AU$5,000 Challenge
Day 1 Started
2019 WSOP International Circuit The Star Sydney
AU$5,000 Challenge
Day: 1
Welcome to the 2019 WSOP Circuit Sydney $5k Challenge
Greetings poker aficionados, and welcome to the PokerNews live coverage of the 2019 WSOP Circuit Sydney.
The World Series of Poker (WSOP) returns to The Star Sydney for the fourth consecutive outing of the WSOP Sydney Circuit Event, running November 14 to December 9.
With over AU$6 million guaranteed in series’ prize pools over the 14-event, 26-day tournament series - as well as 14 official prized WSOP Gold Rings - anticipation remains high for a bumper tournament turnout with numbers on the up and up over the last few years.
The 2018 edition of the series saw Australia’s Alex Lynskey triumph over a 1,191-strong field to take down the Main Event for an AU$422,796 (US$303,477) top prize, in addition to the coveted WSOP Circuit Ring, with a total of 135 players cashing for a share of the sizable AU$2,382,000 prize pool.
The 2017 instalment saw Michael Kanaan defeat a 1,067-strong field for a career-best high score of AU$394,241 (US$297,241).
The PokerNews Live Reporting Team will be on hand to bring you all the action from the floor starting Thursday, November 28 for the following events:
- $5k Challenge (AU$1m GTD, Nov 28-29)
- AU$2,200 Main Event (AU$2.2m GTD, Nov 30-Dec 9)
- 6 Max PLO (AU$240k GTD, Dec 2-3)
- High Roller (AU$1m GTD, Dec 4-5)
5k Challenge
It is the two-day $5k Challenge with its AU$1,000,000 prize pool guarantee that will be the main focus of today's coverage. It was Newcastle native (the New South Wales version) Matthew Wakeman who took down the 2018 edition 12 months prior, defeating a 216-strong field to take the A$256,496 (US$188,867) top prize, with a total of 24 players cashing for a share of the A$1,026,000 prize pool.
The Day 1 action will kick off at 2:15pm with blinds of 100/200 with a 200 big blind ante, with the plan to play fifteen 45-minute levels, with action concluding at 4,000/8,000 with an 8,000 big blind ante.
5k Challenge Day 1 Structure
| Level | Small Blind | Big Blind | Ante |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 100 | 200 | 200 |
| 2 | 200 | 300 | 300 |
| 3 | 200 | 400 | 400 |
| 4 | 300 | 600 | 600 |
| 5 | 400 | 800 | 800 |
| 6 | 500 | 1000 | 1000 |
| 7 | 600 | 1200 | 1200 |
| 8 | 800 | 1600 | 1600 |
| 9 | 1000 | 2000 | 2000 |
| 10 | 1200 | 2400 | 2400 |
| 11 | 1500 | 3000 | 3000 |
| 12 | 2000 | 4000 | 4000 |
| 13 | 2500 | 5000 | 5000 |
| 14 | 3000 | 6000 | 6000 |
| 15 | 4000 | 8000 | 8000 |
Players get 25,000 in tournament chips for their AU$5,000 ($4750+$250) entry, with the tournament offering unlimited re-entry and utilizing the big blind ante format, with blind levels coming it at 45-minutes in length. The second and final day will play out on Friday, Nov 29, also with a 2:15pm starting time and will play down to a champion.
Keep your browser locked and the refresh button ready as the PokerNews Live Reporting Team brings you all the tournament thrills and spills from the Star Sydney poker room.
Level: 1
Blinds: 100/200
Ante: 200
Cards in the Air
Level 1
: 100/200, 200 ante
The four most exciting words in poker have just been uttered - that would be 'shuffle up and deal' - and cards are now in the air in the 5k Challenge - Big Blind Ante.
So far, 82 players have entered and have taken their seats so stick around and we'll bring you some of the action.
Notables in the Running
Level 1
: 100/200, 200 ante
Defending Main Event Champion Alex Lynskey is one of those already seated with Michael Egan, Dean Blatt, Brad Kain just some of the other familiar faces present. Also in the running so far are:
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
25,000 | |
|
|
25,000 | |
|
25,000 | |
|
25,000 | |
|
25,000 | |
|
25,000 | |
|
25,000 | |
|
25,000 | |
|
25,000 | |
|
25,000 | |
|
25,000 | |
|
25,000 | |
|
25,000 | |
|
25,000 | |
|
25,000 |
Ward Tries To Trap Collett
Level 1
: 100/200, 200 ante
Daniel Collett raised to 600 from the hijack and was called by Bryce Tickner in the cutoff as well as Martin Ward in the big blind.
The flop came 
and Ward checked. Collett continued for 700. Tickner mucked. Ward came along.
The turn dropped the 
and Ward check-called another bet totalling 1,700 from Collett.
Both players then checked after the 
completed the board.
"Why do you not have an ace there?" sighed Ward, before tabling 
for quads, good to take down the pot after Collett mucked his hand.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
29,000 | 4,000 |
|
|
24,000 | -1,000 |
|
|
22,000 | -3,000 |
Early Exit for Lassau
Level 1
: 100/200, 200 ante
It has not taken long before the first elimination, with 8 minutes 30 seconds still left on level 1. It was Mark Lassau the man to hit the rail early, sent there by tablemate Tony Kambouroglou after the duo tangled in a big pot.
The pot was a sizable one on the 
flop with both players all in when the action was picked up, Kambouroglou from middle position and Lassau from one seat over in the hijack.
Tony Kambouroglou: 
Mark Lassau: 
Lassau's pocket kings were leading Kambouroglou's ace-king nut flush draw, but while the 
turn was a blank, the 
river saw Kambouroglou hit the flush, and when stacks were counted down Lassau discovered some more painful news - he was also covered and headed for the rail.
The format does offer a single re-entry until the end of level 9 so Mr Lassau can come back in for another crack at it, should he so choose.
Kambouroglou climbed to 56,000 after the hand, shooting out into an early lead.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
56,000 | 56,000 |
|
Busted |
Mitri Eliminates Forrester
Level 1
: 100/200, 200 ante
On a flop of 
Barry Forrester checked his option from the small blind and was followed by the player seated under the gun. The player in middle position bet 800. George Mitri raised to 2,200 from the button. Forrester snap-called. The other two players folded.
The turn brought the 
and Forrester checked. Mitri tossed out 3,000. Forrester called.
The completed the board and Forrester immediately moved all-in with his remaining stack. Mitri beat him to the pot and had Forrester covered.
Forrester mucked his hand after Mitri revealed 
for a full house and the winning hand.
"I only got one thing to say. F*** the poker," announced Forrester, before shaking Mitri's hand, and exiting the tournament floor.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
42,000 | 17,000 |
|
Busted |
Level: 2
Blinds: 200/300
Ante: 300
Guerin's Perfect Start
Level 2
: 200/300, 300 ante
Didier Guerin is sitting behind a stack totalling 80,000 after an eventful first level and a half of play.
In a recent hand, the player in middle position raised to 800, and was called by Guerin in the hijack as well as the player in the big blind.
The flop fell 
, and Guerin took down the pot, after his bet of 900 was not matched by his opponents.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
80,000 | 55,000 |