$1,500 Platinum Player Championships
Day 3 Completed
2024 Australian Poker Open
$1,500 Platinum Player Championships
Day: 3
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 3
2024 Australian Poker Open
Buy-in
1,500 AUD
Prize Pool
1,218,100 AUD
Entries
937
Level
31
Blinds
200,000 / 400,000
Ante
400,000
Entries
10
Players Left
1
Level 31
: Blinds 200,000/400,000, 400,000 ante
As the final ten players gathered for an added Day 3 of the $1,500 Platinum Player Championships, only two of them sat down with less than 25 big blinds. Australia��s Chris Moussa was one of them as play resumed at Doltone House Western Sydney at Club Marconi, but not for long. As play began on the final table bubble, Moussa saw his stack triple with back-to-back pocket kings, riding his new chips and some more good fortune to memorable title at the inaugural Australian Poker Open.
The event drew a total of 937 entries, smashing the advertised guaranteed prize pool before settling at A$1,218,100. The bulk of that was in play today, with Moussa taking home A$248,000 along with the coveted APO trophy.
$1,500 Platinum Player Championships Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Country | Prize (AUD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chris Moussa | Australia | $248,000 |
| 2 | Justin Woo | Australia | $176,000 |
| 3 | Khanh Le | Australia | $114,000 |
| 4 | Paris Sitzoukis | Australia | $70,600 |
| 5 | Sergio Colosimo | Australia | $43,500 |
| 6 | Alex Lee | Singapore | $31,000 |
| 7 | Campbell Ashton | Australia | $26,700 |
| 8 | Ken Demlakian | Australia | $22,500 |
| 9 | David Hirst | Australia | $18,200 |
Winner��s Reaction
In his own words, the key to Moussa��s success was persistence. That came in the form of enduring an extra day, and also recovering from his short stack after bagging the chip lead on Day 1e. ��I was so tired and we had a long drive, so tried to get plenty of rest,�� Moussa explained to PokerNews after his victory. ��My wife took care of the family so that was a big plus, and coming in today little bit more refreshed.��
Moussa faced a start turnaround from one day to another, as he opened play on Day 2 with one of the largest stacks in the room. By the time had ended, he was down to 11 big blinds and sitting ninth out of the final ten players. ��Lost a couple of flips trying to apply pressure, backfired, and then coming into today short stack, it was all about survival.��
Picking up pocket kings on consecutive hands will certainly change a player��s fortunes, as his chip count went from 1,300,000 to 4,200,000 in that span while bursting the final table bubble.
��It changed the game,�� said Moussa. ��After that I was lot more calmer and a bit more in control because I have more bigs to play with. So my mindset changed from survival to kind of seeing where the table leads and go from there.�� Where it lead was collecting almost half of the chips in play with six left, and riding that stack to significant win in Sydney.
Moussa was amazed at the inaugural Australian Poker Open event, giving credit to the organizing team and poker staff. ��This event is world class, 100 percent the best venue and series in Australia, no question, no doubt.��
Day 3 Action
Ten players returned for an unscheduled day, resuming hand-for-hand play on the final table bubble. Moussa��s improbable second pair of kings took out Michael Sleiman in 10th place, allowing the field to redraw under the lights of the feature table.
Moussa was also the beneficiary of the next significant chip exchange, taking an overwhelming chip lead while knocking out David Hirst in ninth in the hand of the tournament.
Ken Demlakian fell in eighth after missing his flush draw, while Campbell Ashton lost a flip to finish seventh. Alex Lee entered the day as one of the big stacks, but he became Moussa��s next victim to exit in sixth. Moussa then dispatched Sergio Colosimo in fifth place before Paris Sitzoukis saw his up and down day end with a fourth-place finish.
With action three-handed, Khanh Le called off on the river against Moussa and the tournament was down to two.
The last player standing in Moussa��s way was Justin Woo, who came into the day as the chip leader. Moussa held a sizeable chip lead that did not disappear, and the pressure was on his opponent until the final card was dealt,. Woo also called off incorrectly on the river, as Moussa had the goods again and took down the title.
As soon as the tournament wrapped up, Moussa embraced his wife and had his next move firmly on his mind. ��Holiday, for sure, take my wife and leave the kids, that��s definitely in the cards.��
This concludes PokerNews coverage of the $1,500 Platinum Player Championships, but be sure to check out our live reporting hub for exciting poker action around the world.
Level 31
: Blinds 200,000/400,000, 400,000 ante
Chris Moussa called on the button before Justin Woo raised to 1,400,000 in the big blind. Moussa called to the 5?9?3? flop, where Woo led out for 1,000,000.
Moussa called again and Woo slowed down with a check on the K? turn. Moussa fired 2,000,000 and Woo made the call.
The dealer turned over the 7? river, where Woo checked one more time. Moussa took a moment before announcing all in, putting a decision on Woo for his tournament life.
Woo took some time before tossing in the call. Moussa flipped over K?4? for top pair, while Woo could only show 8?8? for a pair of eights.
The saw Woo eliminated in second place for $176,000.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
46,850,000
8,000,000
|
8,000,000 |
|
||
|
Busted | |
|
||
Level 31
: Blinds 200,000/400,000, 400,000 ante
Chris Moussa moved all in on the button and Justin Woo called quickly. Woo was at risk as the hands were turned over.
Justin Woo: Q?10? 
Chris Moussa Q?9?
Woo faced no danger on the J?4?6?5?3? runout, earning the double up.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
38,850,000
-4,600,000
|
-4,600,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
8,000,000
4,600,000
|
4,600,000 |
|
|
||
Level 31
: Blinds 200,000/400,000, 400,000 ante
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
43,450,000
500,000
|
500,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
3,400,000
-500,000
|
-500,000 |
|
|
||
Level 31
: Blinds 200,000/400,000, 400,000 ante
Justin Woo limped on the button with 9?8? and Chris Moussa raised to 1,400,000 with A?8? in the big blind. Woo called and the dealer flipped over the Q?J?J? flop.
Moussa fired 800,00 before Woo announced a raise to 2,200,000. Moussa called to the 4? turn and led out by moving all in.
Woo thought about it for a moment before making the fold, as Moussa raked in another pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
42,950,000
3,300,000
|
3,300,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
3,900,000
-3,300,000
|
-3,300,000 |
|
|
||
Level 31
: Blinds 200,000/400,000, 400,000 ante
Chris Moussa opened to 800,000 with K?3? on the button and Justin Woo called with 8?4? in the big blind.
Woo checked the Q?9?7? flop and Moussa continued for 600,000. Woo did not take long to fold, as Moussa raked in the pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
39,650,000
200,000
|
200,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
7,200,000
-200,000
|
-200,000 |
|
|
||
Level: 31
Blinds: 200,000/400,000
Ante: 400,000
Level 30
: Blinds 150,000/300,000, 300,000 ante
Chris Moussa holds a big lead as heads-up play begins against Justin Woo.
The winner will receive $248,000, while the runner-up will get $176,000.
Level 30
: Blinds 150,000/300,000, 300,000 ante
Chris Moussa and Justin Woo have agreed to take a short break before heads-up play begins.