AU$5,000 Challenge Day 1 | 2018 WSOP International Circuit The Star Sydney

12-05-2018 18:42 UTC+10

Hovagimian Doubles Through Hachem

MrCleverFox

Level 7 : 800/1,600, 1,600 ante

Action folded to middle position where Vahe Hovagimian moves all in for 14,500 and action folded to the big blind where Joe Hachem dropped into the tank with a covering stack.

"I've got a very pretty hand," Hachem said. "A very very pretty hand."

Hachem eventually called putting Hovagimian at risk.

Joe Hachem:
Vahe Hovagimian:

The board ran out though and Hachem wasn't able to find any help, leaving him behind in the hand. With that, Hovagimian was able to double up to right around 30,000 while Hachem was left with just under 50,000.

Player	Chips	Progress
Joe Hachem	48,000 -16,000	-16,000

Vahe Hovagimian	30,000

Tags: Joe Hachem Vahe Hovagimian

12-05-2018 18:42 UTC+10

May Takes it Down

Mateusz_Pater

Level 7 : 800/1,600, 1,600 ante

With the board showing Heidi May checked from middle position before Paul Issa bet 4,700 from the cutoff. Issa called.

The river fell the and May checked. Issa reached for his chips and bet out 6,500. May then re-raised to 15,000. Issa mucked almost immediately as he relinquished the pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Heidi May	85,000 36,000	36,000

Paul Issa	71,000 46,000	46,000

Tags: Heidi May Paul Issa

12-05-2018 18:32 UTC+10

Broom Pressures Khoueis

Mateusz_Pater

Level 7 : 800/1,600, 1,600 ante

On a flop of Corey Kempson checked from the big blind before Sam Khoueis bet out 4,500 from the hijack. James Broom called from the cutoff. Kempson folded.

Both players opted to check the on the turn before the completed the board. Khoueis checked. Broom then tossed out 11,200. Khoueis let out a big sigh before mucking his hand.

Player	Chips	Progress
Sam Khoueis	80,000 38,000	38,000
James Broom	62,000 37,900	37,900
Corey Kempson	58,000 27,800	27,800

Tags: Corey Kempson James Broom Sam Khoueis

12-05-2018 18:18 UTC+10

Rafferty Eliminated by Pizanias

Mateusz_Pater

Level 7 : 800/1,600, 1,600 ante

Tom Rafferty moved all in for around 16,000 in chips from the cutoff and was called by Jim Pizanias in the big blind.

Jim Pizanias:
Tom Rafferty:

Rafferty was in trouble until the flop came giving him the lead with a pair.

The on the turn was safe for Rafferty has he only had to dodge the river to survive.

"Ace!" asked Pizanias, who's request was granted by the dealer, as the dropped on the river giving him the higher pair and the winning hand.

Player	Chips	Progress
Jim Pizanias	128,000 27,000	27,000
Tom Rafferty	Busted

Tags: Tom Rafferty Jim Pizanias

Level: 7

Blinds: 800/1,600

Ante: 1,600

12-05-2018 17:58 UTC+10

Break Time

MrCleverFox

Level 6 : 600/1,200, 1,200 ante

Players are now on a 10-minute break.

12-05-2018 17:56 UTC+10

A Few Updated Counts

MrCleverFox

Level 6 : 600/1,200, 1,200 ante

Player	Chips	Progress
Isaac Lau	160,000
Ash Gupta	147,000

Leigh Warne	73,000 -19,000	-19,000
Dean Blatt	72,000 -9,000	-9,000
Gary Benson	70,000 45,000	45,000

Joe Hachem	64,000 31,000	31,000

Matt Wakeman	60,000 47,000	47,000
Heidi May	49,000 23,000	23,000

Richard Kellett	35,000 10,000	10,000
Nurlan Boobekov	28,000 -32,000	-32,000
Jinah Min	23,000 -20,000	-20,000
Julius Colman	19,000 19,000	19,000
Andrew Hinrichsen	Busted

Tristan Bain	Busted

12-05-2018 17:52 UTC+10

Asad Pressures Mitri

Mateusz_Pater

Level 6 : 600/1,200, 1,200 ante

Michael Asad raised to 2,400 from under the gun and was called by George Mitri on the button as well as Stevan Chew and John Thomson in the blinds.

The flop came and the action checked around to Mitri who bet 3,500. Only Asad called as the blinds got out of the way.

Both players checked the on the turn before the completed the board. Asad then moved all in for his last 19,100. Asad agonized over his decision for over a minute before reluctantly mucking his hand.

Player	Chips	Progress
George Mitri	88,000 88,000	88,000
Michael Asad	38,000 38,000	38,000

Tags: John Thomson Stevan Chew George Mitri Michael Asad

12-05-2018 17:50 UTC+10

Chew Takes From His Opponent

Mateusz_Pater

Level 6 : 600/1,200, 1,200 ante

The player in the cutoff called as did George Mitri and Stevan Chew in the blinds.

The flop came and the blinds checked to the player in the cutoff who bet 3,000. Mitri folded. Chew called.

Both players checked the on the turn before the completed the board. Chew fired out 3,500. He was called shortly after.

Chew then tabled for two pair and took down the pot after his opponent mucked his hand.

Player	Chips	Progress
Stevan Chew	41,000 41,000	41,000

12-05-2018 17:39 UTC+10

Wang Continuing to Climb

MrCleverFox

Level 6 : 600/1,200, 1,200 ante

Noel Jaber opened with a raise from middle position to 2,600 before action folded around to the cutoff where Jun Wang three-bet, making it 6,000. Action folded back to Jaber who called.

The flop was and Jaber checked it over to Wang. WAng put out a bet of 4,500 and Jaber quickly released allowing Wang to take down yet another pot.