9:45pm: Peter Aristidou eliminated in 8th place ($25,730)
Level 24: Blinds – 15,000/30,000 (5,000)

The day has now come to a close with our official final table of seven set after Peter Aristidou’s exit in eighth place. Aristidou opened to 77,000 from under the gun and was called by Trung Tran in middle position as well as Siyoung Lee in the big blind. 

The flop came down 2♣ Q♠ 4♥ and Lee checked. Aristidou tossed out a continuation bet of 80,000 and Tran called. Lee folded threw his hand away.

The Q♥ dropped on the turn and Aristidou checked. Tran then reached for his chips and slid out 100,000. Aristidou made a quick call. 

The 2♠ completed the board and Aristidou checked one last time. Tran looked at the board, then at Aristidou’s stack, and finally slid out a stack of 25,000-chips worth 500,000. The bet had Aristidou covered as he only had 320,000 behind. He thought for a minute and called then called off for his tournament life. 

Tran confidently tabled K♣ Q♣ for a full house which was enough to take down the pot after Aristidou tabled J♥ J♦ .

And that signals the conclusion of Day 3. We’ll have a full recap of today’s proceedings up shortly right here on the PokerStars Blog.

8th place – Peter Aristidou

9:40pm: Lucky double for Ou
Level 24: Blinds – 15,000/30,000 (5,000)

It folded around to Raymond Ou on the button and he moved his last 372,000 into the middle. Gupta snapped in the big blind with the dominant hand to put Ou at risk.

Ou: 4♥ 4♣
Gupta: 10♥ 10♦

Ou didn’t find any help on the J♠ Q♠ 7♣ flop but the miracle 4♠ turn saw him rocket into the league. He managed to fade a ten on the 2♦ river and secured the double up to stay alive.

9:35pm: Dylan Kii eliminated in 9th place ($21,445)
Level 24: Blinds – 15,000/30,000 (5,000)

It didn’t take long after break for us to lose a player. Dylan Kii went home in ninth place after ending up on the wrong end of a flip.

He moved his last 432,000 all in from under the gun with A♦ Q♠ and was called by Ashish Gupta holding 9♣ 9♦ .

Kii couldn’t improve on the 8♠ 4♥ 5♠ J♦ K♦ runout and was sent to the payout desk to collect $21,445.

9th place – Dylan Kii

9:25pm: Play resumes
Level 24: Blinds – 15,000/30,000 (5,000)

---

Want to start your own APPT campaign? Sign up for PokerStars and start your journey. Click here to get an account.

---

8:35pm: Dinner break

The remaining nine players have just begun a 45-minute dinner break. Here’s where they’re sitting and how they stack up.

Seat 1) Peter Aristidou – 592,000
Seat 2) Trung Tran – 1,492,000
Seat 3) Jay Prasad – 2,091,000
Seat 4) Tu Lan – 832,000
Seat 5) Dylan Kii – 447,000
Seat 6) Raymond Ou – 447,000
Seat 7) Ben McLean – 803,000
Seat 8) Ashish Gupta – 2,019,000
Seat 9) Siyoung Lee – 1,441,000

8:20pm: Final table redraw

Our final nine have merged for the unofficial final table.

There isn’t long until dinner break so we’ll have a full table draw and precise chip counts when players step away from the table.

8:05pm: Peter Brasile eliminated in 10th place ($18,225)
Level 23: Blinds – 12,000/24,000 (4,000)

Peter Brasile has fallen one short of the unofficial final table after being eliminated by Peter Aristidou.

The latter opened to 60,000 under the gun and when it folded around to Brasile in the small blind he moved his short stack of 152,000 into the middle. Aristidou snapped it off and the cards went on their backs.

Brasile: K♥ 8♥
Aristidou: A♥ 9♠

The cards came down 6♣ Q♠ J♠ 10♣ 8♦ and Brasile let out a cheer on the river when he spiked an eight, not realising the card had complete Aristidou’s straight.

Brasile didn’t take long to realise he was actually going home and earns the unfortunate title of our final table bubble boy.

10th place – Peter Brasile

7:50pm: Richard Zebrovius eliminated in 11th place ($15,025)
Level 23: Blinds – 12,000/24,000 (4,000)

Richard Zebrovius was first to act and moved all in for his last 293,000 from under the gun. Ashish Gupta asked for a count before calling from the next seat over. The action folded around before both players tabled their cards. 

Zebrovius: 10♣ 10♥
Gupta: A♠ A♣

Zebrovius stood up from his chair and congratulated Gupta even before any of the community cards had landed. The rail cheered for a ten but it was to no avail as the board ran out J♦ 7♥ J♥ J♠ 6♥ to see Gupta’s pocket aces hold.

The remaining players will now play hand-for-hand until there’s one more player eliminated before combining for an unofficial final table of nine. 

11th place – Richard Zebrovius

7:35pm: Corey Kempson eliminated in 12th place ($15,025)
Level 22: Blinds – 10,000/20,000 (3,000)

In the very next hand following the elimination of Andy Hinrichsen, Ashish Gupta once again opened to 43,000 from the cutoff. This time Corey Kempson moved all in for 124,000 as the decision folded back around to Gupta. He made the quick call before both players tabled their cards.

Gupta: J♥ 10♦
Kempson: A♥ 10♠

It looked as if Kempson had a bad feeling about it as he got up from his seat to sweat the action. He was safe by the turn with the board reading 5♦ 6♥ K♥ 3♦ but just before the river was exposed, Kempson clicked his finger and pointed towards the last card, before seeing the J♠ appear to end his tournament run. The jack on the end paired Gupta and sent Kempson reeling from the tournament floor.

Gupta now has the commanding chip lead with one quarter of the chips in play on 2,250,000.

12th place – Corey Kempson

7:30pm: Andy Hinrichsen eliminated in 13th place ($12,330)
Level 22: Blinds – 10,000/20,000 (3,000)

Ashish Gupta raised to 43,000 from the button before Andrew Hinrichsen reraised to 108,000 from the big blind. Gupta called. 

The flop came down 4♥ 10♣ 9♥ and Hinrichsen slid out 112,000. Gupta then moved all in and Hinrichsen snap-called with his 518,000 behind. 

Gupta: Q♥ 3♥
Hinrichsen: A♥ A♦

Hinrichsen had the advantage with the overpair but Gupta was drawing to a flush. Instead it was the runner-runner J♠ turn and K♦ river that arrived to give Gupta the unlikely straight and the best hand. 

Hinrichsen would have to be content with 13th as Gupta moved up to 2 million in chips.

13th place – Andy Hinrichsen

7:20pm: Kempson coolered
Level 22: Blinds – 10,000/20,000 (3,000)

Corey Kempson just took a big hit after a cold deck saw Siyoung Lee double through him.

We arrived at the table to see the board showing 10♠ Q♥ 8♥ 5♦ 4♣ , Lee with A♥ A♦ in front of him, and Kempson holding A♠ K♥ . Lee’s aces remained the best hand when all was said and done and Kempson was forced to pay off Lee’s 320,000.

After that hand Kempson was left with 410,000 again.

7:10pm: Julian Cohen eliminated in 14th place ($12,300)
Level 22: Blinds – 10,000/20,000 (3,000)

It was folded around to Julian Cohen in the small blind and he moved all in for his last 130,000. Andy Hinrichsen called off from the big blind and the cards went on their backs.

Cohen: Q♦ 10♠
Hinrichsen: Q♥ J♣

Cohen was dominated and needed to help to keep his tournament alive. It would never come as the cards fell 6♣ 8♦ K♥ 8♠ 5♠ and he headed for the payout desk while Hinrichsen build to 425,000.

14th place – Julian Cohen

7pm: Kempson doubles through McLean
Level 22: Blinds – 10,000/20,000 (3,000)

Corey Kempson raised to 43,000 from early position before Ben McLean reraised to 110,000 from the small blind. Kempson called the bet before both players watched the flop come 3♠ A♠ Q♦ .

Both players checked as the K♦ dropped on the turn. McLean announced 150,000 and pushed the chips into the middle. Kempson then paused for a moment before announcing all in for 350,000. McLean got a count and called. 

Kempson: J♥ 10♥
McLean: A♥ K♣

Kempson had turned the straight and was in front of McLean’s top two pair. Standing up from the table he couldn’t bare to watch the river card fall. 

Fortunately for Kempson the 10♠ completed the board and he held on for the double. McLean on the other hand dropped down to 650,000.

6:50pm: Tristan Bain eliminated in 15th place ($12,330)
Level 22: Blinds – 10,000/20,000 (3,000)

Start-of-day chip leader Tristan Bain has finally been eliminated after a bit of a rollercoaster day on the felt. He moved all in for around 250,000 and when it folded around to Trung Tran in the big blind, he looked down at Q♥ Q♣ and snapped it off.

Bain flipped over a modest 10♦ 9♦ and while he found a nine on the 9♠ 4♠ 4♦ flop, he couldn’t catch up on the A♠ turn or A♣ river.

Bain departs while Tran climbs to 940,000.

15th place – Tristan Bain

6:40pm: Tim Ulmer eliminated in 16th place ($10,185)
Level 22: Blinds – 10,000/20,000 (3,000)

Ashish Gupta raised to 45,000 from under the gun before Tim Ulmer moved all in for 395,000 from middle position. The decision folded back to Gupta who snap-called with more behind. 

Gupta: Q♠ Q♣
Ulmer: A♠ Q♦

The board ran out 3♦ K♥ 10♦ 10♣ 3♥ to see Ulmer unable to improve and sent to the payout desk. With that elimination Gupta eclipses one million in chips.

16th place – Tim Ulmer

6:30pm: Play resumes

---

Want to start your own APPT campaign? Sign up for PokerStars and start your journey. Click here to get an account.

---

6:20pm: Time for a break

6:15pm: Hinrichsen hurt by Lee
Level 21: Blinds – 8,000/16,000 (2,000)

Based on the size of the pot it looked like there was open before the action landed on Andy Hinrichsen in the small blind. He put in a three-bet to 95,000 before Siyoung Lee played back at him with a cold four-bet to 230,000.

“I have a really big hand” Hinrichsen said, clearly torn by the spot he was faced with.

The two exchanged some banter and after Lee called the clock when a couple of minutes had passed, Hinrichsen ultimately let the hand go.

Lee tabled A♣ Q♦ before scooping the pot as Hinrichsen fell to 260,000.

6pm: Brkic eliminated in 17th place ($10,185)
Level 21: Blinds – 8,000/16,000 (2,000)

The action started with Tristan Bain raising to 34,000 from under the gun and finding a call from Dylan Kii to his left, Peter Brasile in middle position then Jay Prasad in the cutoff. The decision fell to Srdjan Brkic in the big blind and he moved all in for his remaining 65,000 before Bain bumped it up to 120,000. Kii thought for a minute then announced all in for 540,000. Brasile folded instantly an Prasad reluctantly folded a moment later. 

“Do you have ace-king?” asked Bain, with the option back on him. He let out a sigh before sliding his cards into the muck. 

Kii then flipped over A♥ Q♦ much to the surprise of Bain and the rest of the table. It was still in front of Brkic’s J♣ 10♦ and would end up being the difference after the board ran out 4♦ 5♥ 9♥ 9♠ 5♦ giving him the winning hand with a higher kicker. 

17th place – Srdjan Brkic

5:45pm: Lee doubles through Hinrichsen
Level 21: Blinds – 8,000/16,000 (2,000)

Andrew Hinrichsen opened to 34,000 from under the gun before Siyoung Lee moved all in almost immediately for 198,000 from the next seat over. The action folded around to Tu Lan in the big blind who cut out the chips to call and riffled the stack before convincing himself to fold. Hinrichsen looked down at his own stack then tossed in a chip to denote a call. 

Lee: J♦ J♠
Hinrichsen: K♣ Q♣

Lee would extend his lead after the flop came 7♥ J♣ 5♠ giving him a set of jacks. No help would come for Hinrichsen as the board ran out the 2♦ turn and 5♥ river to see him drop to 415,000.

5:30pm: James Broom eliminated in 18th place ($10,185)
Level 21: Blinds – 8,000/16,000 (2,000)

It appeared that Jay Prasad had come in with a raise from middle position before he was called by Trung Tran two seats over. James Broom was in the small blind and he moved all in for 192,000. Prasad contemplated the call but opted to fold. Tran called shortly after.

Tran: 9♠ 9♣
Broom: K♠ K♥

Broom had the goods with the overpair until the flop fell 6♣ J♠ 9♥ giving Tran a set of nines. There was no help for Broom as the board ran with the Q♠ turn and A♣ river and we were left with 17 players.

18th place – James Broom

5:20pm: Final two tables draw

Table 28

Seat 1) Tristan Bain – 395,000
Seat 2) Dylan Kii – 530,000
Seat 3) James Broom – 290,000
Seat 4) Peter Brasile – 440,000
Seat 5) Raymond Ou – 670,000
Seat 6) Jayesh Prasad – 1,460,000
Seat 7) Peter Aristidou – 820,000
Seat 8) Trung Tran – 490,000,
Seat 9) Srdjan Brkic – 127,000

Table 31

Seat 1) Tu Lan – 1,470,000
Seat 2) Andy Hinrichsen – 390,000
Seat 3) Siyoung Lee – 230,000
Seat 4) Ben McLean – 960,000
Seat 5) Richard Zebrovius – 660,000
Seat 6) Ashish Gupta – 195,000
Seat 7) Corey Kempson – 580,000
Seat 8) Tim Ulmer – 435,000,
Seat 9) Julian Cohen – 260,000

5:10pm: Final two tables as Punjabi departs
Level 20: Blinds – 6,000/12,000 (2,000)

Karan Punjabi is the most recent casualty with his elimination taking us to a final 18 players.

The action started with Richard Zebrovius raising from under the gun before the decision folded around to Punjabi in the small blind. He would move all in for 171,000 and get snap-called by Zebrovius after the big blind folded. 

Punjabi: Q♠ Q♣
Zebrovius: A♥ 10♠

The board would run out K♦ 3♥ 2♣ K♥ A♦ giving Zebrovius the victory after spiking an ace on the river to win the hand and send Punjabi home. 

5pm: Gabriel eliminated by Lan
Level 20: Blinds – 6,000/12,000 (2,000)

Tu Lan raised to 25,000 from middle position and watched as Daniel Gabriel bumped it up to 97,000 from the small blind. With the decision back on Lan, he thought for a minute, then announced all in for just short of one million in chips. Gabriel snap-called with 400,000 in his stack.

Lan: A♠ K♦
Gabriel: K♠ K♥

Gabriel looked in great shape to double but would have not been a fan of the 7♦ 3♦ 5♦ flop falling to give Lan a flush draw. The 8♦ sealed Gabriel’s fate, giving Lan the flush, and leaving him to finish in 20th place. The meaningless 8♣ completed the board and Gabriel was sent to the rail to collect $8,575 for his efforts.  

4:55pm: Ou the next to double through Bain
Level 20: Blinds – 6,000/12,000 (2,000)

Tristan Bain raised to 26,000 from under the gun before Raymond Ou reraised to 62,000 on the button. Both blinds folded before Bain announced all in for 629,000 a moment later. Ou snap-called and the cards were tabled. 

Ou: K♦ K♦
Bain: 8♥ 8♠

The board ran out 3♥ 5♠ A♣ J♦ 2♥ earning Ou the double up with his pocket kings holding. Bain dropped down to 342,000 following the hand. 

4:45pm: Aristidou cracks aces to double
Level 20: Blinds – 6,000/12,000 (2,000)

Peter Aristidou raised to 26,000 from the button before Tristan Bain bumped it up to 66,000 from the big blind. Aristidou called and both players watched the flop come K♦ 9♣ 7♦ . 

Bain bet out 52,000 before Aristidou immediately announced all in for 245,000. Bain snap-called. 

Aristidou: 8♦ 6♦
Bain: A♥ A♦

Aristidou was behind to Bain’s overpair but had a stack of outs to a straight and flush. 

The turn was enough to see Aristidou win the hand with the 10♠ dropping to give him an unbeatable straight. The meaningless 6♣ completed the board and Aristidou would find himself doubling to 646,000 while Bain dropped to 530,000. 

4:30pm: Aristidou doubles through Bain
Level 20: Blinds – 6,000/12,000 (2,000)

Peter Aristidou moved all in for 137,000 from the button and was snap-called by Tristan Bain in the small blind. With the big blind out of the way the two tabled their hands.

Aristidou: A♣ Q♥
Bain: A♥ J♠

Aristidou was in front and improved to top pair on the 3♥ Q♠ 2♠ flop. Only needing to fade running cards to stay alive he did exactly that as the 6♣ turn and Q♦ river meant he would secure the double up.

4:20pm: Play resumes

---

Want to start your own APPT campaign? Sign up for PokerStars and start your journey. Click here to get an account.

---

4:10pm: Scheduled break

It’s time again for a 10-minute break. Coverage will resume momentarily.

4:05pm: Bain on the rampage
Level 19: Blinds – 5,000/10,000 (1,000)

Reigning APPT Manila Main Event champion Linh Tran moved all in for 106,000 from under the gun and was snap-called by Tristan Bain who was next to act. The rest of the table folded before both players tabled their cards. 

Bain: Q♥ Q♣
Tran: 8♣ 8♥

Bain’s overpair would earn him another knockout as the board ran out 5♥ K♦ K♥ K♠ 5♠ giving him a higher full house and a total stack just shy of a million. Tran exits as we approach the final two tables.

Eliminated – Linh Tran

4pm: Xu’s run ends at the hands of Bain
Level 19: Blinds – 5,000/10,000 (1,000)

Vincent Xu opened the action with a raise to 20,000 from middle position. Tristan Bain was in the hijack and asked Xu how much he was playing. The answer came 250,000 and Bain chose to raise it up to 45,000. With the decision back on Xu he paused for a moment before announcing all in. Bain wished him luck and committed the chips to put Xu at risk. 

Bain: A♣ Q♠
Xu: K♠ 9♠

Xu found himself behind and already drawing dead by the turn on a run out of A♠ 10♥ 8♣ 4♦ 4♥ . He hits the rail as Bain stacks up a new total of 820,000.

3:50pm: Prasad elimiantes Lim
Level 19: Blinds – 5,000/10,000 (1,000)

Jay Prasad raised to 22,000 from the hijack seat and was called by Julian Cohen on the button. The action fell to Ricky Lim in the big blind and he three-bet shipped for just over 250,000. Prasad snap-called with more behind and immediately tabled his A♦ A♠ before Cohen had even acted. Cohen made the easy decision to fold and Lim revealed his A♥ Q♥ .

The board ran out 9♥ 10♠ 5♦ 7♣ J♣ with Prasad’s pocket aces holding for the winner. Lim left us as Prasad moved up to 910,000.  

3:40pm: Tran doubles through Kii
Level 19: Blinds – 5,000/10,000 (1,000)

Dylan Kii raised to 22,000 from under the gun before Trung Tran moved all in for 78,000 from middle position. Srdjan Brkic contemplated for a moment but folded from the big blind before Kii called to put Tran at risk.

Tran: A♦ K♣
Kii: 10♣ 9♣

The flop came down 4♥ 8♦ 8♠ , much to the disappointment of Brkic, who announced he would’ve flopped quad eights. The 5♠ turn and 2♠ river completed the board and Tran was able to hold on with his ace-high to double up and survive. 

3:30pm: Ou takes out Lau
Level 19: Blinds – 5,000/10,000 (1,000)

The reigning Asia Player of the Year Alan King Lun Lau has just been eliminated not far from locking up a final table appearance.

His final hand began with Raymond Ou raising to 20,000 from middle position before Lau moved all in for 96,000 on the button. Ou thought for a minute after the blinds folded and then reluctantly called. 

Lau: 6♣ 6♠
Ou: A♠ 10♦

The board ran out a K♠ 10♥ J♦ 9♠ Q♥ straight but Ou would end up taking down the pot with the ace in his hand to make him the superior Broadway.

3:20pm: Ferguson felted by Zebrovius
Level 19: Blinds – 5,000/10,000 (1,000)

Rhys Ferguson’s tournament just came to an end at the hands of Richard Zebrovius.

Ferguson moved all in on a flop of A♠ J♣ K♠ and Zebrovius made the call to put him at risk.

Ferguson: 6♠ 3♠
Zebrovius: A♣ Q♠

Ferguson had outs to a flush but couldn’t improve on the 4♣ turn or K♦ river to see him hit the rail. Alternatively Zebrovius stacked up a total of 520,000 in chips.

3:05pm: Lan joins the double knockout club
Level 18: Blinds – 4,000/8,000 (1,000)

Stephen Sharp moved all in for 87,000 from under the gun. Brendan Ng was seated on the button and opted to move all in over the top for 240,000. Tu Lan then quickly called from the small blind, with more behind, forcing a fold from the big blind. 

Lan: J♠ J♣
Sharp: 8♦ 7♦
Ng: A♣ Q♥

Lan was dominating with his pocket pair and locked up the pot after turning a full house on a 5♠ 10♦ 10♠ J♥ 9♥ board. He climbed to 790,000 as Sharp and Ng were eliminated. 

3pm: McLean scores double knockout to move over a million
Level 18: Blinds – 4,000/8,000 (1,000)

The action started with Julian Cohen raising to 16,000 from under the gun. Rakesh Dulani called from the hijack followed by Ben McLean in the cutoff and Peter Brasile on the button. Rahul Rastogi then wasted no time immediately moving all in for 143,000 from the small blind when the decision arrived to him.

Cohen mucked, paving the way for Dulani to call with 51,000 in his stack. McLean had all his opponents covered, looked around at all the action in front of him, then called. Brasile joked about having to lay down his pretty Q♦ 10♦ and mucked his hand. 

McLean: 8♦ 8♠
Dulani: A♣ J♥
Rastogi: A♦ K♦

The flop of 9♠ 8♥ 6♦ all but sealed the win for McLean with a set of eights. The 3♣ and 2♥ on the turn and river didn’t help the other two and they were relegated to the rail. McLean on the other hand shot up to 1,095,000.

Ben McLean

2:55pm: Bridge busts
Level 18: Blinds – 4,000/8,000 (1,000)

Jeffrey Bridge has been eliminated by start-of-day chip leader Tristan Bain.

Bridge moved the last of it all in on a flop of 6♠ K♠ 8♦ and Bain made a quick call to put him at risk.

Bridge: 10♣ 6♣
Bain: Q♠ 9♠

Bridge had the lead with bottom pair but Bain had a world of outs with two higher cards and a flush draw. The Q♥ turn saw Bain spike a queen to take the lead and leave Bridge drawing thin before the 8♥ river signalled the end of his tournament run.

Brigde departs as Bain builds to 620,000.

2:50pm: Double knockout for Kii
Level 18: Blinds – 4,000/8,000 (1,000)

Jonathan Bredin raised to 18,000 from under the gun before Dylan Kii reraised from middle position. The action folded to Dustin Vouk-Hooker in the small blind and he moved all in for 119,000. Bredin then shoved over the top for 180,000 and Kii quickly called with enough to cover both opponents. 

Kii: A♣ A♥
Bredin: Q♥ Q♠
Vouk-Hooker: 9♦ 9♠

Kii had the other two crushed and at risk of elimination with the dominating overpair. The board would run out 4♣ 5♦ J♣ A♦ 8♣ to see both Bredin and Vouk-Hooker unable to improve as they hit the rail simultaneously. 

Kii rockets to 587,000 with the competition of the hand. 

2:40pm: Francis felted by Brasile
Level 18: Blinds – 4,000/8,000 (1,000)

Dean Francis raised to 18,000 from the hijack seat before Peter Brasile reraised to 46,000 on the button. The blinds folded before Francis opted to move all in for 219,000. Brasile quickly called with enough to cover Francis by 8,000 in chips. 

Brasile: Q♥ Q♠
Francis: A♥ K♥

Francis stood up from his chair and watched as the board ran out 6♣ 3♥ 4♣ 9♠ J♠ to see him unable to improve. He headed for the exit while Brasile now sits behind a stack of 466,000. 

2:30pm: Aristidou dents Dustin Vouk-Hooker
Level 18: Blinds – 4,000/8,000 (1,000)

On a flop of A♦ 4♦ A♥ Dustin Vouk-Hooker fired for 34,000 from the hijack seat and Peter Aristidou called on the button.

The dealer turned the 7♦ and after a check from Vouk-Hooker, Aristidou moved all in for 132,000. Vouk-Hooker counted out a call to leave himself only 62,000 behind and committed the chip.

Aristidou tabled A♣ 4♣ for a flopped full house and Vouk-Hooker flipped the A♠ Q♣ for two pair.

The J♠ river changed nothing and Aristidou secured the double up.

Peter Aristidou

2:25pm: The Bridge reconstruction
Level 18: Blinds – 4,000/8,000 (1,000)

Jeffrey Bridge moved all in for 46,000 from the cutoff before the decision fell on Rakesh Dulani in the big blind. He spent a minute deliberating before sliding in a stack of chips to match the bet. 

Bridge: 7♠ 7♥
Dulani: A♦ Q♦

A board of 8♦ K♥ 4♠ 4♣ 9♣ ran out to see Bridge hold with his pocket pair to climb back up to 105,000. Dulani on the other hand dropped to 60,000.

2:20pm: Aristidou doubles through Kempson
Level 18: Blinds – 4,000/8,000 (1,000)

Peter Aristidou moved all in for 74,000 from the hijack seat and the action fell on Corey Kempson in the big blind. He asked for a count but didn’t hesitate long before calling it off.

Aristidou: Q♦ Q♣
Kempson: A♦ 10♠

The board ran out 5♣ J♣ 5♥ 9♣ 10♥ to see Aristidou’s pocket queens hold and he took down the pot. Despite the hit to his stack, Kempson still has 335,000 to play with.

2:10pm: Play resumes

---

Want to start your own APPT campaign? Sign up for PokerStars and start your journey. Click here to get an account.

---

2pm: First break of the day

The remaining 39 players have just commenced a 10-minute break. We’ll be back shortly.

1:55pm: Cohen doubles through Tran
Level 17: Blinds – 3,000/6,000 (1,000)

Julian Cohen raised to 16,000 from the button and was called by Asish Gupta in the small blind. Linh Tran then raised it up to 76,000 from the big blind which sent Cohen into the tank. 

Cohen moved all in for exactly 200,000 which saw Gupta quickly fold. Tran snap-called before both players tabled their cards. 

Cohen: J♥ J♠
Tran: A♦ K♠

Cohen looked stressed even though he held his lead after the flop came 8♥ 7♠ 7♥ . The J♣ on the turn changed that, as he fist pumped in joy after making an unbeatable full house. The Q♣ completed the board and Cohen raked in the pot.

With that hit Tran dropped down to 80,000 in chips.

1:45pm: Le crushed by Zebrovius
Level 17: Blinds – 3,000/6,000 (1,000)

With just over 100,000 in the pot and the board showing 4♣ 3♥ 2♠ A♦ A♠ Quoc Le bet out 12,000 with a cheeky grin on his face. Richard Zebrovius was his opponent in the hand, and he moved all in for 190,000, which threw Le off.

A minute passed before Le picked up a 5,000-denomination chip and tossed it in the middle to signal a call.

Zebrovius then promptly showed 6♠ 5♣ for the nut straight. Le shook his head, as he tabled his 7♦ 5♥ for a lesser straight, and watched as his remaining 100,000 was pushed over to Zebrovius.

1:35pm: Stewart sent home
Level 17: Blinds – 3,000/6,000 (1,000)

The action folded around to Robbie Stewart on the button and he moved all in for 35,000.

“I call” groaned Brendan Ng in the small blind and with the big blind out of the way the cards went on their backs.

Stewart: 8♠ 8♥
Ng: K♦ 10♣

It was a fair fight until the A♠ J♠ 10♦ flop saw Ng sail to the lead. He improved to trips on the 10♥ turn and with only an eight to save Stewart he couldn’t find one as the J♥ river came on the end.

Stewart exited the tournament area as Ng added a few more chips to his stack.

1:20pm: Punjabi strikes gold against Cohen
Level 17: Blinds – 3,000/6,000 (1,000)

Julian Cohen opened to 13,000 from under the gun and the action folded back around to Karan Punjabi in the big blind. He raised it up to 36,000 which sent Cohen into the  tank for a minute. 

Cohen would then move all in for 380,000 only to have Punjabi snap call with 134,000 behind. 

Punjabi: K♦ K♠
Cohen: A♥ Q♦

Cohen was not impressed in his play and watched as the board ran out K♥ 5♥ 5♣ Q♣ 9♦ to see Punjabi make a full house on the flop and double through.

Julian Cohen takes a hit

1:05pm: Bouskila can’t get there
Level 17: Blinds – 3,000/6,000 (1,000)

Both Brendan Ng and Michel Bouskila both liked the flop of K♥ 5♠ 3♠ and they exchanged bets before Bouskila was all in for his last 100,000. Ng made the call to put Bouskila at risk.

Bouskila would reveal A♠ Q♠ for a flush draw but was behind to Ng’s A♣ K♣ for top pair of kings. 

Bouskila stood up from his chair and watched as the board bricked out with the 3♥ turn and 2♣ river completing the board to see him hit the rail. 

Ng moved up to 320,000 following the hand. 

12:55pm: McLean makes it two in a row
Level 16: Blinds – 2,500/5,000 (500)

Ben McLean was still adding chips to his stack when Mario Doria moved all in for 75,000 from the cutoff. McLean called from the small blind before the big blind got out of the way. 

Doria smiled as he turned over 6♥ 3♠ and was in terrible shape against McLean’s J♥ J♣ .

The board ran out 10♣ 4♠ K♦ A♣ 8♦ to see Doria head to the payout desk and McLean rise to 750,000. 

12:45pm: McLean eliminates Rodriguez
Level 16: Blinds – 2,500/5,000 (500)

Manuel Rodriguez opted to shove his last 71,000  from the small blind and was quickly matched by Ben McLean in the big blind. 

Rodriguez: 9♥ 9♣
McLean: A♠ K♠

McLean would get the better of the duel as the board ran out A♣ K♣ Q♠ K♦ 6♦ seeing him improve to a full house resulting in Rodriguez being eliminated. 

McLean now sits near the top chip leaders with 660,000. 

12:40pm: Courmadias pips Hopkins
Level 16: Blinds – 2,500/5,000 (500)

On a flop of Q♣ 5♥ 7♦ Hopkins committed his remaining 70,000 against Michael Courmadias after both exchanged several raises. 

Hopkins flipped over Q♥ J♦ but found himself behind to Courmadias who had him out kicked holding K♦ Q♦ .

No help came for Hopkins as the board ran out the 2♠ turn and then the 2♦ river to see him hit the rail. 

Courmadias climbed to 210,000. 

12:35pm: Sanderson aces Cabret
Level 16: Blinds – 2,500/5,000 (500)

Joe Cabret raised to 12,000 from the cutoff and was quickly called by James Broom on the button. James Sanderson was in the small blind and instantly moved all in for 59,000. Cabret called moments after the big blind folded forcing Broom out of the hand. 

Sanderson: A♣ 2♣
Cabret: 10♠ 10♦

Sanderson sat casually as the dealer produced the A♥ J♠ 5♣ 9♥ 2♥ board with an ace on the flop keeping Sanderson’s tournament alive.

12:30pm: Menzel stays alive
Level 16: Blinds – 2,500/5,000 (500)

Jeremiah Menzel is now peddling a slightly bigger short stack after tripling up to 35,000.

He got his last few big blinds in preflop and was called by Adrian Indovino in the small blind and Corey Kempson in the big blind.

The two active players checked it down as the cards fell 6♠ 5♠ 10♠ K♠ 5♣ and Menzel triumphantly tabled A♠ J♣ for the nut flush.

“Sorry guys” Menzel said with a laugh as he collected the pot.

12:25pm: Francis chips up through Chin
Level 16: Blinds – 2,500/5,000 (500)

Quoc Le raised to 10,500 from under the gun and was called by Adrian Chin in middle position. Dean Francis then slid in his entire stack totalling 53,000 from the cutoff as the action folded back to Le. He folded. Chin called moments later.

Francis: Q♣ Q♦
Chin: 7♥ 7♠

Francis had the lead with the overpair and came out unscathed when the board ran out 4♥ K♣ 2♦ 10♣ J♦ to see him move up to 130,000.

12:20pm: Ulmer doubles up
Level 16: Blinds – 2,500/5,000 (500)

Tim Ulmer raised to 12,000 from the hijack before Antonio Grosso moved all in for 35,000 from the small blind. Ulmer called shortly after the big blind mucked his hand.

Grosso: 10♥ 10♦
Ulmer: 7♦ 6♦

The board ran out 9♣ 4♠ 2♦ 2♠ 8♦ to see Grosso hold with his overpair to double early in proceedings.

12:15pm: Cards in the air!
Level 16: Blinds – 2,500/5,000 (500)

It’s go time here on Day 3.

Day 3 set to start!

The lucky 62 who are still in the running for this APPT Melbourne Main Event will soon be returning to the Crown Poker room to play down to a final table. They’ll have their eyes locked on the title, the trophy and a $235,875 top prize.

Leading the way at the start of play will be Tristan Bain. He cruised through the competition in the later part of Day 2 to amass 575,000.

The action recommences with 40 minutes left of Level 16 and blinds at 2,500/5,000 and a 500 ante.

You can view where the remaining players are sitting and where they stack up right here.

It’s almost time to kick off so be sure to keep your browser locked to PokerStars Blog for all the live updates direct from the tournament floor.

---

Want to start your own APPT campaign? Sign up for PokerStars and start your journey. Click here to get an account.

---

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

Back to Top