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Level: 27
Blinds: 50,000/100,000
Ante: 100,000
2026 Victorian Poker Championship
$2,500 Victorian Champs Main Event
Day: 3
Players Left 2 / 715
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Final Table
Level 26
: Blinds 40,000/80,000, 80,000 ante
In the 1,012th episode of the PokerNews Podcast, which is sponsored by Solana, Chad Holloway has a very special one-on-one interview with the Mad Genius of Poker, Mike Caro.
The legendary poker player disappeared from the poker world 20 years ago, and Chad managed to track him down for an exclusive two-part interview. In Part I, Caro talks about his early days in poker, mastering poker tells, and some of his famous laws such as "The Law of Least Tilt" and the "Threshold of Misery."
Caro then discusses some of his poker books, including writing Super System alongside his good friend and longtime confidant Doyle Brunson. A forerunner in the world of poker technology, Caro also shares details about his early computer program ORAC, signing on with the first-ever online poker site, Planet Poker, and being an ambassador for Doyle's Room.
Part II of Mike Caro's interview will air at 8 a.m. PT/11 a.m. ET on Thursday, October 29, so be sure to tune in then.
Also, check out the audio version of the PokerNews Podcast that is available on all major podcasting platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and SoundCloud.
A new PokerNews Podcast drops every Thursday at 8a PT / 11a ET / 4p UK time. Remember to subscribe to our YouTube channel so you do not miss an episode!
Level 26
: Blinds 40,000/80,000, 80,000 ante
The 16 remaining players have been sent on a 45-minute dinner break. Action will resume just after 8:00 p.m. local time.
Level 26
: Blinds 40,000/80,000, 80,000 ante
Zac Miravet checked the Q♦3♥6♦ flop from the big blind, and Edward Hatzakortzian bet 175,000 in early position. Miravet called and checked again on the 5♦ turn.
Hatzakortzian slid out 250,000, finding another call from Miravet. Both players then checked down the A♣ river, and Hatzakortzian tabled K♥K♦ to take the pot as Miravet mucked.
On the next hand, Joe Hachem opened to 175,000 and called when Miravet three-bet to 375,000 from the small blind. Miravet led out for 150,000 on the 5♦2♠A♥ flop, and Hachem made the call.
Another bet of 150,000 from Miravet followed the A♣ turn, with Hachem calling once more. Miravet fired again for 275,000 on the 6♦ river, and Hachem took some time before letting his hand go.
Level 26
: Blinds 40,000/80,000, 80,000 ante
Higor Seibel raised to 160,000 first to act and was called by Ben Richardson as well as Yixian Wang in the blinds. They checked the A♠9♦8♣ flop to Seibel, who bet 145,000 and won the pot.
A few hands later, Richardson raised to 160,000 in the cutoff and Vajra Castles came along from the big blind to the 10♣6♣6♦ flop. Castles checked, Richardson bet 90,000 and folded to a check-raise of 480,000.
Richardson opened to 160,000 once more for Hun Wei Lee to defend next. They checked to the 9♠7♦5♣J♥5♦ river on which Lee bet 280,000. Richardson used a time bank and raised to 800,000, Lee folded after investing one time bank as well.
In the meanwhile on the other table, Joe Hachem in the big blind had bet a A♥K♦9♦10♠3♣ river for 375,000. Bobby Zhang on the button raised to 1,000,000 and Hachem folded after using one time bank - he exposed the A♠10♥ and Zhang told him "I will tell you later".
Level 26
: Blinds 40,000/80,000, 80,000 ante
Fred Tschirsch moved all in for 920,000 in middle position, and was at risk when Jyrki Hilakari shoved his larger stack from the cutoff.
Fred Tschirsch: A♥Q♣ 
Jyrki Hilakari: K♣K♥
"I call this the kings cracker," said Tschirsch as he saw Hilakari's hand. The help came straight away for Tschirsch on the 10♥A♦6♦ flop, making a pair of aces to take the lead. The J♦ turn and 5♣ river changed nothing, and Tschirsch secured the double-up by cracking Hilakari's kings.
Level 26
: Blinds 40,000/80,000, 80,000 ante
Joe Hachem opened to 175,000 in middle position, and Zac Miravet made the call in the big blind. Miravet checked the 8♥5♠6♣ flop, where Hachem continued for 150,000.
The call was made, and another check from Miravet followed the 6♦ turn. Hachem fired another bet of 350,000, only to see Miravet check-raise to 800,000.
Hachem called to the 10♠ river, where both players checked to showdown. Miravet tabled A♦5♦ for sixes and fives, while Hachem revealed K♣K♥ for a superior two pair to take down the pot.
Level 26
: Blinds 40,000/80,000, 80,000 ante
Ben Richardson raised it up to 160,000 and Vajra Castles defended the big blind to check a Q♣8♠5♠ flop, on which Richardson's bet of 150,000 won the pot.
One hand later, Castles jammed out of the small blind and Hun Wei Lee eyeballed the stack with a twist, asking for an exact count. The shove was for 760,000 and Lee paid to put Castles at risk for the second time this past hour.
Vajra Castles: K♦9♦
Hun Wei Lee: Q♠8♦
The K♥8♠5♦ flop gave both a piece and Castles remained ahead. Castles cemented his lead with the 5♠ turn and secured the double thanks to the A♣ on the river.
Level 26
: Blinds 40,000/80,000, 80,000 ante
Jyrki Hilakari opened from under the gun to 250,000, and Bobby Zhang three-bet from the hijack to 650,000. Action folded back around to Hilakari, who made the call.
Hilakari saw the 2♣A♥8♠ flop and moved all in for 1,815,000, producing a fold from Zhang to take down the pot.
Level 26
: Blinds 40,000/80,000, 80,000 ante
After his raise from middle position was called by Edward Hatzakortzian, Zac Miravet bet the K♠8♠7♣ flop for 250,000 and Hatzakortzian called. Miravet checked the 5♣ on the turn and Hatzakortzian declared a bet of 750,000 before Miravet near instantly pushed all-in.
Hatzakortzian had not even sorted out his correct bet sizing and fiddled with the chips when the stack of Miravet was counted. The shove was for 1,645,000 total and Hatzakortzian called after brief consideration.
Zac Miravet: K♣K♦
Edward Hatzakortzian: 6♠3♠
The 3♥ on the river was of no help for Hatzakortzian and he suffered a big blow to his stack.
