It may now be February, but that still won’t stop us giving you the January edition of the PMA Results Wrap-Up, where we bring you more news in brief and highlights from other major events throughout Australia and beyond. Let’s get to it!
APLPT SYDNEY: Morris banks big
After a successful 2023 season launch at Southport Sharks, the Australian Poker League Poker Tour (APLPT) Sydney series at Canterbury-Hurlstone Park RSL has again exceeded expectations, bringing in $1,140,465 in total prize pools and smashing the $750K estimate.
It was a phenomenal series for Newcastle’s Ryan Morris, who took home three trophies: the Crazy Pineapple, Freezeout Finisher and the iconic Jackstar Super High Roller, where he scored himself a $51K payday after chopping heads-up with Lauchlan Swann.
Hamish Crawshaw‘s debut appearance in the APL’s flagship tour series turned into a five-figure sum and victory in The Centurion, while Cooper Johnston went all the way in the APLPT Sydney Main Event, besting a field of 1,355 entries to win more than $39,000 in prize money.
PCA MAIN EVENT: Dattani on a high; low point for Loeliger
Turning our attention to the Bahamas now, and it was Michel Dattani of Portugal who emerged victorious in the first PCA Main Event held in four years, topping a field of 889 entries and defeating fellow countryman Pedro Neves for a top prize of USD $1,316,963.
The USD $10,400 buy-in tournament had its fair share of memorable moments, including a controversial exit from Paulina ‘Poker Bunny’ Loeliger, where she was caught on video attempting to muck her hand after she called all-in, before reaching over to grab chips from the pot.
Meanwhile, 255 survivors bagged through to Day 3 of the USD $25,400 buy-in PSPC No Limit Hold’em Championship, which was locked out at 1,014 entries. The top 155 will be paid, with this year’s champion taking a whopping USD $8 million and change.
GLOBAL POKER AWARDS: Power to the people
As reported in our first edition of PMA Passport, the Global Poker Awards will be taking place in Las Vegas on 3 March, with more than 25 trophies to be given away, including four Fans Choice categories.
First-round voting on the Best Hand, Best Livestream and, Trophy and People’s Choice for Poker Personality are now open, with the final four nominees in each category to be announced next Thursday (local time).
Fans may vote only once per round, with all first-round votes carrying through to the Final Four voting round; for more details and to cast your vote, visit the GPI website.
STACKED POKER CHAMPIONSHIP: Sultans of swing
Over in Adelaide, the Stacked Poker Championship in Adelaide is well and truly underway, with plenty of big winners already, including Paul Wilson, who took out the $450 buy-in Monster Stack from a field of 92 entries, with Mike Gainer finishing in second place and Billy “The Croc” Argyros in third.
Armon Van Wijk took out a first-place payout of $11,000 after he defeated Amin Chehade heads-up the $550 buy-in Grind, but Chehade got all that and a little bit more after he shipped the PLO5, with plenty more action still to come.
PMA will be bringing you Live Reporting coverage of the Stacked Poker Championship series from tomorrow afternoon, with updates throughout the whole of the Main Event, as well as Day 2 of the Super High Roller 8-Max and the final table of the PLO High Roller.
HIJACK POKER: New kids on the block
And finally, some exciting news on the Western front, with the official launch of Western Australia’s newest poker league: Hijack Poker, which held its first game on Australia Day Eve and currently has nine venues hosting regular tournaments and cash games throughout Perth.
League organisers are also putting the finishing touches to their inaugural Hijack Poker Festival, which kicks off this Sunday afternoon with a $600 buy-in 6-Max NLH Event and culminating in a $200 buy-in Main Event with a guaranteed $40,000 prize pool.
PMA is also pleased to announce that we will be providing social media coverage throughout the entire series and will be live and on the ground from 18-20 February; be sure to keep an eye on our socials for regular updates and follow Hijack Poker on Facebook to find out more.
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