Ailen JiAilen Ji has been crowned champion of the Australian Poker Cup at WPT Australia 2026, defeating Ireland's Ross Coveney heads-up at The Star Sydney to claim the AUD 83,740 ($60,293) top prize, along with a AUD 1,500 WPT Prime Championship seat in Las Vegas and the trophy.
The opening event of the series attracted 441 entries, generating a AUD 441,000 ($317,520) prize pool. Coveney, who entered the final table as the chip leader, collected AUD 53,000 ($38,160) for his runner-up finish, while David Hirst rounded out the podium in third place for AUD 39,000 ($28,080).
| Place | Player | Prize (AUD) | Prize (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | AJ Ailen Ji ![Australia [AUS]](/assets/images/flags/4x3/au.svg "Australia [AUS]"){kind=small} Australia | 83,740 | $60,293 |
| 2 | RC Ross Coveney ![Ireland [IRL]](/assets/images/flags/4x3/ie.svg "Ireland [IRL]"){kind=small} Ireland | 53,000 | $38,160 |
| 3 | DH David Hirst Australia | 39,000 | $28,080 |
| 4 | FR Filip Radic Australia | 29,000 | $20,880 |
| 5 | SP Sam Pantos Australia | 22,400 | $16,128 |
| 6 | YA Yoad Agmon Australia | 17,000 | $12,240 |
| 7 | GL Gongli Li Australia | 13,100 | $9,432 |
| 8 | DT Daniel Tolomeo Australia | 10,200 | $7,344 |
| 9 | MM Matthew Maks Australia | 8,700 | $6,264 |
Ji began the nine-handed final table as one of the shorter stacks and endured a difficult start before finding a huge double-up through Coveney. From there, he steadily climbed the counts, with a massive hero call against Filip Radic proving pivotal on his way to closing out the final table.
Ji continued his recovery by eliminating Yoad Agmon in sixth place after making an ace-high flush on the river, but it was four-handed where the eventual champion produced the call of the WPT Australia 2026 festival so far.
In a blind-on-blind battle with Radic, Ji called bets on the flop and turn with just king-high before Radic moved all-in on the river. After using a time bank, Ji made the call with king-high and caught Radic bluffing with queen-high, earning a double-up that propelled him into the chip lead.
Filip RadicSpeaking to Somuchpoker after his victory, Ji explained that the dynamics of the blind-on-blind battle played a major role in his decision.
"He was the chip leader in that hand. It was small blind against big blind, so I thought his range was very wide," Ji said.
"My biggest concern was that my bluff-catcher might not be strong enough, especially if he had king-ten. Apart from that, I thought I couldn't allow him to keep exploiting me like that. I believed he still had a lot of bluffs."
David HirstCoveney later eliminated Radic in fourth before Ji took care of Hirst in third. Hirst got his stack in good with pocket jacks against Ji's smaller pocket pair, but Ji turned a set to send Hirst to the rail and take the chip lead into heads-up against Coveney.
The Irishman fought back and managed to draw level before Ji regained the advantage. The biggest pot of their heads-up battle then went Ji's way when Coveney flopped trips, only for Ji to complete a straight on the river and extract value to give him a 3:1 lead.
Ross CoveneyThe tournament ended shortly afterwards when Coveney limp-jammed with pocket jacks and Ji snap-called with ace-queen. Coveney remained ahead on the flop, but a queen on the turn paired Ji and left Coveney needing help on the river. None arrived, confirming Ji as the Australian Poker Cup champion.
Despite the victory, Ji was quick to give credit to his heads-up opponent while admitting the cards appeared to fall his way at the right times.
Ailen Ji"I think my opponent also played very well. Maybe I was just luckier," Ji said. "I kept connecting with the board while he didn't, and my hands were always slightly better than his."
After surviving the early stages of the final table, making one of the best calls of his poker career and eventually seeing off Coveney heads-up, Ji will now have the task of finding somewhere to put the sizeable Australian Poker Cup trophy.
"I'll put it in my home in Melbourne," Ji said.
Australian Poker Cup TrophyThat concludes Somuchpoker's coverage of the Australian Poker Cup, but be sure to tune back in throughout the rest of the festival, with the WPT Prime Championship and WPT Championship Event still to come, along with daily recaps from the side events across the series.
Ailen JiAilen Ji has won the Australian Poker Cup for AUD 83,750 ($60,293) and an AUD 1,500 WPT Prime Championship ticket for Las Vegas in December.
Stay tuned for a recap of the day's action.
Ross CoveneyRoss Coveney completed from the button and Ailen Ji raised to 500,000 in the big blind. Coveney responded with a limp-jam for 5,800,000, and Ji snap-called with his first chance to win the tournament.
Ross Coveney: J♦ J♥
Ailen Ji: A♣ Q♣
It was a massive race that would see Coveney almost draw level in chips if Ji failed to improve.
There was no help for Ji's overcards on the 4♦ 4♣ T♦ flop, but the Q♦ landed on the turn, propelling Ji into the lead with a pair of queens, while Coveney picked up a flush draw.
The 2♥ river was a total blank, ending Coveney's deep run as the runner-up, while Ji was crowned champion of the Australian Poker Cup.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
AJ Ailen Ji Australia | 21,800,000(145 BB) | 5,800,000 |
RC Ross Coveney Ireland | busted | -5,800,000 |
Ailen JiRoss Coveney raised the button to 300,000 and Ailen Ji defended from the big blind.
Ji checked to Coveney on the 8♠J♦ 8♣ flop, and Coveney bet 275,000. Ji called.
Ji opted to lead out for 500,000 when the T♥ arrived on the turn. Coveney called.
Ji led out again for 1,900,000 after the 7â™ completed the board. Coveney used a few time banks before deciding to make the call.
Ji showed J♠9♦ for a rivered straight to win the pot, while Coveney mucked A♥ 8♦ for trips.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
AJ Ailen Ji Australia | 16,000,000(107 BB) | 3,200,000 |
RC Ross Coveney Ireland | 5,800,000(39 BB) | -3,200,000 |
Ailen Ji raised the button to 300,000 and Ross Coveney three-bet from the big blind to 850,000. Ji came along with a call.
Coveney bet 550,000 on the 2♦ 8♠5♠flop, which Ji called.
The 5♣ turn checked through before the 3♠arrived on the river. Both checked again, and Coveney showed K♣ Q♠for king-high. Ji turned over A♠7♦ for ace-high and was awarded the pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
AJ Ailen Ji Australia | 12,800,000(85 BB) | 1,900,000 |
RC Ross Coveney Ireland | 9,000,000(60 BB) | -1,900,000 |
Ross CoveneyAilen Ji raised the button to 300,000 and Ross Coveney called from the big blind.
Coveney check-called Ji's continuation-bet of 200,000 on the 8♣ 2♠9♥ flop.
Both checked the 5♠turn before Coveney led out for 625,000 when the 5♥ hit the river. Ji called with 3♥ 2♦ for bottom pair, but was second best to Coveney's K♦ 8♥ for a pair of eights.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
RC Ross Coveney Ireland | 10,900,000(73 BB) | 1,100,000 |
AJ Ailen Ji Australia | 10,900,000(73 BB) | -1,100,000 |
Ailen Ji called from the button and Ross Coveney checked in the big blind.
Both players checked the 8♥ 3♦ T♦ flop to see the 4♥ arrive on the turn. Coveney bet 175,000, which Ji called.
The K♥ river checked through and Coveney won the pot with 8♦ 7♣ for a pair of eights. Ji mucked A♣ 6♥ for ace-high.
| Player | Chips |
|---|---|
AJ Ailen Ji Australia | 12,000,000(80 BB) |
RC Ross Coveney Ireland | 9,800,000(65 BB) |
There is a short break before the start of the heads-up.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
AJ Ailen Ji Australia | 12,575,000(84 BB) | |
RC Ross Coveney Ireland | 9,500,000(63 BB) | 400,000 |
David HirstAilen Ji raised the button to 300,000 and David Hirst three-bet from the big blind to 900,000. Ji thought momentarily, then four-bet jammed, covering Hirst. Hirst snap-called for his stack of 4,800,000, putting himself at risk.
David Hirst: J♥ J♦
Ailen Ji: 4♦ 4♣
Hirst had the bigger pair and was in a great spot to double through Ji. All he needed to do was hold with his pocket jacks.
The A♣ 8♠2♣ flop kept Hirst ahead. However, a killer 4♠on the turn propelled Ji into pole position with a set.
There was no two-outer on the river for Hirst as the Kâ™ completed the board, eliminating him in third place and sending the Australian Poker Cup heads-up.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
AJ Ailen Ji Australia | 12,575,000(84 BB) | 4,400,000 |
DH David Hirst Australia | busted | -4,700,000 |
Filip Radic Ross Coveney made it 300,000 to go on the button and Filip Radic three-bet to 900,000 from the big blind. Coveney shoved 5,400,000, and Radic called off his stack of 3,500,000.
Filip Radic: 9♥ 9♦
Ross Coveney: A♦ Tâ™
Radic had just lost a pot and was now at risk of hitting the rail. A flop of 8♠3♣ A♥ put him well on the way there as Coveney paired his ace, and the T♥ turn left Radic with just two outs.
A 5♥ on the river changed nothing, and Radic made his way to the exit in fourth.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
RC Ross Coveney Ireland | 9,100,000(61 BB) | 3,600,000 |
FR Filip Radic Australia | busted | -6,100,000 |
Ross CoveneyDavid Hirst raised to 250,000 from under the gun, with Ailen Ji calling in the small blind and Ross Coveney defending from the big blind.
All three checked the 3♠5♠6♥ flop to see the K♥ hit the turn. When it checked to Hirst, he fired a delayed continuation-bet of 300,000, which Ji and Coveney both called.
The Q♦ dropped on the river and, after Ji checked, Coveney elected to bet 950,000. Hirst and Ji folded, giving up the multi-way pot to Coveney.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
AJ Ailen Ji Australia | 7,600,000(61 BB) | -1,200,000 |
RC Ross Coveney Ireland | 5,500,000(44 BB) | 300,000 |
DH David Hirst Australia | 4,700,000(38 BB) | -200,000 |
Ross Coveney raised to 250,000 on the button with A♠9♦ and David Hirst called with 8♠8♣ in the small blind. Filip Radic moved all in with T♦ T♣ in the big blind for 7,700,000, which was enough to win the pot, as both of his opponents folded.
In the next hand, Radic looked down Q♠T♣ in the small blind and raised to 375,000. Ji defended with K♦ 4♠out of the big blind.
The flop came J♠6♦ A♦ and Radic fired a small continuation-bet of 275,000. Ji stuck around to see the 2♣ drop on the turn, where he was faced with a bet of 775,000 from Radic. Ji, undeterred, called again with king-high.
On the 5â™ river, Radic shoved, putting Ji to the test for his remaining 2,900,000. Ji used a time bank to mull it over further, before he eventually decided to call with king-high for a huge double-up!
Soul read?
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
AJ Ailen Ji Australia | 8,800,000(70 BB) | 5,100,000 |
FR Filip Radic Australia | 6,100,000(49 BB) | -1,800,000 |
DH David Hirst Australia | 5,400,000(43 BB) | |
RC Ross Coveney Ireland | 4,400,000(35 BB) |
David Hirst limped in from the small blind and Filip Radic made it 425,000 to go from the big blind. Hirst called.
On the J♣ K♦ 7♠flop, Hirst check-called a bet of 250,000 from Radic to the T♥ turn. Hirst checked again, and Radic's bet of 900,000 got the job done as Hirst laid it down.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
FR Filip Radic Australia | 7,900,000(63 BB) | 900,000 |
DH David Hirst Australia | 4,900,000(39 BB) | -600,000 |
With J♣ 5♣, Filip Radic raised to 250,000 from under the gun and David Hirst defended from the big blind holding Q♥ 9♦.
Hirst check-called Radic's bet of 300,000 on the Q♠T♣ 7♣ flop.
Hirst checked again when the Q♦ arrived on the turn, allowing Radic to fire a second barrel of 400,000. Hirst went for the most aggressive option and check-raised to 975,000.
Radic let it go, giving up the pot to Hirst.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
FR Filip Radic Australia | 7,000,000(56 BB) | -1,800,000 |
DH David Hirst Australia | 5,500,000(44 BB) | 1,000,000 |
David Hirst looked down at A♠J♦ first to act and made it 250,000 to go. Ross Coveney picked up A♦ 5♣ in the big blind and called.
They both saw a flop of 2♠Q♣ 8♠and after Coveney checked, Hirst continued for 175,000. Coveney peeled one off to see the 8♦ pair the board on the turn.
A round of checks brought them to the T♦ river, where it checked down. Hirst took it down with his superior kicker.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
RC Ross Coveney Ireland | 5,200,000(42 BB) | -600,000 |
DH David Hirst Australia | 4,500,000(36 BB) | 700,000 |
David HirstDavid Hirst called from the small blind and Filip Radic checked his option in the big blind.
Hirst check-called a bet of 125,000 from Radic on the T♥ 8♥ 5♠flop.
The T♣ arrived on the turn and Hirst check-called a second bet from Radic.
The T♦ completed the board and elected to lead out for 400,000. Radic was curious enough to call with 7♠5♥ for a full house, but it was second best to Hirst's K♥ 8♣ for a higher boat.
| Player | Chips |
|---|---|
FR Filip Radic Australia | 8,800,000(70 BB) |
DH David Hirst Australia | 3,800,000(30 BB) |
The four players are going on a 15-minute break.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
FR Filip Radic Australia | 9,800,000(98 BB) | 300,000 |
RC Ross Coveney Ireland | 5,800,000(58 BB) | -700,000 |
AJ Ailen Ji Australia | 3,700,000(37 BB) | 500,000 |
DH David Hirst Australia | 2,800,000(28 BB) | -700,000 |
| Place | Payout (AUD) | Payout (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 83,740 | $60,293 |
| 2 | 53,000 | $38,160 |
| 3 | 39,000 | $28,080 |
| 4 | 29,000 | $20,880 |
Ross Coveney raised the button with 9♣ 8♥ and Filip Radic defended his big blind holding T♥ 6♠.
On the T♠A♦ 6♣ flop, Radic check-called a bet of 125,000 from Coveney to the Q♦ turn, where again he check-called for 375,000 with his two pair.
A 5â™ on the river bricked for Coveney and when the action was checked to him, he reached for chips with two hands and bet 950,000. Radic took a peek back at his cards and with his two pair, he dropped in the call.
After that pot, Radic jumped into the chip lead, while Coveney's stack dropped to a little under seven million.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
FR Filip Radic Australia | 8,900,000(89 BB) | 1,800,000 |
RC Ross Coveney Ireland | 6,800,000(68 BB) | -1,600,000 |
David Hirst raised the button with Q♦ 8♠to 200,000 and Ailen Ji defended his big blind holding K♥ J♦.
Ji checked to Hirst on the A♣ T♦ K♣ flop, and Hirst continued for 130,000. Ji called.
Ji checked again on the 3♦ turn, then folded versus Hirst's second barrel of 450,000.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
DH David Hirst Australia | 3,900,000(39 BB) | 200,000 |
AJ Ailen Ji Australia | 3,300,000(33 BB) | -400,000 |
Sam PantosSam Pantos limped the button and Filip Radic made it 1,900,000 to go from the big blind. Pantos, with 1,400,000 in his stack, called it off.
Sam Pantos: Q♦ J♣
Filip Radic: A♠9♥
Pantos had live cards and needed to connect with them in order to stay alive. A flop of 9♦ T♦ 5♥ gave Pantos a plethora of outs as he picked up an open-ended straight draw to go along with his overcards.
A 3♣ on the turn was safe for Radic and put the field one card closer to four-handed play, and the 6♥ river confirmed Pantos' elimination in fifth.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
RC Ross Coveney Ireland | 8,400,000(84 BB) | 600,000 |
FR Filip Radic Australia | 7,100,000(71 BB) | 1,300,000 |
AJ Ailen Ji Australia | 3,700,000(37 BB) | |
DH David Hirst Australia | 3,400,000(34 BB) | -300,000 |
SP Sam Pantos Australia | busted | -1,500,000 |
Yoad AgmonYoad Agmon jammed from under the gun for 1,000,000 and Ailen Ji called from the small blind for around a third of his stack.
Yoad Agmon: 4♥ 4♦
Ailen Ji: A♣ T♣
It was another flip, this time one Agmon needed to win to stay alive.
Ji took the lead on the 6♣ T♠8♦ flop with top pair, before the 3♣ turn left Agmon with just one out as Ji also picked up a flush draw.
Agmon found the 4♣ river to improve to a set, but it wasn't enough as the same card completed Ji's ace-high flush.
Agmon shook hands with the other players before exiting in sixth place.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
AJ Ailen Ji Australia | 3,700,000(37 BB) | 1,100,000 |
YA Yoad Agmon Australia | busted | -1,200,000 |
Sam Pantos opened the hijack to 200,000 and Filip Radic called from the small blind. Ailen Ji also called from the big blind.
The flop came 9♣ J♠J♣ and when it got to Pantos, he bet 500,000. Radic called, and Ji folded.
A J♦ on the turn put three jacks on board, and both players quickly to the J♥ river, which put quads on board. Both players checked it down, with Pantos showing 8♥ 8♣.
That was no good as Radic held K♣ 4♣ for king-high to scoop the pot.
What a runout!
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
FR Filip Radic Australia | 5,800,000(58 BB) | 1,500,000 |
AJ Ailen Ji Australia | 2,500,000(25 BB) | -100,000 |
SP Sam Pantos Australia | 1,500,000(15 BB) | -700,000 |
YA Yoad Agmon Australia | 1,000,000(10 BB) | -200,000 |
Gongli LiSam Pantos raised the cutoff to 200,000 and Gongli Li jammed from the small blind for 780,000. Pantos made the call for the majority of his stack, and the players flipped their cards.
Gongli Li: K♦ Q♣
Sam Pantos: 2♠2♦
It was a flip Li needed to win to stay alive, but he was unable to do so as the board ran out 5♠7♠8♣ 5♦ 4♦, keeping Pantos' deuces ahead the entire way.
Pantos was back up to over two million, while Li was sent to the cashier's desk to collect his seventh-place payout.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
SP Sam Pantos Australia | 2,200,000(28 BB) | 800,000 |
GL Gongli Li Australia | busted | -1,400,000 |
Ross Coveney made it 160,000 to go from the cutoff and David Hirst defended his big blind.
On the 6♥ A♦ Q♦ flop, Hirst check-called a bet of 110,000 from Coveney to see the 5♠peel off on the turn. Again Hirst checked, and again he called after Coveney fired 200,000.
A K♣ fell on the river and after Hirst checked for a third time, Coveney knuckled back and flipped Q♥ 7♥ for a pair of queens. Hirst had that pipped with Q♣ 9♣ as his kicker was bigger, earning him the pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
RC Ross Coveney Ireland | 7,800,000(98 BB) | -500,000 |
DH David Hirst Australia | 3,700,000(46 BB) | 600,000 |
Sam Pantos raised early position to 200,000 and Ross Coveney three-bet to 550,000 out of the big blind. Pantos instantly called.
They saw a flop of 2♣ A♣ A♥, where Coveney continued for 250,000. Pantos called and both checked the K♦ turn.
On the 4♥ river, Coveney shoved with top full house holding A♠K♣, and Pantos went into Hollywood mode with J♣ T♣ before he eventually laid it down.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
RC Ross Coveney Ireland | 8,300,000(104 BB) | 300,000 |
SP Sam Pantos Australia | 1,400,000(18 BB) | -1,000,000 |
Ailen JiAilen Ji raised to 160,000 from early position with 9♦ 8♦, and only Sam Pantos called on the button holding K♦ T♠.
A jackpot flop of 7♣ 7♠7♥ was checked by both players, and the 6♥ arrived on the turn. Ji fired a delayed continuation-bet of 130,000, which Pantos called.
The 4♥ completed the board, and Ji overbet jammed for 1,800,000. Pantos let it go, allowing Ji to drag in the pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
AJ Ailen Ji Australia | 2,600,000(33 BB) | 1,000,000 |
SP Sam Pantos Australia | 2,400,000(30 BB) | -200,000 |
Filip RadicSam Pantos opened to 175,000 from the cutoff and Filip Radic defended his big blind.
The connected flop of 8♥ 9♠7♦ hit the felt and both checked to the board-pairing 7♣ turn. Radic led out for 225,000 and Pantos quickly raised to 600,000. Radic called.
A 2♣ hit the river and Radic checked it over to Pantos, who fired 700,000. Radic rechecked his cards and then called, showing J♥ T♦ for a straight.
Pantos also had a straight with 6â™ 5â™ , but that was no good as he mucked and sent the chips in Radic's direction.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
FR Filip Radic Australia | 4,300,000(54 BB) | 1,700,000 |
SP Sam Pantos Australia | 2,600,000(33 BB) | -1,700,000 |
With A♥ J♠, David Hirst raised the hijack to 160,000 and Ross Coveney defended from the big blind holding K♠7♠.
The action checked through on the 8♠Q♦ 5♠flop, and the K♣ arrived on the turn. Coveney led out for 110,000, and Hirst stuck around with a call.
The 9♦ completed the board, and Coveney fired again, this time for 130,000. Hirst thought it over before returning his cards to the dealer, sending another pot in the direction of the chip leader.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
RC Ross Coveney Ireland | 8,000,000(100 BB) | 300,000 |
DH David Hirst Australia | 3,100,000(39 BB) | -300,000 |
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
RC Ross Coveney Ireland | 7,700,000(128 BB) | |
SP Sam Pantos Australia | 4,300,000(72 BB) | -200,000 |
DH David Hirst Australia | 3,400,000(57 BB) | 100,000 |
FR Filip Radic Australia | 2,600,000(43 BB) | -300,000 |
AJ Ailen Ji Australia | 1,600,000(27 BB) | 200,000 |
GL Gongli Li Australia | 1,400,000(23 BB) | 80,000 |
YA Yoad Agmon Australia | 1,200,000(20 BB) | -200,000 |
Daniel TolomeoDaniel Tolomeo shoved the button for 320,000 and was put at risk by David Hirst in the big blind.
Daniel Tolomeo: Kâ™ Tâ™
David Hirst: 6♦ 6♣
Tolomeo was in a flip for his tournament life, and found two pair to take a huge lead on the K♣ Q♥ T♥ flop.
However, the poker gods weren't on Tolomeo's side today as the 6♠turn improved Hirst to a set. An A♦ on the river wasn't the card Tolomeo needed to survive, ending his run in eighth.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
DH David Hirst Australia | 3,300,000(55 BB) | 400,000 |
DT Daniel Tolomeo Australia | busted | -380,000 |
Filip Radic raised to 120,000 from early position, and only Sam Pantos called from the big blind.
Pantos check-called a bet of 100,000 from Radic on the 4♠5♣ 5♥ flop.
The T♥ landed on the turn and Pantos switched gears, leading out for 200,000. This time, Radic called.
When the J♠completed the board, Pantos fired again for 350,000. Radic called, and Pantos revealed a bluff with 9♥ 6♥.
Radic tabled 7♠7♥ for just a pair of sevens, which was good enough to earn him the pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
SP Sam Pantos Australia | 4,500,000(75 BB) | -800,000 |
FR Filip Radic Australia | 2,900,000(48 BB) | 700,000 |
Sam Pantos limped in for 60,000 from middle position and Ailen Ji shoved the small blind for 625,000. Ross Coveney then called from the big blind, and Pantos folded.
Ailen Ji: J♥ J♣
Ross Coveney: K♥ Q♥
It was a flip, and one that Ji needed to win to remain in contention. He took a big leap towards survival on the 9♥ 2♣ J♠flop as he made a set, but did need to dodge a ten as that would give Coveney Broadway.
The 5♣ and A♦ turn and river were both safe, giving Ji a double-up.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
RC Ross Coveney Ireland | 7,700,000(128 BB) | -700,000 |
AJ Ailen Ji Australia | 1,400,000(23 BB) | 655,000 |
Matthew MaksRoss Coveney raised to 120,000 from early position before Matthew Maks three-bet to 350,000 from the next seat. Sam Pantos cold-called on the button, and Coveney also came along.
The trio saw a 2♦ 8♠5♥ flop, where the action checked to Maks and he fired a continuation-bet of 400,000. Pantos folded his mystery hand, but Coveney elected to continue via a call.
The 6♥ turn brought another check from Coveney, and Maks kept his foot on the gas with a bet of 550,000. Again, Coveney called.
The 8♥ completed the board and Coveney checked for a third time. With 1,300,000 behind, Maks went deep into the tank, burning through a few time banks before moving all-in. Coveney quickly called.
Maks turned over Q♦ Q♥ for an overpair, but Coveney had rivered trips with 8♣ 7♣ to bring the tournament down to eight players.
Maks headed to the rail in ninth as the first casualty of the final table, while Coveney extended his chip lead to 8,400,000.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
RC Ross Coveney Ireland | 8,400,000(140 BB) | 3,100,000 |
SP Sam Pantos Australia | 5,300,000(88 BB) | -400,000 |
MM Matthew Maks Australia | busted | -2,400,000 |
Ailen Ji raised from early position to 120,000 and Sam Pantos defended the big blind.
On the Q♣ 5♦ 4♣ flop, Pantos check-raised to 220,000 after Ji bet 85,000. Ji called to see the 5♥ turn, where he was faced with a bet of 300,000 from Pantos. Again, Ji called.
An 8♣ hit the river and Pantos, who held K♦ Q♠, checked it over. Ji checked back A♥ K♥, and mucked when he saw the pair of queens Pantos held.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
SP Sam Pantos Australia | 5,700,000(95 BB) | 700,000 |
AJ Ailen Ji Australia | 745,000(12 BB) | -655,000 |
Sam Pantos made it 195,000 under the gun with 2♠2♦. Matthew Maks called on the button holding 4♣ 3♣, Yoad Agmon called out of the small blind with 9♥ 9♦, and Daniel Tolomeo defended K♠7♦ in the big blind.
After two checks, Pantos fired a continuation-bet of 300,000 on the 8♥ A♥ T♣ flop, which got the rest of the table to fold.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
SP Sam Pantos Australia | 5,000,000(83 BB) | 635,000 |
MM Matthew Maks Australia | 2,400,000(40 BB) | -105,000 |
YA Yoad Agmon Australia | 1,400,000(23 BB) | -200,000 |
DT Daniel Tolomeo Australia | 380,000(6 BB) | -255,000 |
David Hirst raised from early position to 120,000 and Yoad Agmon defended his big blind.
The flop came 3♠A♥ K♥ and when Agmon checked, Hirst continued for 100,000. Agmon called.
A K♣ hit the turn and both checked to the 2♠river, where Agmon checked to Hirst. After some deliberation, Hirst bet 275,000, which drew a quick fold from Agmon.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
DH David Hirst Australia | 2,900,000(48 BB) | 285,000 |
YA Yoad Agmon Australia | 1,600,000(27 BB) | -235,000 |
Filip Radic raised the button to 120,000 with 5♥ 4♥, and Ross Coveney defended J♠5♠from the big blind.
Coveney checked the Q♠J♣ K♦ flop and then called a continuation-bet of 140,000 from Radic.
The 2♣ turn brought a second check from Coveney and a second bet from Radic, this time for 300,000. Again, Coveney called.
The 9♣ completed the board and Coveney checked. Radic thought for a while before unloading the clip with a third and final bullet of 500,000.
Coveney didn't take long to fold, giving up the pot to Radic, who moved over two million.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
RC Ross Coveney Ireland | 5,300,000(88 BB) | -360,000 |
FR Filip Radic Australia | 2,200,000(37 BB) | 565,000 |
Ross Coveney raised to 120,000 from under the gun and Filip Radic called from the small blind. Ailen Ji also came along from the big blind.
On the 3♠4♠T♣ flop, all three checked to the A♦ turn, where Coveney fired 160,000 when it got to him.
Radic then put in a raise holding 5♦ 4♦, and everybody else quickly folded.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
RC Ross Coveney Ireland | 5,400,000(90 BB) | -260,000 |
FR Filip Radic Australia | 2,100,000(35 BB) | 465,000 |
AJ Ailen Ji Australia | 1,400,000(23 BB) | -195,000 |
Australian Poker Cup Final Table 
Sam PantosThe final day of the Australian Poker Cup gets underway at The Star Sydney from 12:30 p.m. local time, with just nine players remaining in contention to become the first champion of WPT Australia 2026.
Ireland's Ross Coveney will return with the chip lead after bagging 5,660,000 last night, putting him clear of Sam Pantos in second with 4,365,000. David Hirst sits third with 2,615,000, while Matthew Maks is close behind with 2,505,000.
| Player | Chips | Table | Seat |
|---|---|---|---|
FR Filip Radic Australia | 1,635,000 | 32 | 1 |
AJ Ailen Ji Australia | 1,595,000 | 32 | 2 |
RC Ross Coveney Ireland | 5,660,000 | 32 | 3 |
MM Matthew Maks Australia | 2,505,000 | 32 | 4 |
YA Yoad Agmon Australia | 1,835,000 | 32 | 5 |
DT Daniel Tolomeo Australia | 635,000 | 32 | 6 |
SP Sam Pantos Australia | 4,365,000 | 32 | 7 |
DH David Hirst Australia | 2,615,000 | 32 | 8 |
GL Gongli Li Australia | 1,320,000 | 32 | 9 |
Ailen JiAlso returning are Yoad Agmon (1,835,000), Filip Radic (1,635,000), Ailen Ji (1,595,000), and Gongli Li (1,320,000), while Daniel Tolomeo enters the final day as the short stack with 635,000.
Play resumes with 29 minutes and 43 seconds remaining in Level 26, with blinds at 30,000/60,000 and a 60,000 big blind ante. All nine finalists have already locked up AUD 8,700 ($6,264), but their eyes will firmly be on the AUD 83,740 ($60,293) top prize, along with a AUD 1,500 WPT Prime Championship seat in Las Vegas and the trophy.
WPT Australia Poker Cup TrophyThe action is set to get underway at 12:30 p.m., with the final table also being streamed on a delay via Twitch and Facebook. Somuchpoker will be on the floor throughout the day, bringing you all the key hands and eliminations until the Australian Poker Cup crowns its champion.
| Player | Chips | Table | Seat |
|---|---|---|---|
FR Filip Radic Australia | 1,635,000 | 32 | 1 |
AJ Ailen Ji Australia | 1,595,000 | 32 | 2 |
RC Ross Coveney Ireland | 5,660,000 | 32 | 3 |
MM Matthew Maks Australia | 2,505,000 | 32 | 4 |
YA Yoad Agmon Australia | 1,835,000 | 32 | 5 |
DT Daniel Tolomeo Australia | 635,000 | 32 | 6 |
SP Sam Pantos Australia | 4,365,000 | 32 | 7 |
DH David Hirst Australia | 2,615,000 | 32 | 8 |
GL Gongli Li Australia | 1,320,000 | 32 | 9 |
| Place | Payout (AUD) | Payout (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 83,740 | $60,293 |
| 2 | 53,000 | $38,160 |
| 3 | 39,000 | $28,080 |
| 4 | 29,000 | $20,880 |
| 5 | 22,400 | $16,128 |
| 6 | 17,000 | $12,240 |
| 7 | 13,100 | $9,432 |
| 8 | 10,200 | $7,344 |
| 9 | 8,700 | $6,264 |
