Thursday, April 11, 2013 6:44 PM Local Time
It took four attempts but Australia has their first bracelet from home soil with Aaron Lim winning the World Series of Poker Asia Pacific Event 4: AU$5,000 6-Max Hold’em title!
167 players took to the felt three days ago to play one of the more aggressive formats of poker we have on the circuit, and with the biggest buy-in on the WSOP APAC schedule so far, the price of entry was matched with the calibre of players that took a seat in the Crown Poker Room.
Day 1 and 2 played at a furious pace, and when action re-commenced today there were just seven players in the hunt for WSOP gold. With five Australians in the hunt it felt like a near lock for the first home turf-won bracelet but with Australian’s Jason Gray, Billy Seri, Sam Higgs and Brendon Rubie all bowing to the rail the three-handed race would be contested by a New Zealander and a Malaysian as well as just one lone Australian.
Once Jan Suchanek fell in 3rd place after running an all-in bluff, many were expecting that the heads-up battle would be over, but with the experienced Aaron Lim and Andy Lee holding a mountain of chips each, neither player wanted to let WSOP gold slip through their hands too easy.
Chips were traded back-and-forth with each player holding a dominating chip lead, but in the end it would be Lim turning a flush against Lee’s nut flush draw that would see the momentum swung squarly into the Australian’s favor. And just a few hands later Lim would strike gold on the river to end Lee’s quest at becoming the first Malaysian-born WSOP bracelet winner as Lim was crowned the champion and recipient of the AU$233,800 first prize.
Final Table Payouts
1st: Aaron Lim (AU$233,800)
2nd: Andy Lee (AU$144,530)
3rd: Jan Suchanek (AU$103,766)
4th: Brendon Rubie (AU$74,590)
5th: Sam Higgs (AU$53,615)
6th: Billy Seri (AU$38,545)
With this victory, Lim becomes the first Australian WSOP bracelet winner on home soil and joins the likes of Joe Hachem, Jeffrey Lisandro, Andrew Hinrichsen, Gary Benson, Mark Vos, Christina Pie and Mel Judah as Australian WSOP Champions. Congratulations to Aaron Lim!
Thursday, April 11, 2013 6:28 PM Local Time
Hand #81
Andy Lee made it 40,000 to go and Aaron Lim moved all in. Lee instantly made the call for his remaining 462,000 in chips and the cards were placed on their backs.
Lim:
Lee:
With Lee in the lead and both players on their feet, the changed little as Lee still held the advantage with just ace-high. The dealer burned and turned the to further Lee’s advantage and keep him just one card away from doubling through to be at only a two-to-one disadvantage.
Smack! The dealer spiked the on the river to send Lee tumbling to the rail in 2nd place for an AU$144,530 payday as Lim is awarded the Event 4 gold bracelet and AU$233,800 in first place prize money.
Thursday, April 11, 2013 6:20 PM Local Time
Hand #75
Andy Lee opened the button to 40,000 and Aaron Lim moved all in. Lee decided to get away from it.
Hand #76
Aaron Lim opened the button to 40,000 and now it was Andy Lee’s time to move all in. Lim got out of the way and Lee scooped up the pot.
Hand #77
Andy Lee folded the button.
Hand #78
Aaron Lim opened the button to 40,000 and Andy Lee moved all in for 416,000. Lim opted to fold and Lee added some more chips to his stack.
Hand #79
Andy Lee opened the button to 40,000 and Aaron Lim folded.
Hand #80
Lim let his cards go on the button .
Thursday, April 11, 2013 6:15 PM Local Time
Hand #69
Aaron Lim receives a walk in the big blind.
Hand #70
Aaron Lim raised to 40,000 and Andy Lee folded.
Hand #71
Andy Lee opened to 40,000 and Aaron Lim made the call to see a flop fall. Lee continued for 40,000 and Lim folded his hand.
Hand #72
Aaron Lim limped the button and Andy Lee checked his option to see a flop. Lee checked and Lim fired out 41,000 which Lee called as the landed on the turn.
Lee led for 55,000 and Lim quickly mucked his hand
Hand #73
Aaron Lim received a walk in the big blind.
Hand #74
From the button Aaron Lim made it 40,000 and Andy Lee defended his big blind to see a flop spread.
Lee checked and Lim continued for 42,000 with Lee making the call before leading out for 75,000 when the landed on the turn. Lim deliberated for a minute before raising to 210,000.
With Lee now in the tank, he eventually moved all in and Lim snap-called for his 961,000-chip stack.
Lee:
Lim:
With Lim needing to fade a diamond – apart from the or – the river would land the to ensure him the double to 2,092,000 while Lee slipped to 413,000 in chips.
Thursday, April 11, 2013 6:00 PM Local Time
Hand #64
Aaron Lim had the button and flicked out 40,000. Andy Lee folded and the pot was Lim’s.
Hand #65
Andy Lee opened the button to 40,000 and Aaron Lim folded.
Hand #66
Aaron Lim folded the button.
Hand #67
Andy Lee opened the button to 40,000 and Aaron Lim quickly responded with a three-bet to 103,000.
Hand #68
Aaron Lim had the button and opened it up to 40,000. Andy Lee made a quick call and the dealer turned over a flop. Lee checked here and Lim slid out some chips, but before we could see how many chips, Lee had released his hand.
Thursday, April 11, 2013 5:56 PM Local Time
Hand #59
Andy Lee min-raised the button to 40,000 and Aaron Lim folded.
Hand #60
Aaron Lim opened to 40,000 from the button and Andy Lee three-bet to 125,000. Lim deliberated for a few moments before four-betting to 215,000 to put Lee into the tank.
Lee counted down his stack, re-checked his hole cards and then moved all-in to prompt an insta-fold from Lim. Lee has now moved to roughly 1,100,000 in chips.
Hand #61
Aaron Lim receives a walk in the big blind.
Hand #62
Aaron Lim limped in and Andy Lee checked his option to see a flop. Lee checked and Lim bet out 40,000 before Lee check-raised to 125,000.
Lim threw some looks over at Lee while he riffled chips before making the call to see the on the turn to give both players trips.
With the action on Lee, he led out with a bet of 150,000 which Lim called as the completed the board. Lee checked over to Lim, and he checked as well as Lee tabled his for a full house. Lim folded and slipped to 1,119,000.
Hand #63
Andy Lee opened to 40,000 on the button and Aaron Lim called from the big to see the flop fall Lim checked and Lee bet 40,000 which prompted a fold from Lim.
Updated Chip Counts:
Andy Lee – 1,426,000
Aaron Lim – 1,079,000
Thursday, April 11, 2013 5:43 PM Local Time
Hand #55
The first hand following the break would see Andy Lee raise the button to 40,000 and Aaron Lim make the call.
On the flop, Lim checked and Lee bet 40,000. Lim made the call and a hit the turn. Lim decided to lead this time, making it 73,000. Lee thought for a few moments, then folded his cards, sending some more chips to Lim.
Hand #56
Aaron Lim opened the button to 40,000, which Andy Lee called. Both players then checked the flop and a was dealt on the turn. Lee led for 55,000 here and Lim called. The final card on the board was a and Lee moved quickly moved all in for 301,000.
Lim eventually opted to make the call and would then regret it when he saw Lee’s – strong enough to defeat Lim’s Lee is now much healthier edging closer to 800,000 in chips.
Hand #57
Andy Lee opened the button to 40,000 and Aaron Lim made the call. An unknown flop was spread on the felt and Lim check-folded to a bet of 40,000 from Lee.
Hand #58
Aaron Lim raised the button to 40,000. Andy Lee made the call and the dealer spread out a flop. Andy Lee led for 40,000 here and Lim opted to let his hand go.
Thursday, April 11, 2013 5:35 PM Local Time
The cards are now back in the air with the blinds at 10,000-20,000 and a 3,000-ante. Here are the updated chip counts:
Aaron Lim – 2,023,000
Andy Lee – 482,000
Thursday, April 11, 2013 5:27 PM Local Time
Hand #52
Aaron Lim opened the button to 40,000 and Andy Lee promptly responded with a three-bet to 105,000. Lim Made the call and the dealer turned over a flop. Lee led for 120,000 here and Lim called. The turn fell with a and this time Lee checked. On Lim and he bet 161,000, which Lee didn’t take long to call.
The board was completed with a and Lee once again checked. Lim obliged with a check behind and tabled his – not strong enough for Lee’s
Hand #53
Andy Lee opened the button to 40,000 and Lim three-bet to 105,000. Lee made the call and the dealer tabled a flop. Lim led out for 110,000 here and the action was back on Lee, who called.
The turn was a and Lim took his time before betting 208,000. Lee moved all in and Lim quickly called all in. Once again, Lee had Lim at risk and was looking like he could become the champion.
Lim tabled his for a pair of queens, while Lee held for a flush draw. When the river fell with a Lim was safe and doubled up to around 2.1 million, while Lee is now down to around 400,000.
Hand #54
From the button Aaron Lim made it 40,000 and Andy Lee pushed for 438,000. Lim folded and Lee took the pot.
A 15-minute break was scheduled, but the players want to keep playing. However with a live stream in play, the players are going to take just a short break instead.
Break
The players have made their way on a 15-minute break.
Thursday, April 11, 2013 5:09 PM Local Time
Hand #46
Aaron Lim made it 40,000 from the button and Andy Lee made the call to see the dealer spread a flop.
Lee checked and Lim bet out 42,000 to take down the pot following a fold from Lee.
Hand #47
From the button Andy Lee made it 40,000 to go and Aaron Lim called to see a flop.
Lee made a continuation-bet and Lim kicked his cards to the muck.
Hand #48
Aaron Lim opened the pot to 40,000 and Andy Lee three-bet to 105,000 to prompt an insta-fold from Lim.
Hand #49
Andy Lee popped it up to 40,000 from the button and Aaron Lim made the call to see a flop spread by the dealer.
Both players checked to see the land on the turn and both players checked again to see the complete the board on the river. Lim bet out 50,000 and Lee quickly called only to muck at the sight of Lim’s
Hand #50
Unknown action.
Hand #51
Andy Lee made it 40,000 from the button and Aaron Lim made the call to see a flop fall.
Lim checked and Lee bet out 35,000 and Lim splashed the pot with a call to see the on the turn. Both players checked and the on the river completed the board with Lim betting out 54,000.
Lee slid out a raise to 160,000 to put the action back on Lim, and after deliberating for close to two minutes, Lim folded his hand.
Updated Chip Counts:
Aaron Lim – 1,414,000
Andy Lee – 1,091,000
Thursday, April 11, 2013 4:54 PM Local Time
Hand #41
Andy Lee opened the button to 40,000. Aaron Lim made the call and a flop hit the felt. Lim check-called a bet of 40,000 here. The dealer flipped over a on the turn and this time both players checked. The final card on the felt was a and Lim led for 81,000. Lee opted to make the call, with Lim’s going into the muck when Lee tabled
Hand #42
Aaron Lim opened the button to 40,000. Andy Lee three-bet to 105,000. Lim decided to call and the dealer spread out a flop. Lee bet 125,000 and Lim let his cards go.
Hand #43
Andy Lee opened the button. Lim folded.
Hand #44
Aaron Lim opened the button to 40,000 and Andy Lee folded.
Hand #45
Andy Lee raised it to 40,000 from the button. Aaron Lim decided to make the call, at which point the dealer spread out a flop. Lim check-called a bet of 40,000 and a hit the turn. Lim once again checked and Lee bet 85,000. Lim made the call and a completed the board on the river. Both players checked and Lim scooped up the pot with his trumping Lee’s
Thursday, April 11, 2013 4:44 PM Local Time
Hand #37
Andy Lee opened to 40,000 from the button and Aaron Lim folded.
Hand #38
Aaron Lim raised to 40,000 and Andy Lee called to see a flop fall. Lee checked and Lim bet out 41,000 which prompted a raise from Lee to 105,000.
Lim re-checked his hand and then folded to give Lee the pot.
Hand #39
Andy Lee made it 40,000 to go and Aaron Lim riffled chips for close to a minute before making it 101,000 from the large blind. Lee paused for a few moments before making the call to see a flop spread by the dealer.
Lim took the lead on the flop by tossing in a 105,000-chip bet which Lee called as the rolled off on the turn.
Following a check from Lim, Lee tapped the table as well as the completed the board on the river and Lim checked once again.
Lee pushed out a stack amounting to 210,000 to force a fold from Lim.
Hand #40
Aaron Lim tossed in 40,000 from the button and Andy Lee defended his big blind to see a flop fall. Both players checked as the landed on the turn and a bet of 51,000 from Lim was enough to take the pot.
Updated Chip Counts:
Aaron Lim – 1,570,000
Andy Lee – 935,000
Thursday, April 11, 2013 4:31 PM Local Time
Hand #32
The first hand of heads-up play began with Aaron Lim opening the button to 30,000. Andy Lee called and a flop was spread on the felt. Lee led for 30,000 here and Lim folded.
Hand #33
Andy Lee opened the button to 30,000. Aaron Lim made the call and the dealer turned over a flop. Lim checked and Lee bet 30,000. Lim made the call and a was flipped over on the turn. Both players opted to check this card and a completed the board on the river. Lim again checked here, while Lee decided to bet 40,000. Lim thought long and hard on the river, eventually making the call. Lim would then muck, while Lee tabled to win the hand.
Hand #34
Aaron Lim opened the button to 30,000 and Andy Lee folded.
Hand #35
Andy Lee had the button and folded his cards.
Hand #36
Aaron Lim opened the button to 40,000. Andy Lee three-bet to 105,000 and it was back on Lim, who moved all in for 940,000. Lee instantly called and tabled his while Lim sort of sighed as he showed
It was looking like Lim was going to be going home in 2nd place, but the board would have other ideas, sending the double up to Lim and leaving Lee with around 670,000 in chips.
Thursday, April 11, 2013 4:17 PM Local Time
The players are now back from their break and the cards are in the air for this Event 4 heads-up battle.
Andy Lee – 1,450,000
Aaron Lim – 1,055,000
AU$233,800 and a WSOP gold bracelet awaits one of these two Australians.
Thursday, April 11, 2013 4:10 PM Local Time
Hand #31
Andy Lee opened with a raise to 27,000 from the button only to have Jan Suchanek three-bet to 60,000 from the big blind.
Lee made the call to see a flop fall and Suchanek lead for 85,000. Lee contemplated for a few moments before making the call as the landed on the turn. Suchanek insta-jammed for close to 200,000 and Lee instantly made the call.
Suchanek:
Lee:
With Suchanek drawing the dead, the landed on the river to end his tournament in 3rd place for a AU$103,766 payday while leaving Lee and Aaron Lim heads-up for the Event 4 bracelet.
The remaining two players are now heading on a 15-minute break.
Thursday, April 11, 2013 4:04 PM Local Time
Hand #27
Aaron Lim received a walk.
Hand #28
Andy Lee opened the button to 27,000. Aaron Lim, from the small blind, three-bet to 72,000. Jan Suchanek quickly folded his big blind and Lee let go of his cards as Lim raked in the small pot.
Hand #29
Aaron Lim opened the button to 24,000. Jan Suchanek folded the small blind, while Andy Lee called out of the big blind. On the flop, Lee check-called a bet of 30,000 here and a hit the turn. Lee again checked and Lim again bet, this time flicking out 48,000. Lee called and a completed the board on the river. Lee opted to lead this time, betting 56,000. Lim took his time, then made it 134,000 to go. Lee let his cards go and Lim scooped up the very nice pot that will see him once again be the chip leader.
Hand #30
Jan Suchanek folded the button, Andy Lee called out of the small blind and Lim tapped the table. On the flop, Lee led out for 31,000 and Lim let his cards go into the muck.
Thursday, April 11, 2013 3:53 PM Local Time
Hand #21
Aaron Lim receives a walk in the big blind.
Hand #22
Aaron Lim limped the small blind and Jan Suchanek checked to see the flop fall and both players check. The landed on the turn and Lim checked to Suchanek who bet out 16,000.
Lim called as the river landed the and both players checked. Suchanek tabled his and collected the pot from Lim.
Hand #23
Andy Lee received a walk in the big blind.
Hand #24
Andy Lee made it 36,000 to go from the small blind and Aaron Lim folded the big.
Hand #25
Aaron Lim raised to 31,000 from the small blind and Jan Suchanek made it 70,000 from the big. Lim deliberated for close to a minute before three-betting to 152,000 and Suchanek quickly mucked.
Hand #26
Jan Suchanek limped in and Andy Lee checked his option to see a flop fall and Suchanek led out for 15,000 . Lee raised to 35,000 and Suchanek folded.
Updated Chip Counts:
Andy Lee - 1,131,000
Aaron Lim - 918,000
Jan Suchanek - 439,000
Thursday, April 11, 2013 3:43 PM Local Time
Hand #17
The first hand of three-handed action saw Andy Lee receive a walk.
Hand #18
Aaron Lim received a walk.
Hand #19
Andy Lee opened the button to 25,000. Jan Suchanek three-bet to 65,000 and Lee called as the dealer tabled a flop. Suchanek led for 90,000 here and Lee decided to make the call. The dealer flipped over a on the turn and this time Suchanek led for 220,000. Back on Lee and he reached for chips as he contemplated what to do next. Eventually Lee made the call and a massive pot was brewing.
Suchanek slowed down on the river, checking over to Lee. After a few moments, Lee also checked and then scooped up the pot when he tabled #js – Suchanek’s went into the muck.
Hand #20
Aaron Lim opened the button to 24,000 and Andy Lee called out of the big blind. The dealer spread out a flop and Lee checked over to Lim, who bet 33,000. Back on Lee and he opted to check-raise to 76,000. Lim made the call and a hit the turn. Lee and Lim both checked this card and a completed the board.
The river would see Lee check and Lim take his time before also checking. At showdown, Lim tabled #kh which was enough to send Lee’s into the muck.
Thursday, April 11, 2013 3:35 PM Local Time
Hand #16
Aaron Lim made it 24,000 from the button and Jan Suchanek made the call from the small blind before Brendon Rubie moved all for roughly 220,00. Lim pushed all in also and Suchanek quickly mucked.
Rubie:
Lim:
With Rubie at the disadvantage and needing to spike one of his three outs to remain alive, the flop kept him at the disadvantage, and when the landed on the turn he would lose an out to the but gain chop outs with any six or two.
Unfortunately for Rubie he will have a 2nd and 4th place WSOP finish on his poker resume as the river landed the to give Lim the flush and knock Rubie to the rail for a AU$74,590 payday as Lim moves to roughly 805,000 in chips.
Thursday, April 11, 2013 3:30 PM Local Time
Hand #13
Jan Suchanek makes it 30,000 from the button and Andy Lee called from the big blind to see a and Lee checked.
Suchanek bet out 40,000 and Lee made the call to see the roll off on the turn. Both players checked as the river landed the and Lee tossed out a bet of 58,000. Suchanek instantly called and Lee mucked his hand.
WSOP Tournament Director Jack Effel stepped in and enforced Suchanek to table his hand although he didn’t want to. Suchanek rolled over his and collected the pot to move into the chip lead with over 925,000 in chips.
Hand #14
Aaron Lim received a walk in the big blind.
Hand #15
The action folded to Aaron Lim in the small blind and he raised to 29,000. Jan Suchanek made the call from the big blind to see a flop spread.
Lim checked and Suchanek bet 30,000 to win the pot.