AU$500 Opening Event
Day 1b Started
2018 WSOP International Circuit The Star Sydney
AU$500 Opening Event
Day: 1b
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
2018 WSOP International Circuit The Star Sydney
Buy-in
500 AUD
Entries
1,444
Level
33
Blinds
200,000 / 400,000
Ante
40,000
The $500 Opening Event Continues Today with Day 1b!
After an eventful Day 1a attracted 296 entries with several notables spotted throughout the room, Day 1b is sure to be a great follow up. The $500 Opening Event WSOP International Circuit in Sydney is set to get underway at 6:15pm inside the poker room at The Star.
Today is the second of four starting flights, and those players lucky enough to find a bag at the end of play will join the 56 players moving on from Day 1a. Michael Hala blitzed the field yesterday and finished the night with a commanding 331,900 in chips heading into Day 2.
The action will begin with the blinds at 25/50 and a starting stack of 15,000 chips. The blinds will be 40-minute levels with one twenty-minute then two ten-minute breaks after every three levels. A total of 12 levels will be played on each of the Day 1’s.
Follow along with the PokerNews live reporting team for all of the up to date action throughout the event.
Shuffle Up and Deal
The tournament director has given the all clear for dealers to shuffle up and deal.
205 entrants have already registered today with more still to come.
Level: 1
Blinds: 50/100
Ante: 0
Nice To See You Again
Level 1
: 50/100, 0 ante
Several players have returned for their second chance at obtaining a stack in this tournament.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
15,000 | 15,000 |
|
15,000 | 15,000 |
|
15,000 | 15,000 |
|
15,000 |
Blackwell Opts For The Early Fold
Level 1
: 50/100, 0 ante
Three players committed 2,700 preflop before the dealer produced 
on the board.
Robert Blackwell checked from the big blind before Hedley Fung bet 6,200 from under the gun. The next player over mucked his hand before the decision fell back on Blackwell.
"It's the first hand," sighed Blackwell, contemplating his decision.
"It's the second," replied the dealer, correcting Blackwell.
Blackwell then open-mucked his 
and was glad when Fung showed him 
for a better pocket pair.
Chung Takes the Early Lead With an Elimination
Level 1
: 50/100, 0 ante
Young Whan Chung has taken out the first player in today's field, Joe Souglia, to take the early chip lead.
In a blind versus blind battle both Chung and Souglia moved all in preflop.
Chung had pocket aces and had Souglia's pocket kings crushed.
No drama ran out on the board and Chung was left to rake in the pot sending Souglia to the rail early in proceedings.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
30,000 | 30,000 |
|
|
Busted |
Level: 2
Blinds: 75/150
Ante: 0
Awerbuch Shows One Time
Level 2
: 75/150, 0 ante
The player in middle position raised to 450 and was called by Chad Awerbuch in the small blind as well as the player in the big blind.
The flop came 
and the action checked to the original raiser who bet 650. Only Awerbuch called.
Both players checked the 
on the turn before the 
completed the board. This time Awerbuch tossed out 2,250 sending his opponent to the tank. A moment passed before the cards finally went into the muck.
"One time I'll show," said Awerbuch, before tabling his 
for a rivered set of nines.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
18,000 |
Two Short-Stacks Double Through Gendle
Level 2
: 75/150, 0 ante
Seve Jarvin moved all in for his remaining 1,350 from under the gun and was called by Maria Boast on the button. Justin Gendle then re-raised to 3,675 from the small blind which saw the big blind fold. The decision fell back on Boast who then moved all in for 8,400 and Gendle snap-called.
Jarvin: 
Boast: 
Gendle: 
The board ran out 
to see Jarvin spike an ace on the flop securing him the main pot and moving up to 4,200 in chips. Boast won the side pot from Gendle and raked in the 14,100 chips. Gendle dropped down to 12,000 following the hand.