Local Jun Wang has topped a record field to take out the Opening Event at this year’s WSOP Sydney Circuit, scooping a healthy $112,171 in the process.
Having reached his first final table at The Star poker room, Wang proved too strong for a final nine boasting the likes of Chad Awerbuch, Alex Falon and Zhi Ma – taking advantage of a series of favourable spots to lift the trophy.
The final table proved to be a relatively quick one, with five players hitting the rail inside the first few hours and heads-up play arriving shortly after the first break of the day.
Malcolm Trayner entered heads-up holding a 2.5-1 chip lead over Wang but after battling away for 90 minutes it was Wang who ultimately prevailed, calling a shove with 77 and holding on against Trayner’s K7 to emerge victorious.
The Opening Event has long been a popular one across all major championship series at The Star but never has it attracted such a large field before with 1,444 players taking their seats across four Day 1 flights – setting the scene for a huge few weeks ahead in Sydney.
2018 WSOP Sydney Circuit Opening Event
| Position | Player | Prize (AU$) |
| 1 | Jun Wang | $112,171 |
| 2 | Malcolm Trayner | $69,528 |
| 3 | Zhi Ma | $50,950 |
| 4 | Shan Jiang | $38,734 |
| 5 | Johnathan Hargrave | $29,487 |
| 6 | Chu Ong | $22,710 |
| 7 | Alex Falon | $17,694 |
| 8 | Chad Awerbuch | $13,944 |
| 9 | George Mitri | $11,118 |
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