poker room here at Crown Casino and continue their quest for the title, the trophy and $235,875.

Leading the way at the start of play is Patrick Donker who amassed an impressive 173,900 on Day 1A. Also still in the hunt are three Team PokerStars Pros, Chen-an Lin (80,800), Celina Lin (49,600) and Randy Lew (42,900).

It’s almost time to shuffle up and deal so be sure to stay tuned for all the action direct from the tournament floor!

appt melbourne logo2.jpg


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PokerStars Blog reporting in Melbourne brought to you by Brad Kain and Mateusz Pater. Photos by Kenneth Lim Photography courtesy of PokerStars LIVE Macau.

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