Frank Martino Wins Sydney Championships Opening Event (A$91,250)
Australia's Frank Martino outlasted a massive field of 1,108 entrants to ship the A$500 2018 Sydney Championships Opening Event at the Star Poker Room for a huge payday of A$91,250 ($67,582).
The score more than doubled the over $24,000 in live tournament cashes Martino earned before the tournament began. It also marks the Australian's second Sydney Championships cash after previously taking 100th place in the Opening Event in 2015 for A$694.
Sydney Championships Event #1: A$500 Opening Event Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Prize | Prize in US$ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Frank Martino | A$91,250 | $67,582 |
| 2 | Dmitry Tymoshenko | A$56,360 | $41,747 |
| 3 | Michael Fraser | A$41,880 | $31,017 |
| 4 | Marty Richardson | A$31,500 | $23,328 |
| 5 | Tony Tavella | A$23,985 | $17,763 |
| 6 | Wael Salloum | A$18,480 | $13,687 |
| 7 | Daniel Shan | A$14,405 | $10,669 |
| 8 | Jim Doumit | A$11,355 | $8,410 |
| 9 | Ankhbayar Bayarsaikhan | A$9,050 | $6,702 |
The final table began with Australia's Jim Doumit holding a substantial lead on the field and Martino near the bottom of the pack.
Ankhbayar Bayarsaikhan entered the final table with the smallest stack and was the first player eliminated in ninth place for A$9,050 after he jammed with jack-eight suited and was unable to outflip Martino's pocket sevens after he called.
By this point, Doumit was bleeding chips and quickly went from chip leader to last place. Doumit exited the tournament in eighth place for A$11,355 ($10,669) after he jammed his short-stack with jack-eight and couldn't get their against Martino's jack-ten. Martino's second straight elimination at the final table also gave him the chip lead, one he would never relinquish.
Martino continued to pile onto his chip lead and had a monster stack by the time he eliminated Daniel Shan in seventh place for A$14,405 ($10,669). Shan got it all-in preflop with ace-jack against his opponent's pocket fives. It was looking good for Shan with a jack appearing on the flop to give him top pair. However, a five on the turn gave his opponent an unbeatable set and Shan hit the rail.
Wael Salloum was the next to go in sixth place for A$18,480 ($13,687) after he wasn't able to win a flip with pocket tens against the ace-king held by Michael Fraser.
Tony Tavella hit the rail in fifth place for A$23,985 ($17,763) after his ace-ten proved to be no match to the pocket queens held by Marty Richardson.
Richardson wasn't able to ladder up any further and was eliminated in fourth place for A$31,500 ($23,328). His fate was sealed after he three-bet jammed with king-seven and wasn't able to get a save against Martino's pocket queens.
Fraser then jammed with seven-two suited and was outmatched by Martino's king-four suited. The board was unable to save Fraser and he was eliminated in third place for A$41,880 ($31,017).
Martino entered heads-up play with a 9:2 chip advantage over Tymoshenko.
It seemed that stacks were about to be evened up after Tymoshenko with nine-eight called a three-bet jam from his opponent with eight-seven on a nine-five-seven flop. Tymoshenko was still looking good after an eight paired the board on the turn. However, the tournament ended after a seven spiked the river to give his opponent a full house.
Despite the bad beat, Tymoshenko didn't walk away empty-handed as he collected the healthy runner-up prize of A$56,360 ($41,747). Meanwhile, Martino claimed the honors of becoming the first player to hoist a trophy in the Sydney Star Championships.
"I just had a feeling about this tournament," Martino said to the Star Poker Live Reporting Team. "When it’s on the cards, it’s on the cards."
Martino enjoyed his experience and is hoping for an even bigger payday in the Main Event.
"This was a great tournament," Martino continued. "Well run and lots of fun to play from start to finish. I will definitely be back for the Main Event. I have a bit of a feeling about that one too."
