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$2,500 Victorian Champs Main Event
Day 1a Completed
2026 Victorian Poker Championship
$2,500 Victorian Champs Main Event
Day: 1a
Players Left 82 / 142
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Chip Counts
Chip Counts
Level 12
: Blinds 1,500/3,000, 3,000 ante
The first of four opening flights in the $2,500 Victorian Champs Main Event has concluded, with 91 entries taking part at the 2026 Victorian Poker Championship series.
That saw the prize pool climb just over $200,000, with that number primed to grow rapidly over the next few days at Crown Melbourne. In the end, just 32 players advanced out of the first flight, booking their spot in Day 2 on October 25.
Late charges from Tom McMahon (392,000) and Jeapeng Kang (342,500) saw them ascend to the top of the Day 1a chip counts, building more than five starting stacks to carry forward for the rest of the week.
Shouzheng Hu (323,000) rounds out the top three on the leaderboard after making a steady climb and maintaining his position in the final levels.
Day 1a Top Ten Chip Counts
| Rank | Player | Country | Chip Count | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tom McMahon | Australia | 392,000 | 98 |
| 2 | Jeapeng Kang | Australia | 342,500 | 86 |
| 3 | Shouzheng Hu | Australia | 323,000 | 81 |
| 4 | Domenico Zappia | Italy | 307,000 | 77 |
| 5 | Hossein Ahwazi | Australia | 272,000 | 68 |
| 6 | Martin Nicol | Australia | 265,500 | 66 |
| 7 | Matthew Wakeman | Australia | 253,000 | 63 |
| 8 | Andrew Freer | Australia | 235,000 | 59 |
| 9 | Michael Tomeny | United States | 232,000 | 58 |
| 10 | Akram Marcus | Australia | 220,000 | 55 |
Big Hands All Day Long
Among the notable names to join the field was Dean Blatt, who earned a big score earlier this year when he finished runner-up in the $10,600 Aussie Millions Main Event. Blatt was back at Crown Melbourne, but was caught in a cooler and could not recover.
Kanaan Youkhanna was also at that Aussie Millions Main Event final table earning a seventh-place finish, and he managed to survive the opening flight with 91,000 chips.
It was a quick start for Jordan Batis (192,500), who busted Stephen Panourakis with a superior straight to begin his climb up the leaderboard. Another notable name was Michael Tomeny (232,000), who turned trips to secure a knockout while collecting a bunch of new chips.
Another cooler saw Domenico Zappia (307,000) find a late-night boost when a big river helped him crack pocket kings, while Matthew Wakeman (253,000) used kings to score a double-knockout and finish inside the top ten.
Wakeman sits just ahead of Andrew Freer (235,000), who won a flip on the final few hands of the night to gain ground while sending Phil Truong to the rail.
The second starting flight begins at 12:10 p.m. local time on October 22, where a new group of hopefuls will take their seats looking to navigate through the first 12 levels of play.
Players will once again start with 60,000 chips, battling through 40-minute levels with blinds beginning at 100/200 and a 200 big blind ante. Breaks will pause the clock for 15 minutes after every three levels are completed, and those who bag will join the 32 survivors on Sunday, October 25.
Action is just getting started in the $2,500 Victorian Champs Main Event, so be sure to follow the PokerNews updates throughout the remainder of the series here at Crown Melbourne.
Level 12
: Blinds 1,500/3,000, 3,000 ante
Level 12
: Blinds 1,500/3,000, 3,000 ante
The scheduled 12 levels have been completed, and the remaining 32 players have bagged up for the night.
Stay tuned for full chip counts, along with a recap of the opening day.
Level 12
: Blinds 1,500/3,000, 3,000 ante
Andrew Freer raised to 6,000 from under the gun, and made the call when Phil Truong moved all in from the big blind.
Phil Truong: 7♠7♦ 
Andrew Freer: A♦10♦
Freer found the help he needed on the 5♦4♣A♣4♥Q♦ runout, making two pair to send Truong out before the end of Day 1a.
Level 12
: Blinds 1,500/3,000, 3,000 ante
The clock has been paused with 5:00 remaining in the final level, and players will complete two more hands before bagging up for the night.
Level 12
: Blinds 1,500/3,000, 3,000 ante
Kanaan Youkhanna raised in early position to 6,500, making the call when Phil Truong three-bet from the big blind to 16,000. Truong led out for 11,000 on the A♦Q♣6♠ flop, and Youkhanna called to see the 4♦ turn.
Truong continued with a bet of 27,000, and Youkhanna replied by moving all in for 77,500. That was enough to produce a fold from Truong, and Youkhanna collected the pot.
Level 12
: Blinds 1,500/3,000, 3,000 ante
Matthew Wakeman was covering both blinds at risk, as all three hands were turned up.
Small Blind: A♣Q♥
Big Blind: A♦J♦
Matthew Wakeman: K♠K♥
Wakeman was in a dream spot, holding through the 10♣J♥9♦3♥3♦ board to knock out both opponents and secure a big pot.
Level 12
: Blinds 1,500/3,000, 3,000 ante
Akram Marcus opened to 6,000 on the button, finding a call from Sarah Bilney in the big blind. Bilney checked the A♠9♥5♠ flop, and Marcus continued with a bet of 7,000.
Bilney made the call, and both players checked the Q♦ turn. Bilney then led out for 7,000 on the 6♦ river, and Marcus took some time before it was sent home.
Level 12
: Blinds 1,500/3,000, 3,000 ante
Players have reached the start of Level 12, scheduled as the final level of the opening flight.
