Leo Boxell leads after Day 1A of Mystery Bounty; that’s a wrap!
Australian Poker Hall of Famer Leo Boxell has bagged 529,000 in chips, the most of the 35 remaining runners from a total of 231 entries for Day 1A of the Mystery Bounty here at The Star Sydney Champs.
‘The Mechanic’ initially struggled with the more aggressive nature of play early on; at one point, he was heard uttering, “I’m so out of my depth here,” but Boxell remained patient and picked his spots carefully.
“I had a couple of bad beats, but you’ve gotta roll with the punches,” he reflected. “After I moved tables, I won a couple of very big pots, and all of a sudden I was on 250,000 and then took a monster pot off the chip leader!”
Going into Day 2, Boxell emphasised he wasn’t going to change his usual game plan, despite the variations involved in the Mystery Bounty structure: “I’m just gonna play my cards, I’m not gonna try and make myself famous.”
Having played tournament poker since 1989, however, Boxell’s achievements on the felt speak for themselves. Put simply, he need not try to make himself famous anymore, he’s done that already.
This concludes our coverage for the day. We’ll return for Day 1B tomorrow (Wednesday), where PMA‘s live reporting will commence from 2:30pm AEST. Thanks so much for joining us – we appreciate your support and we look forward to seeing you again soon!
Tambouras taken down
Steve Tambouras has just been eliminated by Charles Tsai in the closing stages of Day 1A of the Sydney Champs Mystery Bounty.
Action folded to Craig Blight who raised to 15,000 from middle position; Tambouras re-raised to 40,000 from the lojack before Tsai shoved from the hijack, forcing Blight out of the way before Tambouras called short.
Tambouras: A♥A♦
Tsai: K♠K♦
Despite being on the wrong end of the über-cooler, Tsai freerolled to the second nut flush on the board of 5♠5♦9♠Q♠J♠ to send Tambouras packing.
| Charles Tsai | 375,000 |
| Steve Tambouras | BUSTED! |
And with Josh Filipovic taking out one more player on an adjacent table, we’re officially down to 35 players and play has stopped for the night, and it’s none other than Leo Boxell who has now emerged as chip leader!
Our wrap-up of today’s proceedings will be coming your way soon.
Two more to the rail
Joel Turner and Rob Madafferi have each claimed another knockout as we approach the closing stages of today’s flight.
Earlier, action folded to Turner who raised to 15,000 from the lojack pre-flop; he found calls from the button and both blinds to go four-handed to a flop of 8♥J♦10♣.
Both blinds and Turner checked to the button who open-shoved for 66,000. The blinds got out of the way and after about 30 seconds of deliberation, Turner called, showing down A♥9♥, which turned the straight against the button’s Q♣J♠ as the turn and river came down 7♦, A♦.
A short time later, Nick Velcic and Madafferi got all their money into the middle after the flop of 2♦10♦4♣, with Velcic’sQ♦10♥ having hit top pair against Madafferi’s A♦7♦.
Madafferi did turn the nut flush, however, as the board completed 8♦, 3♣ to eliminate Velcic.
| Joel Turner | 330,000 |
| Rob Madafferi | 297,000 |
| Nick Velcic | BUSTED! |
Blight’s alright
Action folded around to Craig Blight who fired out a cut-off raise of 12,000 and got a call out of the big blind to see a flop of K♥J♦9♥.
The big blind check-called Blight’s c-bet of 9,000, then check-raised all-in for 72,000 after Blight opened for 16,000 on the turn of the 8♠.
Blight called him off, showing J♣8♣ for two pair, but needed to find some help against the big blind’s Q♥10♦.
Help arrived for Blight, alright, with the J♠ sailing down the river to give him the boat and send his opponent packing.
| Craig Blight | 193,000 |
Chad chips up
Chad Awerbuch has found himself a timely double-up through Leo Kamiya as we head into Level 16.
After a pre-flop raise to 14,000 from a player in middle position, Leo Kamiya three-bet it to 50,000 from the cut-off before Awerbuch shoved for 63,000.
The MP folded and Kamiya called him down, only to find that his A♠9♣ was trailing Awerbuch’s J♠J♦, which turned the boat on the board of 8♠J♣Q♣8♣2♦.
| Chad Awerbuch | 148,000 |
| Leo Kamiya | 116,000 |
Level 16: 3,000/6,000 (6,000)
Sun rises
Henry Sun is feeling a bit brighter after scoring a double-up through Toby Giles.
Action folded around to Giles who min-raised from the cut-off; the player on the button folded, but Sun then shoved for his last 48,000 from the small blind, forcing the big blind out of the way before Giles called him off.
Sun: A♣K♣
Giles: K♥5♥
Both players hit two pair, kings up on the board of J♠3♦5♣J♣K♦, however Sun had him outkicked with the Ace to take down the pot.
| Henry Sun | 104,000 |
| Toby Giles | 125,000 |
Filipovic finds a double
From UTG+1, Leo Boxell min-clicked and the action folded all the way around to Josh Filipovic, who shoved for his last 65,000 from the big blind.
Boxell called, rolling up A♣J♦ and found himself in good shape against Filipovic’s A♥7♠, but Filipovic managed to hit a runner-runner straight on the board of 8♦8♣6♣10♦9♣.
| Josh Filipovic | 136,000 |
| Leo Boxell | 183,000 |
Trayner trounced
Malcolm Trayner has been confirmed as one of our latest casualties, eliminated at the hands of Star Sydney Champs $1,100 NLH runner-up Nick Velcic.
Just before we headed into the 15th level of the night, Velcic raised to 9,000 from UTG+1 and action folded around to Trayner who ripped in his remaining 52,500 from the button. The blinds got out of the way and Velcic insta-called.
Velcic: A♥A♣
Trayner: A♦J♣
Velcic kept his lead after the flop of 2♣9♥K♣, but although there was a bit of a sweat with the Q♠ on the turn, the 6♣ bricked out on the river to end Trayner’s day.
| Nick Velcic | 168,000 |
| Malcolm Trayner | BUSTED! |
Level 15: 3,000/5,000 (5,000)
Rolfe on a roll
Matt Rolfe has rocketed up the charts after taking out Geoff Milner over on Table 10.
Rolfe and Milner were two out of three players into a raised pot on a flop of 7♦2♠5♦; the small blind player checked to Rolfe who opened for 7,000 before Milner moved all-in for 130,000 effective.
The small blind quickly folded and Rolfe called, turning up A♠A♥, only to find himself behind Milner who had spiked two pair with his 7♠5♥.
Milner was counterfeited, however, as the turn and river came running 9♥, 9♣ to give Rolfe the scoop.
| Matt Rolfe | 361,000 |
| Geoff Milner | BUSTED! |
The Desmarchelier domination
Another huge pot has gone the way of Dylan Desmarchelier after he took out another player on Table 13.
Action folded around to the player on the button who moved the last of their chips into the middle from the button holding J♥7♥; the small blind folded and Desmarchelier quickly called before rolling up A♥A♦.
The button player was drawing dead by the turn on the board of 6♣5♣K♣6♠Q♠, and thus we lost one more.
| Dylan Desmarchelier | 260,000 |
A huge Turner event
After busting earlier in the day , Joel Turner is now up towards the top of the counts after eliminating Andrew Scarf.
A huge pot brewed between Turner, Scarf and Nurlan Boobekov, with all the chips going into the middle after the river on the board of J♣J♥7♣A♥2♠ and we got there just as the cards were being tabled.
Boobekov: 7♠7♦
Turner: A♠J♠
Scarf: J♦10♣
Turner effectively tripled up, taking out Scarf along with a huge chunk of change out of Boobekov to move up to more than 250K.
| Joel Turner | 255,000 |
| Nurlan Boobekov | 110,000 |
| Andrew Scarf | BUSTED! |
Level 14: 2,000/4,000 (4,000)
Khouiss survives
Soon after Fletcher Smith found his double, Suzy Khouiss found herself all-in pre-flop for her last 28,500 with A♣Q♠, and found herself ahead of her opponent who called off with K♠J♠.
Despite her adversary picking up an open-ended straight draw after the flop of 9♣8♦10♣, the turn and river ran out 3♥, A♥ to give Khouiss a much-needed double-up.
| Suzy Khouiss | 57,000 |
Smith gets a double
Fletcher Smith has been grinding for most of the day, but just managed to score another double-up as action continues in Day 1A of The Star Sydney Champs Mystery Bounty.
On a flop of Q♦4♥J♠, Smith opened for 4,000, however his opponent raised to 12,000 from late position. Smith shoved for his last 55,500 and the villain called, turning over Q♥5♥ for top pair against Smith’s K♣10♦.
Smith then completed his open-ender, turning Broadway with the A♦ before the river 5♠ completed the board.
| Fletcher Smith | 115,500 |
Pacheco picked off
Our reporter picked up action into a raised pot on a flop of K♣10♥7♥ between Dylan Desmarchelier and Adrian Pacheco, who checked over to Andrew Scarf who opened for 9,000.
Desmarschelier and Pacheco called, then Desmarchelier checked again after the dealer peeled the 4♥ from the shoe, which prompted Pacheco to push his last 38,000 into the middle.
Scarf folded and Desmarchelier snap-called.
Pacheco: A♦3♦
Desmarchelier: 9♥6♥
Pacheco was already headed to the exits by the time the river Q♣ completed the board.
| Dylan Desmarchelier | 197,000 |
| Andrew Scarf | 103,000 |
| Adrian Pacheco | BUSTED! |
Assorted chip counts
| Name | Chips |
| Andrew White | 240,000 |
| Toby Giles | 223,000 |
| Michael Tran | 217,500 |
| Nurlan Boobekov | 175,000 |
| Tony Kambouroglou | 167,500 |
| Steve Tambouras | 161,000 |
| Geoff Milner | 154,000 |
| Joel Turner | 152,500 |
| Leo Boxell | 145,000 |
| Craigh Blight | 135,000 |
| Brett Marshall | 121,000 |
| Andrew Scarf | 118,000 |
| Dylan Desmarchelier | 109,000 |
| Travis Endersby | 106,000 |
| Steve Tupua | 81,000 |
| Lawrence Stephenson | 69,000 |
| Jonathan Levy | 66,000 |
| Yang Lei | 63,000 |
| Adrian Pacheco | 59,000 |
| Malcolm Trayner | 57,000 |
| Dylan Wayne | 53,500 |
| Jiapeng Yang | 51,500 |
| Chad Awerbuch | 51,000 |
| Mitch Bognar | 44,000 |
| Shem Goltz | 44,000 |
| David Sebesfi | 39,000 |
| Suzy Khouiss | 38,000 |
| Romain Morvan | 35,000 |
Level 13: 1,500/3,500 (3,000)
Break it down
Our remaining 73 players are now on another 10 minute break. Back shortly!
Yang sets up
An all-in from a player on Table 11 saw Jiapeng Yang call with 5♥5♦ to find out he was flipping against A♦K♥.
Flops don’t get much safer than the 8♦5♣10♠ Yang was granted, and the board continued to run out in his favour as the final two cards came the J♠,7♦.
| Jiapeng Yang | 113,500 |
The adventures of Basle and Psarras: the final chapter
We caught the action from the turn as Harry Basle once again found himself in a pot with Michelle Psarras.
On a board of 8♥9♠A♦Q♣, Psarras got it all-in good with the nuts at the time.
Holding J♣10♣, she wasn’t out of the clear just yet, as Basle showed two pair with Q♦8♦.
The river? 8♣. Ouch.
So far it’s been Harry’s night, but the same can’t be said for Psarras as she departs The Star Poker Room.
| Harry Basle | 255,000 |
| Michelle Psarras | BUSTED! |
Beguiling Giles
Toby Giles has dealt a cruel blow to one of his opponents on Table 5. Limping with 4♦4♣ UTG, Giles was allowed to see a cheap flop after the Big Blind checked their option.
On 4♠A♠K♠, the big blind checked it to Giles who lead for 6,000. A call was made and the turn of J♠ saw it checked to Giles once more, who pulled the trigger and moved all in.
When the big blind turned over their 6♠5♠, Giles needed the board to pair.
It did.
River: 4♥
Just quads.
| Toby Giles | 230,000 |
Onay’s on his way
Andrew White got all of his chips in pre-flop against Hasan Onay, and with Onay at risk and behind with A♣5♦ against White’s A♠Q♦, help was needed to stay in the tournament.
The spread of 7♠10♥A♦Q♣10♣ granted no favours to Onay, as White helped himself to a handy chip-up
| Andrew White | 200,000 |
| Hasan Onay | BUSTED! |
Level 12: 1,500/2,500 (2,500)
HAArry BAAsle
For the second time tonight, we report a hand involving Harry Basle doubling-up through another player’s Ace-King. This time Charles Tsai was the victim.
Basle opened the action with a raise from the cutoff to 5,000. Tsai elected to three-bet from the big-blind to 17,000 when Basle four-bet to 50,000. Tsai five-bet jammed and was called.
Basle: A♦A♣
Tsai: A♠K♣
Board: J♦J♣4♦5♥2♥
| Harry Basle | 201,000 |
| Charles Tsai | 54,500 |
Evaldas Evolving
Evaldas Stanevicius has seen to the elimination of Rehman Kassam as the field begins to narrow to half the number of entries here on Day 1A.
Kassam raised UTG to 4,000, Stanevicius then re-raised to 11,000, which was met with a subsequent all-in from Kassam and Stanevicius called.
Kassam: Q♠Q♥
Stanevicius: A♠Q♦
Board: 9♦2♠8♥A♦9♣
Stanevicius paired his singular over card to double through, as well as ending Kassam’s Day 1A.
| Elvaldas Stanevicius | 110,000 |
| Rehman Kassam | BUSTED! |
Level 11: 1,000/2,000 (2,000)
Doughty’s very Luo
Hayden ‘Doug’ Doughty has been crippled to below the amount of the starting stack by Wangyang Luo.
From under the gun, Luo limped in and action folded around to Hayden Doughty, who completed the small blind before the big blind checked his option to make it three-handed to a flop of Q♦A♦6♦.
Doughty and the big blind checked, Luo c-bet for 2,000 and Doughty called as the big blind got out of the way to make it heads-up to the turn of the K♣.
Doughty check-called Luo’s second shell of 4,500, and then opened for 9,000 after the dealer produced the river J♣, only to then see Luo raise it to 19,000.
After a minute or so of deliberation, Doughty leant over in Luo’s direction.
“I reckon you should just muck your cards so I can so show you my nuts,” Doughty said.
No response.
“Maybe I flopped it? I’m telling you, it’s no bluff.”
Silence.
Doughty eventually called, but it was Luo that had the best of it with his J♦9♦!
| Wangyang Luo | 171,000 |
| Hayden Doughty | 27,000 |
Stand-up equity!
Shane Khouiss has managed to double up through Hasan Onay as we head towards the 11th level of the night.
Action folded to the player in the hijack who min-clicked to 3,200; Khouiss called from the button, but Onay three-bet from the button, making it 10,000 to go.
The hijack folded and Khouiss called, then check-jammed after Onay’s opening bet on the flop of Q♠3♥3♠.
Onay: K♥K♦
Khouiss: K♣Q♣
“Honestly, if I’m gonna lose, I’m happy to be losing to you!” Khouiss said to Onay as he stood up and prepared to leave.
No loss this time though, as the turn and river ran out 6♥, Q♥ to give Khouiss trips!
| Shane Khouiss | 101,300 |
| Hasan Onay | 61,500 |
The Nurlan effect
Over on Table 13, Adrian came out with a raise of 3,200 from early position and the action folded to Seve Jarvin who three-bet it to 11,100 before Nurlan Boobekov four-bet to 23,000 from the button.
The blinds and Pacheco quickly got out of the way, Jarvin shoved and Boobekov beat him into the pot.
Boobekov: A♦A♣
Jarvin: A♣K♦
Jarvin found himself with a chance on fourth street with the Broadway draw on the board of 9♦10♠6♠Q♥, but the river 10♥ gave Boobekov two pair and the KO.
“Nurlan, Nurlan, Nurlan! How do you do it, man?” asked one of the players.
“Easy, with Aces!” replied Dylan Desmarchelier.
“I swear to God, he hasn’t lost a hand all day!” the opponent remarked.
| Nurlan Boobekov | 195,500 |
| Seve Jarvin | BUSTED! |
Level 10: 800/1,600 (1,600)
Zhou low
Rehman Kassam has just scored another double-up on Table 10, this time through Xuan Zhou.
All the money was in the middle before the flop; Kassam was at risk with 10♥10♦, but found himself flipping for his tournament life against the A♠K♦ of Zhou.
Zhou took the lead after hitting top-top on the flop of 7♠A♣5♥, but Kassam came back after spiking the 10♣ on the turn for the set, which held when the K♠ sailed down the river.
| Rehman Kassam | 56,400 |
| Xuan Zhou | 17,400 |
Yazbeck busto
Mark Yazbeck has been felted at the hands of Michelle Psarras as play continues in The Star Sydney Champs Mystery Bounty.
From under the gun, Andrew White raised to 2,700 and action folded around to Psarras who called from the button before Yazbeck shoved for his last 8,300 from the big blind.
White and Psarras both called, then both players checked all the way down the board of J♠4♥7♣4♥8♣, only to then see White muck after Psarras showed Q♥8♥ for two pair.
Yazbeck flashed K-10o, threw his hand in and then stepped out.
| Michelle Psarras | 59,700 |
| Andrew White | 47,200 |
| Mark Yazbeck | BUSTED! |
Chips ahoy!
Day 1A of The Star Sydney Champs has now been locked out at 231 entries, with Star Poker Sydney staff confirming that we’ll be bagging up once we get down to 35 players.
| Name | Chips |
| Dean Blatt | 243,500 |
| Geoff Milner | 146,200 |
| Vera Milinkovic | 126,300 |
| Hasan Onay | 100,600 |
| Jonathan Levy | 98,000 |
| Charbel Boustani | 96,100 |
| Travis Endersby | 87,000 |
| Charles Tsai | 83,200 |
| Steve Tambouras | 80,900 |
| Mitch Bognar | 77,500 |
| Mohammed Elkassir | 65,000 |
| Andy Feng | 61,300 |
| Lawrence Stephenson | 52,400 |
| Nicholas Roth | 51,600 |
| Brett Marshall | 51,500 |
| Malcolm Trayner | 49,500 |
| Michelle Psarras | 49,000 |
| Joel Turner | 48,600 |
| Brendon Rubie | 42,500 |
| Rehman Kassam | 40,400 |
| Hayden Doughty | 37,800 |
| Dylan Desmarchelier | 26,900 |
| Steven Boek | 25,000 |
Level 9: 600/1,200 (1,200)
Let’s eat!
Our players are now on a 30-minute dinner break. Back with our latest serve of chips for you all soon!
Basle’s feeling flushed
As the clock ticked over into the next break of the evening, our reporter caught action three-handed on Table 6 on a board of 7♠A♠8♣10♣.
Harry Basle checked his option to another player in middle position, who moved all-in; another player on the button called along with Basle, so it was heads-up to the river, which was the 5♠.
Basle quickly pushed his remaining 12,300 into the middle.
“I’m all-in,” said Basle.
The player on the button threw his hands up in the air in frustration.
“Of course you are! I’ve just been flushed to death!” he cried, before throwing his hand into the muck.
“You’re right – unlucky bro,” Basle stated as he turned over 6♠3♠. “It’s a [Mystery] Bounty, I had to call that turn after you did. I was gambling, but I got there!”
The all-in player rolled up A♣J♥, which resulted in their elimination as Basle moved up to almost 100,000 in chips.
| Harry Basle | 97,300 |
Trayner takes a hit
Over on Table 11, Malcolm Trayner raised to 2,200 from UTG+1 and action folded to Jane Howard who called from the big blind to see a flop of 6♦2♦A♠.
Howard check-called after Trayner opened for 2,000 and then both players checked down both the turn of the 10♠ and the river 7♠.
“You got anything?” Howard asked?
“You’re the one that has to show first,” Trayner replied.
Howard tabled 6♠5♣ for a small pair, but that was enough as Trayner sent his hand into the muck.
| Jane Howard | 24,900 |
| Malcolm Trayner | 44,600 |
Boxell marches on
On a flop of 4♦A♠8♣, Leo Boxell lead out for 4,100. Yor Ecobiza – the pre-flop aggressor – obliged and made the call to see the Q♥ on the turn. Once again Boxell bet, this time to 6,000. Ecobiza called again and the river fell the 7♦.
This time Boxell checked, Ecobiza made it 12,000 and Boxell called.
Boxell: A♦8♠
Ecobiza: A♥K♠
| Leo Boxell | 105,000 |
| Yor Ecobiza | 10,900 |
Milner-aire
It may not be quite a million in chips exactly, but Geoff Milner was stoked after pulling through with his A♥A♠ against two other players in a four-bet all-in pot.
Up against K♥K♦ and A♦K♠, the odds were already well in Milner’s favour before a flopped set sealed the deal.
Board: A♣3♥10♥6♣J♣
| Geoff Milner | 168,500 |
Level 8: 500/1,000 (1,000)
Yu impressed?
Table 13 played host to three streets of check-calling from Romain Morvan, with Michael Yu leading out for bets on the flop, turn, and river on a board of Q♦K♥10♣2♣3♥.
After calling off the river, Yu showed K♣Q♥ and Morvan mucked.
Tablemate Nurlan Boobekov chimed in, “Impressed?”
“It’s not what I wanted,” replied Morvan
“Not impressed, then?” confirmed Boobekov.
| Michael Yu | 46,300 |
| Romain Morvan | 57,100 |
Basle adds spice
Harry Basle has double-up thanks to a flop that was friendly enough to keep Michelle Psarras interested.
After an UTG limp, Psarras raised to 3,800 and found one caller in Basle.
The first three cards spread 8♠6♥9♠, when Psarras continued for 5,500. Harry Basle all in for 1,900 more and was snap-called.
Basle: A♦A♣
Psarras: A♠K♠
The board ran out Q♣,K♦, with Basle exclaiming to Psarras, “Unlucky flop for you!”
| Harry Basle | 24,700 |
| Michelle Psarras | 32,200 |
H-Andy win
Andy Feng was the beneficiary of a monstrous cooler in a three-bet pot.
Our reporter caught the action from the flop, where three players, including Dylan Desmarchelier and Andy Feng, each had a strong hand on a board of J♦K♣10♥.
Feng: A♦Q♦
Desmarchelier: K♥J♠
Opponent: Q♣Q♠
The board bricked out 8♥,7♦ to give Feng the double knockout
| Andy Feng | 115,000 |
| Dylan Desmarchelier | BUSTED! |
Level 7: 400/800 (800)
Kassam Climbing
Plenty of action is happening at Table 10, with two notable hands resulting in chip-ups and knock-outs.
The UTG player raised with A♥10♠, only to be re-raised all-in by Rehman Kassam. UTG short-called to see he was in trouble against Rehman’s A♦A♠.
Board: 2♦2♠9♦4♥6♠
Rehman picked up a scalp, and the chips to go along with it.
Moments later, two other patrons on the same table found themselves all-in before the flop.
Brendon Rubie was all-in on the button, covering David Sebesfi in the small blind who made the call.
Rubie: 6♥6♠
Sebesfi: A♥J♠
Board: 3♦K♠10♦6♣9♦
| Brendon Rubie | 100,000 |
| Rehman Kassam | 54,000 |
| David Sebesfi | BUSTED! |
Charbel ringing in the wins
Charbel Boustani took a handy pot away from Mark Yazbeck and Steve Tambouras.
Tambouras opened the action UTG with a raise to 1,400. Yazbeck called in the cutoff and Boustani elected to defend his big blind.
The action checked straight through to a turn, and on a board of 8♦4♣4♦2♦ Boustani lead out for 2,000. Tambouras called before Yazbeck raised to 6,000 to get Boustani alone heads-up to a river.
The third street came a A♠, to which Boustani check-called a bet of 4,000. Yazbeck queried, “You have the flush?” followed by “You win!”
Boustani showed his 10♦5♦ to claim the pot.
| Charbel Boustani | 61,500 |
| Steve Tambouras | 46,200 |
| Mark Yazbeck | 28,600 |
Levy-l up
Jonathan Levy has found a timely triple-up over on Table 10. A three way all in saw a large pot brewing, with the tournament lives of both Levy and Tony Kambouroglou at risk, both covered by Brendon Rubie’s stack.
Levy: A♠A♣
Kambouroglou: Q♣10♥
Rubie: A♥K♠
Board: K♣9♥6♠4♦Q♦
Levy’s stack increased threefold, Kambouroglou was sent to the rail, and Rubie added “You guys really are gamblers!”
| Jonathan Levy | 28,000 | |
| Brendon Rubie | 55,700 | |
| Tony Kambouroglou | BUSTED! |
Tables turning for Joel
Joel Turner’s second bullet in the Mystery Bounty Day 1A is proving to be more fruitful than the first so far.
With an all-in and a call pre-flop, Turner found himself ahead, holding A♠K♠ with his opponent at risk with A♦3♦.
With a board of 6♦6♠10♠5♣7♠, the nut flush was more than good enough to get Turner nicely above average stack, sending his opponent to the rail.
| Joel Turner | 47,500 |
Level 6: 300/600 (600)
High times for Tsai
A huge hand for Charles Tsai has seen him rocket up the counts in the early part of this new leve.
Action folded to the player in the lojack who limped in before the hijack player raised to 2,500; the cut-off called, but then Tsai came out with a three-bet of 10,000 from the small blind.
The big blind folded and lojack folded, but the hijack came back with a four-bet-jam, forcing the cut-off out of the way before the cards were tabled.
Tsai: Q♥Q♣
Hijack: A♣K♥
Tsai hit top set after the flop came down 6♦10♦Q♠, but the hijack took back the lead with the J♥ on the turn … only to then see the case Q♦ fall on the river to give Tsai quads!
And with that, we lost one more as Tsai moved up to almost 90K in chips.
| Charles Tsai | 87,800 |
Assorted chip counts
| Name | Chips |
| Dean Blatt | 117,000 |
| Romain Morvan | 68,500 |
| Brendon Rubie | 67,200 |
| Dylan Wayne | 66,500 |
| Suzy Khouiss | 64,000 |
| Steve Tambouras | 59,700 |
| Toby Giles | 59,000 |
| Hasan Onay | 50,400 |
| Leo Boxell | 41,100 |
| Geoff Milner | 39,000 |
| Michelle Psarras | 32,000 |
| Rehman Kassam | 31,000 |
| Roland Foster | 25,000 |
Level 5: 300/500 (500)
Break time!
Our Mystery Bounty players are now on their first 10-minute break of the day. See you soon!
Marshall gets one through
Over on Table 2, action folded around to the player in the hijack position who min-clicked, only to then see Brett Marshall three-bet it from the button, making it 2,700 to go.
The hijack called, then check-called Marshall’s bet of 2,500 after the flop of 7♦10♦Q♥ before both players checked down the turn of the 5♥ and the river 4♥.
Marshall turned over J♥J♦, which was enough for the hijack to muck.
| Brett Marshall | 53,300 |
Hoek sunk
Steven Hoek has just been busted in the space of two hands just as the blinds ticked over into the fourth level of play.
We caught action between Hoek and Mitch Bognar heads-up on a board of 7♠4♠8♦8♠; Hoek had moved all-in on the turn with his A♣J♣, but got his hand caught in the cookie jar as Bognar snapped him off with A♠10♠ for the stone cold nuts.
The river 9♣ was merely a formality and Bognar secured the double-up.
“I’ll get some action for you next hand,” Hoek said to our reporter.
It was two hands later, however, when Hoek shoved blind from the hijack for his last 13,000, but was called off by Scott Carmichael, who rolled over A♥10♦ and found himself ahead of Hoek who showed down J♥10♠.
Carmichael then wheeled his way to victory after the dealer spread the board of 2♦3♠4♦5♥K♣ and Hoek headed back to the re-entry desk.
| Scott Carmichael | 43,000 |
| Mitch Bognar | 39,400 |
| Steven Hoek | BUSTED! |
Level 4: 200/400 (400)
Turner trumped
Joel Turner has hit the rail at the hands of Mohamed Insehazdan as action continues in the early stages of this Mystery Bounty flight.
Action folded around to Insehazdan who limped in in the small blind, only to then call Turner’s raise of 1,200 from the big blind to make it heads-up to a flop of 6♠A♣9♥.
Insehazdan checked and Turner bet 1,800, and then called Insehazdan’s check-raise of 4,300 before moving all-in for 15,000 after Insehazdan led out for 5,500 on the turn of the 2♦. Insehazdan snap-called.
Insehazdan: 6♥6♣
Turner: A♠K♥
Despite the river K♠ completing the board, Turner’s two pair was crushed by Insehazdan’s set and he was sent to the rail.
| Mohamed Insehazdan | 59,000 |
| Joel Turner | BUSTED! |
Issa good to double
After a middle position raise of 800, action folded to Dean Blatt who came out with a three-bet of 2,500 from the cut-off; the button and small blind mucked, but Moussa four-bet-shoved for 11,300 from the big blind, forcing the MP to fold before Blatt made the call.
Issa: 5♠5♥
Blatt: A♦K♠
Issa then flopped two pair and held, despite Blatt turning the Broadway draw on the J♦J♣6♦Q♥7♣ board.
| Moussa Issa | 23,900 |
| Dean Blatt | 36,900 |
Level 3: 200/300 (300)
Yor needs more
“I’m short already!” Yor Ecobiza lamented as our reporter stopped by Table 9, only to then see him rip it in with K♠K♣. Action then folded around to Kurt Simpson, who snapped him off with 6♥6♦.
No change to either hand, however, as the board was spread J♠A♣2♦2♠9♥ to give Ecobiza the bigger two pair and the double.
| Yor Ecobiza | 28,600 |
| Kurt Simpson | 22,000 |
Logan busto
Ian Logan has been confirmed as one of the early eliminations from Day 1A of the Mystery Bounty, despite picking up a triple on Table 10.
Action folded around to Tony Kambouroglou who raised to 800 pre-flop from the button; Xuan Zhou three-bet it to 2,200 from the small blind, and an exasperated Logan jammed his remaining 2,900 into the middle from the big blind.
Both Kambouroglou and Zhou called, so it was heads-up to a sidepot on a flop of 9♦10♥J♣. Zhou check-called after Kambourloglou’s bet of 2,600 after the flop, and the action repeated following Kambouroglou’s bet of 4,900 on the turn of the 3♣ before both players checked down the river Q♣.
Zhou tabled A♦J♠ to take down the sidepot, but Logan’s A♣9♣ had turned the nut flush, which tripled him up to 9,000, but when we returned a short time later, his seat had already been vacated.
| Xuan Zhou | 40,000 |
| Tony Kambouroglou | 15,400 |
| Ian Logan | BUSTED! |
Sebesfi battles Boxell
Saliendrah ‘Sunny’ Shah and Brendon Rubie have been amongst those to have recently arrived for today’s Mystery Bounty flight, with Rubie taking his seat over on Table 16, where we witnessed action between Australian Poker Hall of Famer Leo Boxell and David Sebesfi.
Our reporter picked up the action four-handed to a flop of 8♣K♥10♦; the big blind player and Boxell checked to Sebesfi who opened for 300, which forced a fold from Geoff Milner on the button.
The big blind also folded, but Boxell flat-called, then checked again after the turn of the J♦, but then led out for 3,300. This time, Sebesfi led out for 1,300, but Boxell check-raised, making it 3,300 to go.
Sebesfi called, and then Boxell bet 7,000 on the river Q♥, only to snap-fold after Sebesfi fired out a raise worth 20,000.
| David Sebesfi | 42,000 |
| Leo Boxell | 17,200 |
Level 2: 100/200 (200)
“Is this the fun table?”
That was the direct quote from Hayden ‘Doug’ Doughty as he took his seat at Table 3.
It certainly was, as there was some insane action building between Mohammed Elkassir and Van Tran early; to start, Tran jammed his short stack in pre-flop holding Q♦10♥, and action folded around to Elkassir who called him down with 4♠4♣.
“Let’s go, I’m flipping!” Tran shouted excitedly.
The dealer then spread the board of 8♥10♣K♦3♠6♠ and Tran secured the double.
“There we go, that’s how we do it!” Tran exclaimed as he raked in his chips.
It didn’t take long for them go back into Elkassir’s stack though, as in the very next hand, Elkassir shoved from under the gun blind with 6♦2♣ before Tran iso-shoved with Q♣4♦, forcing the others out of the way before the board ran out 9♣9♦6♠2♥7♠.
“Three pair!” cried Elkassir, setting off a ripple of laughs around the table.
Doughty grinned as he sat down between them, and this time Tran shoved again with 9♠6♦; Doughty woke up with 4♥4♣ and held down all streets on the 2♣K♥Q♣J♥A♣ to send Tran back to the rego desk.
“Ah well, at least I’m not the first one out!” Tran said as he pointed to the tournament clock, which was already showing two re-entries.
| Hayden Doughty | 47,000 |
| Mohammed Elkassir | 36,900 |
| Van Tran | BUSTED! |
Back for more
Our reporters have done the rounds to pick up on the notables across the felt, and we’ve already spotted a few new faces today, including Lawrence Stephenson and Mitch Bognar, along with WPT Prime Gold Coast Mystery Bounty Champion, Steven Hoek.
It appears that his dream run has carried through into the start of today’s event already, as he already picked up quad aces in the very first hand!
Plenty of other big names back in action as well: Suzy Khouiss, Leo Boxell, Michelle Psarras, Harry Basle, Graham Cowan, Geoff Milner and Michael Tran are just some of the others we’ve spotted seated amongst the 102 runners seated so far.
Shuffle up and deal!
Cards are now in the air for Day 1A of The Star Sydney Champs Mystery Bounty!
Our players will start with 30,000 in tournament chips, and we’ll be playing through until we reach 15% of the starting field remaining (approximately 16 half-hour levels of play, depending on overall numbers).
All players Late registration and unlimited re-entries will be available until the start of Level 9.
| Level | Small Blind | Big Blind | BB Ante |
| 1 | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| 2 | 100 | 200 | 200 |
| 3 | 200 | 300 | 300 |
| 4 | 200 | 400 | 400 |
| 5 | 300 | 500 | 500 |
| 6 | 300 | 600 | 600 |
| 7 | 400 | 800 | 800 |
| 8 | 500 | 1,000 | 1,000 |
| 9 | 600 | 1,200 | 1,200 |
| 10 | 800 | 1,600 | 1,600 |
| 11 | 1,000 | 2,000 | 2,000 |
| 12 | 1,500 | 2,500 | 2,500 |
| 13 | 1,500 | 3,000 | 3,000 |
| 14 | 2,000 | 4,000 | 4,000 |
| 15 | 3,000 | 5,000 | 5,000 |
| 16 | 3,000 | 6,000 | 6,000 |
Level 1: 100/100 (100)
Let’s go bounty huntin’!
From wherever you’re watching in Australia, New Zealand or around the world, hello there and welcome back to PokerMedia Australia for our continued Live Reporting coverage of the 2022 Star Sydney Champs!
Today’s a very special day for The Star Sydney, as this will be the first time that the property has ever hosted a Mystery Bounty tournament. The format has already proved vastly popular since it was first held out at the Poker Palace in Sydney’s west, before making its casino debut at last month’s WPT Prime Gold Coast series.
That tournament was indeed a swashbuckling affair, and judging by what’s unfolded at The Star Sydney Champs so far, there’s going to be an abundance of action and excitement over the next three days, especially when our players start drawing from the barrel and plunder the riches within.
But to get there, the players will need to survive the carnage of one of the two Day 1 flights, and PMA will be there to bring you the action as it happens from the moment the cards are in the air, so join us from 12:30pm AEST for our live updates, alongside the Star Poker Sydney feature table stream on Twitch. See you soon!
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