Srdjan Brkic leads Day 1B

The second and final Day 1 flight is in the books after another seven levels of play here at Crown Casino. Day 1B is officially a wrap after another 272 players pulled up seats with hopes of starting their journey for poker glory and a big score.

Of those it was Srdjan Brkic who made the most of it – emerging as the chip boss by the conclusion of play with an impressive 164,200 in his bag. That means he’ll start tomorrow as second in chips behind Day 1A frontrunner Patrick Donker on 173,900. Brkic has $122,312 in live earnings to his name and has found himself in a great position to potentially improve on that here this week.

Brkic was among the 135 who also survived the day. From today’s bunch returning tomorrow we also have Didier Guerin (67,600), Kahle Burns (63,700), Henry Szmelcer (63,500), Ricky Lim (61,000), Dean Blatt (43,400), Tony Hachem (18,000) and Tony Tartaglia (12,900).

Still flying the flag for the PokerStars contingent are Team Pros Chen-an Lin (80,800), Celina Lin (49,600) and Randy Lew (42,900).

Celina Lin

It wasn’t all smiles, however, with many failing to lock up a Day 2 seat. One of the most notable casualties was Team PokerStars Pro Bryan Huang who arrived late and was eliminated a lot sooner than he would’ve liked after some unfortunate pots went the way of his opponents.

In the hand that saw Huang drop to a short stack he got all in with A♦ K♦ on a two diamond flop but was unable to improve against a tablemate’s set. Not long after Huang found himself all in with ace-nine and unable to improve against pocket tens to find the exit.

Bryan Huang

Being the last Day 1 flight we also received the prize pool information when the tournament was locked out after Level 4. In the end it was a total of 521 players generating $1,198,300 to play for, with the eventual champion scoring an impressive $234,978. Before that happens there will be 63 players who lock up a return on their investment, all guaranteeing themselves at least $4,270.

And now we’re left with just 262 in the hunt. They’ll return at 12:15pm tomorrow in a bid to get another step closer to the next APPT title. As always we’ll have all your live coverage needs direct from the tournament floor. We hope you can join us again right here on the PokerStars Blog!

In the meantime you can find the Day 2 seating draw here.

7:50pm: Day 1B complete!

That’s all she wrote for Day 1B.

We’ll have a full recap of today’s proceedings above when all the numbers and chip counts are finalized. Stay tuned!

7:40pm: Butteroni eliminated by Katebian
Level 7 – Blinds 400/800 (100 ante)

Tony Hachem was happy to recap the elimination of 2015 November-Niner Frederico Butteroni. 

Both Butteroni and Ziad Katebian committed chips on a ten-high flop before an ace dropped on the turn. Katebian bet out 6,000 before Butteroni moved all in for just more then the bet. Katebian called and turned over ace-ten for two pair. Butteroni was at risk with his ace-jack and was unable to improve as the river bricked off. 

Butteroni was sent to the rail in the final level of the day as Katebian moved up to 63,000 in chips.  

7:30pm: Wu doesn’t fire
Level 7 – Blinds 400/800 (100 ante)

On a board reading K♦ Q♣ A♣ 8♠ Henry Wu checked his option from the big blind before his opponent in the hand bet out 2,600. Wu called before both players checked the 10♣ on the river. 

The aggressor flipped his A♥ K♥ first revealing top two pair before Wu showed his K♠ J♠ for a straight and the winning hand. Wu moved up to 26,000 after taking down the pot. 

7:20pm: Guerin doubles through Doria
Level 7 – Blinds 400/800 (100 ante)

The action started with the player in middle position raising to 2,200 and finding a call from Mario Doria in the cutoff. Didier Guerin then raised it up to 7,600 from the small blind which saw a fold from the big blind as well as the original raiser. Doria took the chance to move all in for around 26,000 and Guerin snap-called behind with 19,200 in his stack. 

Guerin: Q♣ Q♦
Doria: K♠ Q♠

The board ran out 6♦ 3♣ 2♣ 3♠ 2♠ to give Guerin the winning hand with a higher two pair and see him rise to 42,600. Doria dropped down to around 7,000 following the hand. 

7:05pm: Chevalier runs into a book
Level 7 – Blinds 400/800 (100 ante)

The player in middle position raised to 1,700 and was called by Danny Chevalier in the hijack. 

The flop came Q♦ 4♣ 2♦ and a continuation bet of 1,800 was called by Chevalier.

Both players opted to check the A♦ on the turn before the Q♥ completed the board. 

The player in middle position fired out one last bet of 3,800 and was called almost instantly by Chevalier. 

Chevalier then watched as his opponent tabled 4♥ 4♠ for a full house resulting in him mucking his hand and dropping down to 31,000.

6:40pm: Final break of the day

Players have begun a 10-minute break. Coverage will resume momentarily.

6:30pm: Szmelcer doubles
Level 6 – Blinds 300/600 (75 ante)

With a flop showing 3♥ 5♥ 8♠ Henry Szmelcer bet 3,000 from under the gun before the player on the button raised it up to 7,000. Szmelcer would waste no time announcing all in and pushing forward his 22,825 stack. His opponent quickly called with more chips behind. 

Szmelcer: K♠ K♣
Opponent: Q♠ Q♣

Szmelcer found himself in front with the over pair and guaranteed himself the pot after the K♥ dropped on the turn to improve his hand to an unbeatable set of kings. The meaningless 9♥ completed the board and Szmelcer climbed to 49,000. 

6:10pm: Brkic eliminates Rubie
Level 6 – Blinds 300/600 (75 ante)

With the board showing 5♦ 3♦ A♥ K♦ Srdjan Brkic checked from under the gun before Brendon Rubie bet 7,800 from the cutoff. Brkic paused for a moment before announcing all in which had Rubie covered. Rubie obliged and called immediately. 

Rubie then flipped over his Q♦ 10♦ for a flush only to be drawing dead against Brkic who rolled over A♦ 4♦ for the nut flush. 

The dealer then produced the 2♦ to add insult to Rubie as Brkic improved to a straight flush to see him climb to 86,000 in chips and send Rubie to the rail. 

5:50pm: Chip count update
Level 6 – Blinds 300/600 (75 ante)

As we enter the penultimate level of the day, here are some of our notable players’ chip counts.

Kahle Burns – 57,000
Wayde Rickhuss – 41,000
Amanda De Cesare – 36,500
Frederico Butteroni – 32,000
Chen-an Lin – 28,500
Celina Lin – 22,500
Dean Blatt – 18,000
Dean Francis – 16,000
Tony Hachem – 14,000

5:35pm: Prize pool announced

The final numbers are in and the prize pool has been calculated for this year’s Main Event. 

521 players all ponied up $2,300 to partake in the tournament to generate a total prize pool of $1,198,300. 

63 players will see themselves lock up at least $4,270 with the eventual champion taking home $234,978 for five days work.

5:20pm: Huang heading home
Level 5 – Blinds 200/400 (50 ante)

Team PokerStars Pro Bryan Huang has fallen by the wayside after a string of bad luck.

The first hand that cost him some significant chips saw Huang raise to 1,000 from the cutoff holding A♦ K♦ before being called by the player in the big blind.

The flop brought jack-five-deuce with two diamonds and the big blind checked. Huang continued for 1,200 only to be faced with a raise to 3,500. Huang then three bet to 8,500 before his opponent jammed all in for 14,500. Huang called but needed some help to improve against a set of fives.

It wasn’t to be, however, as the river bricked off and Huang fell to just 5,500 in chips.
He got the last of it in shortly after holding ace-nine against pocket tens and couldn’t improve as the Team Pro was sent packing.

5:05pm: Boxell doubles to stay alive
Level 5 – Blinds 200/400 (50 ante)

The action folded around to the player on the button who raised it up to 1,100. Leo Boxell then looked down at his cards before moving all in for 3,875 from the small blind. The original raiser paused for a minute, then reluctantly called, after the big blind got out of the way. 

Boxell: A♠ 2♥
Opponent: 7♦ 4♥

Boxell would hold with his ace-high as the board ran out 7♥ K♦ A♥ 10♠ Q♥ to see him stay in contention. 

Leo Boxell

4:50pm: Michael eliminates one
Level 5 – Blinds 200/400 (50 ante)

Perry Michael raised to 1,000 from under the gun plus one before the player in the cutoff moved all in for his remaining 4,500. The player in the big blind deliberated over his decision for a minute and called, only to muck his hand moments later, after Michael moved all in over the top for 17,025. 

Michael: K♠ K♥
Opponent: A♦ Q♥

The board ran out 7♦ J♥ 5♥ J♣ 2♣ to see Michael hold with his pair as he sent a player to the rail. 

4:25pm: Scheduled break

Our remaining players are now on a 10-minute break.

4:15pm: Lin applies the pressure
Level 4 – Blinds 150/300 (25 ante)

With over 10,000 in the pot and the board reading 9♦ 7♣ 3♠ A♥ Q♠ Chen-An Lin moved all in for around 20,000 from the big blind. His opponent in the hand was seated on the button and went into the tank with just under 10,000 in his stack. 

A minute passed before he flipped over his A♦ and mucked his hand as he relinquished the pot the Team PokerStars Pro. 

Lin has 40,000 in chips as we close in on the second break of the day. 

4pm: Doria takes one down
Level 4 – Blinds 150/300 (25 ante)

The player in the hijack called before Mario Doria raised it up to 1,050 from the cutoff. The action folded back around to the original limper who completed the bet. 

The flop came 8♥ 3♥ 6♦ and Doria threw out a continuation bet of 1,300 which was check-called. 

Both player then checked the 10♥ turn and 6♠ river before Doria confidently turned over his 8♣ 5♣ for two pair. That was good to win the hand and add another few thousand to his stack.  

3:45pm: Huang in the house
Level 4 – Blinds 150/300 (25 ante)

Team PokerStars Pro Bryan Huang has finally arrived and is already taking down pots here today.

On a board reading 3♥ 10♣ 6♥ 2♥ the player in the big blind fired out and Huang made the call from the under the gun seat.

The 9♦ completed the board and the big blind bet 2,200. Huang called then watched as his opponent flipped over A♦ 10♠ for top pair. Huang then rolled over his J♥ J♣ for a higher pair to rake in the chips.

3:25pm: Lew on the river
Level 3 – Blinds 100/200 (25 ante)

The action started with the player in the hijack raising to 650. Randy Lew was in the big blind and bumped it up to 1,600. The original raiser then reached for his chips and splashed out a three-bet to 4,650. Lew called shorty after and both players watched the flop come 4♦ A♣ 10♥ .

They checked it through and repeated the action after the J♠ fell on the turn. 

The K♠ on the river saw Lew bet out 3,700 which was enough to take down the pot after his opponent mucked his hand. 

3:15pm: Wakeman versus Francis
Level 3 – Blinds 100/200 (25 ante)

Dean Francis raised to 400 from the cutoff and was called by Matthew Wakeman in the big blind.

The flop came K♥ 2♦ 9♦ and Wakeman check-called a continuation bet of 400.

The turn brought the 3♣ and again Wakeman checked. Francis reached for his chips and flung out 1,200. Wakeman called.

Both players then checked after the 3♦ completed the board.

“Six-high,” announced Francis before Wakeman turned over his 9♥ 6♣ for a pair of nines to win the hand.

3pm: Boxell flushed
Level 3 – Blinds 100/200 (25 ante)

Australian Poker Hall of Famer and 2011 APPT Melbourne champion Leo Boxell is in the field today, but a recent hand has seen him drop to 7,000 in chips. 

With a board reading J♣ 7♠ 3♣ K♣ 9♥ the player in the small blind tossed out 5,000. Boxell made the quick call and watched as his opponent tabled A♣ 9♣ for the nut flush. 

“Is that a flush?” asked Boxell before mucking his hand after the dealer confirmed. 

Boxell would inform the player seated next to him shortly after the hand that he had called with a lower flush. 

2:45pm: More notable names
Level 3 – Blinds 100/200 (25 ante)

We’ve just passed the first break here today and more familiar faces have been spotted among the pack.

Two more are flying the flag for the PokerStars contingent with Celina Lin and Randy ‘nanonoko’ Lew taking their seats. With Chen-an Lin registering earlier today that brings our Team Pro count up to three. It’s also rumoured that Bryan Huang will make an appearance so we’ll be keeping an eye out for him.

Lin Tweeted not long ago to let her Twitter followers know that she’d joined the hunt.

Playing the @PokerStarsAPPT #Melbourne main event today! Looks like it's gonna get over 500 entrants, nice prize pool up for grabs. pic.twitter.com/qlV6cPivPV

— Celina Lin (@Celina_Lin) October 15, 2016

Celina Lin

2:20pm: Scheduled break

It’s time for the first break of the day. Coverage will resume in 10 minutes.

2:10pm: Cautious pot between De Cesare and Bredin
Level 2 – Blinds 100/200

2013 APPT Queenstown champion Jonathan Bredin raised to 500 from under the gun plus one before Amanda De Cesare reraised to 1,200 from the hijack. The player in the cutoff called as the action folded back around to Bredin. He three bet to 2,500 sending De Cesare into the tank. She thought for a minute before tossing out a four bet to 7,000 which saw the cutoff fold. Bredin called and both players watched the flop come 9♣ 2♥ A♦ .

Both players quickly checked as the 8♦ dropped on the turn. Another round of checks followed before the 3♣ completed the board. Bredin checked and De Cesare reluctantly checked behind before flipping over K♣ K♠ for a pair. Bredin smiled before his Q♥ Q♠ was turned over for a lesser pair. 

1:50pm: Cooler sees Ali double
Level 2 – Blinds 100/200

With over 5,000 in the pot and the flop showing K♥ A♥ 8♦ Imran Ali checked his option from the small blind. Frederico Butteroni then fired out 1,900 from the big blind before the player on the button raised it up to 7,000. Ali sat motionless for a moment before announcing all in and sliding out 16,550. Butteroni pondered for a minute before reluctantly folding his hand. The player on the button insisted he couldn’t fold ‘this’ hand and called with more chips behind. 

Ali: A♣ A♠
Opponent: A♦ K♣

Ali had flopped a monster against his opponent and held on for the double as the 9♦ turn and 5♦ river failed to change anything.

“What did you have?” Dean Francis asked, directed at Butteroni.

“I folded a set of eights,” Butteroni replied, thankful to have gotten away from the hand. 

1:30pm: Egan scores a double up
Level 2 – Blinds 100/200

Michael Egan’s stack had been going in the wrong direction in the early stages here but he just picked up pocket aces to double through a tablemate.

We arrived just in time to see Egan with A♣ A♦ face up and his last 8,275 in the middle. He was up against the 4♣ 4♦ of the man on the button to his direct left.

The danger-free J♠ 3♥ K♥ 3♦ 7♠ runout saw Egan’s aces hold as he secured the double up to build back to almost starting stack.

1:10pm: Chen-An Lin takes one down
Level 1: Blinds – 50/100

Team PokerStars Pro Chen-An Lin recently joined us and he’s already scooping pots.

Lin opened to 250 from under the gun and was called by the players in the cutoff, the small blind and Nick Oiberman in the big blind. 

All four players checked the K♠ 5♥ 9♠ flop before the 10♠ fell on the turn. The blinds checked over to Lin who fired out 700. Only the player in the small blind called. 

The 10♣ completed the board and both players checked before Lin turned over his J♥ J♣ for two pair. 

“Can you beat that?” the dealer asked the small blind, who shook her head, before placing the cards into the muck. 

1pm: Skelton pays it off
Level 1: Blinds – 50/100

Dean Blatt raised to 300 from the cutoff and was called by the player on the button as well as Daniel Skelton in the big blind. 

The flop came 5♦ A♦ 5♥ and Skelton checked over to Blatt who placed out a continuation bet totalling 400. Both opponents called. 

The K♠ on the turn saw the action check to the player on the button who tossed out 600. Skelton matched the bet as Blatt got out of the way. 

Another check from Skelton followed the 6♥ on the river which prompted the player on the button to bet out 1,200. Skelton removed his glasses and stared at his opponent and then the board before stacking up his chips and sliding in a call. 

The button the casually flipped over 5♣ 3♠ for trip fives and raked in the pot as Skelton pushed his cards into the muck. 

Daniel Skelton

12:45pm: Doodson decimates two players
Level 1: Blinds – 50/100

On a board reading Q♣ J♥ K♠ 10♠ the player in the small blind checked his option followed by Michael Doodson in the big blind. The third player in the hand fired out 2,000 from the button and was quickly called by the small blind. Doodson then moved all in for 17,500 sending the raiser into the tank. 

He eventually called and was quickly matched by the small blind. 

“I’m free-rolling to the spades,” said Doodson, as he rolled over A♠ 3♠ for a made straight and the flush draw. His opponents then flipped over A♥ 10♥ and A♣ 8♥ for the same straight. 

The dealer then dropped the 8♠ on the river giving Doodson the entire pot with a flush, rocketing him to over 50,000 in chips early in today’s proceedings and leaving his opponents to dwell over their short stacks. 

12:30pm: A flurry of familiar faces
Level 1: Blinds – 50/100

With just a quick lap around the tournament floor we’ve already spotted a throng of notable names in the field.

Perhaps the most recognizable is past November Niner Frederico Butteroni who pocketed $1,097,056 for his 8th place finish in the WSOP Main Event last year.

Also among the action is yesterday’s $10,000 Challenge champion Stevan Chew who will be looking for another big score after claiming $140,220 for his victory.

Joining them are familiar faces Dean Blatt, Kahle Burns, Michael Egan, Matthew Wakeman, Dean Francis and Michael Guzzardi to name a few.

12:15pm: Shuffle up and deal!
Level 1: Blinds – 50/100

The cards are in the air for Day 1b of the APPT Melbourne Main Event.

Day 1B begins soon

Welcome back to Melbourne’s Crown Casino for Day 1B of the APPT Main Event!

Yesterday saw 249 try their luck and we’re expecting a much bigger field today. Of those 249 it was 127 who survived the seven one-hour levels – they’ll have today off and join the survivors from today’s flight on the official Day 2 tomorrow.

Today’s bunch will be chasing Patrick Donker who set the pace yesterday when he emerged with a commanding chip lead and bagged up 173,900 at the conclusion of play.

The plan is exactly the same as yesterday: Seven levels, a 20,000 starting bank and blinds commencing at 50/100. Play is set to kick off within the next half an hour so be sure to keep your browser locked to PokerStars Blog!

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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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