THE STAR SYDNEY CHAMPS 2019 FULL SCHEDULE Tournament Conditions apply. 140 seat guarantee is across the combined 6 Main Event Super Satellites on Tuesday 30 July 2019, Wednesday 31 July 2019, Thursday 1 August 2019 and Friday 2 August 2019. Australian Poker Tour Main Event 2018, Sydney - Poker VLOG #25 LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION. The Australian Poker Tour has come to Sydney, Australia.

Sydney Poker Champs 2019 Results

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The Star Sydney in Australia earlier this summer finished its hosting of the 2019 Sydney Champs, an annual series of poker tournaments that brings people from many locations to play the events. While not without some controversy in the Main Event, the Star Sydney can be called a success with record-breaking fields and millions of dollars awarded.

Sydney Champs 2019

The Star Sydney hosted the Sydney Champs in early June, around the time the World Series of Poker began. The Star Sydney is a massive property (second largest in Australia) that overlooks Darling Harbour and, for many years, held a casino monopoly in New South Wales. The two floors of gaming feature a large poker room comprised of more than 40 tables.

The Sydney Champs 2019 began on July 11 and ran through August 5 with a total of 17 tournaments, including a number of poker variations and buy-ins.

Action kicked off with a $1K No Limit Hold’em Monster Stack Freezeout tournament that offered two starting days and ran through July 14. That and other preliminary event winners were:

Event 1: $1,100 NLHE Monster Stack Freezeout

• Entries: 382
• Prize pool: $382,000
• Winner: David Hirst ($84,039)

Sydney Poker Champs 2019 Championship

Event 2: $500 NLHE Short Deck Reentry

• Entries: 97
• Prize pool: $43,650
• Winner: Lei He ($13,094)

Event 3: $330 Pineapple Reentry

• Entries: 177
• Prize pool: $53,100
• Winner: Dominic Thomson ($14,336)

Event 4: $500 Sydney Champs NLHE Cup (Repechage)

• Entries: 983
• Prize pool: $442,350
• Winner: Adam Dundovic ($84,057)

Event 5: $330 Ladies NLHE Reentry

• Entries: 87
• Prize pool: $26,100
• Winner: Suzy Khoueis ($8,353)

Event 6: $440 NLHE Turbo Reentry

• Entries: 223
• Prize pool: $89,200
• Winner: Travis Endersby ($22,303)

Event 7: $500 NLHE Teams Freezeout

• Entries: 131
• Prize pool: $58,950
• Winner: Chester Swords & Yita Choong ($16,508)

Event 8: $440 NLHE Masters (Seniors) Reentry

• Entries: 179
• Prize pool: $71,600
• Winner: Todor Kondevski ($19,335)

Event 9: $550 Mixed NLHE/PLO

• Entries: 134
• Prize pool: $67,000
• Winner: Patrick Laoyont ($18,758)

Event 10: $5K NLHE Challenge Reentry

• Entries: 129
• Prize pool: $612,750
• Winner: Jason Gray ($171,572)

Event 11: $1,100 NLHE 6-Max Reentry

• Entries: 356
• Prize pool: $356,000
• Winner: Qiang Fu ($89,003)

Event 12: $550 Omaha Reentry

• Entries: 147
• Prize pool: $73,500
• Winner: Danny Huynh ($20,578)

Event 13: $20K NLHE High Roller Reentry

• Entries: 37
• Prize pool: $703,000
• Winner: Sean Ragozzini ($316,350)

Event 14: $3K NLHE Main Event (Repechage) ($1.5 million guaranteed)

• Entries: 600
• Prize pool: $1,680,000
• Winner: Hamish Crawshaw ($352,800)

Event 15: $330 Crazy Pineapple Reentry

• Entries: 168
• Prize pool: $50,400
• Winner: Michael Cuschieri ($13,609)

Event 16: $1,650 PLO 6-Max Reentry

• Entries: 140
• Prize pool: $210,000
• Winner: Ryan Bownds ($59,850)

Event 17: $550 NLHE Bounty Reentry

• Entries: 276
• Prize pool: $110,400
• Winner: Raymond Ou ($26,498)

More on the Sydney Championship Main Event

As mentioned, the Main Event set a new record for the Sydney Championships. With 600 entries, registration soared above last year’s Main Event that drew 522 entries. And this year’s prize pool of $1.68 million exceeded The Star Sydney’s guarantee and last year’s prize pool.

The tournament has come a long way since its 2013 Main Event that showed 227 entries and a $635,461 prize pool. (Daniel Laidlaw won that one for $165K.)

This year, the action started smoothly with 280 players in Day 1A and another 320 on Day 1B, putting that total up to 600. Day 2 played toward the money, as only 63 of the remaining players were to be paid.

That’s where the controversy came in. On the money bubble, the staff announced that everyone was in the money, but they were not. After play continued for another 10-15 minutes, they then told players that they were not yet in the money. Some players were angry and wanted everyone still in to be paid, but the tournament director denied the demand.

Once that money bubble did officially burst and the remaining players were guaranteed at least $5,494, the field thinned more quickly. Names like Graeme Putt, Michael Egan, and Travis Endersby hit the rail during the evening hours, and the 14^th place elimination of Chris Kittos for $21,470 ended play.

Final Day and Final Table

The final 13 players returned on Day 3 to play for the win. Corey Kempson kept his chip lead from the start to head into the final table, but Bernie Stang soon doubled into the lead. Kempson doubled through Nickolas Oiberman to stay alive, and that led to Hamish Crawshaw busting Oiberman.

Tu Le doubled through Kempson, who was then eliminated in eighth place.

Mark Lassau doubled through Stang, and the latter lost ground in a series of hands that led to Crawshaw ousting him in seventh place.

Joe Antar doubled through Wenjian Qui, who was then busted by Crawshaw.

Lassau doubled through Antar and Crawshaw, and Antar did it through Crawshaw. But it was Crawshaw who took over again to eliminate Peter Robertson in fifth place, Le in fourth, and eventually Antar in third.

Heads-up play started with Crawshaw holding a massive lead over Lassau, and the latter worked hard to minimize that chip difference. Even so, Crawshaw eventually challenged Lassau’s pocket kings on a J-10-3 flop with K-J suited and two cards to a flush on the flop. The flush hit on the turn, and New Zealand resident Hamish Crawshaw won the tournament for $352,800.

Georgia Walker – Administration/ Registrations.

The beautiful Georgia is often the first face you see when walking into an APT event. Her role is to register players and assign seating and tables into events which the player registers for.

Having played poker a handful of times, this is Georgia’s first time working in a poker environment and she is loving it. Georgia is revelling in the APT environment as she enjoys meeting and greeting all the players and especially the working relationships she has with her co workers.

When asked what job she would bluff at, she says she would rather fold as she enjoys her role in the Admin team and working with co workers Ange and Milo. Although she secretly revealed that she wouldn’t mind doing David Miles job for a day.

Georgia is excited to attend the Australian Poker Tour – Sydney 2019 event as it will be a new venue for her,- “I know it’s going to be the biggest and best event yet!”

Joshua Mellors – Circuit Manger, Tournament Control & logistics.

Sydney Poker Champs 2019 Schedule

Joshua’s role at APT as Circuit Manager, requires him to manage and co ordinate APT Circuit Events. This role goes hand in hand with Tournament Control and Logistics, where Josh oversees the running of APT Series tournaments and is responsible for the equipment required to run them.

Chatting with Josh, I found that he was a man of very few words. I attributed this to him being exceptionally busy juggling the multiple roles that he has at APT. From the few words that I did get out of him he revealed that his favourite card game is NLH Poker.

I think its safe to say that Australian Poker Tour has one of the best working environments, as Josh and many others have stated that they enjoy the atmosphere of the events the most.

According to Josh, If he could bluff at anyone’s job, he would bluff his way through any job that needed to be done. Or that of APT’s Operational Manager David Miles.

Josh is looking forward to the atmosphere at APT Sydney and seeing the new faces of those who will be attending.

Peter Perceval – Part Owner/Affiliates and Production Manager.

APT Poker Alias – Big Pete
As part owner of APT, Peter wears many hats in the APT Team. One of his main duties is managing the APT Affiliates program and acquiring sponsorship for many of the successful APT Events.

On the days of events that perfect radio voice that you hear is often Peter as he shines in the role of APT’s MC. He also lends a hand to TD and assists with the set ups and take downs.

Playing poker from the age of 15, he is an expert at draw Poker (which back then was the game of choice). It’s rumoured that Peter once owned the biggest NPL license for approx 10 years at HQ , Harbord Diggers in Sydney. Being a true Sydney boy Peter grew up in around Glebe and Balmain.

Favourite Game: Anything with Poker attached to it. When asked what is the best part about working with APT he replies ” There are many “best things” connected with working APT events, I think mine would be the team we have put together. Working with this group of professionals stands out for me”.

If he could bluff and do someone else’s job in APT, Peter opts to fold as he enjoys his job immensely, although he says that he would love to improve on his MC skills, (we think he does a fabulous job by the way).

Peter worked with APT in Sydney last year and it was huge, but we all know that this one will be much bigger. “I have a massive amount of poker friends in Sydney, so I look forward to seeing them all when we are down there” exclaimed Peter when asked what he is most looking forward to this years Australian Poker Tour – Sydney 2019

Sophie Evans – Chip Runner/Distribution,

APT Poker Alias – Chip Boss
Sophie is one of the youngest members in the APT Team, with Australian Poker Tour being her first real exposure to the poker world.
Although she is the youngest and newest to poker, Sophie works and takes her role very seriously in at APT.

Sophie, gains her poker Alias ‘Chip Boss” because that is exactly what she is. All chips are counted and distributed through Sophie and she does her job with the up most precision. She is often one of the last standing team members, left counting and organising chips at the end of the night.

Sophie has taken a strong liking to the game Texas Holdem. Like most of the APT Team, Sophie’s favourite part to working at APT is being party of the APT Family and meeting and interacting with all the players at the events. “Everyone is really wonderful” beams Sophie.

When asked if she could bluff at someone else’s job, she folds as she loves every bit of her job and wouldn’t want to do anything else.

Mattyy Ley – Equipment Control / Tournament Director.

APT Poker Alias – Mr Reliable
Matty’s role as APT Equipment control/TD is to ensure that the tables, chips and cards are all ready for the TD responsible for that event. All equipment must be readily available for them to set up their events.
As a Tournament Director Matty is required to know the TDA rules for all our poker events. All TDs at the APT are TDA certified, this ensures that all our staff follow and are aware of all rules and procedure at APT Tournaments.

Matty has been involved in the poker community for the past ten years as a player and TD for several Brisbane based poker franchises.

Matty’s favourite card game is Caribbean Stud. Matty explains that “Meeting new people who are passionate about the game that we all love and being able to be apart of a great working environment and a great team” is the best part to working at APT.

If Matty could bluff and do another person’s job at APT, he would bluff and do Tony Treanor’s job.

What Matty is looking forward to most at Australian Poker Tour – Sydney 2019, is catching up with the APT family for another great event and all those who do such a great job in organizing the series. “It’s really rewarding he says”…

Robert Donachy – Communications and Affiliates Manager.

APT Poker Alias – Robilicious
Rob’s role as APT Communications and Affiliates Manager, is to assist with sponsors, maintain the APT web site and assist with APT affiliates.

Rob originally comes from Sydney but moved to Queensland and has been running events in poker for since 2011. His favourite game is Canasta but prefers to play Omaha and enjoys the PLO Action that APT has to offer.

For Rob working at APT is a dream come true to host poker events on such a large scale. “The people I work with are fun…just love the whole atmosphere and experience”

If given the choice to bluff and do someone else’s job in APT, Rob admits he “(I’d) rather fold than run the bluff”