Markopolous triples up on last hand
In a crazy finish to the day’s play, Alex Markopolous shoved blind for around 30,000 and Joel Williams shoved over the top. Chip leader Matt Dapollonio then called both players and the cards were turned with Markopolous looking down at K♦K♥ – way ahead of Williams’ 9♦9♥ and the A♣5♣ of Dapollonio.
The board didn’t change anything and Markopolous finishes with a huge triple up, while Dapollonio loses the overall tournament chip lead.
| Matt Dapollonio | 173,500 |
| Joel Williams | 100,000 |
| Alex Markopolous | 90,500 |
Flight 1C Level 13: 1,000/2,000 (2,000)
Race that stops the nation
Huy Nguyen opened to 5,000 from the cut-off and Alex Markopolous 3-bet to 30,000. Nguyen shoved for 39,600 total and Markopolous called.
It was Markopolous holding A♥K♠ racing against the 10♦10♥ of Huy and when the board ran out Q-high Huy was back in business.
| Huy Nguyen | 83,000 |
| Alex Markopolous | 66,000 |
Flight 1C Level 12: 800/1,600 (1,400)
Bok bouncing
In a blind v blind battle, Bunteon Bok and Steve K got it all-in pre-flop with Bok holding A♣8♣ and Steve K Q♦10♠.
The 8♥9♥J♣ flop was huge for Steve K but incredibly the turn landed 8♠ and the river the J♠ to fill Bok up and send Steve K to the rail.
Bok has almost 70,000 now.
Flight 1C Level 11: 700/1,400 (1,400)
Holler for a Marshall
Brett Marshall opened in late position and Nick Williams shoved from the blinds, with Marshall quickly calling.
It was a race with Marshall holding J♣J♥ and Williams A♣Q♥. When the board ran out 4♣6♦9♠J♦4♦, Marshall took the pot to chip up to 106,000 and send Williams to the rail.
Dapollonio claims overall Main Event chip lead
Matt Dapollonio has soared into the overall tournament lead after winning yet another huge pot, this time at the expense of Emmanuel Seal.
Enjoying quite the heater, the chips went in on the 10♦Q♠8♣ flop with Seal holding K♣Q♥ and Dapollonio behind holding Q♦J♥.
The turn A♣ kept Seal in the lead but the river was the 9♦ – sending Seal to the rail and ensuring Dapollonio has the Day 2 chip lead in his sights.
| Matt Dapollonio | 290,000 |
| Emmanuel Seal | Busted |
Flight 1C Level 10: 600/1,200 (1,200)
Cum on feel the noize
It’s getting rowdy in the Stacked Social poker room with the 17 remaining players in Flight 1C having a good time (and perhaps a few drinks to match!) There is also a very loose 25/25 cash game taking place on Table 1.
For the record, the 24 entries in Flight 1C takes the total number of entries in this Main Event to 153, with the prize pool now at $306,000. Of course, $100,000 of that is GTD for the winner.
Flight 1C Level 9: 500/1,000 (1,000)
Matt finish
Chris Parker put in a big open to 4,000 and Matt Dapollonio called in the blinds. The flop fell 9♣5♥7♠ and it was checked to Parker who fired 5,000. Dapollonio called as the turn brought the 8♣. This time Dapollonio led out for 15,000 and Parker called.
The river was the K♦ and Dapollonio shoved. Parker quickly called and tabled 8♠8♦ but it wasn’t enough to beat his opponent’s 6♠6♣.
Parker hits the rail while Dapollonio soars to 165,000.
Marshall flattens Tin
Tin Win opened to 1,600 and was called by both Brett Marshall and Matt Dapollonio in the blinds.
On the 9♥3♥10♣ flop Tin continued for 1,600 and Marshall raised to 4,500. Dapollonio folded before Tin shoves for 15,000 more. Marshall quickly called with top set, needing to fade Tin’s open ender with Q♦J♥.
The turn and river bricked as Tin hits the rail, while Marshall moves to 88,000.
Flight 1C Level 8: 400/800 (800)
Williams doubles through Zhang
Jerry Zhang opened to 1,500 in the hijack and Joel Williams 3-bet to 3,000 from the button. Zhang, with the much bigger stack, put Williams all-in for his entire 19,500. Williams called and tabled A♦A♣ to Zhang’s Q♠Q♥.
The board ran out 5♥9♠J♦7♠7♣ as Williams climbs to just above 40,000. Zhang still has 32,000.
Power play
Steve K opened to 1,300 and Nathan Glase 3-bet to 3,000. Steve K called and they saw a flop of Q♦Q♥9♦.
Steve K then check-called a bet of 5,000 to see the 9♥ on the turn. Steve K checked again and Glase announced he was all-in. Steve K quickly folded. Glase has 35,000 after that hand.
Flight 1C Level 7: 300/600 (600)
Break time
Players are now on a 10-minute break.
Top 5 stacks
| Matt Dapollonio | 102,000 |
| Chris Parker | 62,000 |
| Brett Marshall | 55,000 |
| Steve K | 52,000 |
| Jerry Zhang | 50,000 |
Flight 1C Level 6: 250/500 (500)
When the river runs dry
Matt Dapollonio opened to 1,050 and received two callers, including Alex Markopolous in the big blind. On the 8♠8♦4♦ flop it was checked back to Dapollonio who continued for 2,500. Only Markopolous called.
The turn was the 3♠ and this time Markopolous led for 7,000. Dapollonio called to see the 5♥ land on the river.
Markopolous bet another 17,000 and Dapollonio called again. Markopolous turned over 7♣8♣ for flopped trips but Dapollonio had hit big on the river with 5♦5♠.
“Against anyone else I raise that hand,” he said as he scooped a nice pot.
| Matt Dapollonio | 78,000 |
| Alex Markopolous | 55,000 |
Flight 1C Level 5: 200/400 (400)
Day 1B final chip counts:
| Player | Chips |
| Gabriel Xiourouppa | 206,000 |
| Nebojsa Blanusa | 181,500 |
| Adrian Indovino | 166,500 |
| Jacyn Che | 137,000 |
| Weng Wong | 135,000 |
| Eddie Saade | 118,000 |
| Shane Webb | 116,000 |
| Andrew Michael | 106,500 |
| Pip Chea | 106,000 |
| Abhey Rai | 95,500 |
| Francesco Sergi | 93,500 |
| AC | 92,000 |
| Tony Xu | 64,500 |
| Frank Pezzaniti | 61,000 |
| Karl Fielke | 50,000 |
| Chris Edgar | 35,500 |
| Francesk Gjoni | 34,500 |
| Fred Chaptini | 27,000 |
Turbo faces
Flight 1C Level 4: 150/300 (300)
Day 1B run and done
While Flight 1C is picking up steam, that’s all she wrote in Flight 1B with the 19 players remaining now bagging and tagging their chips. We’ll bring you full chip counts as soon as they are available.
Flight 1C Level 3: 150/300
Seal sinks
Emmanuel Seal has been eliminated from the Turbo flight courtesy of a brutal beat at the hands of Lionel Seah.
Following a commotion at Table 4, Seah explained that he had opened in early position with A♦A♠ and Seal called in the big blind. The flop fell 6♦4♦2♣ and Seal check-called Seah’s c-bet.
When the turn landed K♥, Seah bet again and Seal announced he was all-in. Seah called but was in trouble against Seal’s 6♠4♠. That’s until a repeat King landed on the river to counterfeit Seal and send him to the rail.
Seah moves to 62,000.
The Big Stacks
| Player | Chips |
| Adrian Indouino | 183,000 |
| Jacyn Che | 165,000 |
| Gabby Xiourouppa | 149,000 |
| Eddie Saade | 132,000 |
| Andrew Michael | 122,000 |
| Shane Webb | 121,000 |
| Abhey Rai | 115,000 |
| Weng Wong | 90,000 |
Flight 1C Level 2: 100/200
Wong gets his “one time” to survive
Andrew Michael opened to 3,500 UTG and Weng Wong 3-bet to 14,100 from the button. Michael then shoved, putting Wong in for his entire 35,000 stack.
Wong called and showed A♠K♠ but was way behind the A♦A♥ of Michael.
But it must be Wong’s lucky day, because the board ran out 10♣9♥8♦Q♣J♠ to complete Broadway and keep his hopes alive.
| Andrew Michael | 106,000 |
| Weng Wong | 75,000 |
Flight 1B Level 13: 1,000/2,000 (2,000)
Records fall
There are currently 12 players seated in Flight 1C, which combined with the 68 entries in Flight 1A and 61 in Flight 1B takes this year’s field to 141 starters and counting.
It also sets a new record, comfortably topping the 126 who took part in the inaugural Stacked Poker Championship Main Event last year. Will we crack 150?
Flight 1C Level 1: 75/150
Flight 1C is ready for launch!
There is still around 50 minutes of play remaining in Flight 1B but it’s also time for Flight 1C to get under way – the Turbo flight with 20-minute blinds.
Tournament Director Chris has announced Shuffle Up and Deal and we’re underway! PMA will do its best to cover both flights until Day 1B comes to its conclusion a little before 9pm local time.
Che wins a monster
Chip leader Eddie Saade opened to 3,700 from middle position and Jacyn Che called from the big blind. The flop fell 2♠4♣6♣ and Che checked to Saade who continued for 4,300. Che then re-raised to 11,700.
Saade jammed and Che quickly called, tabling top two with his 6♠4♠ against the 9♠9♥ of Saade. The turn was the 7♦ and the river the J♠ to rocket Che up towards the top of the leaderboard.
Che has already enjoyed a good week with victory in Tuesday’s PLO5 event and he will be hoping to turn this strong start into another big score.
| Eddie Saade | 155,000 |
| Jacyn Che | 145,000 |
Flopped it
On a J♣9♦8♠ flop, Bunteon Bok led for 5,000 and Frank Pezzaniti called.
The turn was the 7♦ and this time Bok led for 7,000. Pezzaniti called.
When the 10♣ landed on the river to put a straight on the board, Bok bet 15,000 and Pezzaniti quickly threw in a calling chip.
Bok rolled over 10♠6♠ for the turned straight but Pezzaniti had flopped the buts with Q♦ and scooped it all.
Level 12: 800/1,600 (1,600)
Flip for it
While Day 1B is bubbling along with 25 players left, preparations are underway for Day 1C – a Turbo flight starting at 8pm with short 20-minute levels.
Getting into the swing of things early, the Stacked staff just ran a 10-handed flip for a ticket into the Turbo flight with Chris Parker coming up trumps.
Good times!
Pip gets some back
Shortly after Matt Dapollonio spiked his Ace holding A♠J♣ against the ladies of Pip Chea, the two got it in again in almost identical circumstances with Chea holding K♣K♥ and Dapollonio the A♦8♦.
This time there would be no Ace on the board as Chea doubles back through to 48,000.
Dapollonio has 22,000 behind.
Level 11: 700/1,400 (1,400)
On break
Players are now on their final 10-minute break of the night.
Dapollonio doubles
Matt Dapollonio opened to 2,500 UTG and Pip Chea shoved from the button.
It was the third time this orbit that Chea had shoved and Dapallonio quickly made the call for a little over 20,000 with A♠J♣, although he trailed the Q♥Q♣ of Chea. Not for long though as the window card brought the A♦ and Dapollonio scored the double-up.
| Matt Dapollonio | 48,000 |
| Pip Chea | 10,000 |
The big stacks
We are halfway through Level 10 and with three levels remaining after this one there are 29 of the 61 entries still in the field. The big stacks are as follows:
| Player | Chips |
| Eddie Saade | 145,000 |
| Tony Xu | 131,000 |
| Gabby Xiourouppa | 114,000 |
| Shane Webb | 108,000 |
| Abhey Rai | 106,000 |
| Neb Blanusa | 102,000 |
| “AC” | 98,000 |
| Tin Win | 83,000 |
Lam to the slaughter
We’ve seen a spate of eliminations over the past hour, with Huey Lam the latest to fall. Lam was all-in holding 10♠10♣ and Neb Blanusa wasted no time as he called with A♦A♠.
The window card was the A♣ and there was no miracle runout for Lam who heads back to the rego desk.
Blanusa now has 108,500.
Level 10: 600/1,200 (1,200)
Hamid hustled
One of our early big stacks today has just been stacked after Hamid Shaori got his last 18,500 into the middle on a 4♠Q♥K♦5♣ board.
Shane Webb thought briefly before calling with K♠10♥ to have Shaori and his K♣3♣ in trouble. The river was the 9♠, enough to send Shaori packing while Webb chips up to 150,000.
Rawson rolled
Matthew Rawson’s bad run has come to an end after being stacked for the third time in the past two hours.
Under the rules put in place for this Main Event, each player is allowed a maximum of three buy-ins per flight and it hasn’t taken much time at all for Rawson to use up his quota. In the final indignity, Rawson 4-bet shoved from the button over a small blind 3-bet from Weng Wong.
Wong thought for around a minute before making the call with A♥10♥. Rawson showed Q♠Q♣ but the board was again cruel to Rawson as it ran out A♣8♦4♣K♥10♣.
Meanwhile Wong is up to 78,000.
Level 9: 500/1,000 (1,000)
Spring-Bok
Neb Blanusa opened to 2,200 in early position before Bunteon Bok sitting immediately to his left put in a 3-bet to 6,000.
Blanusa came back over the top to 12,000 before Bok announce he was all in for 31,600. Blanusa folded his [invalid notations] face up. Blanusa is still in decent shape with more than 70,000 in chips.
| Bunteon Bok | 41,000 |
| Neb Blanusa | 72,000 |
Rai of sunshine
On a flop reading Q♦J♦5♣, Chris Parker shoved for his last 12,000 holding J♥10♥ and was called by Abhey Rai with the dominating A♦J♣.
There was no help arriving for Parker as he hits the rail, while Rai is steadily climbing up the leaderboard and now has a stack of 75,000 behind him.
Misclick costly for Rawson
It’s been a rough hour for Matthew Rawson, who shortly before the dinner break lost a massive three-handed pot to a one-outer on the river.
He bought back in but has now gone through his second stack of the day after misfiring in another pot against Gabby Xiourouppa.
After Xiourouppa limped into the pot, Rawson intended to throw in three blue 1,000 chips to indicate a raise to 3,000. Instead he threw in three yellow 5,000 chips for a raise to 15,000. With that, Xiourouppa announced he was all-in and Rawson, now with half his stack in the middle, made the call.
It was not good news, with Rawson’s A♣8♦ drawing very thin against Xiourouppa’s A♦A♥.
The board ran out 6♦10♥K♥2♦Q♦ as Xiourouppa moves to around 140,000.
Level 8: 400/800 (800)
Dinner break
Players are now on a short 10-minute dinner break.
Seventh heaven
In one of the craziest hands we’ve seen all week, the chips went flying on a flop of 3♥3♠4♣ with Neb Blanusa, Gabby Xiourouppa and Matthew Rawson got it all-in.
Gabby flipped over 7♦7♥ but was trailing both players with Rawson holding 10♣3♣ and Blanusa 7♣3♦.
The turn was the 9♥ but incredibly the river was the case 7♠! The table erupted as Gabby celebrated like he’d won Powerball. He now sits with a healthy stack, while Blanusa takes a hit and Rawson is sent to the rail.
| Gabby Xiourouppa | 110,000 |
| Neb Blanusa | 61,000 |
| Matthew Rawson | Busted |
Zhang takes a hit
On 10♦5♥3♥ flop, Matt Dapollonio shoved for his last 15,000 and Jerry Zhang made the call.
Zhang was in front holding 5♦6♦ but needing to dodge a whole truckload of outs to take the pot against Dapollonio’s K♥J♥.
It took only one card to turn the tide with the J♠ landing on the turn before the river bricked to double Dapollonio up.
Level 7: 300/600 (600)
Numbers game
As we approach the end of Level 6, there are 52 entries for today’s flight so far – pushing the total entries for this event to 120. That’s just six shy of the 126 who entered last year, when Michael Haddad topped the field to take home the $100,000 first prize.
It looks like we will easily surpass that number given that registration is open for the entirety of this flight and a third and final Turbo flight will take place from 8pm.
Straightened out
On a 3♥5♣6♠ flop, Chris Parker led out for 1,000 and was called by both Abhey Rai and Van Vlassis. The turn was the 9♣ and Parker checked to Rai who bet 2,100. Only Vlassis called.
On the river J♠ Rai bet 6,500 and Vlassis quickly called but mucked when Rai showed the 7♠8♣.
| Abhey Rai | 66,000 |
| Van Vlassis | 49,000 |
Level 6: 250/500 (500)
Notable stacks
| Player | Chips |
| Shane Webb | 113,000 |
| Tin Win | 96,000 |
| Hamid Shaori | 68,000 |
| Van Vlassis | 67,000 |
| Eddie Saade | 53,000 |
| Stan Levitan | 52,000 |
| Tony Xu | 48,000 |
| Frank Pezzaniti | 38,000 |
| Chris Parker | 37,000 |
| Andrew Michael | 34,000 |
| Emmanuel Seal | 26,000 |
| Brendan Murrell | 25,000 |
Last longer?
Pip Chea is one of a number of late registrations today and he’ll be hoping he can at least last a little longer than he did in Friday’s opening flight.
After having his Aces cracked on the fourth hand of the day yesterday, he proceeded to also burn through his second and third bullets in under an hour!
Others to take their sat in the last 30 minutes include Tony Xu, Emmanuel Seal, Chris Parker and Matt Dapollonio.
Level up
With the first four 30-minute levels down and players having returned from their first break, the remaining nine levels of today’s flight 1B will be 40 minutes each – taking us through until around 9.30pm local time.
However, there will be a second flight running today from 8pm and adopting a Turbo format, with all levels just 20 minutes long.
Level 5: 200/400 (400)
Break it up
Players are on their first 10-minute break of the day.
Wrong time to bluff
After an early position open, Jacyn Che – winner of the PLO5 event earlier this week – 3-bet to 2,100 and received a cold call from Accumulator champ Tin Win on the button.
The flop fell Q♥9♠6♣ and Che check-raised Tin to 10,000. Tin called before Che shoved on the 4♠ turn. Tin snap-called and showed Q♠Q♦ to have Che drawing dead with A♦K♠.
Che hits the rail while Tin chips up to 108,000 and is our current chip leader.
Blanusa blown away
Neb Blanusa, best known for winning the 2018 Sydney Champs Main Event for $314,265, is also renowned for his aggression and he showed that in a huge pre-flop clash with Hamid Shaori.
Blanusa opened to 1,600 in late position and Shaori 3-bet to 4,600 from the blinds. Blanusa then announced he was all-in and Shaori called.
Blanusa trailed with 9♦9♣ to the Q♥Q♠ of Shaori and the board didn’t change anything as it ran out 8♠10♥K♥5♥4♣.
Shaori moves to 57,000 with that hand while Blanusa will need to re-enter to continue in this event.
Level 4: 150/300 (300)
Stark hits the exit
Adelaide poker identity Jon Stark has hit the rail after twice having his Aces cracked inside the first two levels of the day. He was moved to a new table with a short stack but his seat is now empty – completing a day he would no doubt like to forget!
Rollercoaster for Saade
We caught up with Table 4 as Eddie Saade fired 6,500 on the river of a K♥J♥10♦7♦6♦ board then reluctantly called the shove of a short-stacked “AC”.
Saade showed Q♥10♥ but it wasn’t enough to beat AC’s A♦9♦.
Next hand he was one of two players to call the button raise of Huey Lam as they saw a K♦10♦Q♣ flop. Saade check-called Lam’s 2,500 c-bet, then check-raised his 3,700 turn bet to 8,000 when the 6♠ landed.
The Q♥ landed on the river at which point Saade check-called a bet of 11,000. Saade showed J♥9♥ for the flopped straight as Lam mucked.
Saade is sitting with around 50,000.
Level 3: 150/300
Murrell on the move
We arrived just in time to see Stacked Social Managing Director Andrew Michael with all of his chips in the middle and Brendan Murrell having made the call on a board of 9♥2♥5♣6♠2♣.
Michael held J♥9♣ but was out-kicked by Murrell’s K♦9♦.
He becomes the third player of the day to head to the cage to re-enter while Murrell chips up to 70,000.
Face time
Level 2: 100/200
Shane spins his Webb
We just caught up with Shane Webb as he was stacking chips and the player previously seated next to him making his way quickly to the exit.
As it was explained to us, the player had opened UTG and received three callers, including Webb, to see a flop of A♦Q♠9♥.
The player then continued for 1,700 and Webb re-raised to 4,200. On the 3♦ turn, the player led out for 2,000 and Webb raised to 7,000. The player called.
The river was the 4♣ and this time the player led again. Webb re-raised for the third time at which time the player announced he was all-in. Webb let out a sigh and called, showing 9♦9♣ which was well and truly enough to take it down against his opponent’s A♥J♥.
He now chips up to just over 60,000.
Who’s here?
There are currently two tables in play here on Day 1B of the Main Event, which will expand to fill Stacked Social’s five tables as the afternoon progresses.
Among those currently in the field are former Sydney Poker Championships Main Event winner Neb Blanusa, “Mad” Mike Gainer – fresh from his victory in Wednesday’s Accumulator event – plus Jon “the poker shark” Stark, Stan Levitan, Shane Webb, Tin Win and Andrew Michael.
Early double for Van
On the second hand of the day, Van Vlassis opened to 500 in the cut-off and Weng Wong 3-bet from the button to 1,650. Vlassis called as they saw a flop of 5♠6♦K♠.
Vlassis check-called a bet of 2,500 from Wong to see the 7♦ land on the turn, then check-called another bet of 4,000.
On the 7♥ river, Vlassis checked to Wong who bet 10,000. Vlassis then check-raised all-in and Wong thought briefly before reluctantly calling.
Wong turned over A♦A♠ but it wasn’t enough as Vlassis showed 7♣8♣ to send Wong back to the cage for an early re-buy. Vlassis jumps up to 60,000.
Shuffle up and deal!
And we’re underway!
Level 1: 75/150
We’re back at Stacked! Today we strap ourselves in for the biggest day of the Stacked Poker Championship (SPC) so far with not one but two Day 1 flights set to run back-to-back.
After 68 entries saw 20 players progress on Friday, today’s play begins at 12 midday local time with Flight 1B, while a third and final Turbo flight kicks off from 8pm giving players one final chance to return on Day 2.
While the first flight starts with four 30-minute levels before the remainder increase to 40 minutes each, the Turbo flight sees all levels lasting just 20 minutes – so we’re expecting plenty of action once play gets underway.
Last year’s inaugural SPC attracted 126 entries so we’re well on track to topple that mark this week.
Join us here at pokermedia.com.au as we bring you all the action live from Adelaide’s Stacked Social poker room!
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