Steven Zhou in Striking Distance of APO Main Event Title
The stage is set for one last battle in the 2025 Australian Poker Open A$3,300 Main Event, with just eleven players still in contention for the trophy, the title, and the lion’s share of the A$2,001,000 prize pool.
Leading the way is none other than Kahle Burns, who bagged 6,640,000 in chips after a dramatic Day 2 inside Club Marconi at Doltone House Western Sydney. Burns' journey to the top of the counts included a miraculous escape against pocket aces and several pivotal pots down the stretch, as the Aussie eyes yet another major title on home soil.
Start of Day Chip Counts
| Rank | Player | Country | Chip Count | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kahle Burns | Australia | 6,640,000 | 83 |
| 2 | Steven Zhou | Australia | 6,200,000 | 78 |
| 3 | Paawan Bansal | India | 5,180,000 | 65 |
| 4 | Nelson Dong | Australia | 3,990,000 | 50 |
| 5 | Chad Awerbuch | Australia | 3,590,000 | 45 |
| 6 | Yuanting Wang | Australia | 2,710,000 | 34 |
| 7 | Louis Luo | Australia | 2,550,000 | 32 |
| 8 | David Pham (AU) | Australia | 1,300,000 | 16 |
| 9 | Romain Morvan | France | 1,070,000 | 13 |
| 10 | Luke Edwards | Australia | 785,000 | 10 |
| 11 | Kiavash Arbabi | Australia | 520,000 | 7 |
Hot on his heels is Steven Zhou with 6,200,000, while Paawan Bansal sits not far behind on 5,180,000. With multiple dangerous stacks still in the mix and seasoned pros scattered throughout the lineup, the race to crown the next APO Main Event champion is anything but straightforward.
Remaining Payouts
| Place | Prize (A$) |
|---|---|
| 1 | $390,000 |
| 2 | $240,000 |
| 3 | $173,000 |
| 4 | $132,000 |
| 5 | $105,000 |
| 6 | $81,000 |
| 7 | $60,000 |
| 8 | $41,000 |
| 9 | $32,000 |
| 10 | $26,700 |
| 11 | $26,700 |
All eleven remaining players are guaranteed at least A$26,700, but all eyes are firmly on the A$390,000 top prize that awaits the champion. With payouts steadily increasing at each elimination, the pressure will only build as the field battles toward the final table and the life-changing six-figure score.
There will be no seat draw as the final eleven players will remain in the same seats that they finished Day 2 in. Only when the final table is reached will a redraw take place.
Play resumes at 2 p.m. local time and the plan is simple: play down to a winner. Stay tuned to PokerNews for every elimination, chip count update, key hand, and crowning moment from what promises to be an unforgettable finale.