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

04-25-2025 18:58 UTC+11

Morvan Gets Value With a Flush

Kai Cocklin

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

Romain Morvan's stack has been riding the waves so far today and he just took down a sizable pot against Nelson Dong.

The pair got to the river on a board of 3♣9♥10♥K♥3♥ with around 200,000 in the middle and Dong checked from the big blind. Morvan then fired out a bet of 120,000, which sent Dong deep, deep into the tank. A lot of time passed and eventually, Dong called.

Morvan then showed a flush with A♣J♥. and Dong mucked.

Player	Chips	Progress
Nelson Dong	1,600,000 200,000	200,000
Romain Morvan	600,000 180,000	180,000

Tags: Nelson Dong Romain Morvan

04-25-2025 18:56 UTC+11

Sandaev Wins Multiway Pot

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Dan O'Hair

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

Ying Zhang opened to 30,000 from early position and was called by Michael Tran in the hijack, Chad Awerbuch in the cutoff, and Joe Sandaev in the big blind for a four-way pot.

It was checked to Awerbuch, who wagered 75,000. Sandaev called and everyone else folded.

Both players checked on the 6♣ turn and then Sandaev took the initiative with a 125,000 bet. Awerbuch thought a bit before letting his hand go and Sandaev was sent the pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Joe Sandaev	1,250,000 550,000	550,000

Ying Zhang	1,020,000 365,000	365,000
Michael Tran	920,000 351,000	351,000
Chad Awerbuch	380,000 310,000	310,000

Tags: Chad Awerbuch Joe Sandaev Michael Tran Ying Zhang

04-25-2025 18:49 UTC+11

New Heights for the APO Main Event in 2025

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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 18:44 UTC+11

Stacked Table

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Kai Cocklin

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

There are a lot of chips over on Table #37, which is where chip leader Paawan Bansal is sitting. Travis Endersby, Noel Jaber, and David Pham (AU), who all have stacks are also seated at the same table.

In one of the last hands, Endersby made it 35,000 from middle position and Ken Demlakian called on the button. When it got to Pham in the small blind, he three-bet squeezed to 150,000. Endersby then took some time before he four-bet to 385,000, which got a quick fold out of Demlakian. Pham's cards also found their way to the muck, leaving Endersby to rake in the chips.

After the pot was pushed, Jaber recalled a hand to us where he opened with A♣Q♣ and Demlakian defended with J♣5♣. The chips went in on the flop where Demlakian had flopped two pair and they held up, much to the dismay of Jaber.

"Unbelievable," he said with a smile.

Player	Chips	Progress
Paawan Bansal	1,900,000 100,000	100,000
David Pham	1,400,000 100,000	100,000
Noel Jaber	1,250,000 150,000	150,000
Travis Endersby	1,100,000 150,000	150,000
Ken Demlakian	350,000 100,000	100,000

Tags: David Pham Noel Jaber Paawan Bansal Travis Endersby

04-25-2025 18:38 UTC+11

Wang Back Over a Million

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Dan O'Hair

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

Henry Tran raised to 30,000 first to act and was called by Yuanting Wang in the small blind and Shengfeng Ma in the big blind for a three-way pot.

It Wang and Ma checked to Tran, who continued for 20,000 on the K♠K♦7♠ flop. Wang then check-raised to 55,000, which got two quick folds from Ma and Tran took take down the pot uncontested.

Player	Chips	Progress
Yuanting Wang	1,050,000 450,000	450,000
Shengfeng Ma	875,000 275,000	275,000
Henry Tran	430,000 75,000	75,000

Tags: Henry Tran Shengfeng Ma Yuanting Wang

04-25-2025 18:27 UTC+11

Arumugam Doubles Through Demlakian

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Dan O'Hair

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

Ilavenil Arumugam shoved for his last 170,000 first to act and was called by Ken Demlakian in the hijack. Everyone else folded and hands were revealed.

"Bad timing," Arumugam said.

Ilavenil Arumugam: A♦3♥ All in
Ken Demlakian: K♥Q♣

Arumugam held the lead with his ace, and the 4♣5♥2♦ flop left him with an unbeatable wheel.

"Good timing!" Arumugam shouted after seeing the flop.

The 2♣9♦ runout made Arumugam's hand official and he was awarded the double up

Player	Chips	Progress
Ilavenil Arumugam	360,000 110,000	110,000
Ken Demlakian	250,000 125,000	125,000

Tags: Ilavenil Arumugam Ken Demlakian

04-25-2025 18:24 UTC+11

Demlakian Doubles; Bansal Has 2,000,000

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Kai Cocklin

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

Paawan Bansal is sitting with a monster stack of around 2,000,000 and seems to be the chip leader right now. Though, he did just lose some of his fortune.

The action folded to Bansal in the small blind and with a short-stacked Ken Demlakian in the big blind, Bansal shoved. Demlakian quickly called for his stack of 180,000.

Ken Demlakian: 10♥10♠ All in
Paawan Bansal: 7♦3♦

Demlakian was well ahead with his tens and never had to sweat as the runout of K♣2♠4♦9♣A♣ kept him in the lead.