$3,300 APO Main Event | 2025 Australian Poker Open

04-26-2025 20:16 UTC+11

Burns is on Fire!

Dan O'Hair

Level 27 : Blinds 100,000/150,000, 150,000 ante

Kahle Burns opened to 325,000 from under the gun with 10♣9♠ and was called by Steven Zhou holding 9♦6♦ in the big blind.

Zhou led out for 150,000 on the J♠9♥7♣ flop and Burns called.

The 9♣ turn fell on the turn — improving both players to trips. Zhou then check-called an 800,000 bet from Burns.

The 8♦ river kept Burns' kicker best and Zhou checked a final time. Burns sized up for a bet of 1,400,000 and Zhou quickly called to see the bad news.

With that pot, Burns is now sitting with 18 million — which is more than three times that of Zhou, who sits a distant second.

Player	Chips	Progress
Kahle Burns	18,000,000 2,600,000	2,600,000

Steven Zhou	5,200,000 2,200,000	2,200,000

Tags: Kahle Burns Steven Zhou

04-26-2025 20:39 UTC+11

Paawan Bansal Eliminated in 5th Place (A$105,000)

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Dan O'Hair

Level 28 : Blinds 100,000/200,000, 200,000 ante

Paawan Bansal opened to 875,000 first to act, which represented more than half his remaining stack. It was then folded to Romain Morvan in the big blind, who went all in.

Bansal called all in for his tournament life and hands were revealed.

Paawan Bansal: Q♦10♦ All in
Romain Morvan: A♠9♦

Bansal was behind, and the 8♥4♠8♠2♥3♦ runout improved neither player — keeping Morvan best with his ace to send Bansal out in fifth place.

Player	Chips	Progress
Romain Morvan	7,600,000 1,900,000	1,900,000
Paawan Bansal	Busted

Tags: Paawan Bansal Romain Morvan

04-26-2025 20:51 UTC+11

Dong Doubles Through Burns

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Dan O'Hair

Level 28 : Blinds 100,000/200,000, 200,000 ante

Kahle Burns raised to 400,000 on the button and Nelson Dong shoved for his last 3,700,000 form the big blind.

"Count," Burns said. "I'm probably not folding."

Burns verified the amount and then stuck in a call to put Dong at risk.

Nelson Dong: 6♦6♣ All in
Kahle Burns: K♥Q♥

It was a race for Dong's tournament life, and the 7♣A♦7♦6♥A♥ runout left Dong best with a full house to score the double up and put a dent in Burns' momentum.

Player	Chips	Progress
Kahle Burns	14,335,000 3,665,000	3,665,000

Nelson Dong	7,610,000 3,560,000	3,560,000

Tags: Kahle Burns Nelson Dong

04-26-2025 22:29 UTC+11

Dong Puts a Big Dent in Burns' Stack

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Kai Cocklin

Level 29 : Blinds 100,000/250,000, 250,000 ante

Kahle Burns made it 500,000 to go from under the gun holding K♠5♥ and Nelson Dong called from the small with blind 9♦9♠. Steven Zhou also called from the big blind with Q♦6♦.

The flop came 5♣J♥A♠ and when the action got to Burns, he bet 425,000. Only Dong called.

Dong improved to a set on the 9♥ turn and he checked once again, then Burns bet 1,600,000. Dong took around a minute before he counted out a raise to 3,300,000, which sent Burns into the tank. Two minutes later, Burns called with his pair of fives.

A 7♠ landed on the river and with over 9,000,000 in the pot, Dong shoved for 2,600,000.

"Ah, what the hell do you have, bro?" sighed Burns as he scratched his forehead trying to figure it out.

"You'll be shocked to see what I'm thinking with," added Burns. One, two, three, four, five minutes passed and Burns was still thinking out loud while he tried to piece together the puzzle.

"All I beat is queen-ten," were Burns' final words before he finally released his hand.

Player	Chips	Progress
Kahle Burns	13,000,000 2,025,000	2,025,000

Nelson Dong	11,750,000 4,850,000	4,850,000
Steven Zhou	5,800,000 600,000	600,000

Tags: Kahle Burns Nelson Dong Steven Zhou

04-26-2025 23:02 UTC+11

Morvan Calls Down Correctly to Double Through Burns

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Dan O'Hair

Level 30 : Blinds 150,000/300,000, 300,000 ante

Romain Morvan raised to 600,000 with A♣Q♣ and Kahle Burns called in the big blind with the J♣10♠.

Burns checked to Morvan, who continued for 375,000 on the 5♣5♥Q♠ flop. Burns then got spicy and check-raised to 850,000. Morvan called.

The K♥ turn improved Burns to an open-ended straight draw and he barreled for another 850,000. Morvan again called.

Burns emptied the clip and bet enough to put Morvan all in for his last 2,000,000 after the 8♦ completed the board. Morvan didn't take long to call — earning himself the double up.

Player	Chips	Progress
Kahle Burns	10,625,000 4,550,000	4,550,000

Romain Morvan	9,000,000 4,875,000	4,875,000

Tags: Kahle Burns Romain Morvan

04-26-2025 23:24 UTC+11

Zhou Takes the Lead After Doubling Through Burns

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Dan O'Hair

Level 30 : Blinds 150,000/300,000, 300,000 ante

Action folded to Steven Zhou in the small blind, who shoved for his last 5,100,000. Kahle Burns tanked a bit, but eventually called to put Zhou at risk.

Steven Zhou: A♠3♦ All in
Kahle Burns: Q♦J♠

The board ran out 10♣8♦A♦A♣7♣ — leaving Zhou best with trip aces for the double up into the chip lead.

The once dominant Burns is now the short stack with just over five million in chips.

Player	Chips	Progress
Steven Zhou	10,500,000 4,800,000	4,800,000
Kahle Burns	5,375,000 5,250,000	5,250,000

Tags: Kahle Burns Steven Zhou

04-26-2025 23:54 UTC+11

Steven Zhou Eliminated in 4th Place (A$132,000)

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Kai Cocklin

Level 31 : Blinds 200,000/400,000, 400,000 ante

Steven Zhou raised to 600,000 on the button and was three-bet to 1,500,000 by Kahle Burns in the small blind. Zhou called.

The flop came 6♦J♣10♦ and Burns checked to Zhou, who shoved for 6,400,000.

Burns didn't like it, but announced he probably wasn't folding.

Eventually, Burns did put in a call and a showdown was held.

Kahle Burns: K♥10♣ All in
Steven Zhou: Q♥J♥

Burns had one foot out the door after the 3♠ fell on the turn as he was drawing to just five outs.

It wasn't Burns' time to exit, however, as the K♦ river improved him to an unlikely two pair to award him the double up and leave Zhou short.

After being left with just 75,000 from the hand prior, Zhou was all in and at risk against Kahle Burns.

Steven Zhou: 8♦5♦ All in
Kahle Burns: J♣3♣

Zhou needed to start his spin-up right now if he wanted to get back into contention, but instead he was left on the sidelines as the 8♥6♠J♦10♥9♦ runout meant he was eliminated.

Player	Chips	Progress
Kahle Burns	15,900,000 1,250,000	1,250,000

Steven Zhou	Busted

Tags: Kahle Burns Steven Zhou

04-27-2025 00:04 UTC+11

Dong Doubles Through Burns

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Dan O'Hair

Level 31 : Blinds 200,000/400,000, 400,000 ante

Nelson Dong opened to 800,000 on the button and Kahle Burns shoved for 18,000,000 from the small blind. It was folded back to Dong, who quickly called all in for his last 10,000,000.

Nelson Dong: Q♠Q♣ All in
Kahle Burns: K♦2♦

It was bad timing from Burns, and the 10♣8♦6♠A♣9♦ runout kept Dong best with his ladies for the double up.

Player	Chips	Progress
Nelson Dong	21,200,000 10,250,000	10,250,000
Kahle Burns	7,300,000 8,600,000	8,600,000

04-27-2025 00:16 UTC+11

Kahle Burns Eliminated in 3rd Place (A$173,000)

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Kai Cocklin

Level 31 : Blinds 200,000/400,000, 400,000 ante

Nelson Dong shoved on the button and Kahle Burns called from the small blind for 6,100,000.

Kahle Burns: 10♠10♥ All in
Nelson Dong: J♣10♦

Burns had a great shot to bring himself back to the top of the leaderboard and his tens kept in front after the dealer put out a flop of 9♦A♠A♣. However, delight soon turned to disaster for Burns as the J♠ on the turn paired Dong's jack. With only one out, Burns didn't stand much chance and the 9♣ river confirmed his elimination in third.

Player	Chips	Progress
Nelson Dong	27,000,000 5,800,000	5,800,000
Romain Morvan	8,200,000 800,000	800,000
Kahle Burns	Busted

Tags: Kahle Burns Nelson Dong

04-27-2025 00:45 UTC+11

Romain Morvan Eliminated in 2nd Place (A$240,000)

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Kai Cocklin

Level 31 : Blinds 200,000/400,000, 400,000 ante

And just like that, it was all over!

Nelson Dong limped in and Romain Morvan raised to 1,300,000. Dong responded with a three-bet to 2,800,000, and Morvan quickly shoved. Dong snap-called!

Romain Morvan: A♦J♣ All in
Nelson Dong: K♥K♣

Dong had a golden opportunity to seal the title — he just needed his Cowboys to hold. The camera crews, media team, and railbirds crowded around as the dealer fanned a flop of 8♠6♥10♠ — a safe one for Dong.

Morvan still had some backdoor possibilities, but it was an ace he truly needed. The 3♥ turn slammed the door on any comeback hopes, leaving Morvan down to just three outs.

The river 6♦ sealed the deal, and with that, Morvan bowed out in second place.

Player	Chips	Progress
Nelson Dong	34,500,000 7,500,000	7,500,000
Romain Morvan	Busted

Tags: Nelson Dong Romain Morvan