$1,500 Platinum Player Championships Day 2 | 2024 Australian Poker Open

04-01-2024 16:47 UTC+10

Hirst Counterfeits Pearce For Chip Lead

Josh Noy

Level 20 : Blinds 15,000/30,000, 30,000 ante

David Hirst in early position and Shane Pearce in the small blind were heads-up to the 9♥4♥2♠ flop. The two players exchanged bets until Pearce's stack was in the middle and at risk.

Shane Pearce: 9♣4♣ All in
David Hirst: K♥K♦

Pearce had flopped two pair to take the lead over Hirst's pocket kings. The 2♦ turn flipped the advantage back to Hirst, making a better two pair. The A♣ river changed nothing, leaving Hirst ahead sending Pearce to the rail.

"Chip leader," said another player at the table as Hirst organized his big stack.

Player	Chips	Progress
David Hirst	3,650,000 2,275,000	2,275,000
Shane Pearce	Busted

Tags: David Hirst Shane Pearce

04-01-2024 16:39 UTC+10

Flush Over Flush For Le

Josh Noy

Level 20 : Blinds 15,000/30,000, 30,000 ante

Action was three-ways to the river of a board showing 8♠K♣A♠9♣2♠ and around 350,000 in the middle.

Minkyu Jun fired 150,000 from the small blind and Michael Sleiman called in the big blind. Khanh Le then raised to 550,000 on the button, sending Jun into the tank.

The clock was eventually called and counted down under five seconds before Jun slid out the call. Sleiman got out of the way and Le turned over 10♠6♠ for a ten-high flush.

"Ah, I almost folded," said Jun as he showed 9♠3♠ for an inferior flush and Le raked in a massive pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Khanh Le	1,620,000 1,332,000	1,332,000
Minkyu Jun	1,160,000 -650,000	-650,000

Michael Sleiman	535,000 -985,000	-985,000

Tags: Khanh Le Michael Sleiman Minkyu Jun

04-01-2024 16:29 UTC+10

Sitzoukas Sees Diamonds

Josh Noy

Level 20 : Blinds 15,000/30,000, 30,000 ante

Paris Sitzoukas was all in and at risk against Slade Fisher, with the cards on their backs.

Paris Sitzoukas: 10♥10♦ All in
Slade Fisher: Q♠Q♣

Sitzoukas was trailing Fisher's queens, but the 6♦8♥7♦ flop brought a straight draw. The 8♦ turn then gave Sitzoukas even more outs with a flush draw.

The 2♦ river left Sitzoukas with a flush, cracking Fisher's queens to double up.

Tags: Paris Sitzoukas Slade Fisher

04-01-2024 15:45 UTC+10

Rolfe Rolls Over the Flush

Josh Noy

Level 19 : Blinds 10,000/25,000, 25,000 ante

Slade Fisher opened to 50,000 in middle position and Joshua McSwiney made the call on the button. Matt Rolfe came along in the big blind to the 7♦3♣3♦ flop.

Rolfe checked to Fisher, who fired 80,000. McSwiney folded, while Rolfe called to the 2♣ turn. Another check to Fisher resulted in a bet of 140,000, which Rolfe called.

The dealer turned over the 4♦ river and Rolfe checked one last time. Fisher checked back and mucked as Rolfe showed A♦10♦ for a flush to claim a sizeable pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Joshua McSwiney	1,250,000 1,183,000	1,183,000
Slade Fisher	1,220,000 -210,000	-210,000
Matt Rolfe	1,100,000 327,000	327,000

Tags: Joshua McSwiney Matt Rolfe Slade Fisher

04-01-2024 14:48 UTC+10

Awerbuch Busts, Xu's Run Ends

Josh Noy

Level 18 : Blinds 10,000/20,000, 20,000 ante

After getting away from big slick in a tough spot earlier, Chad Awerbuch was all in and at risk against Shane Pearce as the cards were turned up.

Chad Awerbuch: A♥K♠ All in
Shane Pearce: 8♣8♥

Awerbuch found ace-king once again but ran into Pearce's pocket pair, with the 4♥3♥Q♦2♥2♠ board providing no help.

At a nearby table, Eric Xu came up short with ace-queen against a pair of sixes to end his run in 49th place for $4,260.

Player	Chips	Progress
Shane Pearce	1,820,000 5,000	5,000
Chad Awerbuch	Busted
Eric Xu	Busted

Tags: Chad Awerbuch Eric Xu Shane Pearce

04-01-2024 14:18 UTC+10

Tan Busts to Big Slick

Josh Noy

Level 18 : Blinds 10,000/20,000, 20,000 ante

Minkyu Jun limped from under the gun before Winston Tan moved all in for 335,000. Campbell Ashton then shoved his stack of 1,400,000 and action was on Chad Awerbuch on the button.

Awerbuch took a few minutes, agonizing over his decision before opting to fold. Jun got out of the way and the hands were turned up.

Winston Tan: A♥J♦ All in
Campbell Ashton: A♦K♣

Upon seeing the hands, Awerbuch told the table that he folded A♠K♠. Tan was unable to find any help on the 6♦5♥8♣2♦10♥ runout, hitting the rail while Ashton added to his stack.

Player	Chips	Progress
Minkyu Jun	1,810,000 40,000	40,000

Campbell Ashton	1,750,000 822,000	822,000
Chad Awerbuch	760,000 7,000	7,000
Winston Tan	Busted

Tags: Campbell Ashton Chad Awerbuch Minkyu Jun Winston Tan

04-01-2024 14:01 UTC+10

Xu Spinning Up a Stack

Josh Noy

Level 18 : Blinds 10,000/20,000, 20,000 ante

Eric Xu survived Day 1d with just 21,000 chips, representing just a single big blind that night. With blinds rolled back to start Day 2, that stack became two big blinds on Level 15. At the start of Level 18, he was still alive and improbably sitting with 285,000 chips.

PokerNews caught up with Xu to get insight into his plan to start the day. "Fingers crossed, survive my flips," Xu explained. "Hopefully I'm getting it in good and then just winning, happy with what the min-cash was and smiling from there on."

Xu plays with a distinctive card protector, which has been getting a workout to this point. "A friend gave it to me," said Xu."Looks good on my cards, I'll take it. Brings good luck!"

04-01-2024 12:20 UTC+10

Larsson Squeezes Aces For Double KO

Josh Noy

Level 16 : Blinds 6,000/12,000, 12,000 ante

Paul Hoang moved his short stack all in from the cutoff and Steffan Thomas shoved his chips on the button. Mikael Larsson squeezed his cards in the big blind, looking for a calling hand. Larsson saw a hand he liked and made the call,

Paul Hoang: Q♠8♠ All in
Steffan Thomas: Q♥Q♦ All in
Mikael Larsson: A♣A♦

Hoang and Thomas had run into aces, with Larsson improving to a full house on the A♥8♦7♥7♠9♣ to score the double knockout.

Player	Chips	Progress
Mikael Larsson	695,000 229,000	229,000
Paul Hoang	Busted
Steffan Thomas	Busted

Tags: Mikael Larsson Paul Hoang Steffan Thomas

04-01-2024 11:26 UTC+10

Mitri Makes the Call

Josh Noy

Kenta Ito opened to 20,000 in middle position and Gavin Ogilvy called in the cutoff. George Mitri announced a raise to 75,000 in the small blind, with Ito folding and Ogilvy making the call.

Mitri led out for 40,000 on the 2♦K♦4♠ flop, with Ogilvy calling to see the J♦ turn. Mitri slowed down with a check, and Ogilvy counted out a bet of 80,000.

Mitri called to the 10♥ river, where he checked once more. Ogilvy took some time before firing 160,000. Mitri made the call and Ogilvy flipped over 3♥3♦ for a pair of threes. Mitri revealed A♣K♥ for top pair, taking a good piece of Ogilvy's stack before the table broke.

Tags: Gavin Ogilvy George Mitri Kenta Ito

04-01-2024 11:19 UTC+10

Fast Start For Davison

Josh Noy

Hasan Onay opened to 40,000 from under the gun and action folded around to Greg Davison in the big blind, who made the call.

Davison checked the 7♥K♠7♣ flop, making the call when Onay continued for 30,000. Another check from Davison followed the 10♣ turn, where Onay fired 80,000.

Davison then check-raised to 260,000 and Onay took a moment before making the call. Davison then checked the 8♣ river, with Onay checking behind.

Davison showed A♦7♠ for trip sevens, raking in a big early pot as Onay showed K♥10♥.