Congratulations Slav Rypinski ($58,988), Star Sydney Champs $1,100 NLH Champion!
Slav Rypinski has fought his way back from being severely short-stacked on final table to win Event #3 at The Star Sydney Champs.
Commencing Day 2 as one of 30 runners vying for the top prize, Rypinski held a comfortable 334,000 in chips and hovered near the top of the big stack leader board through until the final table.
A pivotal hand at the top eight saw Rypinski’s stack decimated when his Kings ran into Michael Fraser’s Aces.
“I was sitting on four blinds at the final table. I guess I was thinking, ‘I’m already out’,” Rypinski said about the hand, “but as you can see, in poker it never ends until it ends!”
“The big hand was very soon after, Jacks versus Nines, which doubled me up to 560 (thousand),” He added, “And I knew from 560K I could do something.”
And do something he did.
With an additional $58,988 to his name, Rypinski is now focused on jumping straight into the remaining events during the Sydney Champs series, notably the Main Event and in his words, “definitely the $5K Challenge.”
As for the trophy? It just so happens that Rypinski works as a commercial outfitter and recently made himself a new cabinet at home. Looking for something to fill it, it was only yesterday that Rypinski took a photo of the $1,100 NLH trophy and sent it to his wife, saying ‘we need this for this office’.
Ask, and ye shall receive! Congratulations, Slav!
STAR SYDNEY CHAMPS $1,100 NLH ($1,100 buy-in, 259 entries, 33 players paid)*
| Place | Name | Amount |
| 1st | Slav Rypinski | $58,988 |
| 2nd | Nick Velcic | $41,500 |
| 3rd | Michael Fraser | $26,548 |
| 4th | Stan Levitin | $16,149 |
| 5th | Luis Arrilucea | $12,471 |
| 6th | Zhengmin Zhang | $10,334 |
| 7th | Steven Green | $8,677 |
| 8th | Michael Tran | $7,252 |
| 9th | Andrew Pavlakis | $5,900 |
That brings our coverage of the $1,100 NLH to close. Join us again from 2:30pm AEST tomorrow (Tuesday) as we bring you coverage of the first-ever Star Sydney Champs Mystery Bounty, but until then, thanks for joining us, and from the PMA team here at Pyrmont, it’s ‘bye for now!
Nick Velcic eliminated in 2nd place ($41,500)
With Slav Rypinski taking in almost a 4:1 chip lead, it was always going to be a tough ask for Nick Velcic, but he’s just been felled in second place, good for a $41,500 payday.
The pair traded jabs for about 10 minutes before the final hand of the tournament played out before 10pm local time; after Rypinski raised to 200,000 from the button, Velcic moved all-in for his last 1.725 million.
Rypinski quickly called, showing down 7♠7♦ and found himself in great shape against Velcic’s A♣6♠.
Rypinski soared further ahead after the flop came down 3♥J♦3♦, and Velcic was left drawing very thin after the turn of the 2♣.
No dice – the river was the 9♣ – and just like that ladies and gents, we have ourselves a winner!
| Nick Velcic | BUSTED! |
Michael Fraser eliminated in 3rd place ($26,548)
We’re now heads-up for the Star Sydney Champs $1,100 NLH title after Michael Fraser was sent to the rail in third place!
Nick Velcic folded from the button before Slav Rypinski raised from the small blind to 200,000; Fraser then ripped in his last 1.8 million from the big blind and Rypinski called.
Fraser: 6♥6♣
Rypinski: K♥8♥
Rypinski took the lead after the flop was spread 8♣9♦A♣, but although there was some hope for Fraser with the 5♦ on the turn, the river 10♣ completed the board to end Fraser’s day.
| Slav Rypinski | 5,400,000 |
| Nick Velcic | 2,300,000 |
| Michael Fraser | BUSTED! |
Fraser freefalling
Michael Fraser has taken a couple of hits through Slav Rypinski and Nick Velcic to now move below 2 million in chips.
Earlier, Velcic folded from the button, Rypinski completed his small blind and Fraser checked his option from the big blind to see a flop of 2♠8♥9♥.
Rypinski check-called Fraser’s bet of 130,000, and then both players checked down the turn of the 4♠ before Rypinski fired out 300,000 on the river Q♣, which elicited a snap-fold from Fraser.
A short time later, Fraser got it in with A♦8♦, ahead of Nick Velcic who was at risk who tabled Q♣6♣, but Velcic freerolled his way to the straight despite Fraser hitting top pair on the board of 8♣4♣7♥3♥5♥.
| Slav Rypinski | 4,500,000 |
| Michael Fraser | 1,850,000 |
| Nick Velcic | 1,270,000 |
Level 27: 40,000/80,000 (80,000)
Rypinski applies the pressure
Slav Rypinski has begun to turn the screws here in the $1,100 NLH finale, getting active as we approach the 27th level of the tournament.
After a couple of orbits full of steals, Nick Velcic folded the button and Rypinski completed the small blind before Michael Fraser checked his option from the big blind to go head-up to a flop of 2♥8♥A♥.
Rypinski c-bet for 60,000 and Fraser called, but then folded to Rypinski’s second shell of 60,000 after the turn of the K♥, open-folding 10♥8♣.
The button went around once more, and this time Velcic came out with a raise of 150,000, only to then fold along with Fraser after Rypinski three-bet it to 355,000; and with that, Rypinski became the first player to move past 4 million in chips.
| Slav Rypinski | 4,070,000 |
| Michael Fraser | 2,740,000 |
| Nick Velcic | 760,000 |
Stan Levitin eliminated in 4th place ($16,149)
Stan Levitin has hit the rail in fourth place, with Slav Rypinski collecting another scalp at this final table.
Levitin raised from under the gun to 130,000 and was met with calls from Michael Fraser on the button, and Rypinski in the big blind.
On the flop of 7♠9♥9♣, Rypinski checked and Levitin moved all in for 545,000. Fraser contemplated for a moment and then folded, and after Rypinski asked for a count, he thought about it for a minute before he flicked in a single chip to call.
Levitin: 10♥8♥
Rypinksi: 10♣8♣
It looked most likely to result in a chopped pot, however both players had outs to a backdoor flush. Unfortunately for Levitin, the turn and river ran out 4♣,3♣, to see Rypinski scoop.
| Slav Rypinski | 3,845,000 |
| Stan Levitin | BUSTED! |
Luis Arrilucea eliminated in 5th place ($12,471)
Although he started this final table with the chip lead, Luis Arrilucea has just been felted at the hands of Michael Fraser.
Action folded to Fraser who raised to 120,000 from the button pre-flop; Nick Velcic got out of the way on the small blind, but Arrilucea came out with a three-bet from the big blind worth 280,000.
Fraser flatted, making it heads-up to a flop of 10♥6♦5♠; Arrilucea c-bet for 180,000 and Fraser called, but Arrilucea then open-shoved after the turn of the 3♠. Fraser snap-called.
Fraser: A♥A♣
Arrilucea: A♦K♠
Arrilucea was left drawing dead, and with the meaningless river Q♥ completing the board, Arrilucea headed off to the cage to collect for his fifth-place finish.
| Michael Fraser | 3,040,000 |
| Luis Arrilucea | BUSTED! |
Chip counts at the break
| Slav Rypinski | 2,525,000 |
| Michael Fraser | 1,880,000 |
| Nick Velcic | 1,655,000 |
| Luis Arrilucea | 955,000 |
| Stan Levitin | 765,000 |
Level 26: 30,000/60,000 (60,000)
Break time!
Time to stretch those legs! Back in 10 minutes.
Rip-it-in-ski
Some aggressive five-handed play has resulted in another double-up for Slav Rypinski through Michael Fraser.
The action opened with Rypinksi making it 110,000 from the button, Fraser defended his big blind and the two saw a flop of 6♠8♠9♣.
Fraser checked it over to the pre-flop aggressor in Rypinski who fired a continuation bet of 125,000. Fraser wagered all of his chips in reply and was snap-called by Rypinski.
Rypinksi: A♠9♠
Fraser: 7♥7♣
Rypinski’s flush draw didn’t complete as the turn and river bricked Q♦, 6♦ to hold out against Fraser’s open-ender and to take the chip lead!
| Slav Rypinski | 2,200,000 |
| Michael Fraser | 1,800,000 |
Zhengmin Zhang eliminated in 6th place ($10,334)
Two hands after Zhengmin Zhang had his stack reduced at the hands of Slav Rypinski, he got his last 200,000 in from the button after a pre-flop raise of 105,000 by Michael Fraser from the cut-off.
It was another classic coin flip, with Zhang at risk with A♥10♦ against Fraser’s 6♥6♦, but again, nothing presented for him on the 7♠7♦8♦4♥9♦, confirming Zhang as our sixth-place finisher in this tournament.
| Michael Fraser | 3,100,000 |
| Zhengmin Zhang | BUSTED! |
Rypinski cripples Zhang
Slav Rypinski has just doubled through Zhengmin Zhang as action continues six-handed in The Star Sydney Champs $1,100 NLH.
Action folded around to Zhang who moved all-in from the cut-off with K♦Q♦; Rypinksi peeked down at his cards and quickly called short out of the big blind with 10♠10♦, so it was off to the races.
No change to either hand, however, as the board was spread 6♠2♥7♠2♣6♦ to drop Zhang down to almost 300K.
| Slav Rypinski | 1,095,000 |
| Zhengmin Zhang | 320,000 |
Level 25: 25,000/50,000 (50,000)
Steven Green eliminated in 7th place ($8,677)
Steven Green shoved his last 240,000, and Luis Arriculea jammed his huge stack from the next seat to force out both blinds.
Arriculea: A♣10♦
Green: K♥Q♦
Green needed help, which didn’t arrive on the 7♣4♦9♠ flop, nor the 6♥ turn. Turns out the grass isn’t greener by the river either, the A♦ sealing the deal on Green’s day.
| Luis Arriculea | 2,000,000 |
| Steven Green | BUSTED! |
Michael Tran eliminated in 8th place ($7,252)
Slav Rypinski shoved the cut-off, and Michael Tran asked for a count on the button, before shoving over the top. Both blinds folded, and Tran found out the bad news; his 9♠9♦ up against the J♦J♣ of Rypinski and unable to spike a miracle on the 8♦10♥8♥A♥3♦ board.
Tran was left with just 20,000, which went in on the very next hand amidst some other action. Luis Arriculea opened to 90,000 in middle position, and Zhengmin Zhang defended his big blind to create a side pot of 140,000.
Zhang check-called a continuation bet of 90,000 from Arriculea on the 6♦9♥7♣ flop, then both players checked the 4♥ turn. Zhang elected to lead out, a blocker bet of 75,000 on the 3♣ river getting a quick call from Arriculea.
Zhang tabled 5♦4♦, Arriculea mucked, and Tran’s K♣Q♣ was pretty but useless as he bowed out in 8th.
| Luis Arriculea | 1,695,000 |
| Zhengmin Zhang | 1,170,000 |
| Slav Rypinski | 560,000 |
| Michael Tran | BUSTED! |
FrAAser v RypinsKKi
Luis Arriculea opened to 80,000 from the hijack. In the cut-off, Slav Rypinski took one look at his cards and shoved all-in. Michael Fraser short called for 805,000 total and Arriculea mucked.
Fraser: A♠A♥
Rypinski: K♠K♣
Not a great time for the ultimate cooler for Rypinski, who was cut down to eight big blinds after Fraser boated up on the 4♣2♠4♦J♦A♦ board.
| Michael Fraser | 1,750,000 |
| Slav Rypinski | 225,000 |
Level 24: 20,000/40,000 (40,000)
Andrew Pavlakis eliminated in 9th place ($5,900)
Zhengmin Zhang checked the action across to Andrew Pavlakis on a flop of A♠7♠4♣.
Pavlakis turned the aggression dial to maximum, shoving and sending Zhang into the tank. Zhang eventually called, Pavlakis tabled 8♥7♥ and got the bad news that Zhang had made the call with 8♠8♣.
Running Jacks – J♣, J♦ – changed nothing, and Pavlakis was the first to be eliminated off the final table.
| Zhengmin Zhang | 1,525,000 |
| Andrew Pavlakis | BUSTED! |
Final table set
Ladies and gentlemen, your 2022 Star Sydney Champs $1,100 Final Table!
You can follow along for yourself on Twitch, the game will be streaming on a 30-minute delay.
| Seat | Name | Chips |
| 1 | Stan Levitin | 1,085,000 |
| 2 | Michael Fraser | 860,000 |
| 3 | Zhengmin Zhang | 950,000 |
| 4 | Andrew Pavlakis | 500,000 |
| 5 | Nick Velcic | 1,040,000 |
| 6 | Steven Green | 610,000 |
| 7 | Luis Arrilucea | 1,660,000 |
| 8 | Slav Rypinski | 615,000 |
| 9 | Michael Tran | 460,000 |
Elisa Onay eliminated in 10th place ($4,986)
Luis Arrilucea opened to 65,000 on the button, and Elisa Onay shoved back from the small blind. Michael Fraser folded his big blind but Arrilucea snap-called to put Onay at risk.
Arrilucea: A♦2♦
Onay: K♣J♠
Onay was on her feet quickly Arrilucea hit top pair immediately on the board of 9♣A♠6♦4♣3♦.
| Luis Arrilucea | 1,660,000 |
| Elisa Onay | BUSTED! |
Level 23: 15,000/30,000 (30,000)
Dinner break, updated counts
10 players remain in the 2022 Sydney Champs $1,100 NLH, on the final table bubble.
Playing hand-for-hand and we have reached the dinner break, giving the players (and us) a chance to stretch legs, breathe, and count the stacks for all of you at home.
Table 31
| Seat | Name | Chips |
| 1 | Steven Green | 715,000 |
| 2 | Zhengmin Zhang | 1,070,000 |
| 4 | Nick Velcic | 770,000 |
| 7 | Michael Tran | 535,000 |
| 8 | Slav Rypinski | 585,000 |
Feature table
| Seat | Name | Chips |
| 1 | Stan Levitin | 1,160,000 |
| 2 | Luis Arrilucea | 1,220,000 |
| 4 | Elisa Onay | 300,000 |
| 5 | Michael Fraser | 800,000 |
| 6 | Andrew Pavlakis | 625,000 |
Fraser applies maximum pressure
Stan Levitin opened to 65,000 UTG. Elisa Onay, Michael Fraser, and Andrew Pavlakis all called to make it four ways to a flop of Q♦A♠6♦.
All four checked the flop, and the 7♠ hit the felt on the turn. Action checked to Onay, who bet 65,000. Fraser hesitated, then raised to 225,000. Action folded back around to Onay, who made the call in short order.
Onay checked the 9♠ river and Fraser gave her a side eye, then shoved for 285,000. Onay quickly folded.
| Michael Fraser | 1,150,000 |
| Elisa Onay | 300,000 |
Sammy Salha sacrificed
Sammy Salha shoved all in and was called by Stan Levitin.
Levitin: 8♦8♣
Salha: A♦9♠
Salha was unable to find any assistance on the 2♦4♥3♠Q♠4♦ board and it looked like he was eliminated – until the chips were counted down to prove Salha had 5,000 more than Levitin.
Soon after, Salha chucked in his last chip under-the-gun, with the knowledge that he’d be forced in ante-first next hand anyway. “This is the hand, Sammy!” said tablemate Elisa Onay.
Michael Fraser raised from the small blind, Andrew Pavlakis folded his big blind.
Fraser: 10♣10♦
Salha: J♥8♥
Salha watched his tournament come to a natural conclusion as the board completed 4♠A♦K♦4♦5♥ and hit the rail in 11th place.
| Sammy Salha | BUSTED! |
Zhang trap
Zhengmin Zhang completed in the small blind and Nick Velcic fell right into his trap.
Velcic shoved his big blind, only to see Zhang snap-call with K♠K♥. Velcic tabled Q♦10♥ and needed help.
A little help for Velcic on the Q♥5♠7♥ flop, the 2♣ on the turn changing nothing, but the 10♦ a dagger to Zhang’s heart as Velcic doubled through.
| Zhengmin Zhang | 1,140,000 |
| Nick Velcic | 835,000 |
Ito outo
Kenta Ito has been ousted by Nick Velcic over two consecutive hands.
First, Ito shoved under-the-gun and short stack Velcic short-called on the button. Both blinds folded and Ito tabled A♥10♣ and found himself against the K♦J♠ of Velcic.
Despite hitting top pair, the running diamonds on the 4♦3♥9♦A♦7♦ cut Ito down to just four and a half big blinds.
The very next hand, Ito 3-bet all-in for 90,000 over the 60,000 cut-off open from Velcic, which Velcic snapped off.
Ito: A♦7♣
Velcic: Q♣J♣
Top pair for Velcic this time on the 10♠10♦5♠J♥3♠ board enough to send Ito to the rail.
| Nick Velcic | 600,000 |
| Kenta Ito | BUSTED! |
Green laydown
Michael Tran completed from the small blind, then check called a 40,000 bet on the 5♠7♠4♥ flop from Slav Rypinski, before Tran and Rypinski checked down the turn 6♣ and 6♦ river.
Tran tabled 9♣7♣ but found himself outkicked by the A♦7♦ of Rypinski.
On the very next hand, Steven Green opened to 65,000 preflop and action folded around to Tran on the button. Tran shoved for 405,000 total and when it got back to Green after both blinds folded, Green hit the tank for several minutes.
Green eventually folded 10♠10♦ face up to a gasp of astonishment from the table and rail.
| Slav Rypinski | 805,000 |
| Steven Green | 640,000 |
| Michael Tran | 535,000 |
Level 22: 15,000/25,000 (25,000)
Arrilucea aggression
Luis Arrilucea opened to 50,000 from the cut-off and found calls from Elisa Onay on the button, as well as Andrew Pavlakis in the big blind.
Pavlakis check-called a bet of 70,000 from Arrilucea on the 6♥2♠9♥, with Onay folding in-between.
Pavlakis then checked again on the 4♣ turn only to see Arrilucea continue the aggression, firing a second barrel for 165,000. Pavlakis hesitated, then deliberately slid his cards face down slowly into the middle.
| Andrew Pavlakis | 1,150,000 |
| Luis Arrilucea | 1,105,000 |
Onay recovers
After a rough level with several bad beats, Elisa Onay found herself all-in and behind (for a change) against Stan Levitin.
Levitin: A♣K♦
Onay: A♥Q♥
Fortunes change quickly, though, and the Q♦ in the window certainly helped as Onay steam-rolled to a double up on the A♦4♠Q♦3♣4♦ board.
Her husband, supporting her on the rail, yelled out an encouraging “Can’t lose them all, babe!” to break the tension as she raked in her new chippies.
| Elisa Onay | 540,000 |
| Stan Levitin | 395,000 |
Fraser flying
Michael Fraser has found a timely chip-up on our feature table, thanks to a friendly flop after moving all-in.
Luis Arrilucea opened the action with a raise from UTG to 50,000. Elisa Onay made the flat-call from the hijack before Fraser placed all 305,000 of his stack in the middle.
Arrilucea re-shoved and Onay scarpered; once cards were tabled it was Fraser’s tournament life on the line with K♥9♥ against A♦K♦.
There was no sweat though – the flop 10♥A♥5♥ a nut flush for Fraser, followed by an immediate check mark as the Q♦ dropped on the turn – the K♠ a consolation second pair for Arrilucea but ultimately meaningless.
| Luis Arrilucea | 775,000 |
| Michael Fraser | 710,000 |
Badaoui busto
Miray Badaoui found himself all in and at risk against big stack Zhengmin Zhang on a board of 4♥6♠10♥7♦.
Badaoui tabled J♠10♣, a superior kicker to the 10♦5♦ of Zhang but needing to fade a number of outs.
But the 8♥ river spelt bad news for Badaoui, giving Zhang a straight.
| Zhengmin Zhang | 1,575,000 |
| Miray Badaoui | BUSTED! |
Levit-at-in’ higher
Stan Levitin opened from the button to 60,000. Elisa Onay peeked at her cards in the big blind, then 3-bet to 200,000.
Levitin pulled the trigger, 4-betting all-in for 355,000 effective … only to see Onay snap-call.
Onay: Q♦Q♣
Levitin: A♠6♥
Onay had caught Levitin making a move, but it would be disastrous for Onay as Levitin caught his Ace on the 8♣A♥K♦4♣9♣ board.
| Elisa Onay | 810,000 |
| Stan Levitin | 740,000 |
Level 21: 10,000/20,000 (20,000)
Luckbox Sammy*
Overnight chip leader Sammy Salha has had a rough Day 2 so far, and 3-bet shoved over the UTG open from Elisa Onay with 7♥7♦ towards the end of Level 20.
Both blinds folded, but Onay snap-called with Q♠Q♥ to put Salha at risk.
Salha didn’t need to wait for long, hitting a set in the window on a board of 3♣J♥7♠2♠J♠ to double through Onay.
*headline at request of tablemates
| Elisa Onay | 890,000 |
| Sammy Salha | 470,000 |
Levitin levitatin’
Stan Levitin made a move from UTG, placing all 220,000 of his chips in the middle. The action folded to Husnain Siddique in the small blind, short calling with his stack of 49,000.
Siddique: 10♠10♣
Levitin: 6♠6♦
Board: J♦6♣2♥J♠Q♦
The flopped set for Levitin left Siddique with his hands on his head in exasperation as he was sent to the rail in 14th place.
| Stan Levitin | 299,000 |
| Husnain Siddique | BUSTED! |
Rypinski bluffs
Picking up the action on a board showing 6♣A♦J♣2♦, Slav Rypinski fired for 30,000 into Nick Velcic. Velcic flat-called.
Rypinski continued the line on the 8♣ river, firing a second barrel of 65,000. Velcic’s cards found the muck.
As the pot was pushed towards him, Rypinski tabled the 9♥7♥ stone cold bluff.
| Slav Rypinski | 525,000 |
| Nick Velcic | 355,000 |
Level 20: 10,000/15,000 (15,000)
Break time!
Zhengmin Zhang holds the chip lead going into the first break after a huge couple of levels, including hitting quads to eliminate Chad Awerbuch.
Tournament staff will race off the T1K chips during the break.
Table 31
| Seat | Name | Chips |
| 1 | Steven Green | 259,000 |
| 2 | Zhengmin Zhang | 1,256,000 |
| 3 | Wai Au | 395,000 |
| 4 | Nick Velcic | 153,000 |
| 5 | Miray Badaoui | 414,000 |
| 6 | ||
| 7 | ||
| 8 | Slav Rypinski | 585,000 |
| 9 | Kenta Ito | 255,000 |
Feature Table
| Seat | Name | Chips |
| 1 | Stan Levitin | 218,000 |
| 2 | Luis Arrilucea | 764,000 |
| 3 | Michael Tran | 374,000 |
| 4 | Elisa Onay | 1,115,000 |
| 5 | Michael Fraser | 520,000 |
| 6 | Andrew Pavlakis | 918,000 |
| 7 | ||
| 8 | Husnain Siddique | 153,000 |
| 9 | Sammy Salha | 386,000 |
Terrible for Ivin
Mike “The Tank” Ivin became the latest victim to Elisa Onay, as the two piled in their chips on our feature table.
Ivin showed 9♥8♥ on a board of 8♣10♠8♦10♦, only for his full house to be dwarfed by Onay’s holding of A♦10♥.
Just to ensure the deed was done, Onay found an A♠ on the river to confirm Ivin’s departure from the tournament.
| Elisa Onay | 1,139,000 |
| Mike Ivin | BUSTED! |
Blighted
Craig Blight shoved for his last 95,000 from the button, only to see Slav Rypinski iso-shove from the next seat. Kenta Ito didn’t hesitate to fold his big blind.
Blight: A♥K♥
Rypinski: A♣9♣
Some chop outs for Rypinski on the Q♣Q♦10♥ flop, but the 9♠ on the turn changed things completely as Blight stood up to see the 4♣ river end his tournament run.
| Slav Rypinski | 648,000 |
| Craig Blight | BUSTED! |
Tran trounced
Zhengmin Zhang has moved past the million chip mark after a miracle river card saw him eliminate Van Tran.
We caught the action from the turn where both players moved all-in, each holding three-of-a-kind on 5♣Q♠Q♣7♥.
Tran: A♥Q♥
Zhang: K♥Q♦
Zhang looked to be at the mercy of kicker issues with Tran seeming set to double up, until the K♣ came through to reduce the field by one more player.
| Zhengmin Zhang | 1,125,000 |
| Van Tran | BUSTED! |
Rypinski triple barrels
Slav Rypinski opened under-the-gun to 25,000, receiving a call from Wai Au on the button and a defend from the big blind to a flop of 4♣10♣8♥.
Checked to Rypinski, he continued for 25,000, called only by Au. Clubs got there on the 5♣ turn and Rypinski fired a second barrel to the tune of 55,000. Au flatted for a third time.
The river 4♦ paired the board, and Rypinski sized up, unloading a third barrel out of the clip for 160,000 and sending Au into the tank. After a couple of minutes, Au let it go and Rypinski raked in the pot.
| Slav Rypinski | 516,000 |
Level 19: 6,000/12,000 (12,000)
Onay, Oyay
Evaldas Stanevicius open-shoved for 103,000 from UTG+1, then Jason Lau jammed over the top for a total of 127,000. Action folded to Elisa Onay lying in wait in the big blind, who snap-called to close the action.
Onay: K♥K♣
Lau: 7♦7♣
Stanevicius: A♣Q♥
Onay claimed the double scalp with the over pair to the board of 4♦2♥9♥Q♦10♠.
| Elisa Onay | 571,000 |
| Evaldas Stanevicius | BUSTED! |
| Jason Lau | BUSTED! |
Kassam’s hungry
Rehman Kassam shoved for his last 53,000 from the small blind against Wai Au’s big blind. Au made the call.
Kassam tabled A♣J♥ and saw the K♣Q♠ of Au staring back at him, before the board ran out 2♥Q♣J♣10♥.
As the 9♠ hit the river to give Au a straight for overkill, Kassam remarked “Alright, let’s go to lunch!” to his rail, standing up to leave.
| Wai Au | 638,000 |
| Rehman Kassam | BUSTED! |
Millionaire
Rahim Nasab’s tournament came to a close today after his flopped nut flush was outdrawn by Andrew Pavlakis.
Our Live Reporter caught up with the action from the flop; Nasab checked-called a bet from Pavlakis on a board of 7♣8♣A♣.
Nasab repeated his action on the Q♦ turn, check-calling Pavlakis’ shove, and the two went to showdown.
Nasab: K♣5♣
Pavlakis: A♥A♦
Nasab’s flush wasn’t ahead for long as the Q♠ peeled off on the river, sending Nasab to the rail.
| Andrew Pavlakis | 1,030,000 |
| Rahim Nasab | BUSTED! |
Pizanias pummelled
Jim Pizanias 3-bet shoved from the blinds for 183,000 effective over a Zhengmin Zhang late position open, and Zhang snap-called to put Pizanias at risk.
Zhang: J♠J♥
Pizanias: A♦K♣
Pizanias was unable to clip the wings of Zhang as the board completed 2♦6♥10♠7♥Q♥ and hit the rail.
| Zhengmin Zhang | 808,000 |
| Jim Pizanias | BUSTED! |
Level 18: 5,000/10,000 (10,000)
Was it the Chad?
Kenta Ito opened to 16,000 and Zhengmin Zhang 3-bet to 45,000 from the button. That wasn’t enough for Chad Awerbuch, who cold four-bet-jammed from the small blind to 199,000.
Zhang hit the tank before calling to put Awerbuch at risk, but found himself behind.
Awerbuch: Q♥Q♦
Zhang: 10♠10♥
Awerbuch was halfway to the stairs after the flop spread 10♣7♣7♥ before Zhang sent him tumbling down the stairs, turning him dead with the 10♦. The A♣ completed the board, not that Awerbuch ever saw it.
| Zhengmin Zhang | 635,000 |
| Chad Awerbuch | BUSTED! |
Four King cooler
Husnain Siddique has taken a bite out of the chip-leading stack of Sammy Salha over on Table 30. Salha opened the action from UTG to 20,000 to which Siddique raised it up to 55,000 from UTG+1. Salha responded with a four-bet to 125,000, quickly followed by Siddique’s all in of 154,000.
Salha made the call and turned over his K♥K♦ and was met with laughs as Siddique turned over his K♠K♣.
The laughs diminished as the board met the felt, running out J♣10♣J♥8♣3♣ to give Siddique a four carder.
It’s not all flushed away for Salha as he still remains one of the early big stacks here on Day 2.
| Sammy Salha | 490,000 |
| Husnain Siddique | 328,000 |
White out
Andrew White shoved for 96,000 in early position, with a short-call from Nick Velcic in middle position before Kenta Ito called to close the action.
Velcic: A♠A♦
Ito: K♠K♦
White: K♥J♣
Velcic would earn a full triple up as the board ran out 2♥Q♣5♦10♣10♠ whilst Ito claimed the side pot to erase White.
| Nick Velcic | 222,000 |
| Kenta Ito | 197,000 |
| Andrew White | BUSTED! |
Kassam can only lose
Craig Austin opened in late position to 16,000 and found a caller in Craig Blight on the button. Rehman Kassam defended his big blind.
On a flop of 9♣7♠10♦, action checked to Blight, who immediately asked Kassam how much he had behind – 68,000 was the answer – before sliding out a bet of 20,000.
Kassam opted to check-raise jam, and Austin ran for cover before Blight shrugged and called, tabling Q♣8♣.
“Aw, I can’t win!” cried Kassam, tabling Q♥8♠, “I can only lose!”
Neither win nor lose for Kassam, as the board ran out 6♠, 7♦ to chop up the dead money.
| Rehman Kassam | 98,000 |
Pockets pairs everywhere
Three quick all-in and calls to start the day; first, on Table 30 Husnain Siddique made the call after Ronnie Shabtay jammed for 159,000 over his 30,000 open in late position. Shabtay rolled Q♣Q♦ and found himself miles ahead of the 8♥8♦ of Siddique. Both players would then make a boat on the Q♥K♠6♥6♠8♠ board.
Second, over to the Star Sydney Feature Table where seconds later, Evaldas Stanevicius found himself coolered with 9♠9♦ up against the 10♥10♣ of Luis Arrilucea. No help for Stanevicius on the 8♣K♣Q♥6♥4♦ board saw Arrilucea double through.
It was then immediately back to Table 30, as Rehman Kassam said “It’s been a pleasure!” before shoving for 36,000 from the button and finding a caller in overnight chipleader Sammy Salha’s big blind. Kassam’s pleasure it was, as he tabled Q♠Q♦ up against the J♠J♦ of Salha. Not even a sweat for Kassam as the board ran out 3♠5♠K♠4♦3♦ and Salha shipped some across.
Salha couldn’t resist the needle though, saying “Thank god you’re short!” to a bemused Kassam.
| Sammy Salha | 630,000 |
| Ronnie Shabtay | 330,000 |
| Luis Arrilucea | 274,000 |
| Evaldas Stanevicius | 204,000 |
| Husnain Siddique | 179,000 |
| Rehman Kassam | 84,000 |
Business end
The players are seated, the chips are unbagged, Tournament Director Keiran Moore has announced “Shuffle up and deal!”, and play is underway for Day 2 of Event 2 for the 2022 Star Sydney Champs; $1,100 NLH.
As mentioned, all of today’s players are already in the money as the bubble burst towards the end of Day 1; every player in the field is guaranteed $1,779, playing towards $58,988 up top for the eventual Champion.
$1,100 NLH remaining pay outs (259 entries, 33 places paid)
| Place | Amount |
| 1st | $58,988 |
| 2nd | $41,500 |
| 3rd | $26,548 |
| 4th | $16,149 |
| 5th | $12,471 |
| 6th | $10,334 |
| 7th | $8,677 |
| 8th | $7,252 |
| 9th | $5,900 |
| 10th-12th | $4,986 |
| 13th-15th | $4,279 |
| 16th-18th | $3,600 |
| 19th-21st | $2,953 |
| 22nd-24th | $2,331 |
| 25th-27th | $2,020 |
| 28th-33rd | $1,779 |
Level 17: 4,000/8,000 (8,000)
30 to 1
Good morning and welcome back to PokerMedia Australia for our continued Live Reporting coverage of The Star Sydney Champs!
Today, we pick up the action at the start of Day 2 of the the $1,100 NLH; from the 259 total entries taken in, 30 players will return, with Sammy Salha leading the pack after bagging 682,000 in chips.
Our remaining contenders are already in the money, but we’ll be playing down to a winner tonight, who will not only pocket themselves a stack of cash but also The Star Sydney Champs $1,100 NLH trophy.
Cards will be in the air from 12:30pm AEST, so stay with us here at PMA for all our live updates alongside the Star Poker Sydney feature table stream until the final river falls!
Day 2 seat draw
Play will resume at 12:30pm AEST, with recommencing blinds at 4,000/8,000 (8,000). Please ensure you have your photo ID and Star Rewards Card for verification purposes.
Should you have any queries regarding your seat allocation, please see one of the friendly team at Star Poker Sydney. Best of luck to all players!
Table 30
| Seat | Name | Chips |
| 1 | Craig Blight | 264,000 |
| 2 | ||
| 3 | Ronnie Shabtay | 175,000 |
| 4 | Rehman Kassam | 56,000 |
| 5 | Rahim Hosseini-Nasab | 315,000 |
| 6 | Andrew Pavlakis | 326,000 |
| 7 | Sammy Salha | 682,000 |
| 8 | Husnain Siddique | 333,000 |
| 9 | Craig Austin | 154,000 |
Table 31
| Seat | Name | Chips |
| 1 | Steven Green | 160,000 |
| 2 | Andrew White | 88,000 |
| 3 | ||
| 4 | Nick Velcic | 177,000 |
| 5 | Miray Badaoui | 316,000 |
| 6 | Aaron Cauchi | 108,000 |
| 8 | Slav Rypinski | 334,000 |
| 9 | Kenta Ito | 129,000 |
Table 32 (Feature Table)
| Seat | Name | Chips |
| 1 | ||
| 2 | Luis Arrilucea | 115,000 |
| 3 | Michael Tran | 182,000 |
| 4 | ||
| 5 | Michael Fraser | 205,000 |
| 6 | Ren Wang | 118,000 |
| 7 | Evaldas Stanevicius | 358,000 |
| 8 | Bobby Yun | 183,000 |
| 9 | Jason Lau | 171,000 |
Table 34
| Seat | Name | Chips |
| 1 | Stan Levitin | 412,000 |
| 2 | Wai Au | 418,000 |
| 3 | Van Tran | 480,000 |
| 4 | Mike Ivin | 297,000 |
| 5 | Jim Pizanias | 157,000 |
| 6 | ||
| 7 | Elisa Onay | 408,000 |
| 8 | Zhengmin Zhang | 395,000 |
| 9 | Chad Awerbuch | 258,000 |
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