Luke Edwards wins APT Brisbane Main Event
It’s really not that often you see a major tournament won with pocket Aces, but that’s exactly what Luke Edwards managed to accomplish at APT Brisbane tonight. Entering heads up play with a significant chip deficit, Edwards overcame the odds against to take the title.
For Edwards, it’s his second APT Pillar in a week; victorious also on Monday in the Australian Mixed Game Championships (HEROS) defeating Matthew Ginn on that instance. The Main Event, though, with it’s mammoth field – a mix of casual players and seasoned professionals – may well feel like an entire week on it’s own.
Edwards’ has a long and decorated list of results on his HendonMob – his first major career title came back in 2016, where Edwards took the top rung in WSOPC Sydney $5K High Roller to pick up a WSOP Circuit Ring, also previously taking out the $5K Challenge in the 2013 Sydney Champs. Edwards picked up a second six-figure score just last year, finishing runner-up in APT Bankstowns’ TLPT $10K Challenge.
APT Brisbane Main Event – Results
| Place | Country | Player | Payout |
| Champion | Australia | Luke Edwards | $43,550 |
| 2nd | Australia | Guy Perkins | $27,000 |
| 3rd | Colombia | Lucho Vargas | $17,000 |
| 4th | Australia | Rory Smyth | $13,000 |
| 5th | Australia | Kiavash Arbabi | $10,000 |
| 6th | Australia | Lachlan Crilly | $7,500 |
| 7th | Australia | Lakun Agrawal | $5,000 |
| 8th | Australia | Tom Maguire | $4,000 |
| 9th | Australia | Sherif Derias | $3,000 |
Perkins pipped to the post
Guy Perkins, we’ve been reliably informed, bagged just 30,000 in last nights flight to make it through to Day 2 of the APT Main Event, and has now run that up to a final table appearance where his remarkable run has now come to an end.
Perkins min-clicked from the small blind with A♦4♦, but Luke Edwards looked down at A♠A♥ and attacked right back with a raise to 650,000.
Perkins flat-called that, and when the flop came K♦7♦10♠, Edwards let out for 500,000. Perkins shoved immediately, and Edwards couldn’t call fast enough.
Needing a diamond to double through, having lost the chip lead in an earlier hand, the Q♥ on the turn could not provide any assistance, before the 8♠ sealed the deal, Perkins eliminated for a $27,000 pay day.
| Player | Chips |
| Guy Perkins | BUSTED! |
Just short for Vargas
You could be forgiven for thinking Lucho Vargas may have been about to complete a WPTL-APT double, when the 2022 WPTL QPC Main Event champion took the chip lead three handed.
Mere moments later, it would all be over, as Vargas stumbled, check-raising a 200,000 bet from Guy Perkins on the turn, the board showing K♠2♠10♥8♣. Vargas had called the preflop button raise of Perkins, then both players had checked the flop.
The 5♠ peeled off on the river after Perkins called the turn check-raise. First to act, Vargas went to move all-in, announcing it verbally and being snap-called before he could move his chips forwards. A look of defeat on Vargas’ face though; he knew the answer even as he tabled his K♣8♦, watching Perkins spin over the 8♠9♠ for the rivered flush.
Perkins and Vargas effectively swapped stacks with that hand. Shortly after, Vargas would complete the small blind against the big blind of Perkins with J♦5♦. Perkins checked his Q♥5♥ holding, and both players then checked the 10♣7♠5♣ flop.
The sickest of turn cards then peeled – the 5♠ setting up an absolute cooler. Vargas led out for 130,000. Perkins with a somewhat flamboyant raise to 400,000. Vargas just called that, and then found a check on the A♣ river. Perkins wasted no time, shoving with Vargas covered, Vargas called in a split second, and it was over just like that.
Edwards will carry the chip deficit into heads up, seeking a second APT Pillar in a week. On Monday, Edwards came through to win the Australian Mixed Game Championship (HEROS), beating out Matthew Ginn for that victory.
| Player | Chips |
| Guy Perkins | 7,400,000 |
| Luke Edwards | 2,125,000 |
| Lucho Vargas | BUSTED! |
Smyth sent off
In a battle of the blinds, Rory Smyth raised to 300,000 from the small blind into the big blind of Luke Edwards.
Edwards made the call, and then called again when Smyth continued for 225,000 on the 8♣6♣6♥ flop.
Smyth slowed down and checked on the 7♦ turn, prompting Edwards to pull the trigger; a shove for 1,180,000 called by Smyth. The 7♣ on the river improved Edwards to a flush, sending Smyth toppling down the chip counts, left with just four big blinds.
A few hands later, Lucho Vargas opened the button, called by Guy Perkins in the small blind. Smyth slid in the rest, re-opening the action to Vargas, but Vargas flat-called, followed by Perkins.
Both Perkins and Vargas then checked the J♣8♦2♣ flop with a dead side pot, before the 7♦ hit the turn. Perkins check-folded to a bet from Vargas, and Smyth found he was drawing dead as the cards were tabled, eliminated in fourth place for $13,000
| Player | Chips |
| Lucho Vargas | 3,560,000 |
| Luke Edwards | 3,325,000 |
| Guy Perkins | 2,640,000 |
| Rory Smyth | BUSTED! |
Arbabi done
The shortening stack of Kiavash Arbabi lent itself to a preflop shove for his last 810,000 from the cut off with K♦J♦. Guy Perkins flat-called from the small blind, before Rory Smyth elected to fold his big blind, deciding pocket sevens not worth the risk against the chip leader.
The 3♦2♥3♣ flop was fairly uneventful, but the 2♦ on the turn gave Arbabi additional outs in the form of a flush draw.
The A♣ on the river only served to improve Perkins’ hand, however, as he moved further into the chip lead, while the 2020 APL Million Main Event champion hit the rail.
| Player | Chips |
| Guy Perkins | 3,605,000 |
| Kiavash Arbabi | BUSTED! |
Crilly flushed
In the space of just a few hands, it was over for Lachlan Crilly. First, Kiavash Arbabi opened from the button with A♦6♦, flat-called by Crilly in the big blind.
The flop of 3♦5♣10♦ was checking by Crilly – holding top pair with K♦10♥ – before Arbabi continued to the tune of 100,000. Crilly check-raised to 250,000, Arbabi snap-jammed, Crilly snap-called.
Needing a diamond, Arbabi turned Crilly dead as the 8♦ peeled off.
Crilly then raised to 410,000 from the hijack a few hands later with K♣Q♥, leaving himself one chip behind just in case the blinds kick off against each other.
Rory Smyth made the call with A♠4♠ from the button before both blinds got out of the way; then Smyth and Crilly popped in the last T5K chip on the A♣5♥5♣ flop.
Needing running clubs or running straight cards, Crilly was again turned dead – this time by the 9♦ – to exit the tournament in 6th place, good for $7,500.
Everyone now remaining will be guaranteed a five-figure score, fifth place and higher paying at least $10K.
| Player | Chips |
| Rory Smyth | 3,580,000 |
| Kiavash Arbabi | 1,720,000 |
| Lachlan Crilly | BUSTED! |
Agrawal annihilated
Luke Edwards opened with a min-click to 120,000 under-the-gun holding Q♥Q♣ with action folding all the way around to short stack Lakun Agrawal in the big blind.
Agrawal, with 6♥3♥ in the hole, pulled out the old stop-go; flat-calling and then immediately shoving for his last 300,000 with any kind of connection on the 8♥3♣2♣ flop.
Edwards, of course going nowhere with the over pair, made the call to eliminate Agrawal in 7th place after the board ran out A♠, 9♥ for a $5,000 pay day in his first APT Main Event.
| Player | Chips |
| Luke Edwards | 1,375,000 |
| Lakun Agrawal | BUSTED! |
Maguire undone
Tom Maguire, down to just 6BB, popped them in with A♦J♣. Action folded around to Guy Perkins on the button, who looked down at A♣K♣ and flat-called before both blinds folded.
A bit of dejavu perhaps for APT Ambassador Jarrod Thatcher in the commentary booth, who went out to Perkins in a nearly-identical hand on the final table bubble.
The 5♥9♠2♥4♠8♦ connected with absolutely no one, and the APT Brisbane Main Event is down to seven left, while Perkins becomes the second stack over 2million
| Player | Chips |
| Guy Perkins | 2,170,000 |
| Tom Maguire | BUSTED! |
Derias derailed
An open from Kiavash Arbabi with Q♦J♦ was flat-called by Sherif Derias holding 4♠4♣ in the next seat over, before Lachlan Crilly elected to 3-bet to all-in-except-one-big-blind with K♥K♦.
Arbabi smelled danger and got out of dodge, then Derias asked for it all to a Crilly snap-call.
Needing to catch a cheeky set, Derias would be left with just 2BB after the K♣Q♠Q♥ flop smashed Crilly.
Those would go in on the very next hand, Derias sliding them in with A♥K♦ in early position, called by Guy Perkins with A♠4♠. Perkins would then absolutely crush the soul of Derias; 9♠3♠4♦ on the flop and Derias was suddenly down to needing a non-spade King to survive.
Perkins drilled the 10♠ turn… and the 6♠ river for good measure.
| Player | Chips |
| Guy Perkins | 1,905,000 |
| Lachlan Crilly | 1,020,000 |
| Sherif Derias | BUSTED! |
Main Event in final stages
The Main Event is still The Main Event. And in APT Brisbane, the multiple starting flights attracted a total of 323 entries – and as of recently, just 9 remain.
The APT Brisbane Main Event Final Table has been set, after APT Ambassador Jarrod Thatcher hit the rail on the FT bubble; jamming A♥4♦ with a short stack from the small blind, Thatcher ran into the A♣K♣ of Luke Edwards in the big blind, going down to a case of overkill – a rivered flush for Edwards.
As is seemingly the case with final tables throughout this series, it is absolutely LOADED with talent – Luke Edwards, who picked up an APT pillar earlier this week in the Australian Mixed Game Championships, will be looking for a second, and most of the names on the table will be instantly recognisable to the Australian poker community.
APT Brisbane Main Event – Final Table
| Seat | Player | Chips |
| 1 | Tom Maguire | 355,000 |
| 2 | Luke Edwards | 1,295,000 |
| 3 | Kiavash Arbabi | 1,060,000 |
| 4 | Sherif Derias | 520,000 |
| 5 | Lucho Vargas | 665,000 |
| 6 | Lachlan Crilly | 420,000 |
| 7 | Guy Perkins | 1,805,000 |
| 8 | Rory Smyth | 2,835,000 |
| 9 | Lakun Agrawal | 770,000 |
Leading the way chipstack-wise will be Rory Smyth, followed by Guy Perkins, who scored up the elimination of Nicholas Imlay via pocket Jacks seemingly moments before the final table was set – Imlay, Thatcher, and New Zealand’s “State Of Origin” captain Hamish Crawshaw all eliminated within ten minutes of each other in 12th-10th.
Seated (L-R): Kiavash Arbabi, Lucho Vargas, Lakun Agrawal, Rory Smyth
The eventual Champion of the APT Brisbane Main Event will walk away with $43,550, payouts ranging down to $3,000 for whoever goes out next.
APT Brisbane Main Event – remaining payouts
| Place | Payout |
| 1 | $43,550 |
| 2 | $27,000 |
| 3 | $17,000 |
| 4 | $13,000 |
| 5 | $10,000 |
| 6 | $7,500 |
| 7 | $5,000 |
| 8 | $4,000 |
| 9 | $3,000 |
Mao’s some kind of superstar
Renji Mao grabbed control of today’s TLPT Superstar Showdown Final Table early on – coming in as the chip leader, Mao found himself with half of the chips in play after eliminating Chris “Dipper” Zenonos and never looked back, eliminating nearly every other player on his way to the title.
The Chinese pro earned his first WSOP Bracelet in 2023, denying USA’s Matthew Elsby a second as he utilised an aggression-heavy strategy to win the $800 NLH Deepstack for US$402,588 – by far and away his best career cash to-date. Mao also has an Asian Poker Tour title, winning the APT Summer Series High-Roller 8-Max for ₫634,860,000 (US$26,837 at the time).
Mao has gone from strength to strength since winning that first bracelet, with cashes in 13 different countries around the globe since, the majority of which have been in WSOP, WSOPE, and WSOP Paradise events. Other cashes feature in EPT Barcelona, EPT Paris, EAPT Grand Final Cyprus, WPT Korea, and WPT Cambodia, along with a host of USOP, VSOP, and APT cashes in Asia. Truly living the dream!
TLPT Superstar Showdown – Results
| Place | Country | Player | Payout |
| Champion | China | Renji Mao | $92,000 |
| 2nd | Australia | Joe Hachem | $60,500 |
| 3rd | Australia | Daniel Mayoh | $41,000 |
| 4th | Australia | Nelson Dong | $29,000 |
| 5th | USA | Jordan Westmorland | $23,000 |
| 6th | China | Ivan Zhang | $18,000 |
| 7th | Australia | Chris “Dipper” Zenonos | $14,500 |
| 8th | Australia | Alex Lynskey | $11,800 |
Hachem clubbed
With a massive chip advantage, Renji Mao is effectively playing all-in-or-fold poker against Joe Hachem; and the K♣7♣ on the button certainly good enough to do so.
Hachem, down to 1.2million, called off with Q♣J♣ to set up an All In Showdown for the Superstar Showdown.
“Eight, nine, ten!” called Hachem, continuing with a wry smile, “It’s not fair that you have clubs…”
The flop of 9♠A♥3♣ missed both players, then Hachem picked up a flush draw on the 6♣ turn. Mao’s club draw, though, obviously better, Hachem still needed to hit a Queen or a Jack.
The river, none of the above – but the 7♠ unnecessarily pairing Mao to bring the tournament to a close – Hachem collecting a $60,500 pay day for a runner-up finish. Which, really, was always going to be the best anyone could do against the run of Mao today.
“Good game!” from Hachem, as he shook Mao’s hand.
| Player | Chips |
| Joe Hachem | BUSTED! |
Mayday Mayday May…oh no
Next it was the turn of Daniel Mayoh to get his chips in the middle – shoving for 1,530,000 with J♦J♣, Mayoh was called by, no surprise, Renji Mao with K♣9♦.
Looking good for a full double, Mayoh dodged any drama on the 7♦A♦8♣ flop.
Mao was on a sun run of all sun runs, apparently – as the 9♣ turn and 9♠ river tripped Mayoh up and out of here.
Mao has just one hurdle to overcome – and it’s 2005 WSOP Main Event Champion Joe Hachem. Australia’s poker legend will start heads up with a nearly six-to-one chip deficit.
| Player | Chips |
| Renji Mao | 10,715,000 |
| Joe Hachem | 1,890,000 |
| Daniel Mayoh | BUSTED! |
Dong swings and misses
First hand back from the 15minute break and Renji Mao decided to put the pressure on – shoving his massive stack under-the-gun with J♦3♦.
Nelson Dong found a hand to call with in the big blind – A♣K♠ – the short stack sliding in his last 1,278,000 to try to double through.
Unfortunately for Dong, Mao connected on the 7♥9♥3♥6♠Q♥ board while he did not, and Dong hit the rail with a $29,000 pay day.
Mao continues his steam roller run over this final table – moving up to nearly 75% of the chips in play.
| Player | Chips |
| Renji Mao | 9,185,000 |
| Nelson Dong | BUSTED! |
No title for Westmorland
Jordan Westmorland’s series has been nothing short of outstanding, with three final tables throughout the week.
Getting short with under 10BB remaining, Westmorland shoved with Q♦Q♣ under-the-gun to see folds all around until Renji Mao called off his ever-growing stack with A♦9♦ in the blinds.
The flop was certainly not favourable for Westmorland; 6♦A♥5♥ leaving him needing a lot of help, which would not arrive on the K♠, 10♥ run out.
As a consolation, Westmorland will take home another $23,000 to cap off his series; 5th place after Ivan Zhang was eliminated in 6th a short while ago. Mao now controls more than 60% of the chips in play four handed.
| Player | Chips |
| Renji Mao | 8,045,000 |
| Jordan Westmorland | BUSTED! |
Zenonos zilched
With the big blind at 50K, Chris “Dipper” Zenonos opened the action from the hijack to 150,000 with 10♠10♦. Commentator Sosia Jiang immediately stopped her story as Renji Mao looked down at J♠J♦ on the button and then just flat-called, a clash seemingly inevitable.
Joe Hachem called out of the blinds with Q♣10♣ before checking the 2♦4♠9♣ flop. Zenonos continued for 250,000, flat-called again by Mao while Hachem got out of the way.
Dipper then checked-jammed for 1,085,000 total – Mao’s bet was 350,000 – on the 4♥ turn card. Mao asked for a count before calling in short order.
Needing only the case Ten considering Hachem’s folded cards, the Q♦ cemented Zenonos as the seventh place finisher.
| Player | Chips |
| Renji Mao | 6,040,000 |
| Chris “Dipper” Zenonos | BUSTED! |
Smile!
The players have been gathered for the Final Table photo prior to the start of play today – while New Zealand’s Sosia Jiang has been confirmed for a commentary booth appearance! Be sure to tune in for some valuable insights from the Kiwi high stakes extraordinaire.
Seated (L-R): Joe Hachem, Jordan Westmorland, Ivan Zhang
And his name is…
The Lord Poker Tour events have been massive all week, bringing some of the best players from Australia and around the world to the felt at voco Brisbane.
So far, one of Australia’s all time greats in Kahle Burns picked up a title in the Opening Event, before old school pro Andy Lee showed he had what it takes, shipping the Main Event. The $25K International event was perhaps appropriately shipped overseas – China’s Quan Zhou almost catapulting over US$10M in lifetime earnings with the new title.
Highlights have included “possibly the best ‘chip and a chair’ run in Australian poker history” by New Zealand’s Thomas Ward and a heart-breaking mistake on one day followed by a jaw-dropping bluff on the next from Yoon Kang.
TLPT’s schedule at APT Brisbane culminates today in the delightfully named “Superstar Showdown”, a 6-Max format with a $5K buy-in. During yesterday’s Day 1 session, the field was whittled from 63 entries down to the Final Table of 7, playing for $92,000 up top. All 7 are now in the money, with Brisbane pro Alex Lynskey also picking up $11,800 for his 8th place finish last night.
TLPT Superstar Showdown – Final Table
| Seat | Player | Chips |
| 1 | Nelson Dong | 1,972,000 |
| 2 | Renji Mao | 3,220,000 |
| 3 | Joe Hachem | 2,658,000 |
| 4 | Jordan Westmorland | 1,126,000 |
| 5 | Ivan Zhang | 227,000 |
| 6 | Daniel Mayoh | 2,173,000 |
| 7 | Chris “Dipper” Zenonos | 1,232,000 |
Joe Hachem, Australia’s World Champion, headlines the final table, whilst all eyes will also be on American pro Jordan Westmorland – this will be Westmorland’s third final table of the series. It’s Renji Mao who carries the chip lead into the final table though; 44th on China’s All Time Money List, Mao has a WSOP bracelet – he shipped the $800 NLH Deepstack in 2023 for US$402,588.
Chris “Dipper” Zenonos will be in action – one of the true old school pros, Dipper can mix it with the kids any day. Daniel Mayoh will be looking to pick up his second APT title this week – the mixed game and competitive Microsoft Excel specialist picked up an APT pillar in the 9-Game event earlier this week.
Streaming will commence at approximately 1:30pm local time, viewable on your choice of Twitch, YouTube, or the APTLive Facebook page.
TLPT Superstar Showdown – remaining payouts
| Place | Payout |
| Champion | $92,000 |
| 2nd | $60,500 |
| 3rd | $41,000 |
| 4th | $29,000 |
| 5th | $23,000 |
| 6th | $18,000 |
| 7th | $14,500 |
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