Huey Lam wins $550 NLH Monster Stack ($10,700)
Huey Lam now has a Stacked Poker Championship title to his name after taking down the $550 NLH Monster Stack on Monday night.
Outlasting a field that began with 73 entries and culminated in a roller-coaster of a final table, Lam managed to stay out of trouble while others fell around him – eventually emerging as one of two clear chip leaders alongside Mike Gainer midway through the final table. After sending Gainer packing in third, Lam eventually dispatched of Neb Blanusa after a heads-up battle that lasted around 30 minutes.
In the final hand, Lam opened to 200,000 on the button and Blanusa shoves for his last 450,000 from the blinds. Lam made the call and showed 8♠10♠ – needing a little help against Blanusa’s Q♣4♣.
The 5♠K♠6♣ flop gave Lam a heap of outs to the win and the 7♠ turn sealed the deal before the meaningless 3♣ landed on the river.
Lam scores $10,700 for his efforts, while special mention goes to Stacked Social’s Managing Director Andrew Michael and local regular Nick Williams for making it two final tables from two events so far this week.
Join PokerMedia Australia again from 6pm Tuesday as we return for the next event on the schedule – the $350 PLO 5!
Neb Blanusa eliminated in 2nd ($7,300)
Huey Lam opened to 200,000 on the button and Neb Blanusa shoves for his last 450,000 from the blinds. Lam made the call and showed 8♠10♠ – needing a little help against Blanusa’s Q♣4♣.
The 5♠K♠6♣ flop gave Lam a heap of outs to the win and the 7♠ turn sealed the deal before the meaningless 3♣ landed on the river.
With that, ladies and gentleman, we have our Monster Stack champion!
Level 23: 40,000/80,000 (80,000)
Keeping it tight
The blinds might be getting high but neither Huey lam nor Neb Blanusa have been willing to get out of line during the first 20 minutes of heads-up play.
After some to and from, stacks are now exactly where they were when we lost our third-place finisher.
Heads-up chip counts
| Player | Chips |
| Huey Lam | 1,670,000 |
| Neb Blanusa | 1,250,000 |
Level 22: 30,000/60,000 (60,000)
Mike Gainer eliminated in 3rd ($5,400)
And just like that it’s all over for “Mad” Mike Gainer. He called Huey Lam’s small blind shove and showed 6♠6♣ but ran smack bang into Lam’s K♦K♣.
Cruelly, the board ran out 10♦K♣7♦6♦J♦ but even the turned set wasn’t enough for Gainer to survive.
We are now heads-up!
Eddie Saade eliminated in 4th ($4,000)
It was a case of easy come, easy go for Saade. Moments after doubling up, he lost a hefty chunk holding J♠J♦ when Huey Lam’s A♦2♦ spiked an Ace on the flop.
Saade then got the rest in holding Q♣7♦ and was called by Neb Blanusa with 8♦9♠. The 8♠6♠A♥K♠A♦ board sent the pot Blanusa’s way as he moves to 700,000.
Saade doubles
Mike Gainer shoves the button and Eddie Saade made the call.
Saade was ahead holding K♦10♣ to Gainer’s J♥9♠ and it held as the board ran out 5♠Q♦2♠A♥6♠.
Saade moves up to 650,000.
Level 21: 25,000/50,000 (50,000)
Break it up
Players are now on a 10-minute break while the floor staff conduct a colour change.
Adam Lutley eliminated in 5th ($2,900)
Mike Gainer opened to 100,000 from the button and Adam Lutley shoved for his remaining 191,000.
Gainer checked to make sure the count was right before making the call.
It was another race with Gainer’s 8♣9♣ against the 7♣7♠ of Lutley and when the 9♥ landed on the flop it was all over for Lutley.
5-handed chip counts
| Player | Chips |
| Mike Gainer | 1,100,000 |
| Huey Lam | 550,000 |
| Eddie Saade | 500,000 |
| Neb Blanusa | 400,000 |
| Adam Lutley | 290,000 |
Level 20: 20,000/40,000 (40,000)
Damien Mills eliminated in 6th ($2,200)
We’ve had a constant run of eliminations in the last 10 minutes as the rising blinds start to bite.
Damien Mills is the latest to fall in a hand that saw Eddie Saade open to 70,000 before Neb Blanusa shoved. Mills called off his stack with Saade folding.
It was Mills with Q♦8♦ trailing Blanusa’s A♠J♣ and when the board bricked another one was sent to the rail.
Nick Williams eliminated in 7th ($1,700)
Nick Williams, playing his second final table in as many days, called Eddie Saab’s late position shove looking good for the double holding K♣J♣ to Saade’s Q♦8♣, but the turn was a cruel one for Williams as the board ran out A♦7♣4♥Q♠3♠.
We are now down to six!
Level 19: 15,000/30,000 (30,000)
Andrew Michael eliminated in 8th ($1,300)
Having taken a good chunk of chips from Mike Gainer when he flopped the nut flush and got paid on the river, Huey Lam has added more to his growing stack after sending Andrew Michael to the rail.
Michael shoved his short stack with A♠4♠ and was called by Lam with a dominating A♦Q♥. The board ran out J♥Q♦3♦K♥K♠ to leave us with seven remaining.
Lam is up to 820,000.
Chris Parker eliminated in 9th ($1,000)
Adam Lutley opened to 65,000 and Chris Parker announced he was all-in for his last 161,000. Lutley called and showed A♠K♠ to be in a dominant position against Parker’s A♦Q♥.
The board ran out T high as the first player of this final table is eliminated.
Level 18: 10,000/20,000 (20,000)
Final table chip counts
| Player | Chips |
| Mike Gainer | 950,000 |
| Adam Lutley | 380,000 |
| Eddie Saade | 360,000 |
| Damien Mills | 300,000 |
| Huey Lam | 240,000 |
| Chris Parker | 225,000 |
| Neb Blanusa | 180,000 |
| Nick Williams | 150,000 |
| Andrew Michael | 85,000 |
George Vassilpoulis busts on the bubble
George Vassilpoulis got the last of his chips into the middle holding Q♦J♥ and looked in good shape against the A♣9♣ of Mike Gainer on a J♦6♦9♠ flop. But the river was the A♠ – enough to send the chips to Gainer and give us our final table of nine.
All nine players are now in the money with a guaranteed payday of $1,000.
Bubble life
A spate of eliminations has us suddenly down to our money and final table bubble – and it was very nearly Chris Parker leaving early.
Parker shoved with 8♥8♠ and ran into the J♠J♣ of Adam Lutley, but an 8 in the window saves his tournament life as he moves back up to 250,000.
Neber in doubt
Down to just 39,000 only 10 minutes ago, Neb Blasuna now sits behind a 280,000 stack. It took a bit of luck though – after Nick Williams opened, Blasuna shoved with K♠10♠ and was snap called by Williams with A♠A♣.
The board ran out 3♠Q♠2♥8♠A♦ and Blasuna caught his flush to climb into contention. Williams is down to 105,000.
Blasuna doubles
Neb Blasuna shoved for his last 41,000 and received a call from Jacyn Chea.
Blasuna was way ahead with K♦K♠ against the 4♦4♣ of Chea and he filled up on a K♥J♦10♣4♣J♥ board to move to 90,000.
Level 16: 6,000/12,000 (12,000)
Break time
Players are now on a 10-minute break
Chip stacks
There are now just 14 players remaining with plenty in bust-outs in the last level. Chip counts are as follows:
| Player | Chips |
| Mike Gainer | 350,000 |
| Huey Lam | 340,000 |
| Damien Mills | 260,000 |
| Eddie Saade | 220,000 |
| Elliott Esca | 200,000 |
| Andrew Michael | 190,000 |
| Brendan Murrell | 185,000 |
| Neb Blanusa | 150,000 |
| Jerry Zhang | 150,000 |
| Andy Ngo | 135,000 |
| Adam Lutley | 120,000 |
| Jacyn Chea | 115,000 |
| Chris Parker | 110,000 |
| George Vassilpoulis | 65,000 |
Level 15: 5,000/10,000 (10,000)
Williams spikes the Ace
Nick Williams shoves for around 100,000 and Michael Mariakis made the call.
It was Williams needing some divine intervention holding A♠10♣ against Mariakis’ K♦K♣ and it arrived just in time with the A♦ landing on the river to send Mariakis to the rail.
Williams, who final tabled the Accumulator event on Sunday, moves to 175,000.
Level 14: 4,000/8,000 (8,000)
Time to Ngo
Tin Win twice had two people shove into his Aces on his way to victory in the Accumulator on Sunday and it has happened again today, however this time it has ended his tournament.
It was Tin holding the pocket rockets against the 9♥10♥ of Andy Ngo and Q♦Q♣ of another opponent. Despite being in great shape to double, it was Ngo who flopped big with top two on a 9♦10♦2♣ flop.
The turn and river bricked to send Tin to the rail as Ngo chips up to 210,000.
Mike shows his magic
“Mad” Mike Gainer is our clear tournament chip leader with a massive stack of 410,000. Already sitting pretty with around 250,000, he just scored a double knock-out as he called off with pocket 9s following two all-ins before him.
His opponents held A♥K♦ and A♠Q♣ respectively and Mike managed to dodge it all to continue his impressive run.
Watson your mind?
Daniel Watson opened to 15,000 and was called on the button. Joe Sanjaev then shoved from the small blind and Watson was the only called.
It was off to the races with Watson holding K♣J♠ and Sanjaev 10♠10♥. Sanjaev looked set to score the knockout as the board ran out 4♥4♦3♥6♣ but the J♦ sent the pot Watson’s way.
Daniel Watson – 135,000
Joe Sanjaev – 18,000
Level 13: 3,000/6,000 (6,000)
Lutley enjoys the luck
Adam Lutley shoved from the button and was called by both the small blind in Tin Win and the big blind in “AC”.
Lutley showed K♦10♦ to have the worst of it against Tin’s A♦8♣ and AC’s K♠J♠ but the 3♦10♣2♥6♠6♦ board flipped the hand on its head to send AC home and rocket Lutley above 100,000.
Tin Win – 130,000
Adam Lutley – 120,000
AC – Busted
Payouts
| Position | Prize |
| 1 | $10,700 |
| 2 | $7,300 |
| 3 | $5,400 |
| 4 | $4,000 |
| 5 | $2,900 |
| 6 | $2,200 |
| 7 | $1,700 |
| 8 | $1,300 |
| 9 | $1,000 |
Level 12: 2,000/4,000 (4,000)
The dear departed
With the re-entry period over, the bust-outs are starting to come thick and fast.
Among those to depart over the past 15 minutes are Billy Argyros, Michael Haddad, Brad Parkyn, Damiano Aloi and Frank Pezzaniti.
Big stacks
| Player | Chips |
| Mad Mike | 184,000 |
| Tin Win | 170,000 |
| Andrew Michael | 157,000 |
| Damien Mills | 142,000 |
| Joe Sandaev | 133,000 |
Cards in the air
Players are back in their seats and the tournament staff have announced a final starting field of 73 players, creating a total prize pool of $36,500.
The winner will received a tidy $10,700.
Level 11: 1,500/3,000 (3,000)
Break time
Players are now on their second 15-minute break of the evening. This is also their last chance to re-enter before the tournament enters standard freezeout format.
Croc clipped
With two minutes remaining on the clock before the end of the registration and re-entry period, Jerry Zhang got his remaining chips in holding 9♥9♠ and well behind the Q♥Q♦ of Billy Argyros.
The flop was innocent enough as it fell 3♠3♣5♠ but the 9♣ turn rocketed Zhang into the lead and he stayed there when the 6♠ landed on the river.
Jerry Zhang – 95,000
Billy Argyros – 20,000
Parkyn the bus
On a A♥K♦3♠ flop, Michael Mariakis bet 7,500 and Bradley Parkyn made the call in the blinds.
On the turn K♥, Parkyn led for 10,000 and Mariakis called.
When the river landed the J♠, Parkyn announced he was all-in for around 41,000. Mariakis folded as Parkyn showed 4♠5♣ for the stone cold bluff.
He moves to 90,000.
Level 10: 1,000/2,000 (2,000)
Mills scores big pot
With the registration and re-entry period drawing closer, reigning Stacked Poker Championship Main Event winner Michael Haddad decided to try his luck in an effort to chip up.
He got it all-in holding Q♦6♦ but ran into the J♦J♠ of Damien Mills.
The board ran out K♥K♠6♥J♥5♠ as Mills moves to 165,000.
Haddad heads back to the cage to fire a third bullet.
Quads for Esca
Elliott Esca limped from the small blind and Damiano Aloi checked his option.
They took a flop of J♦9♠9♥ and Esca bet out, with Aloi making the call. Esca bet again on the Q♦ turn and then announced he was all-in for his remaining 41,100 when the 9♣ landed on the river.
This sent Aloi deep into the tank, but he eventually made the call with Q♥8♥ only to quickly find out the bad news as Esca showed Q♣9♦.
Elliott Esca – 120,000
Damiano Aloi – 88,000
Level 9: 800/1,600 (1,600)
Tin Man
Tin Win looks set for another deep run today after last night’s victory in the Accumulator Event.
He is suddenly tournament chip leader with 155,000 after taking a heap of chips from Sergio Cav in two big hands.
On the second of the two hands, Tin and Cav got it in the flop with Cav holding Q♦Q♠ and Tin the 3♣5♣ on a 2♥4♠6♠ flop.
The turn was the A♦, giving Tin the wheel and his tournament-leading stack. Cav appears to have exited the room.
Mills spins his Webb
On a board reading K♠8♠Q♦7♣, Shane Webb shoved and Damien Mills made the call.
It was Mills holding top two with K♥Q♠ but needing to dodge plenty of outs against Webb’s 5♠6♠. He did just that as the river fell 10♣.
Mills climbs up towards the top of the chip counts with almost 140,000 to his name.
Level 7: 500/1,000 (1,000)
The big stacks
| Player | Chips |
| “Mad Mike | 135,000 |
| Damiano Aloi | 125,000 |
| Daniel Chambers | 115,000 |
| Damien Mills | 105,000 |
| Frank Pezzaniti | 100,000 |
Runner-runner
On a board reading 5♥A♥J♠, “Mad Mike” called an opponent’s shove and found himself in trouble holding A♣K♦ against J♦J♥.
The A♣ on the turn gave him some outs however and one of those arrived via the 5♠ on the river.
He moves to 135,000 and the chip lead with that hand.
Level 6: 400/800 (800)
Break time
Players are now on a short break.
The Three Stooges
The “notables” – or Three Stooges as they prefer to be called – have arrived to take their seats in today’s event.
Michael Mariakis, Emmanuel “Curly” Seal and Billy “The Croc” Argyros are in the field which has now grown to more than 50 unique entries (and plenty more re-entries!)
Aloi Alovin’ it
Damiano Aloi opened to 2,000 and received a call from Shane Webb before an opponent 3-bet to 17,000. Aloi then jammed over the top with Webb folding but his opponent making the call.
Aloi needed help with A♥Q♥ against his rival’s K♦K♣ and it arrived just in time as the board ran out 3♦5♥6♠3♣A♣ to send his rival out the door.
Aloi moves to 125,000 with that win.
Level 5: 400/800
Faces in the crowd
Level 4: 300/600
Sets galore
We wandered over to Table 4 just in time to see two players getting it all-in, with Adam Cusenza feeling good about his flopped set of 7s until he saw the set of Qs held by “Mad Mike”.
On the very next hand, at the very same table, a river showdown saw Van Vlassis pick up a tidy pot holding a set of Js against his opponent’s set of 9s.
Mad Mike currently has around 90,000 while Vlassis is also above starting stack with 55,000.
Room with a view
The venue for the Stacked Poker Championship is Stacked Social, a quaint but classy venue located in the heart of North Adelaide.
Aside from becoming a hugely popular nightspot on weekends, it is also home to regular high stakes cash games and is renowned for its attentive staff providing great service.
As Managing Director Andrew Michael told PokerMedia Australia recently, “Players can expect exceptional table service with complimentary tea, coffee, juices and soft drinks while playing in any tournament or cash game.
“Players can also place orders direct from their seat – our delicious house cocktails are a big favourite amongst many of the players, while some prefer to sample our extensive range of cognac and whisky. Food-wise, you can choose from a wood oven pizza, a variety of delicious Hainanese options or a deliciously healthy “Fit Chef’ pre-made meal. We’ve got everybody covered.”
There are currently five table set up in the poker room but we’re told more will be set up in time for the Main Event, starting Friday.
If you’ve never visited before, it’s definitely worth the trip.
Level 3: 200/400
Seventh heaven
After an early position open to 600 that received two calls, Daniel Watson bumped it up to 2,100 with all three opponents calling.
The flop fell K♥7♦7♠ and it was checked to Watson who bet 2,400. Only Damien Mills called.
On the 4♦ turn, Mills check-called a bet of 6,700 from Watson, then led out for 17,000 on the 3♣ turn. Watson reluctantly called but mucked when Mills turned over Q♣7♣.
Damien Mills – 90,000
Daniel Watson – 15,000
Chambers takes chip lead
Table 2 has been the action table early on and Daniel Chambers has been a beneficiary after scooping a big 3-way pre-flop all in.
It was Chambers holding A♦K♣ against the A♥3♥ of Ned Blanusa and the Q♠Q♦ of Roman Priplotski.
The K♥ landed on the flop to propel Chambers into the lead and he held to move to 115,000. Priplotski’s early big stack drops back to 50,000 while Blanusa heads back to the rego desk.
Level 2: 100/200
Sergio surges
The chips went flying on a flop of 6♠7♦10♠ as three players got it all-in, including a short-stacked Neb Blanusa as well as Sergio Cav.
All three were in the hunt with Cav ahead holding K♣10♥ but needing to fade a multitude of draws against Blanusa’s 5♠10♣ and an opponent’s A♠2♠.
The turn 4♥ and river 8♥ saw Blanusa triple up while Cav scooped the bigger pot to move to 65,000.
Early double for Priplotski
With play barely underway for 5 minutes, Roman Priplotski opened to 300 and faced a 3-bet to 2,300 from Neb Blanusa. He called as they took a 5♥6♣9♥ flop.
Priplotski checked and Blanusa announced he was all-in. Priplotski thought for a whole before making the call with 10♥10♣ – ahead but needing to dodge some outs against Blanusa’s A♦.
The turn 4♦ gave Blanusa more straight outs but the river 9♣ wasn;t one of them as Priplotski moves to 75,000 early on.
Level 1: 100/100
Cards are in the air!
Play is underway in the $550 NLH Monster Stack!
Welcome back to PokerMedia Australia’s coverage of the Stacked Poker Championship, live from Stacked Social in sunny North Adelaide.
It’s a balmy 35 degrees outside today so what better time to enjoy the air con at Stacked Social and jump into today’s event – the $550 NLH Monster Stack.
After Tin Win topped a field of 117 entries to win the opening Accumulator Event on Sunday, we expect to see another solid field today as we play from the opening deal all the way down to our winner.
Play gets underway at 6pm sharp local time (6.30pm AEDT), with starting stacks at 40,000 and 20-minute levels. Late rego and re-entries are open until the end of Level 10 which should take us through to around 9.30pm local time, when standard freezeout conditions will apply.
PMA will be on the floor from yay until nay, so pull up a comfortable chair and stay tuned right here at pokermedia.com.au.
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