Mike Maddocks takes chip lead into unofficial final table
Mike Maddocks is our chip leader heading into the final day of the WPTDeepStacks Gold Coast after around 13 hours of play that saw the morning’s field of 165 players whittled down to just 10.
Despite engaging in a running battle with young gun Alex Lynskey that saw both grow big stacks by the end of the day, it was Maddocks – the Canadian turned Australian – who finished the day strongest, just ahead of Ratul Sayak and Alex Lynskey.
Maddocks and Lynskey in particular will be hot favourites to battle it out for the title on Monday when the final table plays down to a winner.
Remaining chip counts are as follows:
| Player | Chips |
| Mike Maddocks | 7,695,000 |
| Ratul Sayak | 5,850,000 |
| Alex Lynskey | 5,770,000 |
| Omer Silajdzija | 3,810,000 |
| Will Davies | 3,040,000 |
| Joseph Sandaev | 2,765,000 |
| Sheldon Mayer | 2,050,000 |
| Attila Bognar | 1,010,000 |
| Nuno Da Silva | 1,660,000 |
| Josh Yeomans | 370,000 |
The remaining 10 players are the sole survivors from a Day 2 that started with 165 players remaining, including the likes of Shane Warne, Brendon Rubie, Tyron Krost, Luke Martinelli, Ash Gupta, Anthony Hachem and Gary Benson.
Benson was one of the unluckiest players of the day, running his set of 8s into an opponent’s set of 9s with the final table in sight, while Dwan Setton was earlier in the day bubble boy when his AK was rivered by A3.
In total, 140 players made the money with the remaining players all guaranteed a minimum payday of $19,503.
The winner will receive $252,751.
Play resumes at 11.30am Sunday. Be sure to visit at pokermedia.com.au as we bring you all the Day 3 action from The Star Gold Coast.
Qais closed
Our final 10 players are now bagging up as Qais Shanasa heads to the exits $19,503 richer for his 11th place finish.
After Omer Silajdzija raised to 150,000 pre-flop, Shanasa called from the big blind to go heads up to a flop of 4♦6♣2♣. Shanasa check-called Silajdzija’s bet of 200,000, then check-called all-in after Silajdzija jammed on the turn of the A♣.
Shanasa was ahead with pocket fours, but Silajdzia managed to complete the runner-runner flush with his A♦9♣ after the dealer peeled the Q♣ on the river.
And with that, it’s time to wrap things up!
Last hand of the night
The tournament staff have announced that the current hand will be the last one today.
Yeomans crippled
In a crazy hand played out on the feature table, Ratul Sayak opened to 125,000 before Josh Yeomans 3-bet to 375,000.
Sayak called and they took a flop of Q♠J♠8♦. Yeomans then just about potted to 705,000 with Sayak tanking before making the call for more than half his stack.
The turn was the 8s and Yeomans announced he was all-in. Sayak called, stating “flush” as he showed 4♠5♠. A shocked Yeomans turned over A♣A♦ and couldn’t find his miracle river as he is left with just a couple of hundred thousand.
Sayak moves to 6.3 million with that hand.
Cierco smashed
Down to 11 players with 20 minutes to go as Anthony Cierco bows out in 12th place, good for $19,503 in prize money.
The crippling blow came at the hands of Nuno Da Silva after both players got their money into the middle on the turn with the board that read 4♠9♣7♦A♠.
Cierco had hit top two pair with A♠9♠, but reeled after Da Silva rolled up 4♦4♣ for bottom set before the dealer completed the board with the river K♥.
Down to 170,000 in chips, Cierco dropped them over the betting line in the very next hand with A♥Q♦; Joseph Sandaev flicked in the remainder from the blinds and tabled K♥3♥, which spiked top pair on the board of 4♥K♣8♣9♦3♦.
Joseph Sandaev – 2 million
Nuno Da Silva – 1.6 million
Anthony Cierco – BUSTED
KG KO’d
Mike Maddocks opened to 120,000 from the cut-off and Kyrillos Gerges shoved for just over 1 million. Maddocks, holding Q♥Q♠, quickly made the call and had the J♦10♦ of Kyrillos Gerges in serious trouble.
The flop just about changed all of that as it fell 8♣9♦3♦ to give Gerges a whole bunch of outs, but the turn 9♠ and river 8♥ were not what he wanted to see.
He hits the rail in 13th for a $15,296 payday.
30 minutes to go
The final countdown is on … just half an hour (or four more bust-outs) until we bag and tag!
Maddocks ends Hanna’s night
On a board reading 4♥6♥7♣Q♣7♠ and a sizeable pot growing, Luke Hanna checked to Mike Maddocks who bet 1.3 million – enough to put Hanna all-in.
Hanna thought long and hard before eventually picking up a chunk of blue chips and making the call. He turned over Q♥10♥ for the flopped flush and turned top pair but it wasn’t enough to outdo Maddocks who held K♥K♣.
With that, Hanna hits the rail and we’re down to our last 13 players.
Level 26: Blinds 30,000/60,000 (60,000)
Maddocks takes a chunk from Lynskey
Alex Lynskey opened to 50,000 and Mike Maddocks called on the button.
The flop 6♥A♣Q♣ and Lynskey continued for 80,000 before Maddocks bumped it up to 225,000. Lynskey called.
The turn was the J♣ and Lynskey check-called a bet of 365,000.
On the river 8♥, Lynskey again checked as Maddocks fired out a bet of 820,000. That sent Lynskey deep into the tank before he eventually made the call, but mucked when Maddocks showed K♣10♥ for Broadway.
Alex Lynskey – 6 million
Mike Maddocks – 4.85 million
Green felted
Action folded around to Joe Sandaev who raised to 120,000 from the cut-off; Shanasa called from the cut-off, only to then see Mark Green rip it in from the button. Anthony Cierco and Sheldon Mayer folded from the blinds, as did Sandaev before going to showdown.
Green: 6♠6♣
Shanasa: Q♦J♦
Board: 8♦9♦9♣3♦Q♠
And thus Green was flushed out in 15th place ($15,296), while Shanasa moves up to 2.5 million in chips.
Colless collides with Kings
Playing her first ever major event, Brooke Colless did tremendously well to come within a whisker of making the final table.
In the end she fell in 16th ($12,441), shoving for her remaining 810,000 holding Q♠J♠ and running into the K♥K♠ of Luke Hanna.
The board ran out 4♠6♥6♣4♣A♦ and Colless’ great run is over. In a nice moment, her substantial rail have her a round of applause as she stood and left the table.
We are down to our final 15 players.
McKinnon meets his maker
Duncan McKinnon got his remaining chips into the middle holding A♠6♠ and was called by Mina Gerges with Kings.
The 4♠10♠J♦ flop provided a raft of outs for McKinnon but he couldn’t find one as Gerges filled up on the turn and river to leave us with 16 players remaining.
Lynskey felts Bognar
It seems almost inevitable that Alex Lynskey would prove the undoing of Mitch Bognar. Just a few minutes earlier, Lynskey – perhaps best known for reaching the final table of the WSOP main event in 2018 (and later winning WSOP Sydney in 2019) – had correctly called down Bognar on all three streets with little more than K-high.
“Don’t fuck with Lynskey!” Bognar’s mates told him after that hand.
It proved to be sage advice, as soon afterwards Bognar proceeded to open the button then shove over the top of Lynskey’s 3-bet.
Lynskey called and showed A♠K♠ to dominate Bognar’s K♥Q♠.
The board ran out J-high as Lynskey soars even higher to 6.2 million.
Benson busto
Three ways to a flop of 4♥9♣8♣, Mitch Bognar bet 175,000 before Josh Yeomans re-raised to 350,000.
Gary Benson then shipped for around 800,000. Bognar folded but Yeomans made the call.
Benson expected to be in great shape when he flipped over 8♠8♥ but to his dismay Yeomans showed 9♥9♠. With no one-outer to save the day, Benson’s race was run as Yeomans moved to 4.1 million.
Updated chip counts
Our remaining 19 players have returned, with Duncan McKinnon out in 20th place ($10,172) prior to the break after ripping in his remaining chips with pocket kings, only to be outdrawn by Anthony Cierco’s A-Q which spiked an ace on the flop.
| Name | Chips |
| Alex Lynskey | 4,920,000 |
| Will Davies | 3,330,000 |
| Mike Maddocks | 3,200,000 |
| Josh Yeomans | 2,650,000 |
| Atilla Bognar | 2,340,000 |
| Mitch Bognar | 1,970,000 |
| Omer Silajdzija | 1,930,000 |
| Qais Shanasa | 1,720,000 |
| Sheldon Mayer | 1,700,000 |
| Kyrillos Gerges | 1,240,000 |
| Anthony Cierco | 1,200,000 |
| Brooke Colless | 935,000 |
| Joseph Sandaev | 865,000 |
| Gary Benson | 775,000 |
| Mel Chapman | 705,000 |
| Nuno Da Silva | 700,000 |
| Ratul Sayak | 670,000 |
| Mark Green | 510,000 |
Level 25: Blinds 25,000/50,000 (50,000)
Stretch them legs
Time for another 10-minute break. Back shortly!
Slan falls to Lynskey
The running battle between Andrew Slan and Alex Lynskey has come to an end with Lynskey getting the final say.
In the end it seemed almost unfair as Slan shipped with A♦Q♦ only to run into the A♣A♠ of his rival.
The board offered no assistance to either meaning Slan hits the rail while Lynskey continues to climb.
Alex Lynskey – 4.2 million
Andrew Slan – BUSTED
Wright wronged
Will Davies opened to 80,000 in the cut-off and Nick Wright called out of the blinds to see a flop of Q♣5♦7♦.
Wright then announced he was all-in for his remaining 330,000. Davies quickly called with Q♦9♦ and in great shape against the 6♥8♥ of Wright.
The turn and river both bricked to send one more player to the rail.
Bevin, Sarchett, Chahine exit in quick succession
Matt Bevin, Darren Sarchett and Simon Chahine have all been sent to the rail within 5 minutes of one another.
A short-stacked Bevin was the latest to depart, getting his short-stack into the middle holding 8♣9♥ against the J♣10♠ of Mitch Borgas.
The board missed both players and Bevin is our latest player to exit the arena with a handy $8,399 payday to his name.
We are down to 22 players remaining.
Lynskey getting busy
Alex Lynskey has picked up the pace ever since we reached our final four tables, clashing with Mike Maddocks and Andrew Slan in a series of recent pots.
Moments after calling a river bet from Slan and mucking when his opponent showed top two, the two were at it again after Slan opened for 60,000 and Lynskey 3-bet from the blinds to 190,000. Slan called.
The flop came K♦8♦7♦ and both players checked.
On the J♦ turn Slan bet 55,000 and Lynskey called.
The river was the J♥ and this time Slan fired a bet of 110,000. Lynskey quickly called and Slan tapped the table before mucking. Lynskey flashed Q♥Q♣ as he raked in the pot.
Alex Lynskey – 2.1 million
Andrew Slan – 1.2 million
Level 24: Blinds 20,000/40,000 (40,000)
Fogarty felted, Chu cast out
The Main Event field is now down to 25 players as the blinds tick over to the 25th level, with John Chu and Russell Fogarty now on their way to collect from the cage.
Earlier, action folded around on the feature table to Chu, who shoved from the small blind with K♦4♣ before Mike Maddocks called with [KsTd]. Neither hand improved on the board of 8♠8♣7♠2♦Q♣, thus ending Chu’s tournament life.
It was a similar story for Fogarty, who shoved for his last 470,000 with pocket queens, only to see Alex Lynskey wake up with pocket queens which held all the way.
Lynskey is now back up to 2,175,000, while Maddocks is even further ahead with a stack worth 3.2 million.
Wilson wiped out
Over on Table 21, the action folded around to Brooke Colless who raised to 75,000 from the cut-off before Brad Wilson three-bet-shoved for the last of his chips with K♥4♥.
Colless called and rolled up J♥10♦, which then hit a runner-runner full house on the 5♦10♣9♠9♦9♥.
“Bring us another victim … I mean, another player!” joked Gary Benson.
Brooke Colless – 1,175,00
Brad Wilson – BUSTED
Chen chucked
Mitch Bognar opened on the button and Chen Xie shoved from the blinds for his last 500,000. Bognar quickly called and it was off to the races with Xie’s A♠Q♠ against the 9♣9♥ of Bognar.
The board ran out 10♦8♦5♥6♦10♠ to end Xie’s tournament.
Bognar now has 1.8 million.
At the pointy end
Star Poker Gold Coast staff have just confirmed that play in tonight’s Main Event will cease either when we reach our final table or the end of Level 26, whichever comes first.
Hachem heaved out
Anthony Hachem was already crippled following an earlier clash with Russell Fogarty when he got his remaining chips into the middle holding 10♣7♣.
Nick Wright made the call with 9s and turned the boat to send Hachem to the rail after a deep run.
Nick Wright – 720,000
Russell Fogarty – 650,000
Anthony Hachem – BUSTED
Kings no good for Thwaites
Simon Thwaites opened on the button to 80,000 and Gary Benson put him all-in from the blinds. Thwaites quickly called with K♦K♣ to hold the edge over Benson’s A♣Q♠.
The 2♥4♥Q♥ flop kept Thwaites in front but the A♦ on the turn gave Benson the lead. The river was the meaningless 3♣ as we lose one more player.
Gary Benson – 2.65 million
Simon Thwaites – BUSTED
Remaining chip counts
| Table 20 | ||
| Seat | Player | Chips |
| 1 | Simon Chahine | 1,160,000 |
| 2 | Qais Shanasa | 825,000 |
| 3 | Alex Lynskey | 725,000 |
| 4 | Anthony Cierco | 1,200,000 |
| 5 | Darren Sarchett | 670,000 |
| 6 | Graham Purua | 690,000 |
| 7 | Nuno Da Silva | 600,000 |
| 8 | Attila Bognar | 765,000 |
| 9 | Joseph Sandaev | 810,000 |
| Table 21 | ||
| Seat | Player | Chips |
| 1 | Simon Thwaites | 770,000 |
| 2 | Gary Benson | 1,975,000 |
| 3 | Will Davies | 1,800,000 |
| 4 | Brooke Colless | 1,325,000 |
| 5 | Sheldon Mayer | 1,400,000 |
| 6 | Luke Hanna | 700,000 |
| 7 | Brad Wilson | 400,000 |
| 8 | Mark Green | 575,000 |
| 9 | Mel Chapman | 855,000 |
Table 22 | ||
| Seat | Player | Chips |
| 1 | – | – |
| 2 | Duncan McKinnon | 115,000 |
| 3 | Ratul Sayak | 1,550,000 |
| 4 | Thomas Owda | 900,000 |
| 5 | John Chu | 700,000 |
| 6 | Nick Wright | 450,000 |
| 7 | Russell Fogarty | 400,000 |
| 8 | Omer Silajdzija | 295,000 |
| 9 | Anthony Hachem | 400,000 |
Table 24 | ||
| Seat | Player | Chips |
| 1 | Andrew Slan | |
| 2 | Harry Basle | 115,000 |
| 3 | Mike Maddocks | 1,550,000 |
| 4 | Josh Yeomans | 2,600,000 |
| 5 | – | – |
| 6 | Kyrillos Gerges | 450,000 |
| 7 | Mitch Borgas | 400,000 |
| 8 | Chen Xie | 295,000 |
| 9 | Matt Bevin | 400,000 |
Level 23: Blinds 15,000/30,000 (30,000)
Let’s eat!
Our 34 remaining players are now on a 40-minute dinner break – we’ll have a full round of names and counts coming your way soon, but in the meantime, head on over to our Facebook page for our latest episode of PMA LIVE, with special guest Danny McDonagh joining us via video link from Hanoi, Vietnam!
Kempson crushed
Mitch Bognar opened to 55,000 UTG and received a call from UTG+2 before Corey Kempson announced he was all-in for 720,000.
Bognar made the call while the caller got out of the way.
Kempson turned over pocket Jacks but was in trouble against Bognar’s Aces.
The board ran out 10♣7♦6♦K♥10♦ to send Kempson to the payout desk.
Bognar moves to 1.9 million.
Final four tables
There are now 36 players remaining and tournament staff have broken down a table, meaning we are down to our final four tables in this WPTDeepStacks Main Event.
Players will soon be going on their dinner break, although the PMA team will keep you entertained during the break with our latest livecast. Visit the PokerMedia Australia facebook page to tune in.
For the record, there are two side events taking place tonight too – the $440 Pot Limit Omaha and the $5K Challenge.
Our coverage doesn’t extend that far but we’ll bring you all the results tomorrow.
Cooler central
Sheldon Mayer has been on a heater over the past hour or so, running his sort stack up to a very healthy 1.5 million.
He has also left earlier chip leader Andrew Slan with some work to do to recover after a massive post-flop confrontation that saw Sheldon come up trumps in an epic cooler.
It was Sheldon’s 10♠10♦ overshadowing the A♦4♥ of Slan on a 10♣A♣4♦ flop and when no Ace arrived to turn the tide, Sheldon joined the big guns near the top of the chip counts.
Sheldon – 1.5 million
Andrew Slan – 550,000
Lucky 7s
Will Davies opened the button to 50,000 and John Apostolidis defended in the big blind.
The flop came 3♥7♦2♣ and Apostolidis led for 50,000. Davies called.
The turn was the Q♣ and Apostolidis announced he was all-in for a touch over 400,000. Davies snap-called with 7♥7♠ and had Apostolidis drawing dead with Q♥10♥.
Apostolidis is out while Davies continues to rise with 1.8 million.
Level 22: Blinds 15,000/25,000 (25,000)
Images incoming
Another round of photos? You got it!
Sotsavanh and Siddell sent packing
The WPT DeepStacks Main Event field is now down to 42 runners, with Phil Siddell and Lily Sotsavanh amongst the latest to have hit the rail.
Sotsavanh was taken out after shoving under the gun pre-flop with ace-queen before a player in middle position iso-shoved with pocket nines, forcing the rest of the table out of the way before the board ran out Q-9-K-K-X.
A short time later on the feature table, Siddell got the last of his chips in with Q♠6♥ against Bognar’s A♦8♦, but despite taking the lead on the flop of 6♠K♦K♣, the turn and river ran out 3♥, A♥ to give Bognar the bigger two pair, the scalp and a stack worth 850,000.
Sheldon shines
Shane Howard is our latest player to hit the rail, running an unsuccessful bluff on Sheldon Mayer.
Howard opened to 40,000 then called a 3-bet by Sheldon to 90,000.
Both players checked the 2♦3♣3♥ flop as they took a 9♣ turn. Howard checked to Sheldon who bet 60,000, before moving all-in over the top for a little over 200,000.
Sheldon quickly called and rolled over A♥A♠ to have Howard’s A♦10♥ drawing dead.
Sheldon moves to 775,000.
Mitchell moving
We caught the action on the river with the board reading K♣7♦8♦9♠9♦ and Josh Mitchell contemplating a 150,000 bet from Anthony Cierco.
Mitchell tanked for a good two minutes before eventually making the call with K♠Q♣ – good enough to take down the pot as Cierco showed J♦J♠
Josh Mitchell – 1.15 million
Anthony Cierco – 750,000
Level 21: Blinds 10,000/20,000 (20,000)
Break it up
Our remaining 49 players are on a 10-minute break; amongst those not returning include Michael Tran, Andrew White, Justin Dorazio and Charles Caris.
Davies hits seven figures
Ricky Kroesen opened to 33,000 and Simon Thwaites called from the button, as did Will Davies in the big blind.
On the 3♥J♣8♦ flop, Davies and Kroesen checked to Thwaites who bet 45,000. Only Davies called.
Both players checked the Q♠ turn before Davies fired out a bet of 77,000. Thwaites snap-called but mucked as Davies showed 3♠3♣ for the set.
Will Davies – 1 million
Simon Thwaites – 395,000
Yeomans on the rise
Our reporter came across a rather impressive looking pile of chips, stacked in a similar shape in an homage to the iconic Star Gold Coast “pyramid” and topped by Josh Yeoman’s lucky ring.
The bling is clearly doing its thing as Yeomans continues his charge on the feature table, although he did take a small hit earlier in a massive earlier this level.
All the money was in the middle pre-flop; Yeomans was dominating with pocket aces against his all-in opponent’s A♠5♠, however the dealer spread the board of Q♠9♠7♦J♣4♠ to give them the runner-runner nut flush.
No worries for Yeomans though, as he’s currently up to 1.1 million and change!
Benson hedges his bets, tops 2 million
John Apostolidis opened to 32,000 and Luke Hanna called. Gary Benson then 3-bet from the small blind to 135,000 only for Xiaodong Liu to ship for his remaining 338,000.
Both Apostolidis and Hanna folded but Benson quickly called.
Benson showed A♣K♥ to dominate Liu’s K♠J♠ and when an Ace landed on the flop that was all she wrote for Liu.
Benson becomes the first player to cross the 2 million chip barrier and now sits with a very healthy 2.2 million.
Hanna finds his miracle
Xiaodong Liu opened to 30,000 in the cut-off and Ricky Kroesen called on the button. Luke Hanna then announced he was all-in from the small blind, with Liu making the call and Kroesen folding.
Hanna was in trouble holding 10♦10♣ against Liu’s Q♦Q♣.
As the flop and turn came A♠5♥J♥Q♠, Hanna called “Give me a King” and surely enough, the dealer dealt the river K♠ for Hanna to make Broadway.
He doubles through to 360,000 while Liu is still alive with 350,000.
Slan one, Yuan nil
Andrew Slan is on a tear, now up to more than 1.4 million in chips after the successive eliminations of Ryan Yuan (pictured) and Sabu Samoa.
As Yuan recalled, he raised from early position to 26,000 with pocket queens and the action folded around to Slan who called to go heads-up to a flop of 6♣5♣2♣. Yuan fired out 28,000 and Slan called, then check-shoved after Slan’s bet of 64,000 when a jack came down on the turn.
Yuan called, but reeled after Slan tabled J♦6♦ for two pair, which held after a 10 bricked out on the river.
A short time later, Samoa came in with a pre-flop raise from early position and action folded to Slan on the button who three-bet to 75,000. Samoa returned fire with a four-bet worth 160,000, Slan shoved and Samoa insta-called.
Slan: A♥A♦
Samoa: A♣K♠
Board: J♦Q♥2♣9♠2♠
Samoa looked down at his chips. “It’s pretty close I reckon … I got 580,000.”
“Dude, I’ve got over 800K.” Slan replied with a wry smile.
“Fair call. Good luck, boys!” Samoa quipped before taking his leave.
Level 20: Blinds 10,000/15,000 (15,000)
Da Silva finds some gold
Nuno da Silva and Nicholas Low were involved in another AK v QQ race just moments after Hassan and Apostolidis clashes.
This time it was da Silva with the AK against the QQ of Low all-in pre, with an Ace on the flop enough to send Low to the rail.
Da Silva is up to 615,000.
Hassan busts
Our Day 1A chip leader Hussein Hassan has been eliminated after struggling to gain any momentum here on Day 2.
Having lost big pot to Ricky Kroesen earlier, he got his remaining stack in holding A♥K♠ and was racing against the Q♥Q♣ of John Apostolidis.
The board ran out J-high to send Hassan to the rail, while Apostolidis moves to 490,000.
River to the rescue
On a board reading 8♦10♦J♠6♠, Adrian Indovino fired out a stack of blue 25,000 chips, essentially putting Russell Fogarty all-in.
Fogarty thought long and hard before making the call.
Indovino was looking good with J♣10♠ against the Q♥10♥ of Fogarty until the Q♣ landed on the river to give Fogarty the better two-pair.
Russell Fogarty – 610,000
Adrian Indovino – 275,000
Lynskey doubles to stay alive
Daniel Smilijanic opened to 24,000 on the button and Alex Lynskey shoved for his remaining 100,000 from the blinds.
Smilijanic made the call but found himself behind holding K♦10♦ to Lynskey’s K♣Q♠ and the board ran out Q-high to keep Lynskey in the running.
Dan Smilijanic – 565,000
Alex Lynskey – 225,000
Battle of the mindsets
It is not too often that you find two mindset coaches sitting at the same table, yet that was exactly the situation Brendon Rubie and Mike Maddocks found themselves in on Table 13.
Needless to say, they were destined to battle eventually.
Maddocks opened to 25,000 UTG and a middle position player called. Rubie then shoved for his remaining 184,000 with only Maddocks making the call.
Rubie showed A♥10♠ and needed to find an Ace against the 10♦10♥ of Maddocks. Instead, the board ran out 9♣10♣5♣9♦3♥ to fill Maddocks up and send Rubie to the rail.
Mike Maddocks – 650,000
Brendon Rubie – BUSTED
Kroesen doubles through Hassan
Ricky Kroesen opened to 27,000 and Hussein Hassan called.
The flop fell K♦10♠4♣ and Kroesen continued for 25,000. Hassan then announced he was all-in and Kroesen quickly made the call.
It was Kroesen in the lead holding K♥10♦ to Hassan’s Q♠J♠. The K♠ turn filled Kroesen up but gave Hassan outs to the straight flush, but the river came 3♥.
Ricky Kroesen – 330,000
Hussein Hassan – 110,000
Level 19: Blinds 6,000/12,000 (12,000)
The big stacks
| Gary Benson | 1,600,000 |
| Andrew Slan | 1,300,000 |
| Brad Wilson | 980,000 |
| Harry Basle | 900,000 |
| Dan Smilijanic | 860,000 |
| Marcel Zapantzis | 840,000 |
| Brooke Colless | 810,000 |
| John Chu | 715,000 |
| Will Davies | 700,000 |
| Attila Bognar | 660,000 |
| Matthew Beck | 620,000 |
| Luke Martinelli | 560,000 |
Break time
Our remaining 85 players are now on a 10-minute break.
Slan moves over a million
Andrew Slan is sitting behind a massive stack of chips, courtesy of a monster pre-flop clash that saw get it in with AA against an opponent’s JJ.
As Slan explains it, his opponent opened to 27,000 from UTG and Slan 3-bet from the small blind to 65,000. His opponent then announced he was all-in with Slan snap-calling.
When the board bricked, Slan moved in to the tournament chip lead.
21 or bust
There’s been plenty of action on Table 21, Nickolas Oiberman and Julian Warhurst the latest to have hit the rail in this Main Event.
Earlier, Oiberman and Xiao Dong Liu got their money into the middle after the flop of 6♣8♠9♠; Liu tabled 6♥6♦ for bottom set, but Oiberman was potentially flushing with A♠K♠.
Nothing changed with the 5♥ on the turn, but although Oiberman hit his flush on the river, it happened to be the case 6♠, giving Liu quads!
Then in the very next hand, Warhust was left miffed after jamming pre-flop with A♦K♣, only to be outdrawn by Simon Thwaites’ A♣J♣ after the dealer spread the board of 6♦J♦10♣8♠10♦.
Xiao Dong Liu – 445,000
Simon Thwaites – 410,000
Xiao Dong Liu Simon Thwaites
Ho-down
Michael Ho and Marcel Zapantzis got it all-in pre-flop with Ho holding A♠Q♣ and Zapantzis 9♠9♦.
The board ran out 6♦6♠J♣5♦4♦ to send Ho to the rail and push Zapantzis up to 935,000.
Davies clashes with Kempson
Will Davies opened to 20,000 before Corey Kempson 3-bet to 80,000 from the small blind. Davies then announced he was all-in with Kempson making the call.
It was Davies with A♥K♥ racing the J♦J♣ of Kempson.
Kempson stayed in the lead on the 3♥5♦6♠ flop, but caught running cards as the turn fell 6♥ and the river 5♥ for the nut flush.
Davies is now our chip leader with 950,000 while Kempson drops back to 320,000.
Croc bitten
Billy “The Croc” Argyros has been eliminated, shipping his remaining stack on the button holding 5s but running into the Aces of Russel Fogarty.
Argyros hits the rail as Fogarty moves to 640,000.
Noted notables
Brendon Rubie John Apostolidis Amir Abbas Mina Gerges Ricky Kroesen Emanuel “Curly” Seal Nick Wright Ryan Yuan Corey Kemptson Will Davies Graham Purua Atilla Bognar Mark Green Nickolas Oiberman Mitch Bognar Zac Duce
Warne caught out
Shane Warne has also hit the rail, running his pocket Jacks into the AA of Harry Basle and failing to find the help he needed.
Harry Basle – 640,000
Shane Warne – BUSTED
Colless climbing
Brooke Colless has moved to 580,000 after eliminating Raymond Gebrael a few moments ago.
The chips went in on the turn with the board reading 8♣J♥6♣8♠ and Colless with A♦J♣ and in the lead against the A♣9♣ of Gebrael. The river fell 8♦ to fill Colless up and send Gebrael to the payout desk.
Hanna-mated
Luke Hanna and a short-stacked player got it in with Hanna in dominant position holding A♥J♣ against his opponent’s A♦7♦.
The board ran out 6♣Q♦10♠6♥5♥ as we lose one more player.
Hanna is up to 275,000.
Level 18: Blinds 5,000/10,000 (10,000)
Dwan Setton an unlucky bubble boy
The bubble has finally burst here in the WPTDeepStacks main event with Dwan Setton the unlucky man to miss the money.
It was also a brutal beat that ended his day as he got his remaining stack in holding A♥K♣ against the A♦3♥ of Kyrillos Gerges.
It was smooth sailing through to the turn for Setton as the board fell J♣A♠4♥5♠ but the 3♣ river was a dagger in the heart as Setton headed to the rail.
The remaining 140 players are all in the money!
Show me the money!
From a total of 1,113 entries, the WPT DeepStacks Main Event has generated a total prize pool of $1,502,550. The top 140 will collect at least $2,013 from the cage, with our winner walking away with a whopping quarter-milly and change!
| Place | Amount |
| 1st | $252,729 |
| 2nd | $177,166 |
| 3rd | $114,960 |
| 4th | $85,210 |
| 5th | $65,429 |
| 6th | $52,063 |
| 7th | $43,018 |
| 8th | $34,108 |
| 9th | $25,288 |
| 10th-12th | $19,503 |
| 13th-15th | $15,296 |
| 16th-18th | $12,441 |
| 19th-21st | $10,172 |
| 22nd-24th | $8,399 |
| 25th-27th | $7,378 |
| 28th-36th | $6,476 |
| 37th-45th | $5,574 |
| 46th-54th | $4,973 |
| 55th-63rd | $4,523 |
| 64th-72nd | $4,207 |
| 73rd-81st | $3,907 |
| 82nd-90th | $3,621 |
| 91st-99th | $3,336 |
| 100th-108th | $3,050 |
| 109th-117th | $2,765 |
| 118th-126th | $2,479 |
| 127th-135th | $2,194 |
| 136th-140th | $2,013 |
Short stacks hanging on
We’ve had multiple all-in and calls over the past 15 minutes, including two consecutive on the last hand, but as of now the short stacks have all managed to survive on the bubble.
The last hand was action packed, as short-stack Scott Roderick was all in with A♣K♣ against the 2♥2♦ of Adrian Indovino.
The board ran out 4♣4♥3♥10♥3♣ to counterfeit Indovino and keep Roderick in the game!
On the bubble
We are now right on the money bubble with 141 players left following the elimination of Denis Jankovic.
Jankjovic and Bede Connolly got it in on a A♦10♥Q♦ flop with Connolly holding A♠K♥ and ??? the K♦10♦ for the royal flush draw.
Unfortunately for Jankovic the turn and river ran out 4♥
And 4♠ to send him to the rail.
Connolly now has 285,000.
Hand-for-hand
Players have just returned from a short 10-minute break.
The blind levels have now been extended from 40 minutes to 60 minutes.
We’ve just been informed that there are 143 players remaining, meaning we will now go hand-for-hand until we reach the money (which starts at 140).
Level 17: Blinds 4,000/8,000 (8,000)
Benson soars into chip lead
In a huge three-way hand, Milan Stojkovic opened to 13,300 and Gary Benson called, as did Martin Ward in the blinds.
The flop fell 10♠2♣ and Stojkovic continued for 15,000. Benson re-raised to 35,000 and ward tanked before announcing he was all-in. Stojkovic shoved over the top and Benson snap-called.
It was Benson out in front with his flopped set of 5s against the K♥K♣ of Stojkovic and the A♠8♠ of Ward.
The turn and river bricked as Benson scoops a massive pot to move to 870,000 and the tournament chip lead.
Top of the pops
Here they all are – your top 12 chip leaders!
Marcel Zapantzis Alex Lynskey Chuck Caris Simon Chahine Brooke Colless Russell Fogarty John Chu Harry Basle Hussein Hassan Gary Benson Daniel Smilijanic Jack Drake
Laughton levelled
Jakson Laughton has been sent to the rail in cruel fashion, shipping his remaining stack into the middle holding pocket Ks and being snap-called by John Apostolidis.
Things were looking good for Laughton until a 9 landed on the river to end his tournament early. Needless to say he is less than pleased!
Gorgeous double for Gorges
Mina Gorges and overnight chip leader Daniel Smilijanic got it all in on a 7♥4♣Q♣ flop, with Smilijanic turning over A♦Q♠ but needing help against the A♣A♥ of Gorges.
The turn and river bricked, lifting Gorges to just over 500,000 in chips. Smilijanic drops back to around 490,000.
Toye, Huntly hit the rail
There is plenty of action early today with cries of “All-in call” echoing around the room every minute or so.
Dennis Huntly and Rauren Toye are among the early casualties, victims of short stack syndrome.
Toye shipped his remaining stack into the middle holding J♠10♣ and couldn’t find any help after running into the A♣K♥ of Nicholas Lowe.
We are now down to 153 runners and just 13 places off the money bubble.
Godena dismissed after misreading Warney flipper
Jarryd Godena is our first player out today, getting his remaining stack in with 8♣8♦ and running into the 10♠10♥ of Shane Warne.
The board ran out 2♥7♣9♣K♠4♦ to end Godena’s day early.
Warne chips up to 180,000.
Shuffle up and deal!
We are officially underway on Day 2 of the WPTDeepStacks Gold Coast Main Event!
Level 16: Blinds 3,000/6,000 (6,000)
Day 2 seating draw
| Name | Table/Seat |
| Abbas Amir | ‘1/3 |
| Abdine Shivan | ‘9/1 |
| Apostolidis John | ’12/2 |
| Argyros Vasilios | ’16/7 |
| Baitieri Matt | ’11/4 |
| Basle Harry | ‘9/4 |
| Batoz Rod | ’19/5 |
| Bean Ron | ’18/7 |
| Beck Matthew | ’15/9 |
| Benigno James | ’15/6 |
| Benson Gary | ’11/3 |
| Bestami Ay | ’13/4 |
| Bevin Matthew | ‘2/5 |
| Blanusa Nebojsa | ‘1/4 |
| Bognar Attila | ’18/9 |
| Bognar Mitchell | ’24/7 |
| Bouskila Michel | ’10/8 |
| Byeon Sangjun | ’21/9 |
| Caris Charles | ’18/2 |
| Ceccato Nives | ’24/2 |
| Chahine Simon | ‘2/4 |
| Chang Shuai | ‘7/9 |
| Chapman Mal | ’17/7 |
| Chhauv Jenny | ’19/4 |
| Chin Andrian | ’18/4 |
| Christie David | ’14/4 |
| Chu John | ’21/1 |
| Cierco Anthony | ’16/3 |
| Clair Michael | ’17/9 |
| Colless Brooke | ’19/9 |
| Connelly Bede | ‘2/8 |
| Cook Michael | ’23/3 |
| Cristallo Joseph | ‘8/4 |
| Da silva Nuno | ‘2/2 |
| Damelian Robert | ’22/1 |
| Davies William | ’23/1 |
| Dorazio Justin | ‘9/7 |
| Drake Jack | ’18/6 |
| Duce Zachary | ’13/6 |
| Elias Mina | ’12/4 |
| Elliott Paul | ’21/6 |
| Emmouilidis Peter | ’21/7 |
| Enright Michael | ’19/3 |
| Evans Harrison | ’18/3 |
| Fazal Dean | ‘1/5 |
| Fazzino Salvatore | ‘2/1 |
| Fogarty Russell | ’17/1 |
| Foote Peter | ’20/9 |
| Gebrael Raymond | ’19/7 |
| Gerges Kyrillos | ’14/7 |
| Gerges Mina | ’13/7 |
| Gevers Sarah | ‘8/8 |
| Ghobrial Jimmy | ’14/9 |
| Gibson Paul | ‘2/3 |
| Godena Jarryd | ’24/1 |
| Gohil Monil | ’11/6 |
| Green Mark | ’21/8 |
| Gupta Ashish | ’20/6 |
| Gupta Vikrant | ’16/2 |
| Hachem Anthony | ’22/9 |
| Hamilton-hill Scott | ’20/7 |
| Hanna Luke | ‘2/7 |
| Harnett Dane | ‘7/6 |
| Harrison Ben | ’15/1 |
| Hassan Hussien | ’12/8 |
| Ho Michael | ’17/5 |
| Hockey Alex | ‘7/3 |
| Hooi Nicholas | ’19/2 |
| Howlett Shane | ‘1/2 |
| Huang Xiuming | ’24/3 |
| Huntly Dennis | ’15/7 |
| Hyun Joon | ’24/9 |
| Indovino Adrian | ’20/3 |
| Jackson Rourke | ‘1/8 |
| Jankovic Denis | ’16/5 |
| Johnson Michael | ’10/6 |
| Kashyap Nauvneel | ’21/3 |
| Kempson Corey | ’16/1 |
| Kim Musang | ’11/2 |
| Kroesen Ricky | ’12/5 |
| Krost Tyron | ’22/7 |
| Kyritis George | ’20/2 |
| Landry Craig | ’12/7 |
| Lasarow Mark | ‘8/6 |
| Laughton Jakson | ’12/3 |
| Le Tu | ’16/8 |
| Levy Michael | ’22/3 |
| Low Nicholas | ’15/5 |
| Lowrie Zackery | ‘8/1 |
| Lynskey Alex | ’13/2 |
| Maddocks Mike | ‘8/7 |
| Maroulis Wayne | ’14/2 |
| Martinelli Luke | ’12/9 |
| Mayer Sheldon | ‘8/3 |
| Mcgrath Brett | ’10/2 |
| Mckinnon Duncan | ’22/2 |
| Mclean Adam | ‘8/2 |
| Mclean Troy | ’23/4 |
| Minchinton Robert | ‘7/5 |
| Mitchell Josh | ‘2/6 |
| Mortimer- fox Neil | ’20/4 |
| Moxon David | ‘9/3 |
| Ngata Aroha | ’18/5 |
| Oiberman Nickolas | ’13/5 |
| Owda Thomas | ’10/3 |
| Palat Ronny | ’22/6 |
| Park Jongjun | ‘9/6 |
| Parker Shane | ’23/7 |
| Perry John | ’17/4 |
| Peters Kane | ‘7/1 |
| Purua Graham | ‘7/4 |
| Puyat Kiko | ’23/2 |
| Rado Jackson | ’21/2 |
| Ragozzini Sean | ’11/8 |
| Ratul Sayak | ’13/9 |
| Robertson Peter | ’14/8 |
| Rodden Jonathan | ’10/9 |
| Roderick Scott | ’20/5 |
| Rubie Brendan | ’13/8 |
| Salter Adrian | ‘7/8 |
| Samoa Sabu | ’20/8 |
| Sandaev Joseph | ’16/9 |
| Sarchett Darren | ’23/6 |
| Sarkis Farid | ‘7/2 |
| Sarkiss Osalian | ‘2/9 |
| Seal Emanuel | ’12/6 |
| Setton Dwan | ’14/6 |
| Shanasa Qais | ’17/6 |
| Shaqiri Altrim | ’23/8 |
| Sharma Ashneel | ‘1/9 |
| Siddell Philip | ’16/4 |
| Silajdzija Omer | ’22/8 |
| Siu James | ’15/8 |
| Slan Andrew | ‘9/2 |
| Smiljanic Daniel | ’13/1 |
| Sotsavanh Vannasone | ‘1/7 |
| Spiegel John | ‘7/7 |
| Stewart Luke | ’21/5 |
| Stojanovski Peco | ’15/4 |
| Stojkovic Milan | ’11/9 |
| Tabet Fadi | ’22/5 |
| Tambouras Stephen | ’10/7 |
| Thwaites Simon | ‘8/9 |
| Toye Rauran | ’15/2 |
| Tran Michael | ’24/4 |
| Trevenna Craig | ’23/5 |
| Van jarrsveldt Corey | ’14/5 |
| Varma Hari | ‘1/6 |
| Wang David | ‘9/9 |
| Wang Eric | ’11/1 |
| Ward Martin | ’11/7 |
| Warhurst Julian | ’10/1 |
| Warne Shane | ’24/6 |
| Wentworth Jordan | ’10/5 |
| White Andrew | ‘9/8 |
| Wilson Brad | ’17/3 |
| Woodbine Graham | ‘1/1 |
| Wright Nick | ’17/8 |
| Xiaodong Liu | ’18/8 |
| Xie Chen | ’24/8 |
| Yan David | ‘9/5 |
| Yeomans Joshua | ’14/3 |
| Ying Christina | ‘8/5 |
| Yuan Huan | ’10/4 |
| Zapantzis Vasco | ’19/1 |
| Zenonos Christopher | ’19/8 |
We’re back!
Welcome back to Day 2 of the WPTDeepStacks Gold Coast main event from The Star Gold Coast.
After three record-breaking day one flights saw a massive field of 1,113 entries, including 443 on Saturday’s third and final flight, just 165 players return to the felt today with dreams of lifting the WPTDS Gold Coast trophy and claiming the $252,728 first prize.
It’s worth noting too that 140 players will make the money in this event, meaning the money bubble is already around the corner.
Under this event’s unique 40/60/30 structure, we will play one more 40-minute level this morning before levels revert to 60 minutes in length. They will eventually drop back to 30 minutes once play reaches heads-up.
There are plenty of big stacks heading into Day 2, with the Top stacks as follows:
Daniel Smilijanic – 620,500
Hussein Hassan – 533,000
Harry Basle – 529,000
Marcel Zapantzis – 525,000
Simon Chahine – 497,500
Alex Lynskey – 493,000
Charles “Chuck” Caris – 424,000
Gary Benson – 417,000
John Chu – 412,000
Brooke Colless – 405,000
Jack Drake – 405,000
Russell Fogarty – 405,000
Play begins at 11.30am so stay tuned right here on pokermedia.com.au as we bring you exclusive live reporting coverage of the WPTDeepStacks Main Event.
You can also follow our facebook page by clicking here where you will find additional content including live video updates and player interviews from the poker room floor at The Star Gold Coast
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