$10,000 The Trojan
Day 3 Completed
2025 Australian Poker Open
$10,000 The Trojan
Day: 3
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 3
2025 Australian Poker Open
Buy-in
10,000 AUD
Prize Pool
799,000 AUD
Entries
85
Level
27
Blinds
50,000 / 100,000
Ante
100,000
Entries
6
Players Left
1
Level 27
: Blinds 50,000/100,000, 100,000 ante
The wait was worth it. Four days after the action was paused with six players remaining, Joseph Antar returned to Club Marconi at Doltone House Western Sydney and closed the deal, capturing the 2025 Australian Poker Open A$10,000 Trojan title and a career-best A$250,000 payday.
The event, which attracted 85 entries and built a A$799,000 prize pool, was originally set to finish four days ago but was rescheduled to Saturday. However, because Kahle Burns ran deep in the Main Event, the Trojan finale was pushed back another day.
Antar came into today second in chips but quickly took control, winning two key pots against Weiran Pu that shifted the momentum firmly in his direction. Reflecting on those hands, Antar admitted both pots were "very lucky" for different reasons. In one, he turned a wheel, a hand he said he might not have even opened if he had realized how close he and Pu were in stacks.
From there, Antar stayed composed during heads-up play, even with a big chip lead. Drawing on past experiences where momentum had swung away from him, he stayed mentally sharp and saw it through to claim his first cash in a A$10,000 buy-in event — and one of the biggest trophies of his career.
The Trojan Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Country | Prize (A$) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joseph Antar | Australia | $250,000 |
| 2 | Noel Jaber | Australia | $177,700 |
| 3 | Weiran Pu | China | $117,800 |
| 4 | Kahle Burns | Australia | $69,800 |
| 5 | Benjamin LeBlond | Canada | $55,900 |
| 6 | Joshua McSwiney | Australia | $41,900 |
| 7 | John Perry | Australia | $33,960 |
| 8 | Anthony Xu | Australia | $27,970 |
| 9 | Najeem Ajez | Australia | $23,970 |
Antar Reflects on Victory
Speaking after his win, Antar said the whole final table felt surreal at times. "The whole board was just a dream," he said, recalling the hand where he turned the wheel against Pu. He also noted that when he jammed against Pu in another big pot, he "had a good hand" but "was happy to see a fold as well."
Heading into heads-up play with a massive chip advantage, Antar admitted that sometimes the pressure can feel even heavier when you're in front. "It’s very much a mental match. You can't get too down on yourself when momentum changes," he said, referencing a recent tournament where a big lead slipped away.
The victory was also a timely one, as Antar described it as a "bit of a series saver." While his series hadn't been terrible, he said, "it hasn't been great either," making this title even sweeter.
With this being his first 10k cash, Antar said it gives him confidence to maybe play a few more tournaments around this stake in the future, although he plans to mainly stick to his roots in cash games.
As for the overall Australian Poker Open experience, Antar couldn't have been more complimentary: "It’s a great setup — really well run, giving Aussie Millions vibes but a bit smaller. It’s just a great series, perfectly run for poker players."
Plans for celebrating? "I think we’re gonna go out tonight, have some drinks in the city," he said with a grin.
The Road to the Title
The final day wasted no time getting chaotic, with Joshua McSwiney and Benjamin LeBlond both hitting the rail within the first half-hour — and both at the hands of Pu. First, McSwiney's short stack went in with ace-deuce but couldn’t outrun Pu’s Big Slick. Then LeBlond, in prime position with ace-ten against Pu’s ace-six, watched in disbelief as Pu spiked a six on both the turn and river to send him packing.
The spotlight then turned to a grudge match between Burns and Noel Jaber. After Burns busted Jaber from the Main Event a few days ago, Jaber had left with a warning: "I'll get you in the high roller." True to his word, he did just that. Burns jammed with king-eight, Jaber snapped him off with ace-ten, and an ace on the flop gave Jaber sweet revenge as Burns bowed out in fourth.
At that point, it looked like Antar and Jaber were scrapping for second place, with Pu holding more than half the chips in play. But poker has a way of flipping the script fast. Antar first won a big three-bet pot by shoving over Pu's turn bet, forcing a fold, then pulled off a dream scenario — turning a wheel with four-three and getting paid big on the river to snatch the chip lead.
Pu and Jaber both managed double-ups to stay alive, but Pu’s luck finally ran out when his ace-deuce couldn’t catch against Antar’s pocket eights, sending him out in third.
Heads-up was almost over before it started. Antar came in with a five-to-one chip lead, stretched it to thirteen-to-one after sweeping the first five pots, and while Jaber found a couple of double-ups to stay afloat, the mountain was simply too steep.
In the final hand, Jaber jammed ace-deuce, Antar looked him up with pocket kings, and five cards later it was all over — Antar locked up the title, the trophy, and a career-best payday.
With Joseph Antar lifting The Trojan trophy, the curtain officially falls on the 2025 Australian Poker Open. After two thrilling weeks of action at Club Marconi, the series has once again cemented itself as one of the must-play stops on the Australian poker calendar. Until next time, thanks for following all the action with PokerNews!
Level 27
: Blinds 50,000/100,000, 100,000 ante
Noel Jaber shoved the button for around 1,200,000 and Joseph Antar snap-called.
Noel Jaber: A♠2♦ 
Joseph Antar: K♦K♠
Jaber couldn't believe that he had ran into kings and was looking for some help from the board in order to double up and get back into contention.
However, the flop of J♣10♣9♦ favored Antar as he added a gutshot to his overpair. The 2♣ turn did give Jaber a few more outs after he paired his deuce, but he had to settle for second as the 7♦ filled out the board.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
8,500,000
1,500,000
|
1,500,000 |
|
Busted | |
|
||
Level 27
: Blinds 50,000/100,000, 100,000 ante
Joseph Antar raised to 200,000 and Noel Jaber called from the big blind.
The flop came 2♥Q♦3♠ and Jaber check-called a bet of 125,000 from Antar to the A♦ turn, where both checked.
A 2♠ paired the board on the river and after Jaber checked, Antar fired 600,000.
"This is a hero-call if I'm going to call," said Jaber while he mulled it over. Eventually, Jaber chose not to put his cape on and folded.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
7,000,000
300,000
|
300,000 |
|
|
1,500,000
300,000
|
300,000 |
|
|
||
Level: 27
Blinds: 50,000/100,000
Ante: 100,000
Level 26
: Blinds 40,000/80,000, 80,000 ante
After getting a few shoves through, Noel Jaber shoved again for 910,000 and Joseph Antar called.
Noel Jaber: A♦8♦
Joseph Antar: K♠5♥
Antar had a chance to win it all but was reduced to just four outs on the 3♣4♠A♠ flop as he picked up a wheel draw. More outs arrived on the 6♣ turn, but the A♣ river gave Jaber trips.
is the comeback on?
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
6,700,000
1,200,000
|
1,200,000 |
|
|
1,800,000
1,200,000
|
1,200,000 |
|
|
||
Level 26
: Blinds 40,000/80,000, 80,000 ante
The first five hands of heads-up play have all gone Joseph Antar's way and extended his chip lead to around 13 to 1!
In the latest hand, the two saw a flop of 6♥J♥4♦ in a limped pot checked to the 10♦ turn. Antar bet 80,000 and Noel Jaber called.
Both checked the A♣ river and Antar's 6♣5♦ was good for the pot with a pair of sixes.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
7,900,000
760,000
|
760,000 |
|
|
600,000
740,000
|
740,000 |
|
|
||
Level 26
: Blinds 40,000/80,000, 80,000 ante
The players are back in their seats and the battle for the title is underway.
Level 26
: Blinds 40,000/80,000, 80,000 ante
The two players will now take a short break to prepare for the heads-up clash. Here's a reminder of the payouts.
| Place | Prize (A$) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 250,000 |
| 2 | 177,700 |
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
7,140,000
40,000
|
40,000 |
|
|
1,340,000
260,000
|
260,000 |
|
|
||
Level 26
: Blinds 40,000/80,000, 80,000 ante
Weiran Pu shoved the button for 1,450,000 and Joseph Antar shoved the small blind.
Weiran Pu: A♠2♠
Joseph Antar: 8♣8♥
Pu was looking to double up but the Snowmen of Antar proved to powerful as the 5♦5♣9♠3♦2♣ runout meant Pu hit the rail in third.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
7,100,000
2,400,000
|
2,400,000 |
|
Busted | |
|
||
