Congratulations Wenjie Sun ($49,611), Star Gold Coast Champs Opening Event Champion!
Ladies and gentlemen, we have a winner!
Having dropped to as little as 20,000 in chips in the lead-up to the final table, Wenjie Sun has completed his epic comeback, defeating France’s Anthony Cierco heads-up for the Star Gold Coast Champs title!
The achievement is made even more incredible given the fact that Sun had only taken up the game less than six months ago, being coached by his best mate as they put in countless hours of study to prepare for this series – and it’s clearly paid off in every sense of the word.
Co-incidentally, his winning hand – pocket jacks – was the same hand that Luci Bonaccorso held when she won the $1,100 NLH Event earlier this evening. Now that’s one for the PokerMedia Australia Almanac!
STAR GOLD COAST CHAMPS OPENING EVENT ($750 buy-in, 346 entries, 44 players paid)
| Place | Name | Country | Amount |
| 1st | Wenjie Sun | China | $49,611 |
| 2nd | Anthony Cierco | France | $34,750 |
| 3rd | Jeremy Winlaw | Australia | $22,341 |
| 4th | Lucho Vargas | Colombia | $14,468 |
| 5th | Nathan Harvey | Australia | $11,152 |
| 6th | Brenton Buttigieg | Australia | $9,225 |
| 7th | Brett Marshall | Australia | $7,742 |
| 8th | Carlos Youssef | Australia | $6,341 |
| 9th | Corey Van Jaarsveldt | Australia | $4,961 |
Our full wrap-up of today’s action – including the results of the $330 Bounty – will be published tomorrow, but for now, the PMA Live Reporting Crew are heading off to rest up before the Teams Event and then we’ll be back on deck for Day 1 of the $660 Big Wave on Tuesday.
Thanks again for joining us and we look forward to seeing you on the felt very soon. Until next time, from all of us here at The Star Gold Coast, it’s ‘bye for now!
Anthony Cierco eliminated in 2nd place ($34,750)
Down to just 2.8 million in chips, Anthony Cierco snap-called all-in from the big blind after Wenjie Sun open-shoved from the button.
Cierco turned over A♥10♦, however he was well behind Sun who rolled up J♦J♣; despite spiking a pair on the flop of 6♣10♥2♠, Sun held after the turn and river blanked out 7♦, 4♦.
Another impressive result from the French import, who has already scored two major titles leading up to this series – rest assured that this won’t be the last time we see Cierco’s name up in lights!
Sun turns up the heat
Wenjie Sun and Anthony Cierco got stuck into heads-up play almost straight away, with Sun raising to 600,000 from the button and forcing a fold from Cierco from the big blind.
In the very next hand, Cierco limped from the button and Sun checked his option from the big blind before forcing a fold from Cierco after firing 600,000 on a flop of 7♦2♣6♣.
Cierco then mucked after Sun’s open-shove from the button to move down to less than three million in chips.
| Wenjie Sun | 7,575,000 |
| Anthony Cierco | 2,800,000 |
Jeremy Winlaw eliminated in 3rd place ($22,341)
After Anthony Cierco raised to 450,000 from the button, Winlaw jammed from the small blind and Wenjie Sun called from the big blind, forcing Cierco out of the way before the cards were tabled.
Sun: Q♦Q♣
Winlaw: A♣4♣
Sun then hit top set on the flop of 10♠Q♥5♣, but the 3♥ on the turn gave Winlaw the gut-shot wheel draw.
It wasn’t to be, as the 6♠ bricked out on the river – and we are now officially heads-up for the Star Gold Coast Champs Opening Event title!
| Wenjie Sun | 6,630,000 |
| Anthony Cierco | 3,745,000 |
| Jeremy Winlaw | BUSTED! |
Updated chip counts
| Wenjie Sun | 3,905,000 |
| Anthony Cierco | 4,195,000 |
| Jeremy Winlaw | 2,185,000 |
Level 31: 100,000/200,000 (200,000)
Break it down
Our remaining players are now on another 10-minute break.
Lucho Vargas eliminated in 4th place ($14,468)
After being almost felted at the hands of Wenjie Sun, Lucho Vargas jammed his last 325,000 from under the gun pre-flop and found a caller in Jeremy Winlaw from the big blind and flipping for his tournament life with A♦5♣ against Winlaw’s 2♠2♥.
Vargas turned the bigger two pair and doubled up after the dealer spread the board of Q♠J♦8♣5♦Q♣, but he then moved his chips back into the middle in the very next hand with Q♣J♦ after Sun’s pre-flop raise.
Sun insta-called, tabling A♥Q♥ and held after the board ran out 4♥8♣3♦7♥10♠.
And just like that, we’re down to three!
| Wenjie Sun | 3,050,000 |
| Lucho Vargas | BUSTED! |
Sun scorches Vargas
Wenjie Sun has just decimated Lucho Vargas’ stack in another massive hand here at the Star Gold Coast Opening Event final table.
Action folded around to Vargas who open-shoved from the small blind with J♥9♦; Sun called with A♥7♥, however Vargas spiked top pair on the flop of 9♠8♠5♠.
A repeat 5♣ on the turn helped him along further, but much to the joy of Sun’s rail, the A♦ fell on the river to give Sun a huge double-up!
| Wenjie Sun | 2,380,000 |
| Lucho Vargas | 325,000 |
Lucho bounces back
Just as the blinds went up, Anthony Cierco folded before Jeremy Winlaw raised from the button; both Lucho Vargas and Wenjie Sun called from the blinds and Winlaw folded to make it three-handed to a flop of 6♦7♦3♣.
Both Vargas and Sun checked to Winlaw who opened for 325,000, but Vargas then check-raised all-in, forcing them out of the way to move back up to more than 2.5 million.
| Lucho Vargas | 2,580,000 |
Level 30: 75,000/150,000 (150,000)
Vargas takes a hit
In one of the last hands before the new level, Jeremy Winlaw folded from under the gun before Lucho Vargas raised to 250,000 from the button; Wenjie Sun folded his small blind and Anthony Cierco called from the big blind to go heads-up to the flop of 8♠2♣J♦.
Both players checked, then Cierco check-called Vargas’ bet of 150,000 after the turn of the K♥ before open-shoving on the river 3♠. Vargas mucked.
| Wenjie Sun | 2,200,000 |
| Anthony Cierco | 2,450,000 |
| Jeremy Winlaw | 4,050,000 |
| Lucho Vargas | 1,370,000 |
Four milly for Winlaw
And now for something completely different … a battle of the blinds!
This time, Anthony Cierco completed the small and Jeremy Winlaw checked his option to go heads-up to a flop of 4♥J♣9♠.
Cierco opened for 125,000 and Winlaw called, then also called Cierco’s bet of 250,000 on the turn of the Q♠ before calling again after Cierco’s third barrel of 650,000 after the river 10♣.
Cierco rolled up A♦5♦ for nothing but air, but Winlaw tabled 10♥8♦ for the turned straight.
| Jeremy Winlaw | 4,180,000 |
| Anthony Cierco | 2,040,000 |
Sun and Cierco share one
After Wenjie Sun raised to 325,000 from the small blind, Anthony Cierco called from the big blind before both players checked the flop of J♣K♠5♠.
Sun then check-called Cierco’s bet of 325,000 after the dealer brought down the 2♠ on the turn before open-shoving on the river 8♣. Cierco quickly called.
Cierco: J♥8♥
Sun: J♦8♦
Chop, choppity chop-chop-chop!
Vargas chases the Sun
Another battle of the blinds, this time with Lucho Vargas completing from the small and Wenjie Sun checking his option in the big before both players checked the flop of 5♠8♠Q♠.
Vargas then led out for 125,000 on the turn of the 8♣ before Sun raised to 325,000; Vargas made the call, then he opened for another 325,000 after the river 4♠.
Sun called, but Vargas was best with K♠4♥ for the second nut flush.
| Lucho Vargas | 2,380,000 |
| Wenjie Sun | 1,760,000 |
Cierco put to the sword
Jeremy Winlaw has clawed some chips back from Anthony Cierco as we head into the 29th level of play in this Opening Event.
Action folded to Cierco who completed the small blind before Winlaw checked his option in the big blind to go heads-up to a flop of 3♣J♥J♣, which both players checked.
Cierco then opened for 125,000 after the turn of the 7♣ and Winlaw called before the Frenchman checked on the river 6♦.
Winlaw shoved for 1,105,000 and Cierco almost curled up in agony as he thought it over for a good three minutes.
“Looks like the Ace of Clubs, maybe … I think you might have missed the flush,” Cierco said, before putting in the chips to call.
As it turns out, Winlaw hadn’t missed at all, tabling 10♣2♣ to scoop the pot.
| Jeremy Winlaw | 2,760,000 |
| Anthony Cierco | 3,180,000 |
Level 29: 75,000/125,000 (125,000)
Nathan Harvey eliminated in 5th place ($11,152)
We’re now down to four in the Star Gold Coast Champs Opening Event after Nathan Harvey fell to Wenjie Sun in fifth place.
Harvey got his last 670,000 into the middle pre-flop with K♠5♣, but Sun woke up with A♣K♦ which went on to hit two pair after the dealer spread a board of 6♠9♣A♠10♥10♠.
The result is officially Harvey’s biggest tournament result to date, having only registered two small cashes at the APT and the Treasury Poker Festival Deepstack Event back in January. Well played, sir!
| Wenjie Sun | 2,800,000 |
| Nathan Harvey | BUSTED! |
Kai’s gonna play with PMA!
As play continues in the Star Gold Coast Opening Event, the PokerMedia Australia team would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Luci Bonaccorso, who took out the $1,100 buy-in No Limit Hold’em Event.
We’d also like to congratulate fourth-place finisher Kai Yeung, who’ll be pairing up with Josh Emerton in the $440 Teams Event after winning our ‘I WANT TO PLAY WITH PMA’ Facebook Competition.
Thank you to everyone that entered and we hope to see you on the felt tomorrow night!
Updated chip counts
| Wenjie Sun | 1,465,000 |
| Anthony Cierco | 3,555,000 |
| Jeremy Winlaw | 1,230,000 |
| Nathan Harvey | 1,690,000 |
| Lucho Vargas | 2,440,000 |
Level 28: 50,000/100,000 (100,000)
Take a breather
Our players are now on another 10-minute break.
Easy going
Action has slowed down now, but there have been some jabs thrown between our five remaining players as we head into the next break of the evening.
Earlier, Lucho Vargas min-clicked from early position before Cierco three-bet it to 450,000. Action then moved to Nathan Harvey who shoved for 1,905,000. Cierco and Vargas both elected to let their hands go.
In the very next hand, the action folded around to Harvey who raised to 220,000 from the small blind; Vargas called from the big blind and then jammed for 1,095,000 over Harvey’s 225,000 continuation bet on the flop of 9♣7♥J♠; Harvey went into the tank but elected to let it go.
And an interesting statistic for those of you keeping score at home: both Lucho Vargas and Jeremy Winlaw made the final table of the Star Gold Coast Summer Series Main Event, finishing in fifth and seventh place respectively.
Sun is shining
Having been as low as 20,000 in chips in the lead-up to the final table, Wenjie Sun is now running hot after doubling through Nathan Harvey.
All the the money went into the middle after the turn on a board that read 7♣Q♦A♦10♥; Harvey had hit top two pair with his A♠Q♠, but Sun had hit the nut straight with his K♣J♣!
The river 5♣ was merely a formality and now both players are around the two-million chip mark.
| Wenjie Sun | 2,040,000 |
| Nathan Harvey | 2,015,000 |
Level 27: 40,000/80,000 (80,000)
Brenton Buttigieg eliminated in 6th place ($9,225)
It’s all swings and roundabouts at the final table of the Opening Event, with Brenton Buttigieg gutted in extraordinary fashion before bowing out in sixth place.
In an earlier hand, Anthony Cierco opened for 130,000 before Jeremy Winlaw shoved for 465,000. Buttigieg then came in over the top and Cierco thought about it for a minute or so before making the call.
Cierco: Q♥Q♣
Buttigieg: 8♠8♣
Winlaw: K♥10♥
Winlaw took the main pot down after turning the king for the bigger two pair on the 2♥10♦7♣K♣2♠ board, leaving Buttigieg with just 245,000.
Buttigieg then scored a double-up through Lucho Vargas before ripping it in with J♥10♠, only to find himself behind Nathan Harvey’s A♦10♦ which improved to two pair on the board of 3♠9♠10♥4♣3♦.
| Nathan Harvey | 3,680,000 |
| Anthony Cierco | 2,430,000 |
| Jeremy Winlaw | 1,455,000 |
| Brenton Buttigieg | BUSTED! |
Brett Marshall eliminated in 7th place ($7,742)
Brett Marshall was our latest final table casualty, eliminated in seventh place at the hands of QPC Main Event Champion Lucho Vargas.
From UTG+1, Marshall moved all-in before Vargas shoved over the top, forcing everyone else out of the way before the cards were tabled.
Vargas: J♦J♣
Marshall: J♠9♠
Vargas then scuttled Marshall after filling up on the board of 10♦K♦10♠J♥4♦.
| Lucho Vargas | 2,145,000 |
| Brett Marshall | BUSTED! |
Sun rises
Our reporter picked up the action heads-up between Wenjie Sun and Brenton Buttigieg on a flop of K♦7♣2♥; both players checked, then Buttigieg led out for 60,000 after the turn of the 7♠.
Sun called and then repeated his action after Buttigieg opened for 150,000 on the river of the 8♣.
Buttigieg tabled A♠4♣, but Sun rolled up A♣Q♥ to scoop the pot.
| Wenjie Sun | 1,350,000 |
| Brenton Buttigieg | 2,100,000 |
Level 26: 30,000/60,000 (60,000)
Carlos Youssef eliminated in 8th place ($6,341)
Just before start of the new level, Carlos Youssef moved all-in with 10♣9♣, but needed help against the K-Jo of Nathan Harvey.
Youssef fell further behind after the flop of K-4-3, but a queen on the turn gave him outs to the king-high straight.
It wasn’t to be – the river was a repeat queen – and Youssef was done and dusted.
| Nathan Harvey | 2,015,000 |
| Carlos Youssef | BUSTED! |
Updated chip counts
| Seat | Name | Chips |
| 1 | Wenjie Sun | 785,000 |
| 2 | Anthony Cierco | 1,785,000 |
| 3 | Jeremy Winlaw | 975,000 |
| 4 | Carlos Youssef | 730,000 |
| 5 | Nathan Harvey | 1,610,000 |
| 6 | Brenton Buttigieg | 2,670,000 |
| 7 | Brett Marshall | 290,000 |
| 8 | ||
| 9 | Lucho Vargas | 1,540,000 |
Level 25: 25,000/50,000 (50,000)
Break time
Players are now on another 10-minute break. Chip counts incoming … also, kitties!
Corey Van Jaarsveldt eliminated in 9th place ($4,961)
LCA Poker commentator Corey Van Jaarsveldt has fallen in ninth place, crippled by Wenjie Sun before being taken out by Anthony Cierco.
Earlier, Sun moved all-in from under the gun for his last 375,000 and Nathan Harvey called from the cut-off before Van Jaarsveldt shoved over the top from the big blind. Harvey peeked at his hand, glanced over at both players and then threw his cards away.
Van Jaarsveldt: A♥Q♠
Sun: 10♦9♦
The flop of 2♥3♠K♦ did nothing for either hand, but the [Tc] spiked on the turn before the river 6♦ completed the board to give Sun a huge triple-up.
Down to his last 510,000 in chips, Van Jaarsveldt got them all into the middle with Q♥10♣, but Cierco woke up with A♥K♣ which improved to two pair on the 7♦5♠A♠5♥J♥.
| Wenjie Sun | 785,000 |
| Anthony Cierco | 1,785,000 |
| Corey Van Jaarsveldt | BUSTED! |
‘Butters’ gettin’ busy
Brenton Buttigieg has taken control in the early stages of this final table, now up to almost three million i chips after a couple of hands against Anthony Cierco and Jeremy Winlaw.
Earlier, Cierco came in with a raise of 80,000 from under the gun; action folded around to Buttigieg who called from the hijack to go heads-up to a flop of 3♣Q♠A♦.
Cierco led out for 100,000 and Buttigieg called, then both players checked the turn of the 8♦ and the river J♦. Cierco tabled pocket fives, but Buttigieg was best with his K♥Q♥.
A few hands later, Buttigieg raised from UTG and only Winlaw followed him in from the small blind before check-calling Buttigieg on all streets down the board of J♠8♣2♦3♠3♣.
Buttigieg pumped his fists and rolled over 8♠8♥ for the rivered boat and Winlaw flashed J-8o before throwing his hand into the muck.
“Let’s gooooo!” shouted Buttigieg as he high-fived his mates on the rail.
| Brenton Buttigieg | 2,745,000 |
| Anthony Cierco | 1,400,000 |
| Jeremy Winlaw | 905,000 |
Level 24: 20,000/40,000 (40,000)
Star Gold Coast Champs Opening Event final table
The tournament will resume at 15m 23s into Level 23. From all of us at The Star Gold Coast and PokerMedia Australia, we wish everyone the best of luck!
| Seat | Name | Country | Chips | BBs |
| 1 | Wenjie Sun | China | 315,000 | 11 |
| 2 | Anthony Cierco | France | 1,685,000 | 56 |
| 3 | Jeremy Winlaw | Australia | 1,230,000 | 41 |
| 4 | Carlos Youssef | Australia | 1,030,000 | 34 |
| 5 | Nathan Harvey | Australia | 2,270,000 | 76 |
| 6 | Brenton Buttigieg | Australia | 1,395,000 | 47 |
| 7 | Brett Marshall | Australia | 365,000 | 12 |
| 8 | Corey Van Jaarsveldt | Australia | 655,000 | 22 |
| 9 | Lucho Vargas | Colombia | 1,440,000 | 48 |
Craig Abernethy eliminated in 10th place ($4,181)
Shortly after we spoke to Benjamin Bliss at the PMA hotdesk, the floor staff beckoned us over to the feature table where we saw Craig Abernethy had moved all-in with A♣Q♣.
However, Brenton Buttigieg had called him down with Q♥J♠ and then hooked a pair on the flop of J♥4♠8♦ before the turn and river ran out 7♦, 10♣.
Ladies and gentlemen, the final table of the Star Gold Coast Champs Opening Event is now set! The clock has been now been paused so that our staff can make all the arrangements for the official final table portrait. Don’t touch that dial!
| Brenton Buttigieg | 1,395,000 |
| Craig Abernethy | BUSTED! |
Benjamin Bliss eliminated in 11th place ($4,181)
We’re now just one bust-out from our first final table of the Star Gold Champs after Benjamin Bliss fell to Anthony Cierco in 11th place.
As Bliss recalled, Cierco opened from early position pre-flop; Bliss three-bet it and Cierco called before jamming on the flop of 8-9-T with A-K with the flush draw.
Cierco snap-called and turned over J-7 for the nut straight, and with the turn and river bricking out, Bliss went busto.
| Anthony Cierco | 1,045,000 |
| Benjamin Bliss | BUSTED! |
Nuno Da Silva eliminated in 12th place ($4,181)
Nuno Da Silva’s run in the Star Gold Coast Opening Event has come to an end after he was busted by Jeremy Winlaw.
Da Silva got his money in good with Q♦Q♣, but Winlaw called him off with A♦Q♠ and turned top pair after the dealer produced a flop of 6♣8♥A♠3♥.
Down to 11!
Mishel Anunu eliminated in 13th place ($3,550)
As the clock ticked over into the 23rd level of play, Mishel Anunu shoved for his last 650,000 with A♣4♠ after a pre-flop raise from Nathan Harvey.
Harvey called him off and found himself ahead after turning over A♠5♠.
“I thought he was making a move there,” said Anunu.
The flop of 6♠5♥8♥ put Harvey further ahead, but Anunu missed the gutshot after the turn and river ran out K♦, 10♠.
And with that, Anunu collected from the cage as Harvey became the first player to move beyond two million in chips!
| Nathan Harvey | 2,500,000 |
| Mishel Anunu | BUSTED! |
Level 23: 15,000/30,000 (30,000)
A couple of Bliss bombs
Benjamin Bliss is now back in contention after scoring a couple of timely double-ups out on Table 8.
Earlier, Bliss moved all-in pre-flop for his last 100,000 with 10♥9♦, but found himself flipping against the 8♠8♥ of Anthony Cierco.
However, Bliss turned the bigger two pair on the board of A♥7♣3♥10♠7♠ to double through.
Bliss then found himself all-in against Carlos Youssef a short time later, turning up A♠7♣ but was up for a big ‘chopportunity’ against Youssef’s A♦7♥, but incredibly, the board was spread Q♠3♥2♠K♠9♠, resulting in Bliss freerolling his way to a flush!
| Benjamin Bliss | 430,000 |
| Carlos Youssef | 915,000 |
| Anthony Cierco | 1,050,000 |
Jigs Reyes eliminated in 14th place ($3,550)
Nathan Harvey has claimed another huge scalp, this time in the form of APT Players Championship winner Jigs Reyes.
All the money was in the middle pre-flop; Reyes was at risk with his 7♠7♣, but Harvey rolled up 9♠9♣, which then hit middle set after the dealer spread a board of 8♥9♦Q♠3♥10♥.
| Nathan Harvey | 1,345,000 |
| Jigs Reyes | BUSTED! |
Abdul Noordin eliminated in 15th place ($3,550)
In one of the first hands after the break, Abdul Noordin went all-in for the last of his chips with pocket threes, but Nathan Harvey woke up with pocket jacks.
With the board improving neither hand, Noordin was confirmed as our 15th place finisher.
| Nathan Harvey | 1,100,000 |
| Abdul Noordin | BUSTED! |
Level 22: 15,000/25,000 (25,000)
Take a break
Pop the kettle on and have a stretch – we’ll be back in 10 minutes!
Ben Margin eliminated in 16th place ($2,931)
Ben Margin has now jumped into the $330 Bounty Event after being taken out at the hands of the man behind the Australian Poker Schedule, Craig Abernethy.
After Abernethy came in with a pre-flop raise to 40,000, Margin shoved for his last 200,000 with pocket sixes, but Abernethy snapped him off with pocket tens before the dealer spread a board of K♣10♣9♣8♣3♦.
| Craig Abernethy | 350,000 |
| Ben Margin | BUSTED! |
Alex Vidler eliminated in 17th place ($2,931)
Anthony Cierco has now padded his stack with Alex Vidler’s chips, taking him out after waking up with A-Q against Vidler’s A-5.
Both players hit trips on the board of A-J-A-7-6, but Cierco was best with the queen kicker to confirm Vidler as our 17th place finisher.
| Anthony Cierco | 1,300,000 |
| Alex Vidler | BUSTED! |
Minseok Kim eliminated in 18th place ($2,931)
Having nursed his short stack through to the feature table, Minseok Kim moved it all-in pre-flop with 8♦8♣, but found himself going up against the A♠Q♠ of Lucho Vargas.
“That’s a fair fight,” said Corey Van Jaarsveldt.
However, Vargas landed his haymaker after the dealer spread the flop of 5♥Q♥K♣, before Kim went down for the count after the turn and river bricked out 7♣, 10♣.
| Lucho Vargas | 1,450,000 |
| Minseok Kim | BUSTED! |
18 remain
Time for a full round-up of all our players on the final two tables!
Feature Table
| Seat | Name | Chips |
| 1 | Ben Margin | 240,000 |
| 2 | Lucho Vargas | 1,300,000 |
| 3 | Corey Van Jaarsveldt | 445,000 |
| 4 | Minseok Kim | 145,000 |
| 5 | Brenton Buttigieg | 670,000 |
| 6 | Wenjie Sun | 260,000 |
| 7 | Jeremy Winlaw | 730,000 |
| 8 | Nuno Da Silva | 735,000 |
| 9 | Craig Abernethy | 450,000 |
Table 8
| Seat | Name | Chips |
| 1 | Mishel Anunu | 620,000 |
| 2 | Alex Vidler | 350,000 |
| 3 | Carlos Youssef | 570,000 |
| 4 | Anthony Cierco | 1,280,000 |
| 5 | Brett Marshall | 300,000 |
| 6 | Nathan Harvey | 1,010,000 |
| 7 | Abdul Noordin | 750,000 |
| 8 | Jigs Reyes | 400,000 |
| 9 | Benjamin Bliss | 140,000 |
Level 21: 10,000/20,000 (20,000)
Anunu doubles through
Just as the field was reduced to two tables, Jigs Reyes raised it up from early position before Mishel Anunu moved in for his last 280,000 with A♦9♦.
Reyes called and rolled over pocket tens, but Anunu took the lead after the flop came down A♥J♥4♠.
The turn of the 5♣ and the river 6♥ changed nothing and Anunu doubled up.
| Mishel Anunu | 625,000 |
| Jigs Reyes | 400,000 |
Follet felted
Another huge development in the Star Gold Coast Opening Event story, as Lucho Vargas has now broken the million-chip barrier after crippling Day 2 chip leader Antoine Follet!
Action folded to Follet who raised from late position before Vargas three-bet it to 105,000; Follet called and then called Vargas’ bet of 8,000 after a flop of A♠A♥4♣.
Both players then checked the 2♥ on the turn before Vargas open-shoved when the 8♦ on the river. Follet called.
Vargas: A♣K♣
Follet: A♦Q♦
Left with just 239,000 in chips, Follet was eliminated a short time later.
| Lucho Vargas | 1,100,000 |
| Antoine Follet | BUSTED! |
Level 20: 10,000/15,000 (15,000)
Cierco on a roll
Anthony Cierco has gotten busy during this level, taking out two players in quick succession.
Martin Ward was the first to go, shoving pre-flop for his last 106,000 K♠10♠, however Cierco had him beat with K♦Q♠ which rivered top pair on the 5♦7♦A♠3♦Q♣board.
“That wasn’t the contract, Anthony – I was supposed to win that!” laughed Ward as they shook hands.
A short time later, Wai Kin Cheung got his money in with K♠J♣, but once again, Cierco was ahead with A♣Q♣, with neither hand improving on the board of 6♠2♦6♦9♦8♣.
| Anthony Cierco | 631,000 |
| Martin Ward | BUSTED! |
| Wai Kin Cheung | BUSTED! |
Milner mauled
Geoff Milner approached the PMA Live Reporting desk and informed us that he had been eliminated at the hands of Nathan Harvey, who was officially the first player to reach the one-million chip mark.
As Milner recalled, he moved the last of his chips in with pocket eights, but Harvey called him off with A-To and hit an ace on the flop, which was enough to seal the deal.
Janine Butler, Bert Perry, Dan Mayoh and Jeison Berdugo were also amongst those to have been eliminated in the previous stanza – and in a shock twist, Day 2 chip leaders Hassan Hussein and Shem Goltz have also hit the rail!
| Nathan Harvey | 1,100,000 |
| Geoff Milner | BUSTED! |
Level 19: 6,000/12,000 (12,000)
Break time
The Opening Event players are now on a 20-minute break.
Toye’s story ends
On Table 12, action folded to 2020 QPC Main Event Champion Rauran Toye, who completed the small blind before Jeremy Winlaw raised to 35,000. Toye then shoved over the top for 284,000 total and Winlaw snap-called.
Winlaw: K♠K♦
Toye: A♥K♥
Board: 4♣9♥8♣2♦8♥
And with that, we lose one more.
| Jeremy Winlaw | 750,000 |
| Rauran Toye | BUSTED! |
‘The Wall’ falls down
A shocking development in Opening Event proceedings as we approach the first break of the day, as Mark “The Wall” Ericksen has just been busted at the hands of Nuno Da Silva!
As Lucho Vargas recalled to our reporter, all the money was in the middle of 9-T-6 and both players had hit top pair, but Ericken was ahead with A-T against Da Silva’s J-T.
Another nine came down on the turn, but Da Silva hooked up with a river jack and Ericken was eliminated.
| Nuno Da Silva | 325,000 |
| Mark Ericksen | BUSTED! |
Richards robbed; we’re in the money!
Just as the blinds ticked over to Level 18, Chung Chan and Michael Richards found themselves all-in on a flop of 4♠7♣8♣.
Richards had committed the last of his stack with T-8o, but Chung had him dominated with A♣8♠ – and with the turn and river bricking out, Richards was confirmed as our 45th place finisher.
Ladies and gentlemen, for the first time at the Star Gold Coast Champs, we are officially amidst the currency!
| Chun Chang | 340,000 |
| Michael Richards | BUSTED! |
Level 18: 5,000/10,000 (10,000)
Força Da Silva!
“All in, call!”
The PMA crew rushed over to Table 13 and peeked through the gathering crowd as Nuno Da Silva, Lucho Vargas and Jonathan Portelli tabled their cards after three-way all-in pre-flop action.
Portelli turned over 8♥8♣, marginally ahead of Da Silva who rolled up A♥J♥, but the table shook after Vargas showed A♠A♣!
The flop of 9♠5♥J♣ improved neither hand, but a collective “oooh” went up from the railbirds as the 4♥ appeared on the turn, which turned into a loud “OHHH!” after the dealer peeled off the river 9♥!
“FORÇAAAA!” cried Da Silva as he high-fived and hugged his brother Bruno.
With Vargas taking the 2,000-chip sidepot, Portelli was sent packing.
| Nuno Da Silva | 96,000 |
| Lucho Vargas | 190,000 |
| Jonathan Portelli | BUSTED! |
Wyvil left wanting
JDub Poker’s Janet Wyvil has been eliminated at the hands of Ben Margin and we’re now three bust-outs away from the money!
Wyvill moved all-in pre-flop holding A♦Q♦, but was flipping for her tournament life against the 10♠10♣ of Ben Margin.
Margin then hit top pair on the top of K♥4♠4♦ before improving to two pair as the turn and river repeated with 8♥, 8♣.
Not long now until we hit the money!
| Ben Margin | 308,000 |
| Janet Wyvil | BUSTED! |
Ericksen builds
Mark Ericksen has been confirmed as the first player to make it past the half-million chip mark after taking out another player on Table 20.
Our reporter picked up the hand as it went to showdown after the pre-flop betting round; the at-risk player rolled over A♣Q♠ and Ericksen tabled 9♠9♦, so it was off to the races.
However, the dealer spread a board of K♥4♠4♦5♠5♣ to add to Ericksen’s wall!
| Mark Ericksen | 570,000 |
Level 17: 4,000/8,000 (8,000)
A couple of doubles
The chips are flying across the felt now, but Wai Kin Cheung and Richard Blackburn have each managed to double up.
Earlier on Table 13, Cheung went all-in pre-flop with 4♠4♣ and found himself flipping for his tournament life against the A♦Q♠ of Lucho Vargas, but Cheung held after the board ran out 9♣2♣8♣5♥3♥.
The dealer then began moving the stacks towards Vargas, but the players were quick to stop them.
“Hang on, [Cheung] won that one!” laughed Bruno Da Silva. “Four high, four kicker!”
A short time later, Blackburn got his money in good with A♣Q♣ against Antoine Follet, who called him off with J♦4♦, but the flop of A♠10♣3♦ was enough to take it down.
“Merci!” quipped Blackburn as he raked in the pot.
| Antoine Follet | 370,000 |
| Wai Kin Cheung | 185,000 |
| Lucho Vargas | 158,000 |
| Richard Blackburn | 107,000 |
Ward gets one
Martin Ward has just taken out another player as we edge closer to the bubble in the Star Gold Coast Champs Opening Event.
All the money was in the middle on a flop of 9♠A♥Q♥; the all-in player had hit top pair with A♦5♠, but Martin Ward was on top with A♣Q♣ for top-top.
The repeat Q♠ on the turn sealed the adversary’s fate.
| Martin Ward | 155,000 |
Patel felted
More action on Table 7, where Jaisan Patel was eliminated over the space of two hands.
After running pocket nines into Janet Wyvil’s pocket queens, Patel moved his last 49,000 into the centre with A♠10♣, but found himself behind the A♣J♦ of Harrison Kelly.
Kelly’s hand held after the dealer spread the board of Q♣7♥8♣9♣K♠, and we lose one more.
| Harrison Kelly | 271,000 |
| Jaisan Patel | BUSTED! |
Moon doomed
Off to a flying start in the Opening Event, with the “All in, call!” catch-cry going up almost every minute over the Star Gold Coast Poker Room!
Over on Table 19, Sam Haddad limped in from early position before Abdul Noorin raised to 13,000. Moon Gab Chung then moved the last of his stack into the middle pre-flop holding K♥Q♠, but Abdul Noordin called him off with A♦10♦ before Haddad folded.
Neither hand improved on the board of J♦4♠7♠J♠5♥ and Moon was confirmed as our first elimination of the day.
| Abdul Noorin | 316,000 |
| Moon Gab Chung | BUSTED! |
Cards in the air!
Time to get our dancing shoes on – we’re now officially underway for Day 2 of the Opening Event!
The blind levels are now all 40 minutes in duration and we’ll be playing right through until we have a winner tonight.
Level 16: 3,000/6,000 (6,000)
Moving day
Good morning everyone and welcome back to PokerMedia Australia‘s continued coverage of The Star Gold Coast Champs!
It’s another massive day for PMA as we’ll be bringing you Day 2 action of both the Opening Event and the $1,100 buy-in NLH, which kicked off yesterday afternoon.
Returning as overall chip leader in the Opening Event is Antoine Follet, who is already in fine form after making the final table of the QPC Super High Roller Event in Tweed Heads last month. Not far behind him, however, is Sydney crusher Hussein Hassan and mid-tier Triple Crown winner Brenton Buttigieg.
Other players to watch out include Shem Goltz, Ashley Valks, Dan Mayoh and Anthony Cierco, who is also on a tear after winning both the APLPT Queensland Jackstar Super High Roller in January before recently taking out the QPC Alpha Event almost two weeks ago.
STAR GOLD COAST CHAMPS OPENING EVENT – DAY 2: TOP 10 CHIP COUNTS
| Antoine Follet | 454,000 |
| Hussein Hassan | 450,000 |
| Brenton Buttigieg | 398,000 |
| Shem Goltz | 383,000 |
| Nathan Harvey | 337,000 |
| Anthony Cierco | 330,000 |
| Brett Marshall | 286,000 |
| Mark Ericksen | 285,000 |
| Ashley Valks | 280,000 |
| Dan Mayoh | 250,000 |
Play will be getting underway very shortly, so keep your browsers locked onto pokermedia.com.au as we find who will be crowned the Star Gold Coast Champs Opening Event Champion!
Day 2 Seat Draw
Table 7
| Seat | Name | Chips |
| 1 | Hung-Ta Shih | 199,500 |
| 2 | Carlos Youssef | 221,000 |
| 3 | Jaisan Patel | 154,000 |
| 4 | Harrison Kelly | 214,000 |
| 5 | Nathan Harvey | 337,000 |
| 6 | Shem Goltz | 383,000 |
| 7 | Hussein Hassan | 450,000 |
| 8 | Ben Margin | 149,000 |
| 9 | Janet Wyvil | 96,000 |
Table 8
| Seat | Name | Chips |
| 1 | Mishel Anunu | 102,000 |
| 2 | Antoine Follet | 454,000 |
| 3 | Corey Van Jaarsveldt | 154,000 |
| 4 | Richard Blackburn | 55,000 |
| 5 | Jeison Berdugo | 113,000 |
| 6 | Nicle Lewis | 143,000 |
| 7 | Josh Gold | 231,000 |
| 8 | Jigs Reyes | 157,000 |
| 9 | Dan Mayoh | 250,000 |
Table 10
| Seat | Name | Chips |
| 1 | Brett McGrath | 52,000 |
| 2 | Constantin Sincari | 59,500 |
| 3 | Robert Damelian | 99,000 |
| 4 | Alexander Vidler | 70,000 |
| 5 | Craig Abernethy | 142,000 |
| 6 | Wenjie Sun | 163,000 |
| 7 | Nathan Cramb | 164,000 |
| 8 | Janine Butler | 85,000 |
| 9 | Ayyaz Faraz | 169,000 |
Table 12
| Seat | Name | Chips |
| 1 | Martin Ward | 108,000 |
| 2 | Minseok Kim | 177,000 |
| 3 | Chun Chang | 229,000 |
| 4 | Michael Richards | 196,000 |
| 5 | Brenton Buttigieg | 398,000 |
| 6 | Ben Turner | 129,000 |
| 7 | Chris Zenonos | 133,000 |
| 8 | ||
| 9 |
Table 13
| Seat | Name | Chips |
| 1 | Jacob Faull | 112,000 |
| 2 | ||
| 3 | Bruno De Silva | 124,000 |
| 4 | Geoffrey Milner | 150,000 |
| 5 | Jonathan Portelli | 66,000 |
| 6 | Nuno Da Silva | 99,000 |
| 7 | Ashley Valks | 280,000 |
| 8 | Wai Kin Cheung | 82,000 |
| 9 | Luis Dominguez | 208,000 |
Table 19
| Seat | Name | Chips |
| 1 | James Harris | 204,000 |
| 2 | Sam Haddad | 84,500 |
| 3 | Michael Glen | 145,500 |
| 4 | Rauran Toye | 236,000 |
| 5 | Abdul Noordin | 250,000 |
| 6 | Cam Lopez | 124,000 |
| 7 | Graham Cowan | 214,000 |
| 8 | Moon Gab Chung | 51,000 |
| 9 | Mark Greer | 30,000 |
Table 20
| Seat | Name | Chips |
| 1 | Jeremy Winlaw | 194,000 |
| 2 | ||
| 3 | Benjamin Bliss | 100,000 |
| 4 | David Sebesfi | 209,000 |
| 5 | Brett Marshall | 286,000 |
| 6 | Anthony Cierco | 330,000 |
| 7 | Jack Brown | 32,000 |
| 8 | Mark Ericksen | 285,000 |
| 9 | Bert (John) Perry | 223,000 |
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