Congratulations Craig Trevenna ($74,880), WPT Australia Mini-Main Event Champion!
After play was forced into a third day, Craig Trevenna has defeated Yan Shurunov heads-up in the WPT Australia Mini-Main Event finale for his biggest career score!
Trevenna was absolutely over the moon with the result, but admitted to PokerMedia Australia that it wasn’t an easy night for him because of the excitement and anticipation for today.
“This trophy means the world to me!” Trevenna said. “I’ve had a bit of a layoff from poker over the last few years and only started getting back into it recently, but I’m really enjoying it … I would have preferred to have finished it last night though, as I did not sleep a wink!”
“It’s a been a real grind this week, but it’s been such a great tournament, good structure and the staff have run it to a tee … a real treat to be here!”
Trevenna now plans to play as much poker as he can now that he’s semi-retired, and even hinted at the possibility of an appearance at the WPT World Championship at The Wynn Las Vegas in December. Here’s hoping that we see Craig and many more Aussies flying the flag there real soon!
WPT AUSTRALIA MINI-MAIN EVENT ($1,200 buy-in, 332 entries, 42 players paid)*
| Place | Name | Amount |
| 1st | Craig Trevenna | $74,880 |
| 2nd | Yan Shurunov | $52,499 |
| 3rd | Jai Duffy | $33,744 |
| 4th | Minh Tran | $21,648 |
| 5th | Matt Yarham | $16,698 |
| 6th | Filipp Mamedov | $13,805 |
| 7th | Mick Gavrilovic | $11,608 |
| 8th | Sangyoon Kim | $9,517 |
| 9th | Jeongwan Lee | $7,495 |
This concludes our coverage of the WPT Australia Mini-Main Event, however we’re not done yet! Head over to our Live Reporting blog for the WPT Australia High Roller Event now, and keep up with our social media coverage of the Main Event, alongside the live streaming of the final table through friends at worldpokertour.com.
Thanks again for your support, and from all of us here at The Star Gold Coast, it’s ‘bye for now!
Yan Shurunov eliminated in 2nd place ($52,499)
Aaaaaaaand we’re back!
The heads-up battle for the WPT Australia Mini-Main Event was a short and sharp affair, with Yan Shurunov confirmed as our runner-up just before 2:30pm local time.
All the money was in the middle pre-flop; Shurunov was at risk with K♦10♥, but Craig Trevenna had him covered on all fronts with his A♣K♠.
Trevenna then paired his Ace on the flop of A♦8♠Q♥, which also gave Shurunov more outs to the gut-shot straight draw, but despite the 10♠ on the turn, the river 3♣ was a brick – and thus, the Mini-Main Event came to an end.
| Yan Shurunov | BUSTED! |
A valiant effort from both gents, but to the winner go the spoils, and it’s Craig Trevenna who has emerged triumphant! Stay with us, as we’ll have our wrap-up of this event for you soon.
DAY 3
Level 33: 200,000/400,000 (400,000)
Jai Duffy eliminated in 3rd place ($33,744)
After being crippled in a previous hand by Yan Shurunov, Jai Duffy barely had enough pay the ante and was all in-in the big blind for 50,000. Yan Shurunov then limped from the button, and Craig Trevenna completed the small blind before they checked into a dry sidepot on the flop of 7♦Q♠7♥.
After the turn of the 7♦, Shurunov bet 500,000 on the turn, and Trevenna made the call before check-calling Shurunov’s bet of 2 million on the river Q♣.
Shurunov showed Q♦2♦ for trips, which was enough for both Trevenna and Duffy to insta-muck, and thus confirming our heads-up contenders for the WPT Mini-Main Event title!
| Yan Shurunov | 9,500,000 |
| Craig Trevenna | 6,775,000 |
| Jai Duffy | BUSTED! |
Heads-up action then continued for the remainder of this level before Star Poker Gold Coast staff stepped in after 2am AEST to halt play due to venue time constraints.
Play will resume tomorrow (Monday) at 2pm AEST and we’ll bring you the action once the final river falls. Until then, thanks so much for your company and we’ll see you back here real soon. ‘Bye for now!
Shurunov breaks the cycle
Yan Shurunov now holds court in this three-handed battle, decimating Jai Duffy’s stack as play continues in the Mini-Main finale.
Duffy shoved all-in with the holding of A♦10♣ from the button, and Shurunov woke up with A♣K♦ to make the call and put Duffy’s stack to the sword as Craig Trevenna moved out the way from the big blind.
The dealer spread a board of 9♣K♠Q♥6♥2♥ to double Shurunov up to more than 9 million and left Duffy running on fumes.
| Yan Shurunov | 9,100,000 |
| Jai Duffy | 350,000 |
Trevenna doubles
Craig Trevenna has just shipped a double up to Jai Duffy, bringing all the stacks at this final table back to virtually even.
After Yan Shurunov folded on the button, Trevenna completed his small blind before Duffy went all-in from the big blind. Trevenna called and showed A♣J♠, ahead of Duffy’s Q♠9♣.
The board of 6♥7♣3♦2♠8♦ gave Trevenna Ace-high, which was enough to pick up the full double.
| Jai Duffy | 4,900,000 |
| Craig Trevenna | 5,625,000 |
Duffy caught in the cookie jar
Jai Duffy has taken a big hit to his stack as action continues three-handed at the Mini-Main Event final table.
After Yan Shurunov folded on the button, Trevenna opened from the small blind to 600,000, and Duffy called to go heads-up to a flop of A♣J♠2♥.
Trevenna then c-bet 300,000 and was called by Duffy before both placed checked the turn of the 7♠.
On the river 10♣, Trevenna slowed down and checked to Duffy, who bet 650,000. Trevenna quickly called, but Duffy instantly sent his hand into the muck.
“Good call,” Duffy muttered.
| Craig Trevenna | 5,500,000 |
| Jai Duffy | 3,700,000 |
Level 32: 150,000/300,000 (300,000)
Jai strikes back
Jai Duffy has struck back at Craig Trevenna, scoring a full double before the clock ticked over into Level 32.
After Yan Shurunov folded from the button, Trevenna min-clicked out of the small blind with 9♣9♦ before Duffy shoved out of the big blind with A♦3♣.
Trevenna snap-called, but the board of 4♥A♣6♥6♠3♦ was favourable for Duffy, handing him the double-up and the chip lead.
| Jai Duffy | 6,750,000 |
| Craig Trevenna | 4,500,000 |
Trevenna turns up the heat on Duffy
After a raise of 500,000 from the button from Jai Duffy, Craig Trevenna called from the big blind.
Trevenna then took the lead after the flop of K♥J♥Q♣, opening for 700,000 and Duffy calle before Trevenna open-shoved on the turn of the 6♥, putting Duffy in the blender for several minutes before laying it down.
| Criag Trevenna | 8,500,000 |
| Jai Duffy | 3,900,000 |
Craig warms up Yan
There appears to be no end in sight in this three-handed marathon, however Craig Trevenna has kept his momentum after taking another big pot off Yan Shurunov.
After Jai Duffy folded on the button, Shurunov raised to from the small blind with Craig Trevenna making the smooth call from the big blind.
Shurunov then check-called Trevenna’s bet of 500,000 after the flop of 2♠Q♥J♠; Shurunov then checked his option again on the turn of the 7♦, but let his hand go after Trevenna fired out another 550,000.
| Craig Trevenna | 7,500,000 |
| Yan Shurunov | 3,500,000 |
Level 31: 125,000/250,000 (250,000)
Yan catches Craig
Play has slowed down here at this three-handed final table, but Craig Trevenna has just doubled up through Yan Shurunov.
Trevena opened to 400,000 from the button before Yan Shurunov responded by ripping for 2,465,000. Trevenna made the call, turning over A♥J♠ but failed to catch up against Shurunov’s A♦Q♥ after the board was spread A♣10♦7♠9♠10♥.
| Yan Shurunov | 5,150,000 |
| Craig Trevenna | 4,875,000 |
Minh Tran eliminated in 4th place ($21,648)
With a raise from Jai Duffy from under the gun, Minh Tran pushed all in from the small blind and was snapped off by Duffy.
Duffy: A♣Q♦
Tran: K♣Q♣
Tran was drawing dead by the turn on the board of A♠10♠10♥10♦8♦, with Duffy taking him down with tens full of aces.
| Jai Duffy | 7,605,000 |
| Minh Tran | BUSTED! |
Level 30: 100,000/200,000 (200,000)
Matt Yarham eliminated in 5th place ($16,698)
Matt Yarham has headed to the exits – but not before collecting for his fifth place finish – after jamming in the early position with A♠10♥, but was called by Craig Trevenna who held A♦Q♥.
The board ran out 3♦6♠6♥J♠K♠; both players missed the board, but the Queen kicker for Trevenna got him across the line.
| Craig Trevenna | 6,190,000 |
| Matt Yarham | BUSTED! |
Duffy puts his foot down
Jai Duffy has now opened up a significant lead from the remaining four other players with a big exchange with his nearest chip rival, Yan Surunov.
Action folded to Duffy who completed his small blind before Shurunov raised it to 450,000 from the big blind.
Duffy made the call, taking us to a flop of 8♠A♠A♥. Duffy checked, Shurunov bet 250,000 and Duffy called before the action repeated after Shurunov’s bet of 700,000 after the turn of the 4♦, before both players checked the river 6♣.
Duffy showed down 8♦6♥, and Shurunov sent his cards face-down back to the dealer.
| Jai Duffy | 6,900,000 |
| Yan Surunov | 3,100,000 |
Yarham scraping by
Yan Shurunov opened up for all of his stack from the button before Matt Yarham short-called and put himself at risk.
Yarham tabled Q♥8♥ and found himself flipping against Shurunov’s 7♥7♦, however the board was 4♦K♣9♥A♠8♠, with Yarham spiking the bigger pair on the river to double up.
| Matt Yarham | 1,800,000 |
| Yan Shurunov | 4,860,000 |
Level 29: 75,000/150,000 (125,000)
BREAKING NEWS: WPT Australia Main Event official final table set
As play continued in the WPT Mini-Main Event, the final six players for the official final table of $5,400 buy-in WPT Australia Main Event was confirmed, with Daisuke Ogita the dominant chip leader.
Fresh off his biggest career cash of $54,682 after winning the $1,100 Pot Limit Omaha almost a week ago, Ogita is in great form and will return for the final day with 17,625,000, which is more than half the chips in play.
Najeem Ajez (5,900,000), Po Ho (3,475,000), De Kun Li (3,675,000), David Tang (3,350,000) and Josh Hutchins (1,425,000) will all be returning to battle it out for a top cash prize of $647,470, as well as have their name etched on the Mike Sexton Cup and take on the best of the best at the Wynn Las Vegas at the WPT World Championship in December.
Play will resume tomorrow (Tuesday) from 11:30am AEST. The final table will be broadcast from 12pm AEST* and will be made available via all WPT live streaming platforms and simulcast on the Star Poker Gold Coast Facebook page.
*Cards-up, 30-minute delay.
Tran versus Yan
Yan Shurunov and Minh Tran have butted heads twice, with Tran coming off second best as play rolls on at the WPT Australia Mini-Main Event final table.
In earlier action, Shurunov opened from under the gun for 250,000 before Minh Tran sent his remaining 1,140,000 chips all-in from the button.
Shurunov called and turned over A♠8♥, but tran rolled up A♦Q♠ and held after the board ran clean 3♦6♣3♥10♦9♣ to give Tran a full double to 2.6 million in chips
Some time passed before Tran and Shurunov went to battle again: Tran opened to 250,000 from the cutoff, and Shurunov called from the big blind.
After the flop came down 7♦J♦Q♣, Tran opened to 225,000, but mucked after Shurunov raised to 700,000. Revenge!
| Yan Shurunov | 4,895,000 |
| Minh Tran | 1,385,000 |
Level 28: 75,000/125,000 (125,000)
Filipp Mamedov eliminated in 6th place ($13,805)
Filipp Mamedov’s WPT Mini Main Event is over after being felted by Jai Duffy.
Filipp moved all-in under the gun with A♥10♣ before action folded to Jai Duffy who called with 8♦8♣; Duffy then hit the boat on the board of A♣8♠J♠K♦A♦ to send the masked marauder to the rail.
| Jai Duffy | 4,305,000 |
| Filipp Mamedov | BUSTED! |
Yarham with the double
Matt Yarham has found a key double-up to keep himself in contention at this final table.
Yarham pushed all-in for 1,450,000 from early position and Craig Trevenna called from the button, flipping with 8♦8♥ against Yarham’s A♣Q♠.
The board rolled out in favour of Yarham as it was spread 2♥7♥6♦Q♦10♣ to give him top-top and move up to more than 2.8 million in chips.
| Matt Yarham | 2,840,000 |
| Craig Trevenna | 1,660,000 |
Mick Gaurilovic eliminated in 7th place ($11,608)
Yan Shuronov’s domination at this final table continues, having eliminated a third player in Mick Gaurilovic in seventh place.
After a 300,000 open from Jai Duffy, Yan Shurunov 3-bet to 600,000 and Gaurilovic called short with his remaining 355,000. Duffy also called to go heads-up with Shurunov into a sidepot on a flop of 6♥3♥9♦.
Duffy checked, Shurunov bet 300,000 and Duffy called, then both players checked their option on both the turn of the K♦ and the river 9♣.
Shurunov showed A♠A♥, which prompted Duffy to muck his hand, and Gaurilovic rolled over Q♠Q♥. No good.
| Yan Shurunov | 5,895,000 |
| Jai Duffy | 3,625,000 |
| Mick Gaurilovic | BUSTED! |
Sangyoon Kim eliminated in 8th place ($9,517)
The action at the final table of the WPT Australia Mini-Main Event has picked up now, with Sangyoon Kim eliminated in eighth place by Yan Shurunov.
Kim whacked in an all-in bet of1,500,000 pre-flop, joined by a re-jam by Yan Shurunov which would leave the two players heads up.
Shurunov: J♠J♥
Kim: 8♥8♣
The run-out of 6♥A♥3♣5♠K♠ saw Shurunov’s Jacks hold and Kim hit the rail.
| Yan Shurunov | 4,290,000 |
| Sangyoon Kim | BUSTED! |
Level 27: 50,000/100,000 (100,000)
Jeongwon Lee eliminated in 9th place ($7,495)
We have the first casualty of our Mini-Main event final table.
Action folded around to Jeongwon Lee who went all-in from the button for 300,000, before Yan Shurunov called out of the big blind.
Shurunov: A♦4♦
Lee: Q♦8♣
Board: K♦9♣2♥6♥5♥
| Yan Shurunov | 2,680,000 |
| Jeongwon Lee | BUSTED! |
Mick clicks it up
Mick Gaurilovic was scarcely holding on to his tournament life until a jam of 365,000 with A♠A♥ was called by Sangyoon Kim in the big blind. Kim’s J♣6♣ was hoping to get lucky to get the rest of the field up a pay-jump.
The dealer spread a board of 3♥7♠A♣6♥8♥ to hand Gaurilovic the much-needed double-up to continue his push further up the ladder.
| Mick Gaurilovic | 855,000 |
| Sangyoon Kim | 1,220,000 |
Trevenna vendetta
Action has finally accelerated in the WPT Mini Main Event. Yan Shurunov opened to 150,000 from middle position before a Craig Trevenna three-bet from the small blind made the price 425,000. Shurunov made the call, which produced a flop of 10♦3♦4♣.
Trevenna continued the aggression with a bet of 350,000, again Shurunov called and the turn came the K♣.
Trevenna announced all-in, which finally shook off Shurunov, who made a quick fold.
| Craig Trevanna | 3,975,000 |
| Yan Shurunov | 2,265,000 |
Level 26: 40,000/80,000 (80,000)
Shurunov, he got there
Although action has slowed to a crawl at this final table, there’s no shortage of action excitement here in The Star Gold Coast poker room, where it’s standing room only around the feature table, where the unofficial final table of the Main Event is now underway.
The WPT Australia $10,000 buy-in High Roller has begun as well, with over 100 registrations and counting, with late registration still open until the end of Level 10. of the weeks is expected to draw a large crowd in preparation for Day 2.
In one of the few contested hands witnessed, however, Filipp Mamedov WPT Mini Main Event, we have had a raise from Yan Shurunov to 120,000 a call from Filipp Mamedov in the small blind.
On a flop of A♦J♦8♥, Mamedov checked to Shurunov who bet 100,000. Mamedov check-called, then both players checked the turn of the Q♠ before Mamedov opened for 355,000 on the river J♥.
Shurunov called and turned up A♣K♠, good against Mamedov’s K♦8♦ to scoop the pot.
| Yan Shurunov | 2,800,000 |
| Filipp Mamedov | 2,610,000 |
Level 25: 30,000/60,000 (60,000)
Marvellous Mamedov
A lot of raise-and-fold action at the start of this finale, but Filipp Marmedov has taken a sizeable pot off Jeongwon Lee in the early stages of this final table to move beyond 3 million in chips.
Action folded to Marmedov who raised to 105,000 from the button; Lee called in the big blind to go heads-up to a flop of 6♦5♥7♦, where Lee-check called Marmedov’s bet of 115,000 before the action repeated after Marmedov’s bet of 100,000 neat on the turn of the J♠.
Lee then led out for 225,000, Mamedov raised to 450,000 and Lee called, turning over A♥7♠ but was no good against Marmedov’s Q♦J♦.
| Felipp Marmedov | 3,200,000 |
| Jeongwon Lee | 1,150,1000 |
WPT Australia Mini-Main Event final table
| Seat | Name | Chips |
| 1 | Matt Yarham | 1,635,000 |
| 2 | Minh Tran | 1,270,000 |
| 3 | Craig Trevenna | 3,305,000 |
| 4 | Filipp Mamedov | 2,380,000 |
| 5 | Jai Duffy | 2,665,000 |
| 6 | Jeongwon Lee | 1,695,000 |
| 7 | Sangyoon Kim | 580,000 |
| 8 | Yan Shurunov | 1,695,000 |
| 9 | Mick Gavrilovic | 470,000 |
Level 25: 30,000/60,000 (60,000)
Hamish Crawshaw eliminated in 10th place ($6,310)
Hamish Crawshaw has bubbled the WPT Mini-Main Event final table, eliminated in 10th place at the hands of Craig Trevenna.
Action folded to Crawshaw who jammed with A♣Q♦ from the button pre-flop; Craig Trevenna woke up with A♥K♣ and snapped him off, putting Crawshaw at risk.
The Board did not cooperate for Crawshaw as the board was spread 3♦A♠J♠J♥9♥ – and just like that folks, we have ourselves a final table!
| Craig Trevenna | 3,305,000 |
| Hamish Crawshaw | BUSTED! |
Dam-elian … so close!
Matt Yarham has brought the WPT Mini Main Event one person closer to the final table, busting Robert Damelian in 11th place.
Damelian’s pre-flop shove from the cut-off with A♠10♣ was called by Yarham on the button, who turned up A♦Q♠.
The board of 3♠5♣6♦J♠K♦, was clean for Yarham, and Damelian was relieved of his remaining chips.
| Matt Yarhem | 1,800,000 |
| Robert Damelian | BUSTED! |
Crawshaw crushing
New Zealand’s Hamish Crawshaw has eliminated Tuan Nguyen in dramatic fashion as move closer to the final table of the WPT Australia Mini-Main Event.
Tuan got the last of his money in good with A♠A♦, ahead of Crawshaw who tabled 6♣6♠; Nguyen was to the turn with the board showing 8♥Q♣5♠K♥, but the river card 6♥ gave Crawshaw the set to crack Nguyen’s Aces to take him out of the game.
With Nguyen relegated to the rail, Crawshaw moved up to more than 2.1 million in chips after that hand.
| Hamish Crawshaw | 2,105,000 |
| Tuan Nguyen | BUSTED! |
Level 24: 25,000/50,000 (50,000)
Larrson looted
Mikael Larrson has exited the WPT Mini-Main Event after moving the last of his money in pre-flop from the hijack, before being called off by Matt Yarham from the button.
Yarham: A♠J♣
Larrson: K♦10♣
Larrson took the lead after the flop and turn of 8♦Q♥10♠, but Yarham paired his Jack with the river J♠, signalling the end for Larrson.
| Matt Yarham | 1,375,000 |
| Mikael Larrson | BUSTED! |
Tsai holds on
Charles Tsai has managed to find a double-up through Yan Shurunov as we head into the 23rd level of play.
From under the gun, Tsai open-shoved with A♥K♣ and Shurunov called him off with A♦4♣.
The flop of 5♥7♦6♠ gave Shurunov an open-ender, but the turn and river repeated K♥, K♠, resulting in a full double for Tsai.
| Charles Tsai | 340,000 |
| Yan Shurunov | 1,380,000 |
Charles Tsai
Level 23: 20,000/40,000 (40,000)
Ong’s gong
Having just doubled up in a previous hand, action folded around to Simon Ong who open-shoved from the hijack for 460,000; Filipp Mamedov flat-called cut-off before Dennis Huntly jammed over the top. Mamedov short-called for 965,000 and the cards were tabled.
Mamedov: A♠K♥
Huntly A♥A♦
Ong: 3♥3♣
Mamedov took full benefit from the board of K♦9♠10♠K♠8♠, flushing out Ong in the process and reducing Huntly to 630,000.
| Filipp Mamedov | 2,120,000 |
| Dennis Huntly | 630,000 |
| Simon Ong | BUSTED! |
Simon says … double me up
Simon Ong was the recipient of a double-up after Jai Duffy put him all-in; Ong would put his stack at risk with K♠9♠, while Duffy got caught on the steal with 10♠5♦.
Despite getting his money in ahead, Ong flopped a set on a board of 10♥K♥K♣2♠3♣ to double through, cutting Duffy back to 1.9 million in chips.
| Simon Ong | 560,000 |
| Jai Duffy | 1,900,000 |
Tsai doubles up Xiao
Our reporter picked up action with Charles Tsai who jammed from under the gun pre-flop before William Xiao put his stack at risk with 5♥5♠. Tsai, also short stacked, turned up his cards to reveal A♥J♠
As the dealer ran the cards out they read K♣7♠3♣10♥2♦, Xiao would receive a full double up from Tsai.
| William Xiao | 605,000 |
| Charles Tsai | 130,000 |
Updated chip counts
| Jai Duffy | 2,315,000 |
| Yan Shurunov | 1,530,000 |
| Dennis Huntly | 1,255,000 |
| Filipp Mamedov | 1,080,000 |
| Minh Tran | 900,000 |
| Robert Damelian | 875,000 |
| Matt Yarham | 875,000 |
| Craig Trevenna | 875,000 |
| Mikael Larrson | 820,000 |
| Jeongwon Lee | 815,000 |
| Tuan Nguyen | 650,000 |
| Sangyoon Kim | 645,000 |
| Rod Meneses | 555,000 |
| Joshua Smith | 555,000 |
| Hamish Crawshaw | 455,000 |
| Peter Apostolou | 380,000 |
| Victor Stegman | 350,000 |
| William Xiao | 340,000 |
| Simon Ong | 330,000 |
| Charles Tsai | 320,000 |
| Mick Gavrilovic | 310,000 |
Level 22: 15,000/30,000 (30,000)
Let’s eat!
Our 21 remaining players are now on a 30-minute dinner break. Back soon with a full round of counts!
Phon disconnected
With only 120,000 remaining , Phon Te pushed all in with 9♥8♠, with Craig Trevenna from the small blind calling him off with A♣K♦.
The flop came down Q♦10♠7♣, which opened up a whole host of outs for Te, but it wasn’t to be, as the turn and river fell 5♦, Q♥ to confirm Te’s elimination.
| Craig Trevenna | 755,000 |
| Phon Te | BUSTED! |
Lai down
Justin Lai’s time in this tournament is now over after he jammed from the lo-jack holding A♣Q♦, only to run into Tuan Nguyen’s Q♠Q♣.
The run-out of 2♥9♥7♣5♥9♦, saw Nguyen’s pocket queens hold firm, sending Lei off to the rail.
| Tuan Nguyen | 665,000 |
| Justin Lai | BUSTED! |
Stegman goes stagnant
After a raise from Victor Stegman under the gun, Dennis Huntly 3-bet 275,000 before Stegman jammed. Huntly made the call to put Stegman at risk.
Stegman Q♠Q♦
Huntly A♣K♥
It all looked great for Stegman to knock out Huntly after the flop and turn of 2♥4♥9♠6♣, but the river K♦ was a lifesaver for Huntly and he doubled-up to more than 1.4 million after that hand, leaving Stegman running on fumes.
| Dennis Huntly | 1,435,000 |
| Victor Stegman | 190,000 |
Mick’s looking shmick
Mick Gavrilovic has found a double through Yan Shurunov as we move into the 21st level of play.
Gavrilovic came out with a pre-flop jam of 182,000 holding A♥A♠, and was called down by called by Shurunov who held K♥Q♥.
The board rolled out 6♠8♦6♦5♠2♣, giving Gavrilovic an easy double and cut Shurunov’s stuck to almost 1.1 million in chips.
| Mick Gavrilovic | 439,000 |
| Yan Shurunov | 1,140,000 |
Level 21: 15,000/25,000 (25,000)
Bognar bombs
Attila Bognar has hit the rail at the back end of level 20, being taken out by Jai Duffy.
Bognar made his last move from the cut-off with an all-in push, and Duffy insta-called with A♥K♥, ahead of Bognar’s A♣8♥.
The board of J♣3♦2♠10♥9♥ was of no help to Bognar, and as a result of his elimination, Duffy is now the first past the two-million chip mark.
| Jai Duffy | 2,310,000 |
| Attila Bognar | BUSTED! |
No dilemma for Trevenna
Craig Trevenna has kept himself alive after finding a timely double-up through Rod Meneses.
Trevenna jammed it all in pre-flop holding K♠Q♦, and Meneses called with his A♥9♦; Meneses spiked a Nine on the flop of 9♠5♥3♠, but the turn of the K♦ was relief to Trevenna, who secured the full double, after the river bricked 5♦.
| Craig Trevenna | 285,000 |
| Rod Meneses | 618,000 |
Casualty: Ward
Martin Ward was sent packing by Dennis Huntly after Ward jammed his short stack from the hijack, with Huntly making the call from the big blind.
Huntly: 9♥9♦
Ward: A♥J♦
Ward picked up two the bigger two pair on fourth street on the board of 6♣6♠K♠A♣, but Huntly snatched victory from the jaws of defeat as he filled up with the river 9♣ to send to the rail.
| Dennis Huntly | 910,000 |
| Martin Ward | BUSTED! |
Level 20: 10,000/20,000 (20,000)
Bullets for Larrson
Action folded to Jeongwon Lee who raised from middle position before Mikael Larrson pushing his remaining 165,000 into the middle.
Lee wasted no time in making the call, producing A♦10♦ against Larrson, who had him dominated with A♥A♣.
The board Q♦3♣5♥8♥6♦ with Larrson’s pocket rockets getting the job done for a full double-up.
| Mikael Larrson | 385,000 |
| Jeongwon Lee | 637,000 |
Milly for Duffy, ouchie for Crouchie
Jai Duffy has been confirmed as our first player past the one-million chip mark after he eliminated David Croucher.
Croucher came out with an early position shove before the action folded to Duffy who snap-called.
Duffy: A♣J♣
Croucher: A♠6♦
There was no change either hand after the board of 10♠8♠K♦2♣8♥, and the Jack kicker for Duffy was enough to send Croucher off.
| Jai Duffy | 1,260,000 |
| David Croucher | BUSTED! |
Stephenson shafted
William Xiao has taken out another player in Lawrence Stephenson as action continues here in the WPT Australia Mini-Main.
Stephenson jammed the last of his chips in pre-flop with 10♣6♣, and Xiao called with Q♥8♦.
Xiao then flushed Stephenson out of the tournament after the dealer spread a board of J♦A♥8♥4♥K♥.
| William Xiao | 585,000 |
| Lawrence Stephenson | BUSTED! |
Sweet Chin music
In one of the first eliminations after the bubble, Toby Allsop was eliminated by Chin Wang.
Action folded to Wang who jammed pre-flop holding A♣K♠ from the cut-off; Allsop short-called with 8♥8♦ from the big blind.
The dealer fanned out a board of 6♠10♣6♦A♦3♦ to give Chin the knockout and move his stack up to 130,000.
| Chin Wang | 130,000 |
| Toby Allsop | BUSTED! |
Level 19: 10,000/15,000 (15,000)
Break time!
Our remaining players are now on their first 10-minute break of the day.
Billy bursts the bubble
Not long after the elimination of Gary Benson, fellow Australian Poker Hall of Famer Billy ‘The Croc’ Argyros followed him to the rail, confirmed as the bubble in the WPT Australia Mini-Main Event.
Argyros jammed pre-flop jam for 30,000, and found two callers in Damon Musgrave and Dustin Tran who went heads-up into a dry sidepot on a flop of 7♥6♠4♦, which they both checked.
Musgrave then led out on the turn for 13,400 on the turn of the 7♠ and Tran mucked his hand, which prompted the showdown between Musgrave and Argyros.
Musgrave: 5♣5♦
Argyros: A♥K♦
Needing any Ace or King to stay alive, the river 3♦ was a brick and we are now officially in the money!
| Damon Musgrave | 264,000 |
| Billy Argyros | BUSTED! |
Gary’s gone
Gary Benson’s time in the Min-Main has come to an end, with the Australian Poker Hall of Famer having run his A♥K♣ into the 8♣8♥ of Matt Yarham.
With a pre-flop all in from Benson and the call made by Yarham, the race was on with Benson needing to hit to stay alive.
Yarham’s hand ended up holding, however, as the board was spread 7♣7♠5♣J♣2♥, which resulted in Benson’s elimination and Yarham’s stack moving up to more than 800,000.
| Matt Yarham | 804,500 |
| Gary Benson | BUSTED! |
Vassiliopou-double
George Vassiliopoulos has punched through a double-up, after he made a middle position jam pre-flop before being called by Toby Allsop.
Vassiliopoulos with his Q♦, Allsop looked to make the knockout with A♠K♣.
As the full board produced 7♣10♥9♣4♠Q♥, Vassiliopoulos nailed his set on the river, handing him the big double.
| George Vassilopoulos | 221,000 |
| Toby Allsop | 260,000 |
Level 18: 6,000/12,000 (12,000)
Double trouble?
A commotion over at Table 14 caught the attention of several players from nearby tables, as Ennaria Rourke and Gary Benson were in the midst of a dispute with Star Poker Gold Coast staff.
After Paul Lumsden had moved all-in from under the gun, Rourke – who was in the small blind – had quickly realised that she had only been dealt one hole card and had quickly reached out to stop any further play.
The floor staff were then called over to rule on the matter, which did require verification through Star Poker Gold Coast tournament director, Jason Whimp.
Benson appeared annoyed, pointing out that he already knew what the ruling was and that they “should get on with it,” but Rourke reached her hand out of the hand to stop him.
“Let them sort it out, it’s okay!” Rourke said.
It didn’t take long to confirm that given that there was no substantial action, it was declared a misdeal, the blinds and ante would be refunded and a new hand dealt.
Lumsden then shoved from under the gun with A♣9♣ and found a caller in Tuan Nguyen who tabled K♣Q♣.
Lumsden then picked up the full double after the board was spread 8♦4♣3♦4♦A♥.
| Paul Lumsden | 198,000 |
| Tuan Nguyen | 640,000 |
Truong trampled
Chi Truong has found the rail after being felted by Damon Musgrave over on Table 12.
Truong came out with a late position jam pre-flop and was quickly called by Damon Musgrave before the two players went to showdown.
Truong: A♦K♣
Musgrave: A♠Q♥
The flop of J♥6♦8♥ changed nothing, but Musgrave jagged the Q♣ on the turn before the 5♥ bricked out on the river.
| Damon Musgrave | 351,000 |
| Chi Truong | BUSTED! |
No joy for Toye
Rod Meneses is now on a tear, taking out WPT League Tweed Coast QPC Main Event Champion Rauran Toye as action continues in the Mini-Main.
With only 53,000 left, Toye jammed it over the betting line holding A♥4♥ and was called by Meneses and his A♠Q♠.
The board of 10♠2♥6♠5♣10♦ resulted in Meneses out-kicking Toye with his Queen kicker, moving him up to more than 700,000 in chips.
| Rod Meneses | 726,000 |
| Rauran Toye | BUSTED! |
Bucca busto
From under the gun, Adam Bucca jammed his short stack of 109,000, before action folded aorund to Jeongwon Lee who called out of the big blind.
Bucca’s 9♦9♥ looked the goods pre-flop against Lee’s A♦Q♥, but an Ace appeared in the window and held as board fanned out A♦6♠8♠10♠K♦ and thus ended Bucca’s run.
| Jeongwong Lee | 670,000 |
| Adam Bucca | BUSTED! |
Sandaev smashed
There’s been a big development in the race to the top of the WPT Player of the Festival leader board, with current leader Joe Sandaev eliminated from the Mini-Main by WPT League Sydney APC Main Event Champion, Rod Meneses.
As the blinds ticked over into Level 17, our reporter caught action on a flop of 10♠5♣J♣; Rod Meneses’ bet of 20,000 induced an all-in from Sandaev, and Meneses snap-called.
Meneses: A♠A♦
Sandaev: Q♣6♣
Although there were all sorts of backdoor draws, Sandaev whiffed as the turn and river K♥, 6♦ completed the board.
With Sandaev eliminated and Leo Kamiya still alive in the Main Event, we could potentially have ourselves a new leader in the POF race!
| Rod Meneses | 525,000 |
| Joe Sandaev | BUSTED! |
Level 17: 5,000/10,000 (10,000)
Mitch ditched
WPT League Queensland head honcho Mitch Caton has been eliminated from the tournament at the hands of Dustin Tran.
As Caton recalled, he shoved over the top with pocket nines after a pre-flop UTG raise from Tran, who then called to showdown Ace-King; Tran hit the flop hard, scoring trips on the flop A-A-Q and held after the turn and river bricked.
| Dustin Tran | 289,000 |
| Mitch Caton | BUSTED! |
Wayne waves goodbye
Dylan Wayne has departed from the WPT Australia Mini-Main Event after he ripped in his last 125,000 from UTG+2 holding pcn]QhQs[/pcn], but was snapped off by Jeongwon Lee, who iso-shoved with K♣K♥.
The board of 5♠J♦8♦2♣2♠ improved neither hand, and Lee moved up to more than 530,000 while Wayne moved out the door.
| Jeongwon Lee | 535,000 |
| Dylan Wayne | BUSTED! |
Jalc, um … powdered
Michal Jalc has busted in the first level at the hands of Robert Damelian; from the button for 79,000, before Robert Damelian made the call out of the big blind.
Damelian: A♥2♥
Jalc: J♦10♥
The board of 9♣3♠K♦8♥6♠ was clean for Damelian, his Ace-high good to send Jalc to the rail.
| Robert Damelian | 508,000 |
| Michal Jalc | BUSTED! |
Xiao hits the double
Over on Table 19, William Xiao jammed the last of his short stack pre-flop, only for Dylan Wayne to then go all-in over the top to isolate.
Wayne showed down his A♠Q♦ into Xiao’s A♥2♥ before the board ran out 2♠10♣6♦4♣9♣, which was enough to give Xiao a much-needed double.
| William Xiao | 183,000 |
| Dylan Wayne | 34,500 |
Benoit bows out
In his first hand of Day 2 of the WPT Australia Mini-Main, Benoit Yick jammed his remaining 65,000 with A♣8♣. Zac Vigar, with the holding of A♠K♦, made the call to put Yick at risk.
A board of 5♦K♣8♥4♦10♠ gave Yick no joy, with all of the chips heading towards heading towards Vigar as Yick hit the rail.
| Zac Vigar | 576,000 |
| Benoit Yick | BUSTED! |
Cards in the air!
Play is now back underway in the WPT Australia Mini-Main Event!
Our remaining 67 runners will be playing through 40-minute levels until we crown a winner tonight.
| Level | Small Blind | Big Blind | BB Ante |
| 16 | 4,000 | 8,000 | 8,000 |
| 17 | 5,000 | 10,000 | 10,000 |
| 18 | 6,000 | 12,000 | 12,000 |
| 19 | 10,000 | 15,000 | 15,000 |
| 20 | 10,000 | 20,000 | 20,000 |
| 21 | 15,000 | 25,000 | 25,000 |
| 22 | 15,000 | 30,000 | 30,000 |
| 23 | 20,000 | 40,000 | 40,000 |
| 24 | 25,000 | 50,000 | 50,000 |
| 25 | 30,000 | 60,000 | 60,000 |
| 26 | 50,000 | 75,000 | 75,000 |
| 27 | 50,000 | 100,000 | 100,000 |
| 28 | 75,000 | 125,000 | 125,000 |
| 29 | 75,000 | 150,000 | 150,000 |
| 30 | 100,000 | 200,000 | 200,000 |
| 31 | 125,000 | 250,000 | 250,000 |
| 32 | 150,000 | 300,000 | 300,000 |
| 33 | 200,000 | 400,000 | 400,000 |
| 34 | 250,000 | 500,000 | 500,000 |
| 35 | 300,000 | 600,000 | 600,000 |
Level 16: 4,000/8,000 (8,000)
Nothing mini about this!
Good morning and welcome to Day 12 of WPT Australia competition, live from The Star Gold Coast!
Today, we pick up from day two of the $1,200 WPT Mini Main Event. With 332 players starting in the field yesterday, that was whittled down to 67 by the end of play.
Joe Sandaev, who currently still leads the Player of the Festival race with 975 points, has bagged up a stack of 124,000, dwarfed by Filipp Mamedov who holds the overall chip lead with 774,500, and with Leo Kamiya still alive in the WPT Australia Main Event, Sandaev will be looking to make a deep run to keep his lead intact as the festival’s end fast approaches.
The top 42 players will be paid out of the $348,670 prize pool, and are chasing a top prize of $74,880 and one of the last boomerang trophies on offer.
With so much to play for, be sure to follow all the action here with us at PokerMedia Australia from 12:30pm AEST.
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 Star Club Card and photo identification to verify your bag, and should you have any questions regarding your seat allocation, please approach the staff at Star Poker Gold Coast.
To assist our media team, please ensure that your PMA ID cards stay with you, and are kept close to your stack, face-up and visible at all times.
Players are also asked to move their PMA ID cards with them when they are broken or balanced to another table, and they must be left on the table to be collected after an elimination.
Table 10
| PMA ID | Seat | Name | Chips |
| 1001 | 1 | Simon Ong | 415,000 |
| 1002 | 2 | George Vassilopoulos | 199,000 |
| 1003 | 3 | Toby Allsop | 128,500 |
| 1004 | 4 | Dennis Huntly | 478,500 |
| 1005 | 5 | Ashneel Sharma | 150,500 |
| 1006 | 6 | Justin Lai | 251,500 |
| 1007 | 7 | Victor Stegman | 306,000 |
| 1008 | 8 | Martin Ward | 70,000 |
| 1009 | 9 | Chin Wang | 433,000 |
Table 11
| PMA ID | Seat | Name | Chips |
| 1101 | 1 | Daniel Murphy | 124,000 |
| 1102 | 2 | Ki Fung Chau | 109,500 |
| 1103 | 3 | Mikael Larrson | 350,000 |
| 1104 | 4 | Sangyoon Kim | 395,500 |
| 1105 | 5 | Daiki Miura | 85,000 |
| 1106 | 6 | Joshua Smith | 160,000 |
| 1107 | 7 | Jeongwon Lee | 308,000 |
| 1108 | 8 | Adam Bucca | 284,500 |
| 1109 | 9 | Peter Apostolou | 180,000 |
Table 12
| PMA ID | Seat | Name | Chips |
| 1201 | 1 | Matt Yarham | 369,500 |
| 1202 | 2 | Lindsay Schmalkuche | 52,500 |
| 1203 | 3 | Jack Lamberg | 213,000 |
| 1204 | 4 | Phong Te | 174,000 |
| 1205 | 5 | Rauran Toye | 431,500 |
| 1206 | 6 | Damon Musgrave | 431,000 |
| 1207 | 7 | Charles Tsai | 345,000 |
| 1208 | 8 | Filipp Mamedov | 744,500 |
| 1209 | 9 | Paul Lumsden | 151,500 |
Table 13
| PMA ID | Seat | Name | Chips |
| 1301 | 1 | Joe Sandaev | 124,000 |
| 1302 | 2 | Chi Truong | 205,000 |
| 3 | |||
| 1304 | 4 | Dustin Tran | 243,000 |
| 1305 | 5 | Attila Bognar | 351,000 |
| 1306 | 6 | Rod Meneses | 289,000 |
| 1307 | 7 | Craig Trevenna | 332,000 |
| 1308 | 8 | Lee Tye | 110,000 |
| 1309 | 9 | Mitch Caton | 133,000 |
Table 18
| PMA ID | Seat | Name | Chips |
| 1801 | 1 | Lee Dam | 213,000 |
| 1802 | 2 | Robert Damelian | 387,500 |
| 1803 | 3 | Billy Argyros | 78,000 |
| 4 | |||
| 1805 | 5 | Xue Cao | 139,000 |
| 1806 | 6 | Mick Gavrilovic | 372,000 |
| 1807 | 7 | Vlad Barbu | 462,000 |
| 1808 | 8 | Nick Tory | 88,500 |
| 1809 | 9 | Michal Jalc | 59,000 |
Table 19
| PMA ID | Seat | Name | Chips | |
| 1901 | 19 | 1 | Michel Bouskila | 246,000 |
| 1902 | 19 | 2 | Jacob Secco | 43,000 |
| 19 | 3 | |||
| 1904 | 19 | 4 | Gary Benson | 85,000 |
| 1905 | 19 | 5 | Yan Shurunov | 283,000 |
| 1906 | 19 | 6 | Keling Fan | 185,000 |
| 1907 | 19 | 7 | Shuai Chang | 94,000 |
| 1908 | 19 | 8 | Tuan Nguyen | 294,500 |
| 1909 | 19 | 9 | Ennaria Rourke | 106,500 |
Table 20
| PMA ID | Seat | Name | Chips |
| 2001 | 1 | Tom Maguire | 190,000 |
| 2 | |||
| 2003 | 3 | Lawrence Stephenson | 304,000 |
| 2004 | 4 | Jai Duffy | 557,500 |
| 2005 | 5 | John Hutchins | 245,000 |
| 2006 | 6 | Armon Van Wijk | 250,000 |
| 2007 | 7 | Phillip Nguyen | 201,500 |
| 2008 | 8 | Hamish Crawshaw | 404,500 |
| 2009 | 9 | David Croucher | 255,500 |
Table 21
| PMA ID | Seat | Name | Chips |
| 2101 | 1 | Minh Tran | 564,500 |
| 2 | |||
| 2103 | 3 | Dylan Wayne | 146,000 |
| 2104 | 4 | Benoit Nick | 65,000 |
| 2105 | 5 | Zac Vigar | 377,000 |
| 2106 | 6 | Mina Gerges | 479,000 |
| 2107 | 7 | Justin Tsui | 84,500 |
| 2108 | 8 | Anu Subramoney | 118,500 |
| 2109 | 9 | William Xiao | 82,500 |
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