$1,500 Platinum Player Championships
Day 1d Completed
2024 Australian Poker Open
$1,500 Platinum Player Championships
Day: 1d
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 1d
2024 Australian Poker Open
Buy-in
1,500 AUD
Prize Pool
1,218,100 AUD
Entries
937
Level
31
Blinds
200,000 / 400,000
Ante
400,000
Entries
182
Players Left
23
Ken Demlakian Hits a Million on Day 1d of the $1,500 Platinum Player Championships
Level 18
: Blinds 10,000/20,000, 20,000 ante
The holiday weekend continues to provide big crowds at the Australian Poker Open, including the largest opening flight yet of the $1,500 Platinum Player Championships. Saturday saw 182 entries hit the felt at the prestigious Doltone House Western Sydney at Club Marconi, with the poker room buzzing from start to finish.
After just four players managed to hit the million-chip mark through the first three flights, Ken Demlakian became the fifth by landing on the number by the time players bagged for the night. A total of 23 survivors earned a spot on Day 2, plus the minimum cash of AUD $2,300 that comes with it.
Demlakian will return with a top-five stack, looking to add another deep run to his impressive poker resume. The Australian is coming off a big year in 2023, where he notched a runner-up finish in the Wynn Summer Classic in Las Vegas and a final table appearance at WPT Australia in Gold Coast. The number of big blinds Demlakian and everyone else will carry forward will be determined by the final opening flight on Sunday, March 31.
The number of Day 2 players is now up to 80, with one last chance to join the last coming on Day 1e. Another notable number from the tournament is the growing prize pool, which crossed the AUD $800,000 mark today. Another strong showing on Sunday could see the event double the guarantee and reach $1,000,000 to fight for on Monday, April 1.
Day 1d Top 10 Chip Counts
| Rank | Player | Country | Chip Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ken Demlakian | Australia | 1,000,000 |
| 2 | Jason Pritchard | Australia | 835,000 |
| 3 | Justin Tsui | United Kingdom | 822,000 |
| 4 | Pat Joseph | Australia | 760,000 |
| 5 | Thomas Lee | Australia | 711,000 |
| 6 | Ethan Erdeljac | Australia | 690,000 |
| 7 | Dean Boskovic | Australia | 650,000 |
| 8 | George Mitri | Australia | 551,000 |
| 9 | Jackson Young | Australia | 512,000 |
| 10 | Chris Zenonos | Australia | 455,000 |
Among the other notable stacks from Day 1d is Jason Pritchard, who finished at 835,000. Justin Tsui had an up and down day end on the positive side as he was able to bag 822,000 and round out the top three.
The night came to an end when Peter Lin committed his stack with pocket nines but was unable to fade George Mitri’s big blind special, finishing on the direct bubble in 24th place.
The field had several short stacks at the end of play, but one player in particular was relieved to find the money. Eric Xu survived an all in shortly before Lin busted, and sat with just a single big blind. Xu was two hands away from being forced all in, but will see that number likely double when the blinds are rolled back on Day 2.
Players who have yet to find a bag will get one last shot on Sunday, March 31, as Day 1e begins at 2 p.m. local time. All new entrants will sit down with 50,000 chips and see blinds levels begin at 100/200 and a 200 big blind ante.
Unlimited reentries will continue until the start of Level 10 following the third break of the day. The final opening flight will see only the top 12.5% of the field advance, with a guaranteed minimum cash of $2,300 to go along with every bag of chips.
The excitement continues here in Sydney, and the PokerNews live reporting team will have it all covered so don’t miss a minute of the action.
End of Day 1d Chip Counts (full)
Level 18
: Blinds 10,000/20,000, 20,000 ante
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
1,000,000
415,000
|
415,000 |
|
||
|
835,000
640,000
|
640,000 |
|
822,000
367,000
|
367,000 |
|
760,000
290,000
|
290,000 |
|
711,000
296,000
|
296,000 |
|
690,000
617,000
|
617,000 |
|
650,000
628,000
|
628,000 |
|
551,000 | |
|
512,000
150,000
|
150,000 |
|
455,000
-185,000
|
-185,000 |
|
292,000
-53,000
|
-53,000 |
|
282,000
-140,000
|
-140,000 |
|
276,000
-148,000
|
-148,000 |
|
250,000
-265,000
|
-265,000 |
|
227,000
99,000
|
99,000 |
|
166,000
33,000
|
33,000 |
|
159,000
159,000
|
159,000 |
|
135,000
-160,000
|
-160,000 |
|
117,000
-277,000
|
-277,000 |
|
113,000
113,000
|
113,000 |
|
41,000
-51,000
|
-51,000 |
|
38,000
-67,000
|
-67,000 |
|
21,000
-17,000
|
-17,000 |
Day 1d Concludes
Level 18
: Blinds 10,000/20,000, 20,000 ante
With the elimination of Peter Lin, the remaining 23 players have bagged for Day 2 and earned at least $2,300.
Stay tuned for full chip counts and a recap of the day.
Peter Lin Bubbles Day 1d
Level 18
: Blinds 10,000/20,000, 20,000 ante
Peter Lin moved all in from under the gun for 66,000 and action folded around to George Mitri in the big blind.
Lin began trying to convince Mitri not the call the extra 2.5 big blinds. "Remember the water," said Lin, referring to a $3.50 bottle of water that he had bought for Mitri earlier in the night as the two played side by side.
Players at the table had a laugh before Mitri apologized to Lin as he tossed in the call, and the hands were turned up.
Peter Lin: 9♣9♥ 
George Mitri: J♦6♥
The table shouted as a jack appeared in the window of the J♣6♦5♠ flop, along with a six to give Mitri two pair. Lin could not catch the K♠ turn or Q♠ river, exiting the tournament on the money bubble.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
551,000
-9,000
|
-9,000 |
|
Busted |
Level: 18
Blinds: 10,000/20,000
Ante: 20,000
Xu Survives on the River
Level 17
: Blinds 10,000/15,000, 15,000 ante
George Mitri opened to 30,000 on the button before Eric Xu shoved his remaining 28,000 into the middle from the big blind.
Eric Xu: 7♦4♦
George Mitri: Q♣10♥
Mitri was looking to end the night by eliminating Xu, but a pair on the river of the 2♣5♦2♥3♥4♠ runout prevented that. Xu doubled his short stack and bubble play continued.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
560,000
270,000
|
270,000 |
|
|
76,000
38,000
|
38,000 |
Bubble Play Begins
Level 17
: Blinds 10,000/15,000, 15,000 ante
With 24 players remaining, action is now hand-for-hand on the bubble.
23 players will bag for Day 2 and earn $2,300.
Lee Cracks Uka's Kings
Level 18
: Blinds 10,000/20,000, 20,000 ante
Uno Uka shoved on the button and was called by Thomas Lee in the small blind.
Uno Uka: K♠K♥
Thomas Lee: A♠J♣
Uka's pocket kings were in good shape after the 9♣Q♣6♠ flop, but the A♦ turn gave Lee the lead. Uka was unable to hit on the 5♠ river, ending his run just short of the money.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
545,000
130,000
|
130,000 |
|
Busted |
Bean Binks a Flush
Level 17
: Blinds 10,000/15,000, 15,000 ante
Action of a big pot was relaye to PokerNews, as Ron Bean was collecting most of Patrick So's stack.
Bean held J♣3♣ in the small blind and got all of his chips in against So's Q♣Qx, with the runout of A♠2♣6♣7♣6♥ giving Bean a flush. Bean moved up over 500,000 while So was left short.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
515,000
465,000
|
465,000 |
|
|
105,000
-515,000
|
-515,000 |