AU$2,200 Main Event Day 2 | 2018 WSOP International Circuit The Star Sydney

12-15-2018 10:11 UTC+10

230 Players Return for Day 2 of the WSOP International Circuit Sydney Main Event

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Michael Spencer leads the pack going into Day 2

The 230 players remaining in the 2018 WSOP International Circuit Sydney Main Event will take to their seats today as they continue their quest at capturing the title as well as the coveted WSOP gold ring on offer, as well as earning themselves a ticket to the 2019 WSOP Circuit Global Championship, an invitation-only tournament with a minimum prize pool of $1,000,000 USD.

After four opening flights the players will join together at 12:30pm local time, with Day 1C chipleader Michael Spencer returning with 545,000 with blinds at 2,500/5,600/500. Alongside him will be Matthew Pongrass (494,500), Day 1B chipleader Ali Aflatounian (430,500), Alex Lynskey (404,000) and Michael King (400,000) rounding out the top five stacks and the only players above 400,000.

Also returning after a successful week off include Luke Martinelli (334,000) who was victorious in the High Roller event and Huss Hassan (260,500) who took down the six-max event. Last year's main event champion and runner-up Michael Kanaan (126,000) and Michael Fraser (160,000) are also still alive and will be looking to make another deep run.

The prize pool has also been announced early this morning. 135 players will guarantee themselves a minimum payday of $3,549 with the top five earning themselves a six-figure score. The eventual champion will pocket a cool $422,796 for their efforts.

Today’s plan is to play ten 60-minute levels or stop at the final three tables, whichever comes first.

Stay up-to-date with all the action here at The Star all day with the PokerNews live reporting team.

12-15-2018 12:03 UTC+10

Laidlaw Doubles Through Blight

Mateusz_Pater

Level 15 : 2,500/5,000, 500 ante

The action started with Rahul Rastogi raising to 11,000 from middle position. Huss Hassan then re-raised to 33,000 from the next seat over. Craig Blight then opted to three-bet to 55,000 from the hijack before the decision fell on Daniel Laidlaw in the big blind. He moved all in for 198,000 which saw Rastogi and Hassan quickly fold.

Blight deliberated for over a minute and looked like he was really agonising over a call. He nearly talked himself out of calling but committed the chips.

Daniel Laidlaw:
Craig Blight:

The board ran out to see Laidlaw double with the higher two pair and leaving Blight with just 14,000.

A few hands later Blight was seen at the registration booth buying in for his next event.

Player	Chips	Progress
Daniel Laidlaw	447,000 246,500	246,500
Craig Blight	Busted

Tags: Craig Blight Daniel Laidlaw Huss Hassan Rahul Rastogi

12-15-2018 12:50 UTC+10

Where Did The Chip Leader Go? Forrester Now Overwhelming Chip Leader

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Level 16 : 3,000/6,000, 1,000 ante

It took the start of day chip leader, Michael Spencer, just over an hour to lose his entire 545,000 chip-stack.

The players at the table were eager to explain his entire demise.

The first hand had a board showing . Barry Forrester bet out. Spencer raised to 150,000. Forrester called. Spencer showed for a full house before Forrester revealed for a higher full house.

The next hand saw Spencer and Forrester get it all in preflop. Spencer was dominated holding pocket queens versus Forrester's pocket kings. Nothing would change and Forrester would double up.

In the final hand Spencer announced he was all in for his last 40,000 and pushed the chips forward before the cards were even dealt.

Allen Yu obliged and made the call. Spencer showed and was behind to Yu's .

The board ran out to see Yu improve to a pair on the flop resulting in Spencer being sent to the rail.

Player	Chips	Progress
Barry Forrester	823,000 823,000	823,000
Michael Spencer	Busted

Tags: Allen Yu Barry Forrester Michael Spencer

12-15-2018 13:30 UTC+10

Tran The (Not Quite) Millionaire

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Level 16 : 3,000/6,000, 1,000 ante

Henry Tran, Morten Mortensen and Michael Confos committed all their chips in preflop after a series of raises.

Tran had both players covered. The cards were then tabled.

Henry Tran:
Morten Mortensen:
Michael Confos:

The flop ran out giving Confos a flush sweat.

The turn dropped the giving Mortensen and Confos extra outs to a straight.

The completed the board and Tran was awarded the massive pot sending his two opponent to the rail.

Player	Chips	Progress
Henry Tran	995,000 783,000	783,000
Morten Mortensen	Busted
Michael Confos	Busted

Tags: Henry Tran Michael Confos Morten Mortensen

12-15-2018 14:00 UTC+10

Chris Wookey Bubbles the WSOPC Sydney Main Event

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Level 17 : 4,000/8,000, 1,000 ante

The action started with Mark Yazbeck raising to 19,000 from the cutoff. The decision folded to Chris Wookey in the small blind who waited as the remaining tables in the room completed their hands. He then moved all in for 79,000. Yazbeck thought for a moment and called.

Mark Yazbeck:
Chris Wookey:

The board ran out to see Yazbeck spike a nine on the flop giving him the winning hand with a set.

Wookey had his aces cracked and narrowly missed out on the money.

The remaining 135 players have all guaranteed themselves a $3,549 payday.

Player	Chips	Progress
Mark Yazbeck	405,000 235,000	235,000
Chris Wookey	Busted

Tags: Chris Wookey Mark Yazbeck

12-15-2018 14:21 UTC+10

Pongrass Propells Over a Million

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Level 17 : 4,000/8,000, 1,000 ante

Matt Pongrass raised to 17,000 from middle position and was called by Daniel Laidlaw in the small blind.

The flop came and Laidlaw checked. Pongrass continued for 25,000. Laidlaw called.

The turn brought the and Laidlaw checked. Pongrass thought for a minute and tossed out 75,000. Laidlaw snap-mucked his hand.

Player	Chips	Progress
Matt Pongrass	1,070,000 576,000	576,000
Daniel Laidlaw	319,000 -128,000	-128,000

Tags: Daniel Laidlaw Matt Pongrass

12-15-2018 14:40 UTC+10

Shiels Doubles Through Dunwoodie

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Level 17 : 4,000/8,000, 1,000 ante

Brandon Sheils raised to 20,000 from the hijack. Sean Dunwoodie re-raised to 58,000 from the small blind. Sheils called.

The flop came and Dunwoodie bet 72,000. Sheils called.

The turn brought the and Dunwoodie checked. Sheils bet 66,000. Dunwoodie called.

The completed the board and Dunwoodie slid out 130,000. Sheils moved all in over the top for 288,000. Dunwoodie called.

Shiels then revealed for a flopped straight and took down the massive pot after Dunwoodie flashed his for two pair.

Player	Chips	Progress
Brandon Sheils	973,000 586,000	586,000
Sean Dunwoodie	30,000 -295,000	-295,000

12-15-2018 16:15 UTC+10

Forrester Doubles Through Sheils

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Level 19 : 6,000/12,000, 2,000 ante

There was already over 200,000 in the pot preflop and the board showed .

After a series of bets Barry Forrester was all in and was matched by Brandon Sheils.

Barry Forrester:
Brandon Sheils:

"Nice hand," acknowledged Sheils, after the cards were exposed.

The board ran out the and to see Forrester double to over a million in chips with his higher two pair and cut Sheils' stack in half.

Player	Chips	Progress
Barry Forrester	1,050,000 590,000	590,000
Brandon Sheils	550,000 -550,000	-550,000

Tags: Barry Forrester Brandon Sheils

12-15-2018 16:36 UTC+10

Lynskey Gives Nothing Away Before Eliminating Sheils

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Level 19 : 6,000/12,000, 2,000 ante

Brandon Sheils raised from the cutoff before Alex Lynskey re-raised from the small blind. Sheils called.

The flop came and Lynskey bet a quarter of the pot. Sheils called.

Both players checked the on the turn before the completed the board.

Lynskey then moved all in for 600,000 which had Sheils' stack of 250,000 covered. Sheils went into the tank for several minutes.

"What you got Alex? I need some help," Sheils begged, trying to get something out of Lynskey.

"Argh. So gross," Sheils added. "Thoughts my man? Come on," he added.

Sheils kept going asking Lynskey a series of questions all whilst Lynskey sat motionless staring at the board.

"If you want me to hero call with ace-high you'll need to talk me into it," continued Shiels.

"When is the next pay jump? Oh there's one soon," joked Sheils.

Eventually Andrew Scarf called time and Sheils was given 40 seconds to make a decision.

The clock counted down to just a few seconds remaining and Sheils called.

Lynskey then tabled for a full house and took down the pot after Sheils flashed his for two pair.

"That's why you were so relaxed," said Suzy Khoueis following the hand.

Both Sheils and Lynskey discussed the hand for a little after the hand before Sheils made his way to the cashier's desk.

Player	Chips	Progress
Alex Lynskey	1,165,000 315,000	315,000
Brandon Sheils	Busted

Tags: Alex Lynskey Andrew Scarf Brandon Sheils Suzy Khoueis

12-15-2018 19:20 UTC+10

Dodds Crushes Another Opponent

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Level 21 : 10,000/20,000, 3,000 ante

The action folded around to the player on the button who moved all in for 290,000. Joel Dodds snap-called from the small blind forcing a fold from the big blind.

"What have you got this time?" asked Sam Capra to Dodds, before the cards were tabled.

Joel Dodds:
Opponent: