Todor Kondevski Wins 2009 Melbourne Poker Championships Main Event ($150,000)

Written by TassieDevil, 2009 06 01 11:58 pm EST

Todor Kondevski jumped to our attention from the get-go today with a huge rush of early cards and big pots that saw him steamroll through the early action on Day 3 of the Main Event. He surged up the chip lead and never looked back.

After biding his time on the final table and enduring some heated discussion amongst a flurry of action, he overcame a quality lineup to capture the trophy and a whopping $150,000 in prize money. Congratulations Todor!

That wraps up our coverage of the 2009 Melbourne Poker Championships. It's been a memorable two weeks and we thank Jonno Pittock and his Crown Poker Room staff for another world class series.

With the PokerNews crew busy at the WSOP over the coming months, the next events on the local calendar are the ANZPT Queenstown event in July, followed by the Victorian Poker Championships in August. As always stay locked in to PokerNetwork.com for all the details about upcoming satellites and freerolls to these events.

So long from the Crown Poker Room!

Steve Topakas Eliminated in 2nd Place ($101,000); Tudor Kondevski Wins!

Written by TassieDevil, 2009 06 01 11:49 pm EST

Steve Topakas opened with a raise to 500,000 from the button and Tudor Kondevski made the call in the big blind.

The flop came down and both players checked. The turn brought the and Kondevski led out with a bet of 500,000. Topakas quickly announced a raise, making it 1.2 million to play. Kondevski defiantly plonked out a stack and a half of chocolate chips to declare a call as a huge pot developed.

The river was the and Kondevski checked to Topakas who rocked back in his chair, looked down at his chips and announced he was all in. In a heartbeat Kondevski made the call and Topakas cringed in the knowledge that he was beat. Topakas tossed his cards straight into the muck but it was ruled he had to turn them over to reveal - nothing but air. Kondevski tabled for top pair which was good to take down the pot and the trophy!

Congratulations to Steve Topakas who fought hard from the short stack to get himself into 2nd place and collect $101,000 for a fine tournament.

Topakas Working Early

Written by thkcduckworth, 2009 06 01 11:41 pm EST

After receiving two consecutive walks Steve Topakas bumped the action up to 400,000 to force a fold from Tudor Kondevski.

The following hand he limped and took the pot down with a 600,000 bet on the flop.

Topakas has definitely began working on the five-to-one chip disadvantage that he has to contend with!

Play Resumed

Written by thkcduckworth, 2009 06 01 11:37 pm EST

The players are back in their chairs and the cards are in the air.

Heads Up Counts

Written by thkcduckworth, 2009 06 01 11:29 pm EST

Tudor Kondevski - 11,770,000
Steve Topakas - 2,730,000

Mark Iskander Eliminated in 3rd Place ($72,500)

Written by TassieDevil, 2009 06 01 11:29 pm EST

Mark Iskander has clearly been visibly frustrated since the bad beat he suffered a little earlier. He has been frequently moving all in, but he's just been caught out by a monster hand held by Tudor Kondevski.

Iskander opened with a raise to 450,000 from the small blind before Tudor Kondevski moved all in from the big blind. Iskander had about 3 million behind but he decided to make a gambling call.

Iskander:
Kondevski:

The board ran out and Kondevski made quad kings to send Iskander crashing to the rail in 3rd place for $72,500 in prize money.

We're now heads up! There will be a short break before play will recommence with the trophy on the line!

Grandpa Gets Lucky

Written by thkcduckworth, 2009 06 01 11:12 pm EST

Mark Iskander bumped it up on the button to 400,000 and with the action on Tudor Kondevski he pushed all in for 4,160,000. Steve Topakas in the big blind mucked and Iskander quickly called.

Kondevski:
Iskander:

The flop brought a dagger through the heart of Iskander when it fell to put Kondevski in the lead. Iskander would find no improvement when the came on the turn and the on the river.

As Kondevski climbed to 8,510,000 in chips, Iskander commented "Grandpa got lucky!" as he slipped to 2,600,000 in chips.

Break Cancelled

Written by thkcduckworth, 2009 06 01 10:54 pm EST

There was a scheduled break supposed to occur now, but following agreements by the remaining player's following the earlier unscheduled break; play will continue.

Blinds are 80,000-160,000 with a 10,000-chip ante!