LIVE REPORTING: Hijack Poker Festival Main Event Day 2

Jon Choong leads at the end of Day 2 – that’s a wrap!

It’s been an action-packed day here at The Civic Hotel, and after six hours of play, we’re only two players shy of forming our Main Event final table!

Finishing the day as chip leader is Jon Choong, who bagged up 1.665 million, followed closely by Richard Larkin (1,225,000) and Mehdi Amiri (1,215,000), who started Day 2 as second chip leader. HJPF Champions Blair Hampton and Jacky Chan are both still in the hunt for their second title, while Scott Roderick will return as the short stack.

HIJACK POKER FESTIVAL MAIN EVENT: DAY 3 SEAT DRAW

Table 1

Seat	Name	Chips
1
2	Ashley Hunt	610,000
3
4	Jacky Chan	765,000
5
6
7	Jon Choong	1,665,000
8	Blair Hampton	650,000
9	Richard Larkin	1,225,000

Table 2

Seat	Name	Chips
1	Joe Darcy	355,000
2
3
4
5	Joon Hyun	470,000
6	Mahsun Eren	850,000
7	Mehdi Amiri	1,215,000
8	Scott Roderick	295,000
9	C.C. Wang	770,000

Play will recommence on Monday 20 February at 6pm at the Swan River Hotel, with the clock wound back to the start of Level 25 (20,000/40,000/40,000). PokerMedia Australia will return to bring you Live Reporting coverage through until a winner is crowned.

We’ll also be on deck tomorrow at the Osborne Park Bowls Club and Dianella White Eagles to bring you social media coverage of the Kalle Thomson Title Event, the PLO Super High Roller and the Standard NLH, so be sure to follow the Hijack Poker Facebook page for all the updates.

Thank you all for joining us for today’s coverage, and we look forward to having you back again in two days’ time as we find out who will become the inaugural Hijack Poker Festival Main Event Champion. Until then, from all of us here in WA, it’s ‘bye for now!

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John Caputo eliminated in 12th place ($700)

It’s been one helluva rollercoaster for John Caputo, who has confirmed as our final elimination from today’s Day 2 session.

Down to around 250,000 effective, Caputo moved all-in pre-flop with A♥J♦ and found himself ahead of Chan, who called with K♣10♣, but was left stone dead on the turn after Chan flopped a boat on the board of K♠10♠K♦6♠3♦.

Jacky Chan	765,000
John Caputo	BUSTED!

And with our time limit reached, we now have 11 players returning on Monday night to battle it out for the title of Hijack Poker Main Event Champion! We’ll be back shortly to wrap today’s proceedings – stick around!

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Steve Mehew eliminated in 13th place ($600)

Down to 12 in the Big Dance now, with Day 2 chip leader Steve Mehu having busted at the hands of Richard Larkin.

Mehew got the last of his money in before the flop with Q♠J♠, but lost the fair fight against Larkin’s A♠2♥, which made two pair on the board of 8♥10♠K♥2♣10♣.

Richard Larkin	1,000,000
Steve Mehew	BUSTED!

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Recent payouts

The Hijack Poker Main Event is down to 13 players, with Kevin Chien and Hans Dorn both having cashed out for $600 as our time here at The Civic comes to a close.

With play now having slowed considerably as we move into the final two levels of play, here’s a quick rundown of everyone that’s cashed out so far. Congratulations, everyone!

Place	Name	Amount
14th	Hans Dorn	$600
15th	Kevin Chien	$600
16th	Harry Bui	$500
17th	Behzad Bagheri	$500
18th	Lars Klove	$500
19th	Andy Yen	$450
20th	David Lofthouse	$450
21st	Andrian Chin	$450
22nd	Matteo Rynkiewicz	$450
23rd	William Jahn	$450
24th	Chris Edge	$450
25th	Daniel Bishop	$450
26th	Kevin Kenny	$450
27th	Leon Waters	$450
28th	Karen Hampton	$400
29th	Jamie Dalton-Allen	$400
30th	Jaxon Byrne	$400
31st	Eddie Harich	$400
32nd	Sheldon Ingham	$400
33rd	Mark Smith	$400
34th	Rob Paradiso	$400
35th	Peter O’Mara	$400
36th	Merv Sutton	$400

Level 24: 15,000/30,000 (30,000) > Level 25: 20,000/40,000 (40,000)

Harry Bui eliminated in 16th place ($500)

We’ve now laddered up in the Hijack Poker Main Event, with Harry Bui sent to the rail in 16th place by Blair Hampton as we move into the final level of the evening.

In the very next hand after Behzad Bagheri’s elimination, Bui shoved with A♦10♠, but lost the lead on the turn against the A♣8♥ of Hampton, who scooped the pot with a pair of eights on the board of 2♣5♦Q♠8♣9♣.

Blair Hampton	548,000
Harry Bui	BUSTED!

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Behzad Bagheri eliminated in 17th place ($500)

Action folded around to Behzad Bagheri who open-shoved from the button pre-flop with K♣8♥ before Jon Choong called out of the big blind with A♠10♥

Despite Bagheri flopping another King, Choong turned an Ace which then improved to the bigger two pair as the board completed 3♦Q♠K♦A♦3♣.

Jon Choong	1,270,000
Behzad Bagheri	BUSTED!

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Lars Klove eliminated in 18th place ($500)

Medhi Amiri is now close to two million in chips after taking out Lars Klove in 18th place.

Having been crippled in an earlier hand, Klove put himself at risk before the flop with J♠J♦, but lost the flip for his tournament life against Mehdi Amiri’s A♥K♥ after hitting the bigger two pair on the board of 2♥4♥4♦K♦A♠.

Mehdi Amiri	1,735,000
Lars Klove	BUSTED!

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Ashley and Amiri on a milly

Ashley Hunt and Medhi Amiri have both moved past the one-million chip mark after both scoring eliminations before the break.

Earlier, Andrian Chin put the last of his chips in the middle pre-flop with A♠7♥, but was outkicked by Hunt’s A♥J♥ after the dealer spread a board of 5♣9♣K♣4♥4♦.

Andy Yen then found himself on the wrong end of an uber-cooler, running his K♥K♦ into Amiri’s A♠A♦, with nothing changing after the board ran out 5♣3♥8♥4♣3♠.

Mehdi Amiri	1,270,000
Ashley Hunt	1,060,000
Andy Yen	BUSTED!
Andrian Chin	BUSTED!

Level 22: 10,000/20,000 (20,000) > Level 23: 12,000/24,000 (24,000)

Break it down!

Our remaining 18 players are now on their final 10-minute break. Four more levels, and then we’ll bag and tag for the night.

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Darcy on the march

Joe Darcy has now moved up towards the top end of the counts, now just shy of 700K in chips after taking out William Jahn in the lead-up to the next break.

Having nursed a short stack for the most part of this stanza, Jahn’s final stand came after he moved all-in after a flop of J-T-3 with KT, but couldn’t catch up against Darcy, who had hit top-top holding A-J.

Blair Hampton is also still in the mix after he took out Matteo Rynkiewicz, with the pair getting all their money into the middle pre-flop over on Table 1; Rynkiewicz was severely short-stacked, but found himself flipping with his 9♦7♣ against Hampton, who had called with 6♥6♦.

Rynkiewicz was relegated to the rail, however, after Hampton filled up on the board of 7♠6♣Q♦4♣4♦.

Joe Darcy	690,000
Blair Hampton	447,000
Matteo Rynkiewicz	BUSTED!
William Jahn	BUSTED!

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Caputo picks off two

John Caputo is well and truly on an upswing after eliminating two players from the Hijack Poker Main Event.

In earlier action, Caputo found himself in a three-way all-in-preflop against Edge and David Bishop and we got there just as the cards were tabled.

Bishop: 3♥3♦
Caputo: A♠10♥
Edge: Q♥J♥

Board: 2♥Q♣A♣6♠10♣

With Bishop out of the picture, Edge then ripped in the last of his stack after a flop of J-9-9 with A-3, but Caputo had flopped a boat with his pocket Jacks. That’ll do it.

John Caputo	496,000
Chris Edge	BUSTED!
David Bishop	BUSTED!

Level 21: 8,000/16,000 (16,000)

Sayonara O’Mara

Peter O’Mara and Sheldon Ingham are now amongst the first wave of players to collect from the payout desk, as the tournament was reduced down to four tables.

Shortly after the bubble had burst, O’Mara put his tournament life on the line with A♠10♠, but ran smack-bang into Yen’s K♠K♥, with no change after a clean runout of 2♦6♠4♣9♥8♣.

Sheldon Ingham who – ran deep in last year’s WSOP Main Event to finish with a USD $15,000 payday – has also registered an ITM finish after jamming with Q♥10♠, only to see Lars Klove wake up with Q♠Q♦, which rivered a set with the case Queen on the board of 6♦7♦2♥K♦Q♣.

Andy Yen	496,000
Lars Klove	300,000
Sheldon Ingham	BUSTED!
Peter O’Mara	BUSTED!

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Scagneti smashed

In an incredble turn of events, Adriano Scagneti has been confirmed as the stone bubble in the inaugural Hijack Poker Main Event, eliminated by John Choong over the space of two hands!

After some heavy pre-flop betting action, Choong and Scagneti got all their money in pre-flop, with Choong at risk holding K♥K♣ against Scagneti’s Q♠Q♦, however Choong held firm as the board was spread A♣A♦10♥6♠K♠, reducing Scagneti down to 333,000.

The pair then went at it again, this time with the cry of ‘all-in-call’ going up after a flop of 9♠8♦K♥.

Choong: K♣Q♣
Scagneti: 9♣8♠

Scagneti kept the lead on the turn of the 7♠, but Choong spiked the Q♠ on the river, and just like that, we are now officially in the money – and we have ourselves a new chip leader!

Jon Choong	850,000
Adriano Scagneti	BUSTED!

Level 19: 6,000/12,000 (8,000) > Level 20: 7,000/14,000 (14,000)

Scully culled

Chris Scully has been confirmed as the soft bubble, eliminated in 38th place as we now move into hand-for-hand play.

Over on Table 8, Scully found himself calling with 10♦7♠ against William Jahn, who had moved all-in with A♦5♦. With no change to either hand after the runout of J♠9♥3♣2♥2♥, Scully was reduced to 23,000, which all went into the middle in the very next hand, going heads-up against Adriano Scagneti to a flop of 7♥8♦6♣.

Scagnetti called the all-in bet, showing down 9♥8♠ for top pair against Scully’s Q♣10♠, which then improved to a straight as the board completed 5♣, 2♦.

Adriano Scagneti	575,000
William Jahn	138,000
Bobby Singh	BUSTED!

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Dee Dee goes bye-bye

We’re now just two away from the money after Bobby Singh and Dee Dee Chen were confirmed as two of our recent eliminations on either side of the break.

In earlier action, Singh moved all-in pre-flop with A♣K♦, but although he was ahead of Bui’s A♦Q♦, Bui freerolled his way to Broadway on the board of 4♠3♠J♣K♥10♦.

Chen was then amongst those the first to hit the rail after play resumed; as Chen recalled, she moved all-in with pocket Queens after having flopped a set, but was gunned down by Ashley hunt who had flopped a straight.

Play is now orbit-for-orbit with 38 players remaining.

Ashley Hunt	504,500
Harry Bui	290,000
Dee Dee Chen	BUSTED!
Bobby Singh	BUSTED!

Level 17: 4,000/8,000 (8,000) > Level 18: 5,000/10,000 (10,000)

Break time!

Our 41 remaining players are now on a quick 10-minute break.

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Scagneti soaring

Adriano Scagneti has now been sighted as the first player to reach the half-million chip mark as we approach the first break of the day.

In recent action over on Table 8, Scagneti took out Sungki Cho after calling down with A♦K♥ against Cho, whose K♠J♣ held on all streets across the runout of 9♣4♦8♣9♠9♦.

That was after Jon Choong eliminated Gemma Silva, who drilled trips with his holding of K♥10♦ on a board of K♠K♦2♣J♣5♦ against Silva, who had moved all-in-pre with 8♦8♣.

Adriano Scagneti	519,000
Jon Choong	129,500
Sungki Cho	BUSTED!
Gemma Silva	BUSTED!

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Main Event payouts

As the second side event gets underway here at The Civic, action has now started to slow down in the Main Event with 45 players remaining. This gives us a chance now to update our friends over east with the prize pool dividends on offer.

As reported a couple of nights ago, the event was capped out at 357 total entries, reaching the maximum prize pool limit of $50,000, as per WA Community Poker Policy guidelines. The top 36 players will be paid out a minimum of $400, while our winner on Monday night will take home $12,000 in cash.

Place	Amount
1st	$12,000
2nd	$8,000
3rd	$5,200
4th	$3,800
5th	$2,700
6th	$1,900
7th	$1,400
8th	$1,100
9th	$850
10th-12th	$700
13th-15th	$600
16th-18th	$500
19th-27th	$450
28th-36th	$400

Level 16: 3,500/7,000 (7,000)

Can’t win ’em all

After winning the $250 Pot Limit Omaha event earlier in the series, Jacky Chan continues his run in this Main Event, taking out Adrian Mills.

Shortly before their table was broken, Mills moved all-in pre-flop with 9♣8♣, but although he turned a flush draw on the board of K♥A♥10♣2♣2♠, Chan had the best of hit holding A♠Q♠.

A short time later, there was a three-way all-in over on Table 8, with Shayne Le Roy the at-risk player against Adriano Scagneti and $350 Terminator Champion, Irene Holzmann.

Scagnetti: A♦A♣
Holzman: K♠K♣
Le Roy: 2♠2♦

Board: J♥10♣7♦9♠7♥

Scagnetti scooped the pot to cripple Holzmann and eliminate Le Roy; Holzmann was then seen heading to the rail soon after.

Adriano Scagneti	429,000
Jacky Chan	300,000
Irene Holzmann	BUSTED!
Shayne Le Roy	BUSTED!
Adrian Mills	BUSTED!

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Slow Byrne catches fire

Jaxon Byrne was amongst those who were AWOL at the start of the day, but given he lives just around the corner from The Civic, it didn’t take long for him to get back to work, taking out Esther Rose on Table 5.

Rose moved the last of her money into the middle before the flop with A♠10♣, but although she turned top pair on the board of J♦10♦7♠A♣5♣, Byrne’s two pair with A♥J♣ was best.

At the same time over on Table 1, Thilanka Silva moved all-in with 4♠4♣, but lost the flip for his tournament life against Andrew Miller, who rolled for initiative with his J♣6♣ and hit on the board of K♦3♦6♦Q♠A♥.

Jaxon Byrne	363,000
Andrew Miller	81,500
Thilanka Silva	BUSTED!
Esther Rose	BUSTED!

Level 14: 2,500/5,000 (5,000) > Level 15: 3,000/6,000 (6,000)

‘Bish’ fishin’ for chips

Daniel Bishop is now close to 400,000 in chips as Hijack Poker Festival Main Event action – and the Perth sun – continues to heat up.

On Table 2, Liz Morris moved all-in after the flop holding pocket fives, but failed to improve against Bishop’s pocket queens. Presto, change-o, busto.

Our reporter was then called over to Table 8, where Tim Caban had put his tournament life on the line with A-Q, but found no help against the A-K of Adriano Scagneti.

Daniel Bishop	370,000
Adriano Scagneti	198,500
Tim Caban	BUSTED!
Liz Morris	BUSTED!

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Living on the edge

Plenty of action in the first level, with David Brown and Zac McDannold amongst those the first to be eliminated here at The Civic.

Earlier on Table 7, Brown got the last of his chips in on a J-7-3 board holding A-7o, but Harry Bui had him smashed with pocket sevens for the set.

Then over on Table 6, McDannold open-shoved on a flop of 4♥A♠3♣ holding Q♥Q♣, only to run into the A♦K♥ of Chris Edge, with neither hand improving as the turn and river ran out 6♣, 2♥.

Chris Edge	296,500
Harry Bui	220,000
Zac McDannold	BUSTED!
David Brown	BUSTED!

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Shuffle up and deal!

Cards are now in the air for Day 2 of the Hijack Poker Festival Main Event!

We’ll be playing through 14 levels of 25 minutes’ duration, or down to our final table of nine, whichever comes first.

Level	Small Blind	Big Blind	BB Ante
12	1,500	3,000	3,000
13	2,000	4,000	4,000
14	2,500	5,000	5,000
15	3,000	6,000	6,000
16	3,500	7,000	7,000
17	4,000	8,000	8,000
18	5,000	10,000	10,000
19	6,000	12,000	12,000
20	7,000	14,000	14,000
21	8,000	16,000	16,000
22	10,000	20,000	20,000
23	12,000	24,000	24,000
24	15,000	30,000	30,000
25	20,000	40,000	40,000

Level 12: 1,500/3,000 (3,000) > Level 13: 2,000/4,000 (4,000)

A true test out West

From wherever you’re watching in Australia, New Zealand or around the world, hello and welcome to PokerMedia Australia’s Live Reporting coverage of the Hijack Poker Festival Main Event!

Today is a particularly special day for us here at PMA, as it marks the very first time that we’ve been able to bring you our bespoke event coverage from anywhere in Western Australia, and based on what we’ve seen so far with the Hijack Poker Festival, there’s plenty to be excited about.

Australia’s newest poker league – which was officially launched a few weeks ago – has already begun running regular cash games and tournaments in 14 venues, many of which were part of the inaugural series that began on 5 February. To date, the Hijack Poker Festival has accumulated more than $160,000 in total prize money, which also includes the $200 buy-in Main Event, which was capped out at 357 entries.

It has already been an eye-opening experience for PMA as we have come to learn more about the state of the union, but based on our discussions with local players and key industry figures, there is growing support to make changes to the Community Poker Policy, which would allow mid-tier major events akin to those over east to be held in WA.

Based on the record numbers we’ve witnessed at major events over the last three years – coupled with the socio-economic benefits resulting from increased tourism – the argument in favour of bringing WA into line with other states grows stronger.

Still, operators are mindful of balancing this with existing licencing and regulatory practices, and it is hoped that by working proactively with government officials, that they can get the support they need in taking that next step.

But today, all eyes are on the Hijack Poker Festival Main Event, which kicks off at 12pm local time. 78 players will return to The Civic Hotel in Inglewood to play down to a final table tonight, but only 36 will cash out, with our winner in two days’ time taking home a tidy $12,000 top prize.

PMA is now primed and ready to bring you all the action alongside the HJP media contingent, so please stay with us for all the updates right up until the final river falls!

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Day 2 seat draw

Play will resume tomorrow (Saturday) at The Civic Hotel in Inglewood from 12pm local time, with recommencing blinds at 1,500/3,000 (3,000). Please ensure you have your photo ID with you for verification purposes, and should you have any queries regarding your seat allocation, please approach the friendly team at Hijack Poker. Best of luck to all players, and may the flop be with you!

Table 1

PMA ID	Seat	Name	Chips
0101	1	Lars Klove	25,000
0102	2	Jacky Su	20,500
0103	3	Merv Sutton	97,000
0104	4	Thilanka Silva	68,000
0105	5	David Lofthouse	174,500
0106	6	Andrew Miller	53,500
0107	7	Sheldon Ingham	248,000
0108	8	Bobby Singh	105,500
0109	9	Richard Larkin	81,000

Table 2

PMA ID	Seat	Name	Chips
0201	1	Harley Sparks	47,500
0202	2	John Caputo	90,000
0203	3	Liz Morris	99,000
0204	4	Daniel Bishop	186,000
0205	5	Rob Paradiso	45,000
0206	6	Ben Foot	101,000
0207	7	Jamie Debono	74,000
0208	8	Hans Dorn	154,000
0209	9	Leon Waters	121,500

Table 3

PMA ID	Seat	Name	Chips
0301	1	Sanjun Byeon	203,500
	2
0303	3	Raymond Lai	109,500
0304	4	Ashley Hunt	117,000
0305	5	Karen Hampton	139,000
0306	6	Delpeuch Sebastien	126,000
0307	7	Paul Broadbent	30,000
0308	8	Andrian Chin	38,000
0309	9	Mehdi Amiri	303,500

Table 4

PMA ID	Seat	Name	Chips
0401	1	Matt Rear	161,500
0402	2	Scott Roderick	90,000
0403	3	Zube Mcwhannell	101,500
0404	4	Joe Darcy	63,000
0405	5	Kevin Kenny	239,000
0406	6	Andy Yen	106,500
0407	7	Blair Hampton	159,500
0408	8	Mark Smith	155,000
0409	9	L.J.	64,000

Table 5

PMA ID	Seat	Name	Chips
0501	1	George Lewkowski	47,500
0502	2	Ray Wan	127,000
0503	3	Adrian Mills	106,000
0504	4	Kevin Chien	78,000
0505	5	Aaron Collie	74,500
0506	6	Aslani Tony	95,000
0507	7	Esther Rose	138,500
	8
0509	9	Jaxon Byrne	118,000

Table 6

PMA ID	Seat	Name	Chips
0601	1	Mark Van Dort	43,000
0602	2	Deedee Chen	259,500
0603	3	Peter O’Mara	126,500
0604	4	C.C. Wang	104,000
0605	5	Nikola Zmukic	92,500
0606	6	Bryce Kenny	61,500
0607	7	Matteo Rynkiewicz	65,000
0608	8	Zac McDannold	159,000
0609	9	Chris Edge	140,500

Table 7

PMA ID	Seat	Name	Chips
0701	1	Harry Bui	129,000
0702	2	Cho Sungki	61,500
0703	3	David Brown	28,000
0704	4	John Ku	89,500
0705	5	William Jahn	88,500
0706	6	Luke Sharpe	71,500
0707	7	Casey Bizzaca	190,000
0708	8	Jaime Dalton-Allen	86,000
0709	9	Mahsun Eren	190,000

Table 8

PMA ID	Seat	Name	Chips
	1
0802	2	Gemma Silva	63,000
0803	3	Adriano Scagneti	109,000
0804	4	Jon Choong	106,000
0805	5	Shayne Le Roy	71,500
0806	6	Eddie Harich	63,000
0807	7	Tim Caban	149,000
0808	8	Holzmann Irene	108,500
0809	9	Michael Binnie	29,500

Table 9

PMA ID	Seat	Name	Chips
0901	1	Gary O’Doherty	84,500
0902	2	Sam Frisinia	108,000
0903	3	Behzad Bagheri	107,500
0904	4	Robert Tan	126,000
0905	5	Jacky Chan	280,000
0906	6	Lior Cohen	119,500
0907	7	Joon Hyun	95,500
0908	8	Kris Scully	130,500
0909	9	Steve Mehew	342,000