What was meant to be a two-day sprint has officially turned into a three-day showdown, as the $1,500 Platinum Players Championship at the 2025 Australian Poker Open heads into unscheduled Day 3 action. After a long and dramatic Day 2 inside Club Marconi at Doltone House Western Sydney, nine players still remain in contention for the title—and with the clock ticking past cutoff, play was paused with chips still flying and tension in the air.
The final table will now resume today at 3 p.m., where one of the remaining hopefuls will walk away with the Platinum trophy and the A$252,300 top prize.
Leading the way is Jennifer Cassell, who closed out Day 2 with a commanding 11,225,000 in chips. Cassell surged through the late levels and will return as the player to beat with 75 big blinds and momentum firmly on her side.
Close behind is Daniel Neilson, a familiar face in the Australian poker scene who bagged 10,675,000 and brings plenty of big-stage experience into the final day. Reece Bedot rounds out the top three with 7,000,000, having bulldozed his way through a string of knockouts on Day 2—including bursting the final table bubble and bringing play to an end on Day 2.
Final Table Seat Draw
| Seat | Player | Country | Chip Count | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Reece Bedot | Australia | 7,000,000 | 47 |
| 2 | Hai Kee | Australia | 3,585,000 | 24 |
| 3 | Zac Vigar | Australia | 3,310,000 | 22 |
| 4 | Dustin Tran | Australia | 4,685,000 | 31 |
| 5 | Jennifer Cassell | Australia | 11,225,000 | 75 |
| 6 | Daniel Neilson | Australia | 10,675,000 | 71 |
| 7 | Jason Brown | Australia | 2,985,000 | 20 |
| 8 | Johan Lees | Australia | 4,125,000 | 28 |
| 9 | Anthony Xu | Australia | 2,325,000 | 16 |
Also still in the mix are a number of talented grinders as the likes of Dustin Tran (4,685,000), Johan Lees (4,125,000), Hai Kee (3,585,000), Zac Vigar (3,310,000), Jason Brown (2,985,000), and Anthony Xu (2,325,000) will all return with their eyes firmly locked on the top prize, each guaranteed a minimum payday but dreaming of much more.
A total of 126 players made it into Day 2 and the money, locking up a minimum payout of A$2,650, but only nine remain in the hunt for one of the most prestigious titles of the series. Last year’s heads-up finalists Chris Moussa and Justin Woo both hit the rail earlier in the day, falling short of a back-to-back final table appearance, which means a brand new champion is guaranteed by the day's end.
Remaining Payouts
| Place | Prize (A$) |
|---|---|
| 1 | $252,300 |
| 2 | $147,300 |
| 3 | $102,300 |
| 4 | $74,300 |
| 5 | $57,800 |
| 6 | $42,300 |
| 7 | $28,300 |
| 8 | $19,300 |
| 9 | $16,600 |
With some huge payouts still up for grabs and the blinds climbing, expect fireworks when the cards go back in the air. The stage is set, the lights will be back on, and PokerNews will be there to bring you every hand, hero call, and heartbreak from the Platinum Players Championship finale.
