888PL News

Thu 15 Mar - Sam Dessaix-Porter takes out 2018 APL Million

Sam Dessaix-Porter wins the second running of the APL Million and takes home $247,500 in cash and prizes, including an $8,000 Jackstar Vegas package to play in the 2018 World Series of Poker.

It was a thrilling eight days at The Star Sydney as 1,041  players from across Australia battled it out for a whopping $1,301,250 in cash and prizes.

Good friends from far and wide had the opportunity to catch up and many new friendships were formed all thanks to the fun times on offer at The Star Sydney, with the APL Million, side events and the exciting Players Party at Sky Terrace on Sunday night.

There was also the added excitement of some Australia’s WSOP giant killers Jackie Glazier, Heidi May and Federico Butteroni as well as online poker superstar, Jesse “On the Mac” McKenzie hitting the felt to have a crack at the huge prize pool.

All fun and social events aside, however, there was poker to be played and with the bubble bursting on Saturday afternoon there were 108 happy players guaranteed at least $2,250 each.

We closed out Saturday with 27 players vying to return on the Final Day to play for the lion’s share of the cash. Most of the APL/888PL community who were onsite at The Star got together on Sunday night to let their hair down at Sky Terrace. It was a great night and a perfect prelude to what was going to be a historic day in Australian poker.

After a heap of excitement on the final day and some huge hands we worked our way down to the Final Table. With a minimum payout of $25,000 for 9^th place and over $250,000 for first, this was a huge moment for everyone on the final table. Chip counts were as follows:

Sam Dessaix-Porter 6,165,000

Barry Bertosa 5,700,000

Ben Veale 4,180,000

Jensen Chow 3,880,000

Jake Parsons 3,420,000

Patrick Barba 3,045,000

Dean Blatt 2,800,000

James Broom 980,000

Daryl Roper 945,000

The final table took over nine hours and almost three hundred hands to crown a winner and it was New South Welshman Sam Dessaix-Porter who edged out Western Australia’s Ben Veale to take down the second APL Million. Sam made it two from two for APL Illawarra, after Branko Usljebrka took out last year’s event.

Congratulations to everyone in the top 14 who on top of some incredible cash payouts have also qualified for this year’s WSOP Monster Stack Event as part of Team JackStar!

For detailed hand info, payouts and heaps of great pics of the action visit the APL Million Facebook page

The Full House Group would like to thank the team at The Star Sydney who helped to make this event run like clockwork. We'd also like to thank our FHG Licensees, Regional Managers, Tournaments Directors and staff who bring you our daily APL/888PL and Pub Poker events. Without these guys our events would not be possible.

Last but not least, the team at Full House Group would like to thank each and every person who stepped into the The Star Sydney Poker Room to take part in the APL Million - both in the event or supporting from the rail. Without your ongoing support none of this would be possible!