AU$1,650 Pot-Limit Omaha 6-Handed
Day 2 Completed
2019 WSOP International Circuit The Star Sydney
AU$1,650 Pot-Limit Omaha 6-Handed
Day: 2
Tam Truong Wins 6 Max PLO WSOP Circuit The Star Sydney to Take First WSOPC Title and AU$74,341/$50,440 Top Prize
Level 21
: 12,000/24,000, 0 ante
The two-day WSOP International Circuit 6 Max Pot-Limit Omaha Event played out to a thrilling conclusion at the poker tables of The Star Sydney, with Australia's Tam Truong the man to take the AU$74,341 (~$50,440) top prize, snagging his first WSOPC title and coveted Circuit Ring in the process.
Tam defeated a 177-strong field, coming from behind to defeat fellow countryman Dinh Pham after a brief heads-up battle, with Pham taking home AU$45,955 (~$31,445) for his runner-up finish and a total of 18 players cashing for a share of the AU$265,500 (~$180,140) prize pool.
Despite coming into the heads-up match with the chip lead - holding 2.47 million to Truong's 1.94 million - Pham could not close out the win, losing a huge early three-bet pot that saw him flop two pair, a flush draw and a gutshot straight draw on a double diamond jack-ten-ten flop. Truong, holding aces with the nut diamond blocker, improved to a full house when a third ten came in on the turn to seize a lead he would not relinquish.
The final hand played out shortly afterwards, Pham defending from the blinds after Truong raised the button and calling the latter's continuation bet, with all the chips going in on the turn on a ten-seven-deuce-deuce double spade flop.
Pham held the nut flush draw, gutshot straight draw and an overcard to Truong's pocket jacks and a straight draw, and while both players made their straight on the non-spade nine river, Truong's was higher.
"I feel awesome," said Truong immediately after claiming his first WSOP International Circuit title and twelfth outright tournament title, bringing his total live winnings up to US$1.1 million and moving him up two places from 45th to 43rd on the Australia All Time Money List on The Hendon Mob.
"It's a pretty good feeling, I mean, what can you say? I always wanted to win a World Series bracelet, but I'll settle for a ring," he continued, before celebrating wildly with this watching rail and posing for his obligatory winner's picture.
Official Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Country | Prize (AU$) | Prize (US$) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Tam Truong | Australia | $74,341 | $50,440 |
| 2nd | Dinh Pham | Australia | $45,955 | $31,445 |
| 3rd | Yalcin Kaya | France | $32,994 | $22,580 |
| 4th | Con Angelakis | Australia | $23,717 | $16,215 |
| 5th | Mohammed Elkassir | Australia | $17,048 | $11,650 |
| 6th | Jun Wang | Australia | $12,255 | $8,400 |
Final Day Action
A total of 41 players out of the 177 initial entrants returned for the second and final day with Kamyar Ekrami returning in with the chip lead, though he arrived two levels late to the party, just in time to rail the 2018 runner-up in this same event Ben Thurlow.
The action was fast-paced from the start, and in addition to Thurlow, a slew of players departed early with notables to come up short of the cash spots including Jan Suchanek, Australian Poker Hall of Famer Gary Benson, Graeme Putt and Jarred Graham.
Truong began to dominate as the field began to shrink, climbing into a commanding lead he would only relinquish on the final table for a brief period, before closing out the win.
Despite returning with a little less than nine big blinds, Ramin Mansour made what can only be classed a stellar comeback, climbing right back into contention before departing in the most unenviable position in poker and exiting on the bubble after clashing with eventual fourth-place finisher Con Angelakis.
Holding top set with kings against the top two pair of Angelakis on a king-high double club board when all the chips went in on the turn, Mansour looked to be in great shape to make the money, before Angelakis hit the backdoor nut club flush to guarantee all 18 remaining players an AU$3,292 (~$2,250) payday.
Notables to make the money but come up short of a spot on the official six-handed final table included Ash Gupta (8th for AU$8,815), Day 1 chip leader Kamyar Ekrami (12th for AU$4,564), Luke Edwards (14th for AU$3,292) and Huss Hassan (16th for AU$3,292).
Tu Le made the unofficial seven-handed final table but could go no further; despite flopping top set with single-suited queens against the single-suited ace-ace-king-king of Pham the latter hit nut diamonds on the turn, which is when all the chips went in, and Le went out to set up the final six.
It took seven hours to whittle the 41 remaining players down to the final six and, with Truong holding over 40% of the chips in play at this point, it looked as though the final table would be a quick one as he held more than double that of next closest rival Pham with only one other player - Yalcin Kaya - holding an above-average stack.
However, this is where the wheels almost came off for Truong, with Kaya winning a sizable pot from the former to climb up to second in the pecking order, cementing his position as the number two contender after sending Jun Wang to the rail in sixth place.
Wang was the man driving the action, clashing in a sizable pot with Kaya that saw the former turn two pair and the latter turn a straight, which held to bring Wang's final table to an end, taking home AU$12,255 for his deep run.
Mohammed Elkassir followed Wang to the rail the level after Wang's exit, busting at the hands of a rampant Truong after potting a queen-jack-four double spade flop with a dominated jack and failing to improve. Elkassir made $17,048 for his fifth-place finish.
This is the point where Truong nearly came undone after a squeeze play backfired in a multi-way pot against Kaya and Angelakis. Truong was gunning for the latter, who was the table short stack, and after the remaining three players limped, Truong pumped the pot from the big blind.
While he managed to get Angelakis all-in, Kaya also came along for the ride from the button and, after Truong potted the flop, Kaya repotted to take the action heads-up with Angelakis, who tripled up to climb right back into contention after flopping the nut straight. The side pot was enough to give Kaya the chip lead and Truong dropped down to second in the pecking order.
It took a full further level before four became three, with Angelakis unable to progress further, falling at the hands of a resurgent Dinh Pham after the duo both hit a full house in a hand; Pham's queens full of fours besting Angelakis' fours full of tens to send the latter to the cage to collect his AU$23,717 payout.
Pham had already begun to make his own play for the title by this point and was already holding the chip lead before Angelakis' elimination.
Kaya and Truong clashed in a big pot not long after Angelakis' departure, the duo getting all the chips in on a king-ten-eight double spade flop where Kaya found his top pair trailing to Truong's middle set and failing to improve further to hit the rail in third for AU$45,955.
While that concludes all the PLO action for the Series, the two-day AU$1m guaranteed $20,000 High Rollers - Big Blind Ante Event kicks off at 2:15 p.m. on Wednesday, December 4, with the Day 1c of the Main Event following hot on its heels and getting underway on Thursday, December 5. The PokerNews live reporting team will be on hand to bring you updates from both, so join us then.
Dinh Pham Eliminated in 2nd Place (AU$45,955/$31,445)
Level 21
: 12,000/24,000, 0 ante
Following that big chip lead switch in the previous hand, Pham was on the back foot for the rest of the heads-up confrontation, which lasted a further six hands.
The next hand was a limped pot which Truong took down on the turn with a bet after Pham checked twice. The second saw Truong win with a pre-flop raise, the third saw Pham take the blinds with a button raise and he also won the fourth with a pre-flop three-bet to 180,000 when Truong raised to 60,000 from the button.
The fifth hand saw made it all the way to the turn after Pham made it 60,000 on the button and Truong made the call, with the dealer spreading a flop of 
.
This saw Truong check the action over to Pham, who led out for a tickly little 35,000 bet, with Truong check-raising to 150,000 in total, which Pham called to swell the pot to 420,000. The arrival of the 
turn brought in a possible diamond flush and Truong now led for another 150,000.
Pham rechecked his cards a couple of times and looked as though he was thinking of getting the rest of his stack in, before shaking his head, flashing Truong the 
and folding. Truong returned the favour by showing the 
as he raked in the pot to pull further ahead.
The next hand, it was all over: Truong raised the button to 60,000 and Pham made the call to bring in the 
flop, with the action going check, bet 60,000, call.
All the chips went in on the 
turn, with Pham check-raising all-in over the top of Pham's 150,000 bet for a further 365,000 more in chips. After asking for a count Truong slapped down the calling chips and the cards were turned over.
Dinh Pham: 
Tam Truong: 
Truong held the lead with his jacks, but Pham had plenty of outs with any spade and any ace. The 
river saw Pham jump out of his chair as he made a gutshot straight, before Truong pointed out that he also made a straight, and his went all the way up to the jack.
A slightly crestfallen Pham reached over to shake Truong's hand, and the latter then turned to celebrate with his watching rail, before posing for the obligatory winner's shot with his new jewellery, while Pham headed off to collect the AU$45,955 on offer for second place.
End of day wrap to follow.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
4,425,000 | 825,000 |
|
Busted |
Truong Doubles Through Pham
Level 21
: 12,000/24,000, 0 ante
Tam Truong raised to 60,000 from the button before Dinh Pham re-raised to 180,000 from the big blind. Truong took a minute before three-betting to 540,000. Pham called shortly after.
The flop came 
and Pham bet 400,000. Truong moved all in for 1,265,000 moments later. Pham quickly called and had Truong covered.
Truong: 
Pham: 
Truong had the lead with the higher two pair.
The 
on the turn guaranteed the pot to Truong after he improved to a full house.
The meaningless completed the board and Truong doubled up.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
3,600,000 | 1,651,000 |
|
|
819,000 | -1,651,000 |
Yalcin Kaya Eliminated in 3rd Place (AU$32,994/$22,580)
Level 21
: 12,000/24,000, 0 ante
Tam Truong and Yalcin Kaya clashed in a big pot that reduced the field to the final two players and the clock has been paused while the WSOP Circuit Ring is brought out.
All three remaining contenders have now enjoyed stints as chip leader but for Yalcin Kaya his time at the top is over and he has hit the rail, with Tam Truong the man to send him there.
After Dinh Pham folded the button, Kaya completed the small blind and Truong juiced it up to 72,000 with Kaya making the call to bring the duo to a flop of 
.
Kayas checked it over to Truong, who fired out a continuation bet of 75,000, which was called to bring in the turn. This is where all the chips went in, with Kaya checking, Truong betting full pot for 294,000 and then calling off the rest when Kaya shoved.
Yalcin Kaya: 
Tam Truong: 
While Kaya had the best of it pre-flop with jacks and had paired his king, Truong had hit a set to leave Kaya drawing to the decks two remaining jacks. The was not one of them and Kaya got up to shake both opponents hands, before heading for the cash desk to collect the AU$32,994 on offer for third.
Truong stacked up to 1,949,000 after the hand, but it is Dinh Pham who will be bringing the chip lead into the heads-up confrontation with a stack of 2,470,000. With the jewellery now on the table and a WSOP Circuit title on the line, let's see who has the favour of the poker gods.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
2,470,000 | 170,000 |
|
|
1,949,000 | 749,000 |
|
Busted |
Con Angelakis Eliminated in 4th Place (AU$23,717)
Level 21
: 12,000/24,000, 0 ante
Tam Truong raised to 50,000 from under the gun and was called by Dinh Pham on the button as well as Yalcin Kaya and Con Angelakis in the blinds.
All four players checked the 
flop before the 
dropped on the turn.
The action checked around to Pham who bet 65,000. Only Angelakis called.
The completed the board and Angelakis checked. Pham thought for a minute and bet the pot worth 330,000. Angelakis immediately moved all in for around 500,000. Pham snap-called.
Angelakis confidently tabled 
for a full house fours over tens.
Pham then revealed 
for a higher full house, queens over fours, before raking in the monster pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
2,300,000 | 1,000,000 |
|
Busted |
Level: 21
Blinds: 12,000/24,000
Ante: 0
Kaya Wins Some Back From Pham
Level 20
: 10,000/20,000, 0 ante
Dinh Pham is the man on the rise and he has edged into the chip lead, though he has just shipped some chips the way of Yalcin Kaya after the pair clashed in a blind on blind battle.
Pham completed the small blind and called Kaya's 40,000 pre-flop bet to bring the pair to a 
flop, which saw Pham check-call Kaya's 40,000 continuation bet.
The 
turn saw checks from both players, but the 
river saw some action, with Pham check-calling Kaya's 125,000 river bet.
Pham revealed two of his hole cards, showing 
for top, top, but this was not enough to beat Kaya's 
and the latter scooped the pot.
The pair clashed again a couple of hands later, with Pham the pre-flop aggressor, making it 50,000 to go from the button with both Kaya (small blind) and Con Angelakis (big blind) making the call to take action three-way to a flop of .
The action was checked to Pham, who fired for 65,000 with Kaya the only caller. There was no betting on the 
turn or the 
river.
Kaya showed down 
but could not beat Pham's 
and the latter pulled in the pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
1,300,000 | -139,000 |
|
|
1,200,000 | 40,000 |
|
|
1,100,000 | -30,000 |
|
|
680,000 | -30,000 |
Pham Shoves on Kaya
Level 20
: 10,000/20,000, 0 ante
Dinh Pham raised to 50,000 from the button before Yalcin Kaya potted to 170,000 from the small blind. Pham called.
The flop came 
and Kaya immediately announced 'pot' and cut out 360,000. Pham thought for a minute before announcing all in for 719,000.
Kaya went into the tank for several minutes before eventually releasing his hand to the muck.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
1,439,000 | 610,000 |
|
|
1,130,000 | -600,000 |
Pham Climbing
Level 20
: 10,000/20,000, 0 ante
The first hand back after the break saw Dinh Pham get a walk, but the second and third saw Pham and Tam Truong play a couple of pots that saw the latter ship a few chips the way of the former.
In the first, it was Truong the man raising to 40,000 from the button, with Pham potting from the small blind to 130,000. That folded out Yalcin Kaya in the big blind and Truong made the call to take play heads-up to the flop.
First to act, Pham potted it for 300,000, leaving himself 110,000 behind and Truong made a quick fold, but the duo were back at it the very next hand.
It was Truong the man raising once more, making it 40,000 to go from the cutoff, with Pham flat calling from the button. After the blinds got out of the way the dealer spread a flop of , which Truong led for 40,000. Pham called once more and the dealer burned and turned the .
Truong slowed down with a check, folding to Pham's 60,000 bet to drop to 1,160,000, while Pham climbed to 829,000.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
1,160,000 | -262,000 |
|
|
829,000 | 280,000 |