Congratulations Rehman Kassam ($11,590), Star Gold Coast Champs $550 Big Bounty Shot Clock Champion!
Score one for the Sydney crew! Rehman Kassam has added another major trophy to the Poker Palace cabinet, taking down the Star Gold Coast Champs $550 Big Bounty Shot Clock!
Kassam’s rail were already on standby to jump in for the celebratory winner’s photo, but it was right back down to business as Kassam headed over to late-reg for the Main Event.
Incredibly, Kassam did not use a single Time Chip during the course of the whole tournament, but one thing’s for certain: this is a moment in time that won’t ever be taken away!
STAR GOLD COAST CHAMPS BIG BOUNTY SHOT CLOCK – FINAL TABLE RESULTS ($550 buy-in, 179 entries, 23 players paid)
| Place | Name | Country | Amount |
| 1st | Rehman Kassam | England | $11,590 |
| 2nd | Paul O’Brien | Australia | $7,775 |
| 3rd | Simon Pedler | Australia | $4,587 |
| 4th | Mike Maddocks | Canada | $2,790 |
| 5th | Robert Damelian | Australia | $2,155 |
| 6th | Michael Blake | Australia | $1,786 |
| 7th | Harrison Duce | Australia | $1,522 |
| 8th | Michal Jalc | Australia | $1,338 |
| 9th | Gloria Mason | Australia | $1,159 |
Thanks so much for following our coverage of the Big Bounty, but there’s still more coming your way from PMA, with Day 1A of the Star Gold Coast Champs Main Event still going as we speak before we come back and do it all again for Day 1B tomorrow, so be sure to bookmark your browsers and follow along from wherever you may be.
Until we next see you on the felt, it’s ‘bye for now!
Paul O’Brien eliminated in 2nd place ($7,775)
It wasn’t long after the blinds went up that the final hand of the tournament played out, with Paul O’Brien falling agonisingly short of a Day 2 wire-to-wire victory.
Down to his last 2,065,000, O’Brien called all-in from the big blind after Rehman Kassam open-shoved from the button.
O’Brien found himself ahead with A♠K♣ against Kassam’s K♦J♠, but the flop of J♥6♠2♦ was not in his favour.
Needing any ace or running cards to the straight, the turn and river bricked out 8♣, 5♣.
| Paul O’Brien | BUSTED! |
Level 26: 30,000/60,000 (60,000)
O’Brien battling
Rehman Kassam has surged further ahead in the chip counts, applying most of the pressure in this heads-up battle, but Paul O’Brien has managed to stem the flow in the late stages of this level.
In just some of the action we picked up on the Star Poker Gold Coast feature table, Kassam limped in from the button and O’Brien checked his option from the big blind before seeing a flop of 8♣Q♣Q♥.
O’Brien then check-raised to 150,000 after Kassam bet 50,000 before open-shoving the turn of K♠, forcing the fold from Kassam.
Two hands later, Kassam came in with a button raise of 100,000 and O’Brien called before taking the pot down with a c-bet of 60,000 after a flop of 3♠Q♠A♠.
| Paul O’Brien | 1,800,000 |
| Rehman Kassam | 2,675,000 |
Simon Pedler eliminated in 3rd place ($4,587)
We’re now heads-up for the $550 Big Bounty Shot Clock title after the departure of Simon Pedler!
Pedler open-shoved from the button for approximately 1,000,000 in chips with K♦10♦; Paul O’Brien folded his small blind and Rehman Kassam snap-called from the big blind with A♦K♠.
Pedler threw his Bounty Chip over to Kassam after the dealer spread a flop of 3♠Q♣3♦, but he immediately tossed it back when the 10♠ appeared on the turn.
However, that Bounty Chip was then absorbed into Kassam’s stack when the J♦ came sailing down the river to give Kassam the Ace-high straight.
| Rehman Kassam | 2,815,000 |
| Paul O’Brien | 1,660,000 |
| Simon Pedler | BUSTED! |
Level 25: 25,000/50,000 (50,000)
Mike Maddocks eliminated in 4th place ($2,790)
Although Mike Maddocks managed to secure a double-up through Rehman Kassam earlier, Maddocks was taken out by the Sydneysider in fourth place as we approached the start of the next level.
Kassam came in with a pre-flop raise from the button worth 80,000 and Maddocks was the only caller to make it heads-up to a flop of 3♠10♥8♦.
Maddocks then check-called Kassam on all streets to end up with the last of his money in the middle after the board completed 4♠, 2♥, but although he had paired up his 8♥6♥, Kassam had him well beat with his K♥K♣.
Down to three!
| Rehman Kassam | 2,995,000 |
| Mike Maddocks | BUSTED! |
Maddocks holds on
Just before the blinds went up, Mike Maddocks found himself all-in from under the gun with A♠8♠ and found himself ahead of the A♣3♣ of Rehman Kassam who called out of the big blind.
Both players then paired up on the flop of 3♥4♣8♦, but the turn and river ran out K♦, 4♠ and Maddocks doubled through.
“I saw the Ace of Clubs and I had to call,” Kassam quipped. “It’s a shame, really.”
“Yeah, for you guys!” Maddocks replied with a wry smile.
| Mike Maddocks | 815,000 |
| Rehman Kassam | 1,355,000 |
Level 24: 20,000/40,000 (40,000)
Robert Damelian eliminated in 5th place ($2,155)
A massive turn of events here in the Big Bounty as Rehman Kassam moved up to more than 1.5 million in chips after eliminating Robert Damelian.
Action folded to Damelian who ripped from the small blind with Q♦8♦, however Kassam called him off with K♠5♦ and jagged middle pair on the flop of 2♥10♥5♠ before the turn and river repeated 4♣, 4♥.
Damelian collected $2,155 for his fifth-place finish.
| Rehman Kassam | 1,760,000 |
| Robert Damelian | BUSTED! |
Michael Blake eliminated in 6th place ($1,786)
APT Ambassador Mike Maddocks is now the last Mike standing in the Big Bounty after taking out Michael Blake in sixth place.
Blake open-shoved from the cut-off with A♣J♥, but Maddocks immediately iso-shoved with Q♠Q♥, forcing the others out of the way before the dealer spread the board of 6♣6♥4♠10♦K♥, which did nothing to change the outcome.
A huge effort from Blake, who started this final table with just nine big blinds. Well played, sir!
| Mike Maddocks | 700,000 |
| Michael Blake | BUSTED! |
Level 23: 15,000/30,000 (30,000)
Harrison Duce eliminated in 7th place ($1,522)
Harrison Duce has just busted in seventh place, taken out over the course of two hands as we head into the 26th level of play.
Earlier, Duce was crippled down to 190,000 in chips after losing a critical flip holding 5♠5♥ against the K♦10♦ of Michael Blake, who made two pair on the board of 3♣8♥10♠J♥K♥.
Duce then ripped in the remainder from the button holding A♣6♥ and found himself in a fair fight against Robert Damelian’s K♦8♦, but Damelian tripped him over on the flop of K♣Q♥K♥ before the turn and river ran clean 3♦, 6♦.
| Rehman Kassam | 1,100,000 |
| Robert Damelian | 620,000 |
| Harrison Duce | BUSTED! |
Michal Jalc eliminated in 8th place ($1,338)
Rehman Kassam has now also moved past the one-million chip mark after taking out Michal Jalc in eighth place.
After Kassam raised to 50,000 from under the gun, action folded around to Jalc who shoved with A♦9♦ but found himself well behind the A♠K♥ of Kassam.
Both players flopped top pair on the 3♣6♥A♣4♠8♣, however Kassam had Jalc outkicked in every sense of the word.
| Rehman Kassam | 1,100,000 |
| Michal Jalc | BUSTED! |
Level 22: 15,000/25,000 (25,000)
Break it down, colour ’em up
Our remaining eight players have now taken another 10-minute break, which will also allow the Star Poker Gold Coast staff to change up the orange T1,000 chips and then race off before the start of the new level.
| Name | Chips |
| Paul O’Brien | 1,290,000 |
| Rehman Kassam | 773,000 |
| Mike Maddocks | 676,000 |
| Michal Jalc | 580,000 |
| Robert Damelian | 533,000 |
| Simon Pedler | 324,000 |
| Harrison Duce | 288,000 |
| Michael Blake | 141,000 |
Gloria Mason eliminated in 9th place ($1,159)
After Robert Damelian min-clicked to 40,000 from UTG+1, Rehman Kassam shoved from middle position and action folded to Gloria Mason who called all-in from the big blind.
Damelian used up three Time Chips before eventually making the call.
Damelian: A♦K♠
Kassam: A♠K♦
Mason: K♥3♥
Mason failed to improve on the 6♦2♣6♠8♥2♥ board and was chopped out of the tournament in ninth place.
“Who gets the Bounty Chip?” Kassam enquired.
“I think you split it,” Maddocks replied.
“Tell you what,” Kassam said to Damelian. “Whoever has the least money in their bank account gets it?”
That elicited a ripple of laughs around the table, but all’s fair in love and war, as the bounty was indeed split.
| Mike Maddocks | 811,000 |
| Rehman Kassam | 478,000 |
| Gloria Mason | BUSTED! |
On the attack with A-J
As the blinds ticked over to 10,000/20,000 (20,000) Mike Maddocks and Simon Pedler went heads-up to a flop of 7♠4♦2♠; Maddocks check-called Pedler’s bet of 35,000, then repeated his action after Pedler fired out 60,000 on the turn of the 7♣.
Both players then checked down the river J♦, with Maddocks’ A♣J♣ enough to take it down.
A short time later, Paul O’Brien came in with a raise to 40,000 and found three callers to go four-handed to a flop of 10♣2♠A♥. Both Harrison Duce and Michal Jalc checked out of the blinds and O’Brien led out for 55,000; Duce was the only caller, making it heads-up to the turn of the 5♦, which both players checked.
Duce then opened for 60,000 after the dealer produced the J♦ on the river. Duce tabled 10♠7♠, but O’Brien was best with his A♣J♥ and became the first player to move past the one-million chip mark.
Level 21: 10,000/20,000 (20,000)
Blake doubles
It was a slow start to the final table of the Big Bounty as our nine remaining players traded jabs for the most part, however Michael Blake has just scored a crucial double-up through Rehman Kassam.
After Kassam came in with a raise from under the gun, Blake shoved from the +1 position and the others got out of the way before the cards were tabled.
Blake: A♥J♥
Kassam: 6♥6♦
Blake then hooked up on the 3♦9♥J♦ flop before going on to river two pair after the board completed 7♠, A♦.
| Michael Blake | 236,000 |
| Reham Kassam | 592,000 |
$550 Big Bounty final table
Our final nine come into the very start of Level 20, with Paul O’Brien still leading the charge while Michael Blake has squeaked in with nine BBs. Best of luck to everybody!
| Seat | Name | Country | Chips | BBs |
| 1 | Simon Pedler | Australia | 479,000 | 32 |
| 2 | Harrison Duce | Australia | 618,000 | 41 |
| 3 | Michal Jalc | Australia | 555,000 | 37 |
| 4 | Gloria Mason | Australia | 144,000 | 10 |
| 5 | Paul O’Brien | Australia | 955,000 | 64 |
| 6 | Robert Damelian | Australia | 621,000 | 41 |
| 7 | Rehman Kassam | England | 590,000 | 39 |
| 8 | Michael Blake | Australia | 133,000 | 9 |
| 9 | Mike Maddocks | Canada | 445,000 | 30 |
Level 20: 10,000/15,000 (15,000)
The Follet fallout
The final table of the $550 Big Bounty has now been locked in after the elimination of Antoine Follet at the hands of Day 2 chip leader Paul O’Brien!
Follet moved all-in before the flop with K♦10♠ but needed help against O’Brien’s Q♦Q♣, but although he turned trips on the board of 8♥10♦5♠10♣, O’Brien filled up with the river Q♥ to confirm Follet as our 10th place finisher.
“That’s an interesting one for the blog!” O’Brien quipped to our reporter as he raked in his chips.
| Paul O’Brien | 955,000 |
| Antoine Follet | BUSTED! |
Kroesen cut, Nives out
Just one elimination away from the final table of the $550 Big Bounty, with Michal Jalc taking out two players in quick succession.
In one of the first hands back after the break, Kroesen opened for 50,000 after a flop of 4♣7♣5♦ holding A♣3♥, only to then see Michal Jalc shove from behind.
Kroesen called all-in, but found himself in a world of hurt against Jalc’s 4♥4♦. Both the turn and river of 7♠, 8♠ were the right colour, but the wrong suit. Game over.
Jalc then claimed Nives Ceccado’s Bounty Chip after he managed to flop a queen holding K♦Q♥ against her J♥J♦ when the dealer fanned out a board of 5♥3♣Q♦6♣A♠.
| Michal Jalc | 645,000 |
| Ricky Kroesen | BUSTED! |
| Nives Ceccado | BUSTED! |
Level 19: 6,000/12,000 (12,000)
Break time
Our 12 remaining players are now on a 10-minute break.
Healesman hurting
Just as our players began to make their way out of the tournament area, Graham Healesman moved all-in 9♦8♦, but found himself up against the K♦Q♥ of Harrison Duce.
Duce picked up a second queen on the 5♣Q♠4♣ flop, but a 10♥ on the turn gave Healesman the gut-shot straight draw.
However, Harrison’s hand improved to two pair with the river K♣ and we lost one more.
| Harrison Duce | 630,000 |
| Graham Healesman | BUSTED! |
Vigar vanquished, Sebefsi shut out
Another two bust-outs in the Big Bounty, this time with Zac Vigar and David Sebesfi both hitting the rail as we approach the break.
Vigar was the first to go after his moved all-in after a flop of 2♠4♠8♦, picking up a pair with his K♥2♥, but Paul O’Brien’s A♦5♠ improved to a straight after the turn and river came running 6♥, 7♥.
Sebesfi then found himself all-in pre-flop with A♠5♠, but failed to improve on the board of 8♦9♥Q♣Q♦7♣ against the K♥K♣ of Gloria Mason.
| Paul O’Brien | 590,000 |
| Gloria Mason | 335,000 |
| Zac Vigar | BUSTED! |
| David Sebesfi | BUSTED! |
Tran trounced, Mallett whacked
There’s been a flurry of action in this level, with Minh Tran and Mitchell Mallett our latest eliminations from this tournament.
Earlier, Tran moved the last of his chips in on a flop of 10♣7♥4♠ holding 7-2, however Robert Damelian had him beat with his 10-2 which held all the way down fourth and fifth streets.
A short time later, Mallett made his move with A♣J♦ and found himself ahead of Mike Maddocks’ Q♥10♥, but the Canadian mindset maven turned a pair on the board of 4♠2♠K♥Q♦6♣.
| Robert Damelian | 510,000 |
| Mike Maddocks | 500,000 |
| Minh Tran | BUSTED! |
| Mitchell Mallett | BUSTED! |
Level 18: 5,000/10,000 (10,000)
Better late than never
Although Simon Pedler has only just arrived to resume his seat in the Big Bounty today, he’s already scored a big double through David Sebefsi as we approach the next level.
All the money was in the middle pre-flop, with Sebefsi’s A♠K♣ flipping against Pedler, who was at risk with 10♥10♣, but he managed to flop a set on the 6♥7♠10♠K♦2♣. Weeeeeeee!
| Simon Pedler | 246,000 |
| David Sebefsi | 142,000 |
Locsin locked out
Another elimination from the Big Bounty, this time with Lloyd Locsin taken out at the hands of Sydney’s Rehman Kassam, who flew in last night with his best mate and WPTDeepStacks Gold Coast Main Event Champion, Will Davies.
Locsin had moved the last of his chips over the line with A♣Q♠, however he lost the flip for his tournament life against Kassam’s 7♠7♥ after turning a set on the board of 3♦9♥8♣7♦J♣.
| Rehman Kassam | 460,000 |
| Lloyd Locsin | BUSTED! |
Level 17: 4,000/8,000 (8,000)
Mike drop
Our first “Mike Battle” has transpired with Mike Maddocks and Michael Mariakis clashing in a pot on Table 29, which also features Michal Jalc and Michael Blake.
All the money was in the middle pre-flop; Mariakis was at risk with A♦Q♣, ahead of Maddocks’ K♦6♦, but the APT Ambassador flopped top pair on the board of 5♦9♥K♥10♦9♣ to send Mariakis to the rail.
The field in the Big Bounty is now down to two tables, with Adrian King, Jacob Soetens and Russell Fogarty all eliminated during this level.
| Mike Maddocks | 395,000 |
| Michael Mariakis | BUSTED! |
The Miller blues
Over on Table 28, our reporter picked up the action on a board 6♦4♠2♣A♦10♣, where Shane Miller was facing a bet from Robert Damelian on the river after heavy action on all streets.
Miller was in the midst of a heated discussion with the dealer, who had advised him to refrain from talking about the hand whilst there was action pending.
“So you’re telling me that I can’t talk about what’s out there and the betting action, even though it’s just him and I in the hand?” Miller said, pointing at the board and Damelian.
“That’s correct.” the dealer replied.
In his frustration, Miller leaned back in his chair and tossed in a blue chip, not realising that it was the dark blue Bounty Chip, as opposed to the light blue Time Chip, which meant under the Star Poker Gold Coast rules, Miller was all-in.
“Hang on, NO! I want more time!” shouted Miller. “FLOOR!”
Tournament officials rushed over to intervene and confirmed that the ruling was correct, which prompted a snap-call from Damelian.
Damelian: A♠10♠
Miller: A♥3♥
“What a stupid rule, this is bulls**t … yeah, yeah, nice hand, sir.” muttered Miller angrily as he pushed his chips into the middle of the table, causing them to splash everywhere before storming out of the room with his payslip.
| Robert Damelian | 625,000 |
| Shane Miller | BUSTED! |
Level 16: 3,000/6,000 (6,000)
The Marshall mash
From under the gun, Brett Marshall moved the last of his money in pre-flop with A♠K♦ and found one caller in Nives Ceccado, who tabled J♠J♣.
The dealer peeled out a flop of J♥9♦5♦ to give Ceccado top set before the turn and river bricked 7♦, 10♣, confirming the Opening Event seventh-place finisher as the stone bubble in this tournament.
And just like that folks, we are in the money!
| Nives Ceccado | 190,000 |
| Brett Marshall | BUSTED! |
Big Bounty bubble-bubble
More action on Table 29, this time with Nikki Lewis moving all-in from UTG+1 with Q♠Q♦, only to then see Mike Maddocks wake up with A♥A♦ from the cut-off.
With neither hand improving on the 6♥J♥3♣10♣8♦ board, Lewis was sent to the rail and we’re now on the bubble!
| Mike Maddocks | 290,000 |
| Nikki Lewis | BUSTED! |
Kroesen’s kitty clips Mariakis
We’ve had our first all-in of the day already, with Ricky Kroesen open-shoving from middle position pre-flop before action folded to Michael Mariakis on the button.
“How much is it?” asked Mariakis as he pointed at Kroesen’s stack.
“71,000 … and a cat.” replied Kroesen, placing his kitty card protector gently over the line.
Mariakis threw in one Time Chip before eventually making the call.
Mariakis: A♥Q♥
Kroesen: A♠5♠
Although Mariakis soared further ahead after the flop of J♥4♥9♠, he spiked the small pair and held after the turn and river 5♣, K♦ completed the board.
| Ricky Kroesen | 158,000 |
| Michael Mariakis | 115,000 |
Cards in the air!
Play is now back underway in the Star Gold Coast Champs $550 Big Bounty!
Players will have 30 seconds to act, however should they need a little more time to mull it over, they may throw in one of their Time Chips for an additional 30 seconds. Players may also redeem multiple chips in the same turn.
Each player that survived Day 1 were awarded an additional six time chips on top of the half-dozen they received yesterday, so assuming they didn’t use any of their Time Chips yesterday, a player can have up to an additional three minutes in reserve.
Level 15: 3,000/5,000 (5,000)
From wherever you’re watching in Australia, New Zealand or around the world, hello and thank you once again for tuning into PokerMedia Australia‘s Live Reporting coverage of the Star Gold Coast Champs!
As Mina Elias barnstormed his way to victory in the $440 Pot Limit Omaha, action kicked off in the $550 Big Bounty Shot Clock, which brought in a total of 179 entries and generating a total prize pool of $89,500.
25 players will return to un-bag today and leading the pack is Paul O’Brien with 368,000 in chips, followed by Robert Damelian (358,000), Graham Healseman (349,000), Antoine Follet (307,000) and Mike Maddocks (276,000).
This also puts us just two eliminations from the money, with a min-cash worth $425 while tonight’s champion will take home $11,590. Regardless of where they finish, every player will take home $250 for every Bounty chip they have picked up along the way.
STAR GOLD COAST CHAMPS BIG BOUNTY SHOT CLOCK – PAYOUTS ($550 buy-in, 179 entries, 23 players paid)
| Place | Amount |
| 1st | $11,590 |
| 2nd | $7,775 |
| 3rd | $4,587 |
| 4th | $2,790 |
| 5th | $2,155 |
| 6th | $1,786 |
| 7th | $1,522 |
| 8th | $1,338 |
| 9th | $1,159 |
| 10th-12th | $985 |
| 13th-15th | $828 |
| 16th-18th | $694 |
| 19th-21st | $559 |
| 22nd-23rd | $425 |
We’re almost ready to go ladies and gents, so stay with us as the PMA crew bring you all the action from the Big Bounty from 11:30am AEST, which leads into Day 1A of the Star Gold Coast Champs Main Event at 12:30pm. See you soon!
Day 2 seat allocations and chip counts
Table 27
| Seat | Name | Chips |
| 1 | Adrian King | 85,000 |
| 2 | Harrison Duce | 124,000 |
| 3 | Zac Vigar | 156,000 |
| 4 | David Sebesfi | 263,000 |
| 5 | Nives Ceccado | 134,000 |
| 6 | Graham Healesman | 349,000 |
| 7 | ||
| 8 | Lloyd Locsin | 178,000 |
| 9 |
Table 28
| Seat | Name | Chips |
| 1 | Paul O’Brien | 368,000 |
| 2 | Russell Fogarty | 67,000 |
| 3 | Robert Damelian | 358,000 |
| 4 | Brett Marshall | 72,000 |
| 5 | Minh Tran | 125,000 |
| 6 | Jacob Soetens | 59,000 |
| 7 | Shane Miller | 79,000 |
| 8 | Antoine Follett | 307,000 |
| 9 | Simon Pedler | 133,000 |
Table 29
| Seat | Name | Chips |
| 1 | Michael Mariakis | 149,000 |
| 2 | Mitchell Mallett | 274,000 |
| 3 | Gloria Mason | 173,000 |
| 4 | Rehman Kassam | 234,000 |
| 5 | Michal Jalc | 182,000 |
| 6 | Nicole Lewis | 87,000 |
| 7 | Ricky Kroesen | 71,000 |
| 8 | Michael Blake | 226,000 |
| 9 | Mike Maddocks | 276,000 |
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