John Thompson Wins the Sydney Championships $5K Challenge (A$195,000)
Australia's John Thompson outlasted a field of 152 entrants to win the 2018 Sydney Championships Event #4: A$5,000 No Limit Hold'em $5K Challenge at the Star Poker Room for A$195,000 ($143,711).
This was not only the first major live tournament victory for Thompson, who is also known as "Gentleman John" due to his friendly disposition, but also doubled the nearly $100,000 in cashes he amassed according to The Hendon Mob leading into the event.
Sydney Championships Event #4: A$5,000 No Limit Hold'em $5K Challenge Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Prize | Prize in US$ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | John Thompson | A$195,000 | $143,711 |
| 2 | Zhi Hong Ma | A$120,000 | $88,511 |
| 3 | Matthew Wakeman | A$87,000 | $64,185 |
| 4 | Corey Kempson | A$64,000 | $47,215 |
| 5 | Jim Pizanias | A$47,000 | $34,672 |
| 6 | Glenn Pollett | A$36,000 | $26,556 |
| 7 | Ken Demlakian | A$27,800 | $20,503 |
| 8 | Andy Lee | A$21,900 | $16,151 |
| 9 | Michael Asad | A$17,400 | $12,832 |
The second and final day of the tournament began with 28 hopefuls battling it out for the trophy and the huge top prize. Andy Lee, who in December notched up a WSOP Circuit gold ring in Sydney after winning a high roller event, entered the day in the chip lead with Thompson kicking the action off with one of the shorter stacks in play.
"I have been playing poker for many years, I guess all that experience pays off in the end."
The final table began after Glenn Pollett eliminated Dean Boskovic in 10th place for A$14,000 ($10,325).
Michael Asad was the first player eliminated at the final table in ninth place for A$17,400 ($12,832) after he three-bet jammed with ace-ten suited and couldn't hold against the king-jack held by Jim Pizanias.
Lee was unable to parlay his Day 2 chip lead into a podium finish and instead finished in eighth place for A$21,900. He called a jam with king-jack on a king-high flop by Pizanias with king-queen and was unable to get the help he needed on the turn or river.
From this point forward, Thompson eliminated the rest of the field single-handedly in a dominating fashion. His first victim was Ken Demlakian who collected the seventh-place prize of A$27,800 ($20,503). Demlakian jammed ace-three from late position and couldn't get there after Thompson called with ace-queen suited from the big blind.
Shortly after, Pollett flopped a straight with five-four suited. He got it all-in against Thompson with a flush draw holding ace-jack suited and another opponent. Thompson completed his flush on the river and Pollett hit the rail in sixth place for A$36,000 ($26,556).
"I also didn't feel tired, we have been playing a long time and I was surprised at how good I felt."
The action slowed for a bit before Pizanias jammed all-in with king-jack and was called by Thompson with ace-jack suited. An ace spiked the flop and Pizanias was out of the tournament in fifth place for A$47,000 ($34,672).
Corey Kempson found himself short on chips before he open-jammed ten-four suited and got a call from Thompson with king-two. Kempson appeared to be in good shape when he flopped a flush. However, Thompson wound up with a better flush on the turn and Kempson was eliminated in fourth place for A$64,000 ($47,215).
The final table's most successful player Matthew Wakeman was the next to go in third place for A$87,000 ($64,185). According to the Star Poker Blog, Wakeman came into the event with more than A$7 million in live and online tournament cashes. Wakeman three-bet jammed with ace-eight suited and couldn't hold against the queen-jack suited help by Thompson after a queen appeared on the flop.
Thompson entered heads-up play against his friend and fellow Star Poker regular Zhi Hong Ma with a 6:1 chip advantage. The battle between the duo didn't last long. Ma with jack-eight held top pair on a jack-high flop and jammed over a bet from Thompson who called with a flush draw and an over-card with king-three suited. A king appeared on the turn and Ma was unable to improve on the river to collect the runner-up prize of A$120,000 ($88,511).
"I felt very relaxed through the whole tournament," Thompson told the Star Poker Live Reporting Team. "I felt calm and focussed on what I was doing. I also didn't feel tired, we have been playing a long time and I was surprised at how good I felt. I have been playing poker for many years, I guess all that experience pays off in the end."
