AU$880 Short Deck
Day 1 Completed
2018 WSOP International Circuit The Star Sydney
AU$880 Short Deck
Day: 1
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
2018 WSOP International Circuit The Star Sydney
Buy-in
880 AUD
Entries
172
Level
27
Blinds
25,000 / 50,000
Ante
5,000
Level 27
: 25,000/50,000, 5,000 ante
It was a day of firsts here at the WSOPC The Star Sydney. This event marked the very first World Series of Poker Short Deck Hold'em Event. But not only that, it was Robert Sutherland's first time ever playing Short Deck Hold'em. In fact, until today he'd never even heard of the game.
"I didn't know what it was until I came across it today," Sutherland said about Short Deck Hold'em. "And, I'll tell you what, for someone who enjoys gambling, I could not have enjoyed myself more. It is a great game."
Along with that, this event also marked Sutherlands first World Series of Poker Circuit ring. Sutherland said that he won a satellite into the Main Event earlier in the week, but didn't make it past level 12. So instead, he hopped into the Short Deck event and fell in love with a brand new game.
"To be honest, a friend of mine from Brisbane actually said, It's like you're high on steroids. And I loved it," Sutherland explained. "I absolutely loved it."
For Sutherland it was pretty smooth sailing once, during the midway point of the day, he won a monster pot against Robert Harrison. Sutherland got Harrison to pay off a monster bet when he rivered a full house to crack Harrison's aces. The pot was the biggest in the tournament up to that point and he won it with his favorite hand — Queen-jack. From there, Sutherland had a clear path to victory, having nearly 10% of the chips in play with over 30 players left.
Final Table Results:
| Place | Player | Payout |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Robert Sutherland | $37,152 |
| 2 | Kresimir Kardum | $22,960 |
| 3 | Danny Park | $16,527 |
| 4 | Constantine Harach | $12,113 |
| 5 | Andrew Wheldon | $9,035 |
| 6 | Nathan Zappia | $6,857 |
| 7 | Natalia Rozova | $5,292 |
| 8 | Jarryd Godena | $4,151 |
| 9 | Chad Awerbuch | $3,311 |
Sutherland employed an aggressive strategy at the final table, raising early and often and mostly having the good when he got caught. There were, of course, a few missteps and some learning errors, but by the end of it, Sutherland seemed to have a firm grasp on the game.
"I met someone in line who gave me some advice," Sutherland said of his strategy. "He said, Don't play your small cards. Don't play 'em. They're a waste of time. Wait for your position with the larger cards. I learned as I went. Several times I hit some bad luck but was lucky enough that the person that hit me didn't have as much as I had. After a while, I came up with my own way of playing the game I suppose."
In the end, Sutherland managed to take out half of his final table opponents, dispatching of Constantine Harach, Kresimir Kardum, Nathan Zappia, and Jarryd Godena as well. When heads-up play arrived, Kardum and Sutherland were both pretty even in chips, but they got all the money in with a giant flip for over 95% of the chips in play. Sutherland held pocket sixes and flopped a set against Kardum's ace-ten suited. Kardum didn't catch up and was just down to just over one big blind.
Kardum did manage to double back a few times, but he couldn't keep it up, Sutherland dispatched of him at the end holding king-jack against queen-seven to end the tournament. For his run Sutherland locked up the first place prize of $37,152 and a World Series of Poker Circuit ring.
In total, the event brought out 172 entries and re-entries with the likes of Jan Suchanek, Jeff Lisandro, Andy Lee, Warwick Mirzikinian, Dean Blatt, Jordan Westmorland, and Sam Khoueis all coming out to play to name a few. None of those players made it into the money. Only 18 players actually made it to the payouts with notables such as Jason Gray (17th - $1,845) and Chad Awerbuch (9th - $3,311) earning cashes.
That does it for our coverage of this event, but be sure to tune back in later as the $1,150 No-Limit Hold'em Monster Stack kicks off later in the day at 2:15 p.m. local time and Day 3 of the Main Event also starts up as well with players playing down from 27 players to a final table. PokerNews will be back to cover it all so make sure to check back in.
Level 27
: 25,000/50,000, 5,000 ante
Kardum managed to double a few times getting it in blind against Sutherland, but on the last hand his luck finally ran out. Kardum shoved in blind on the button for 600,000 and Sutherland called blind.
Kresimir Kardum: 
Robert Sutherland: 
The board ran out 
and that would be the end for Kardum. He'll take home $22,960 for his run.
With that, Sutherland locked up his victory in the first WSOPC Short Deck event ever taking home $37,152 as his prize as well as his first World Series of Poker Circuit ring.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
4,300,000
100,000
|
100,000 |
|
Busted |
Level 27
: 25,000/50,000, 5,000 ante
Kresimir Kardum raised to 150,000 before the flop. Robert Sutherland moved all in with a relatively even stack. Kardum called.
Kresimir Kardum: 
Robert Sutherland: 
The board ran out 
and Sutherland made a full house allowing him to take most of the chips in play, leaving Kardum with less than 100,000.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
4,200,000
2,050,000
|
2,050,000 |
|
|
75,000
-2,075,000
|
-2,075,000 |
Level 27
: 25,000/50,000, 5,000 ante
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
2,150,000 | |
|
|
2,150,000
820,000
|
820,000 |
Level 27
: 25,000/50,000, 5,000 ante
Kresimir Kardum opened to 125,000 on the button and Danny Park moved all in from the small blind for a bit over 700,000. Action folded back to Kardum who called.
Kresimir Kardum: 
Danny Park: 
The board ran out 
and Kardum held on with king-high to take down the pot.
Park takes home $16,527 for his run in the event.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
2,150,000
680,000
|
680,000 |
|
Busted |
Level: 27
Blinds: 25,000/50,000
Ante: 5,000
Level 26
: 20,000/40,000, 5,000 ante
Danny Park raised to 120,000 on the button and Robert Sutherland called in the small blind.
The flop was 
and Sutherland led for 200,000. Park moved all in and Sutherland called.
Danny Park: 
Robert Sutherland: 
The board completed with the and the securing the double up for Park.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
1,420,000
720,000
|
720,000 |
|
|
1,330,000
-770,000
|
-770,000 |
Level 26
: 20,000/40,000, 5,000 ante
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
2,100,000
250,000
|
250,000 |
|
|
1,470,000
220,000
|
220,000 |
|
|
700,000
-150,000
|
-150,000 |
Level 26
: 20,000/40,000, 5,000 ante
From the small blind, Robert Sutherland raised to 95,000. Constantine Harach shoved all in from the big blind for roughly 450,000. Sutherland called.
Robert Sutherland:
Constantine Harach: 
The board came down 
and Harch didn't improve.
"Split pot!" Harach said, joking. But it wasn't a split pot. Harach was eliminated in 4th and collected $12,113 for his run in the event.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
1,850,000
500,000
|
500,000 |
|
Busted |