$3,300 APO Main Event Day 2 | 2025 Australian Poker Open

04-25-2025 18:49 UTC+11

New Heights for the APO Main Event in 2025

Kai Cocklin

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

The Australian Poker Open Main Event has taken a major leap forward in its second edition, with the 2025 tournament drawing 690 entries and generating a A$2,001,000 prize pool — up nearly 26% from last year’s 549-player debut.

Held once again at Doltone House Western Sydney at Club Marconi, the flagship A$3,300 buy-in event has already shattered expectations before a champion is even crowned. Last year, Hasan Onay etched his name into history as the inaugural APO Main Event winner, taking home A$284,480 following a heads-up deal with Brazil’s Higor Seibel.

This year’s edition retains the same structure but has attracted an even more impressive field, reinforcing the APO’s rapid rise as one of Australia’s premier poker festivals. The money was reached late on Day 1, and now Day 2 is set to play down to a final table. With the stakes higher than ever and over A$2 million on the line, the stage is set for a thrilling conclusion as a new champion prepares to emerge from this record-breaking field.

Tags: Hasan Onay Higor Seibel

04-25-2025 19:14 UTC+11

Wang Finds the Perfect River to Bust Ma

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Kai Cocklin

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

A huge pot just went Yuanting Wang's way and left Shengfeng Ma on the sidelines!

Wang had opened and called a three-bet of 85,000 from Ma to see the 2♥7♥5♠ flop, where Wang check-called a bet of 55,000

The 3♠ turn went check-check and the Q♦ hit the river, drawing another check from Wang. Ma then fired 160,000, leaving himself 500,000 behind. Wang took some time and shoved his stack of over a 1,000,000, then Ma went into deep thought.

Around three minutes passed and there was still no decision from Ma, so the clock was called and a 30-second countdown was initiated. During the countdown, Ma called.

Wang then showed he rivered a set with Q♠Q♣, and Ma couldn't believe his eyes as he rolled over A♣Q♥ for top pair. Brutal river for Ma, brilliant river for Wang!

Player	Chips	Progress
Yuanting Wang	2,000,000 950,000	950,000
Shayne Sim	200,000 200,000	200,000
Shengfeng Ma	Busted

Tags: Shengfeng Ma Yuanting Wang

04-25-2025 19:34 UTC+11

Perry's Main Event Sails Away

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Kai Cocklin

Level 18 : Blinds 10,000/20,000, 20,000 ante

The action folded around to John Perry in the small blind, who limped in. Paawan Bansal was in the big blind and bumped it up to 60,000, then Perry shoved for 545,000, sending Bansal into the tank.

"Why didn't I just check," muttered Bansal under his breath. After some more thinking, Bansal called.

John Perry: 4♠4♥ All in
Paawan Bansal: A♠9♠

"HOLD," were the cries from Perry's rail behind him, but it wasn't looking likely after the K♥A♥3♦ flop gave Bansal top pair. No fours arrived on the 6♦7♥ runout, and Perry's Main Event run sailed away into the distance.

Player	Chips	Progress
Paawan Bansal	2,000,000 100,000	100,000
Shayne Sim	Busted
John Perry	Busted

Tags: John Perry Paawan Bansal

04-25-2025 21:49 UTC+11

Joyce Continues His Ascent

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Kai Cocklin

Level 19 : Blinds 10,000/25,000, 25,000 ante

Toby Joyce is storming up the counts after just taking down another chunky pot and is well over two-million chips now!

The action was picked up on the 8♦10♥Q♠3♥ board where Joyce checked from the small blind and Steven Zhou fired 125,000 out of the big blind. Chao Duan folded, and Joyce called.

A 4♥ on the river drew a check out of Joyce, then Zhou went small with a bet of 100,000. Joyce took some time and then counted out a raise of 410,000 before putting it over the betting line. Zhou called in a flash.

Joyce then revealed a flush with K♥8♥, and Zhou's hand went into the muck.

Player	Chips	Progress
Toby Joyce	2,200,000 700,000	700,000
Steven Zhou	1,100,000 800,000	800,000
Chao Duan	300,000 350,000	350,000

Tags: Chao Duan Steven Zhou Toby Joyce

04-25-2025 22:09 UTC+11

Van Wijk Catches Spano's Hand in the Cookie Jar

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Dan O'Hair

Level 19 : Blinds 10,000/25,000, 25,000 ante

Armon van Wijk opened to 30,000 from early position and he found one caller in Robert Spano, who was in the big blind.

Spano check-called a 30,000 bet from van Wijk on the 10♥2♣10♣ flop and a 100,000 bet from van Wijk on the 3♠ turn.

However, Spano led out for 225,000 after the 10♦ river brought trips on board and van Wijk went into the tank.

Van Wijk counted out a call and pondered his decision a bit before giving his calling chips a kiss and placing them into the middle.

Spano tabled A♠J♥, which was no good against van Wijk's 9♣9♦ to award van Wijk the pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Armon van Wijk	1,150,000
Robert Spano	260,000 70,000	70,000

Tags: Armon van Wijk Robert Spano

04-25-2025 22:20 UTC+11

Stott Doubles Through Dong; Luo Eliminates van Wijk

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Dan O'Hair

Level 19 : Blinds 10,000/25,000, 25,000 ante

Nelson Dong was in the big blind and faced with a shove for around 650,000 from Peter Stott, who was in the hijack, on a flop of 4♦5♣9♠.

Dong tanked for a while before reluctantly placing in a call.

Peter Stott: 10♠10♥ All in
Nelson Dong: A♦9♣

Stott found himself in good shape with an overpair to Dong's nines, and the K♣7♠ runout kept Stott best for the double up.

At another table, Armon van Wijk ended up all in preflop with ace-king against Louis Luo, who held aces.

Van Wijk couldn't catch a miracle runout and fell victim to the preflop cooler to be eliminated.

Player	Chips	Progress
Louis Luo	2,500,000 1,600,000	1,600,000
Nelson Dong	1,650,000 800,000	800,000
Peter Stott	1,400,000 450,000	450,000
Armon van Wijk	Busted

Tags: Armon van Wijk Louis Luo Nelson Dong Peter Stott Van Wijk

04-25-2025 22:41 UTC+11

Wang's Day Gets Better

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Kai Cocklin

Level 20 : Blinds 15,000/30,000, 30,000 ante

Henry Tran had his stack of around 450,000 in the middle and was in a dominating position against Yuanting Wang.

Henry Tran: A♣K♠ All in
Yuanting Wang: K♣8♣

Wang was looking to thin down the field but needed a bit of luck if he wanted to do so as Tran was a big favorite. However, being the favorite in poker doesn't always work out as Tran realized when the flop came 3♥8♠J♥, giving Wang a pair of eights. The 3♦ turn changed nothing, and despite Tran making top pair with the K♥ river, it wasn't enough as Wang rivered two pair to take the pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Yuanting Wang	2,750,000 550,000	550,000
Henry Tran	Busted

Tags: Henry Tran Yuanting Wang

04-25-2025 23:13 UTC+11

Pu's Main Event Ends After Running Queens into Zhou's Aces

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Dan O'Hair

Level 20 : Blinds 15,000/30,000, 30,000 ante

Peter Stott opened to 60,000 first to act and he was three-bet to 210,000 by Steven Zhou in the hijack. Action then folded to Weiran Pu, who shoved for approximately 900,000 from the big blind. Stott folded and Zhou quickly called, having Pu covered.

Weiran Pu: Q♥Q♦ All in
Steven Zhou: A♦A♠

It was the worst-case scenario for Pu, and the 10♦K♣4♥4♦7♣ runout changed nothing to send the massive pot Zhou's way and eliminate Pu.

Player	Chips	Progress
Steven Zhou	3,600,000 2,500,000	2,500,000
Peter Stott	600,000 800,000	800,000
Weiran Pu	Busted

Tags: Peter Stott Steven Zhou Weiran Pu

04-25-2025 23:52 UTC+11

Liam Jehu Eliminated in 23rd Place (A$13,600)

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Kai Cocklin

Level 21 : Blinds 20,000/40,000, 40,000 ante

Liam Jehu had his stack of around 400,000 in the middle and was put at risk by Louis Luo.

Liam Jehu: J♠J♦ All in
Louis Luo: A♣A♠

There was not much Jehu could do to escape elimination and the runout of 4♣5♦5♥5♣K♦ didn't offer any help, leaving him out in 23rd.

Player	Chips	Progress
Louis Luo	3,500,000 450,000	450,000
Liam Jehu	Busted

Tags: Liam Jehu Louis Luo

04-25-2025 23:57 UTC+11

Toby Joyce Eliminated in 22nd Place (A$13,600)

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Kai Cocklin

Level 21 : Blinds 20,000/40,000, 40,000 ante

What a sick, sick hand between two of the chip leaders!

Toby Joyce opened the hijack to 80,000 and Steven Zhou called from the big blind to see a flop of K♠3♦A♥, where Zhou checked it over. Joyce then took a stab with a bet of 145,000 and Zhou came back with a check-raise to 425,000. After some thinking, Joyce called.

The turn brought a K♥ and Zhou slowed down with a check, then Joyce bet 325,000. Around a minute passed before Zhou made a decision, which was another check-raise, this time to 650,000. Joyce took around 30 seconds before he called.

A J♥ completed the runout and instead of going for the elusive triple check-raise, Zhou instantly moved all in. Joyce had around 1,500,000 behind and went deep into the tank. One, two, three, four minutes passed and Joyce's head was still spinning around the blender while he figured out how to proceed. The clock was eventually called and when it was, Joyce dropped in a stack of chips.

Zhou then quickly flipped over A♦K♦ for a full house! "Nice hand," said Joyce as he threw his cards into the muck face down. The dealer flipped them over to show A♠Q♦, and with that, a massive pot was shipped to Zhou, who has over six million now!

Player	Chips	Progress
Steven Zhou	6,200,000 3,100,000	3,100,000
Toby Joyce	Busted

Tags: Steven Zhou Toby Joyce