Tim Mitchell Wins 2017 WSOP Sydney Monster Stack for $88,684

Perth-based pro Tim Mitchell took down a hotly-contested ‘Monster Stack’ event at the WSOP Sydney Circuit stop over the weekend, scooping $88,684 to almost double his lifetime earnings in one fell swoop.

As the Main Event was kicking off in the Star Poker Room, 403 players were determined to make it deep into the Monster Stack - Tony Hachem (brother of WSOP Main Event winner Joe) Gary Benson, Mitchell Watson and the delightfully-named ‘Toothpick Tony’ among them– the latter, whose real name is Antonis Kambouroglou, making it to his 3rd final table of the festival.

With the Star poker room reporting team on hand to share all the highlights, there were plenty to choose from. At one point Mitchell faced ‘a decision for his tournament life’ in an early hand against 2017 Aussie Millions Champion, Shurane Vijayaram’, the poker room live updates explaining that although ‘the math and the oddssaid it was a clear call… his instinct said otherwise’.

As the player stated himself:

"All the odds said I should have called but it seemed like I needed to make a big fold. I did fold and somebody else called, I would have lost the hand and I would have been eliminated from the tournament then if I had played."

Such decisions make or break tournaments, and 20/20 hindsight is always a great thing to have – but for Mitchell it worked out very well indeed.

Of course, no matter how big the stacks are to begin with, the blinds eventually catch up and force the pace, Aaron Wilson first to hit the final table rail as his rivered 2 pair was out-rivered by Mitchell’s flush hitting, the eventual champ also dealing the death-blow to Tony ‘Totti’ Tavella in 8th and then took out Vince ‘Ice-V’ Chung in 6th with another river hit.

‘Toothpick Tony’ Kambouroglou had high hopes of finally landing the tournament victory that he likely deserved for his excellent play throughout the series, but fate had other ideas – Mitchell this time hitting the flop hard and sending ‘Toothpick’ home with another $40,034 in his pocket to make up for the lack of WSOP jewellery.

Heads-up saw Rafe Aman initially turn the tables on Mitchell, turning a set to double up and take a huge chip lead, but Mitchell clawed his way back, until - as the live updates from the Star reported – the end finally came.

‘Tim Mitchell moved all in and was called by Rafe Aman.

Aman: 5♦ 5♠

Mitchell: 10♣ 4♣

Board: A♥ K♥ 7♦ J♥ Q♦

Mitchell makes a straight on the river and sends Aman to the rail in 2nd place. Tim Mitchell is our champion!’

Final Table Results

"A tournament like this always as a lot of ups and downs," Tim Mitchell told the Star Poker Live Reporting Team afterwards. "You just have to ride the good when it is with you and not get affected by the bad times. It all evens out in the end."