$3,300 APO Main Event Day 1fg | 2025 Australian Poker Open

04-25-2025 02:16 UTC+11

Yan Yan and Victor Dai Co-Bubble Day 1f of APO Main Event

Dan O'Hair

Level 17 : Blinds 10,000/15,000, 15,000 ante

After many hands without an all in and a call, both Yan Yan and and Victor Dai found themselves all in and at risk preflop.

In the first hand, a short-stacked Yan shoved for under 100,000 and was called by Collin Tran from directly behind.

Yan Yan: K♦Q♠ All in
Collin Tran: A♦K♣

Yan was dominated, and the 10♦7♦3♣3♠3♦ runout left him second-best against Tran's Big Slick to be eliminated.

At another table, Victor Dai was eliminated after shoving against an open by Ricardo Bono. Bono called after a lengthy tank and the board was run.

Victor Dai: Q♣3♥ All in
Ricardo Bono: K♥8♥

The dealer brought the A♠3♣9♥6♥4♥ — leaving Dai second best against Bono's flush to be eliminated.

Player	Chips	Progress
Ricardo Bono	683,000
Collin Tran	332,000
Yan Yan	Busted
Victor Dai	Busted

Tags: Collin Tran Ricardo Bono Victor Dai Yan Yan

04-25-2025 00:57 UTC+11

Ogilvy Soft Bubbles

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Dan O'Hair

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

Gavin Ogilvy shoved for his last 75,000 from the cutoff and Pawaan Bansal called in the big blind to put him at risk.

Gavin Ogilvy: K♦5♦ All in
Pawaan Bansal: A♥10♠

The board ran out 10♣6♠3♠9♠9♥ — leaving Bansal best with tens-up and eliminating Ogilvy two spots shy of a Day-2 berth.

Player	Chips	Progress
Pawaan Bansal	680,000 420,000	420,000
Gavin Ogilvy	Busted

Tags: Gavin Ogilvy Pawaan Bansal

04-24-2025 23:31 UTC+11

Hall Dusted by Dong

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Dan O'Hair

Level 14 : Blinds 4,000/8,000, 8,000 ante

Nelson Dong has been on quite a tear in the past couple of levels and is the current definitive chip leader.

In a recent hand, Nelson Dong opened to 16,000 on the button and Laurence Hall shoved for his last 120,000 from the big blind. Nelson snap-called to put Hall at risk and a showdown was held.

Laurence Hall: 10♥9♥ All in
Nelson Dong: K♥K♦

Things looked bleak for Hall on the Q♣2♣Q♥ flop, but the J♥ turn gave Hall a real sweat with some straight and flush outs.

It wasn't meant to be, however, as the 7♣ river bricked out and Dong was awarded the rest of Hall's chips.

Player	Chips	Progress
Nelson Dong	930,000 180,000	180,000
Laurence Hall	Busted

Tags: Laurence Hall Nelson Dong

04-24-2025 22:27 UTC+11

Dong Keeps His Foot on the Gas

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Dan O'Hair

Level 13 : Blinds 3,000/6,000, 6,000 ante

Nelson Dong opened to 12,000 from early position and was called by David Pham from directly behind and Robert Spano in the big blind for a three-way pot.

Spano checked to Dong, who continued for 13,000 on the 3♦2♣J♠ flop. Pham folded, but Spano called.

The dealer brought the 8♠ on the turn and Spano checked again — prompting a 45,000 bet from Dong. Spano again called.

Spano checked a final time on the 9♦ river, but Dong wasn't done and fired 105,000 into the middle. Spano pondered a bit before saying "Nice hand," and sending his cards into the muck.

Dong appears to be the current leader with just over 700,000 in chips.

Player	Chips	Progress
Nelson Dong	710,000 710,000	710,000
Robert Spano	300,000 300,000	300,000
David Pham	260,000 100,000	100,000

Tags: David Pham Nelson Dong Robert Spano

04-24-2025 20:19 UTC+11

Late Registration Closes; 37 Players Will Make Day 2

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Dan O'Hair

Level 10 : Blinds 1,500/3,000, 3,000 ante

At total of 295 entrants joined the fray for Day 1f — making it the largest starting flight by far. With late registration now over, it has been calculated that 37 players will advance from Day 1f to Day 2.

Each player who bags into Day 2 will also receive an immediate A$5,000 payout.

04-24-2025 20:13 UTC+11

Pham Building a Monster Stack

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Dan O'Hair

Level 10 : Blinds 1,500/3,000, 3,000 ante

David Pham has had a stellar Day 1f and is currently among chip leaders.

In a recent hand, Zac Vigar opened to 6,000 from the cutoff and David Pham defended his big blind.

Both players checked on the 10♠8♠5♠ flop and then Vigar called a 10,500 bet from Pham on the 2♥ turn.

Pham sized up for a 20,500 bet on the 9♥ river and Vigar sent his hand into the muck.

Player	Chips	Progress
David Pham	330,000 330,000	330,000
Zac Vigar	60,000 60,000	60,000

Tags: David Pham Zac Vigar

04-24-2025 18:43 UTC+11

Paterson's Cowboys Send Shapkaris Out

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Dan O'Hair

Level 8 : Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante

Kahle Burns opened to 5,000 from middle position and it was folded to Cooper Shapkaris, who shoved for a bit over 50,000 on the button. Keegan Paterson called cold from the big blind to put Shapkaris at risk and Burns quickly announced a fold.

Cooper Shapkaris: A♣10♥ All in
Keegan Paterson: K♥K♦

Shapkaris would need some help, but the 5♠7♥8♣2♠3♠ runout came clean for Paterson's kings and he collected the rest of Shapkaris' chips.

Player	Chips	Progress
Keegan Paterson	175,000 30,000	30,000
Kahle Burns	140,000 35,000	35,000

Cooper Shapkaris	Busted

Tags: Cooper Shapkaris Kahle Burns Keegan Paterson

04-24-2025 16:25 UTC+11

Uka More Than Doubles

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Dan O'Hair

Level 5 : Blinds 500/1,000, 1,000 ante

Zihao Chen opened to 2,500 first to act and was called by Uno Uka on the button and the player in the big blind.

It was checked to Chen, who continued for 5,000 on the 7♠Q♥7♥ flop. Uno Uka raised to 12,000 and the big blind shoved for their last 28,000. Chen also went all in and Uka called all in for approximately 60,000 for a three-way showdown.

Big blind: J♦7♦ All in
Uno Uka: 7♣6♣ All in
Zihao Chen: K♦K♥

Uka found himself out-kicked with his trips, but the 6♦ turn filled Uka up to take a commanding lead in the hand.

The 4♠ river changed nothing and Uka doubled through Chen while also collected the rest of the big blind's chips.

Player	Chips	Progress
Uno Uka	145,000 95,000	95,000
Zihao Chen	65,000 55,000	55,000

Tags: Uno Uka Zihao Chen

04-24-2025 14:55 UTC+11

Ogilvy Forces a Fold From Bansal After Lengthy Tank

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Dan O'Hair

Level 3 : Blinds 300/600, 600 ante

Gavin Ogilvy raised to 1,300 from the hijack and was three-bet to 5,500 from the small blind. Ogilvy called.

Ogilvy called a 5,800 bet from Bansal on the 7♦9♥K♦ flop and a 13,700 bet from Bansal on the 6♠ turn; however, Bansal checked after the 8♣ river brought four to a straight on board.

Ogilvy then announced he was all in for approximately 30,000 — sending Bansal deep into the tank.

Bansal pondered his decision for over five minutes and said, "That was a bad one," while pointing to the river.

Eventually, Bansal laid his hand down and Ogilvy collected the pot without showing.

Player	Chips	Progress
Gavin Ogilvy	95,000 40,000	40,000
Pawaan Bansal	70,000 70,000	70,000

Tags: Gavin Ogilvy Pawaan Bansal

04-24-2025 14:14 UTC+11

Classic Hold'em Cooler Leaves Diab With Crumbs

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Dan O'Hair

Level 2 : Blinds 200/400, 400 ante

Elliot Esca was already all in preflop from under the gun for about 50,000 against Michael Diab, who had Esca covered by just 1,000 on the button.

Elliot Esca: A♥A♣ All in
Michael Diab: K♣K♦

"That's three times that's happened so far this series!" Diab said of running pocket kings into pocket aces.

It was rotten luck for Diab, who received no help on the 10♥J♣7♠3♣9♣ runout and was forced to surrender the majority of his stack over to Esca.

Player	Chips	Progress
Elliot Esca	100,000
Michael Diab	1,000 49,000	49,000

Tags: Elliot Esca Michael Diab