The Australian Poker Open (APO) reached the business end of proceedings after Luc Greenwood took down the penultimate event: the 35-entrant Event #6: AUD 50,000 No-Limit Hold’em (NLHE), for $427,928.
With only the AUD 100,000 NLHE Main Event remaining, five players are in with a shot of winning the Championship and AUD 50,000 first prize. Leading the way is Andras Nemeth, who picked up a third-place finish in the AUD 50,000, his fourth in the money (ITM) finish throughout six events.
Joining Nemeth in the hunt for the APO Championship is the former US Poker Open winner, Stephen Chidwick, Event #1: AUD 10,000 NLHE winner, Mike Watson, Event #4: AUD 25,000 Pot-Limit Omaha (PLO) winner, Farid Jattin, and Greenwood.
The win is only Greenwood’s third on the live tournament circuit, and his second in Open events after winning a £10,500 NLHE event at the British Poker Open (BPO) in London in September. Greenwood has now earned $4.4m in live tournament earnings. He made the APO leaderboard courtesy of his big cash in this event and finishing ninth in Event #1: AUD 10,000 NLHE.
Let’s take a look at Greenwood’s revolutionary march to the top.
Nutshell Action
Life is imbalanced for Michael Addamo, right now. But in a good way. The Australian Poker Hall of Fame recently honoured him at the Aussie Millions with the Young Achiever Award. Addamo then went on to win the AUD 50,000 NLHE Challenge, but he wasn’t able to win this one. Addamo got it in chasing the nut flush draw, and Greenwood’s top pair stuck like glue.
The day began with Chino Rheem at the helm, but it’s been a series of close-runs, minus cigars, for the controversial star. Rheem moved all-in over a Greenwood open, holding A2o, and Greenwood called and killed Rheem’s hopes of a win with AJo.
Greenwood entered the three-handed phase with a big chip lead, and it grew even more oppressive when he eliminated the APO Championship leader, Andras Nemeth in third place. Nemeth started ahead with KdJd up against Greenwood’s 8d5d. Still, Greenwood came from behind to river a straight, taking out his third successive opponent. Nemeth had the consolation of stretching his lead at the top of the Championship leaderboard courtesy of his ITM finish.
Greenwood went into his heads-up battle with Mikita Badziakouski with an enormous chip advantage, and he needed it. The Belarusian, who had earned $26.1m playing live tournaments, had refused to be beaten in 12-heads-up matches stretching back into 2017 when he lost against Timothy Adams in the €50,000 NLHE at the PokerStars Championship Prague. Badziakouski’s title challenge ended when he ran J3o into the KdQd of Greenwood.
“I really love the game, and I just try to play my best every single day, even if it’s just for small stakes online,” Greenwood told Poker Central reporters after his win. “I always try to focus on how well I played versus how much money I won or lost. If you’re playing poker professionally, it’s more important that you really enjoy the game no matter what stakes you’re playing for rather than getting just excited about the money.”
ITM Results
- Luc Greenwood – $427,928
- Mikita Badziakouski – $307,403
- Andras Nemeth – $189,171
- Chino Rheem – $118,232
- Michael Addamo – $94,586
Australian Poker Open Standings
- Andras Nemeth – 630 points
- Stephen Chidwick – 510
- Mike Watson – 450
- Luc Greenwood – 360
- Farid Jattin – 360
Only this quintet of players can win the APO Championship with the only event left on the roster, the AUD 100,000 NLHE Challenge.