$10,600 Main Event Jour 1a | 2018 Aussie Millions

2018-01-29 01:15 UTC+10

2018 Aussie Millions Main Event Off to a Good Start; Former Champions Stavropoulos and Gorr Advance on Day 1a

zedmaster84

Niveau 7 : 300/600, 100 ante

Lee Armstrong bagged up the lead on Day 1a

The 2018 Aussie Millions $A10,600 Main Event is off to a good start at the Crown Casino in Melbourne after a total of 212 players entered the first of three available flights, exactly the same as last year on Day 1a. Seven levels of 90 minutes each saw the field cut down in more than half as only 96 hopefuls remained at the end of the night.

It was a very close race for the overnight lead with several contenders for the top spot, and Lee Armstrong ended up on top with 165,400, narrowly ahead of John Overbeek's 164,400. Other big stacks and notables of the first flight include Mike Del Vecchio (153,900), Alex Lee Lin Hwaa (151,900), Cale Treacy (151,000), Najeem Ajez (150,800), Michael Egan (126,700), Duff Charette (96,700), Harry Demetriou (83,200), Benny Spindler (75,700), Daniel Neilson (59,000), Max Silver (44,900) and Kristen Bicknell (19,900).

Two former Aussie Millions Main Event champions took part in Manny Stavropoulos and David Gorr, the latter in fact spent the majority of the day right below his winning shot in the biggest casino complex of the Southern hemisphere. Stavropoulos scored a vital double with aces versus kings mid-way through the day and bagged up a very healthy 105,200, while Gorr advanced to Day 2 with 35,600.

"I've played a couple since (I won) but it's great. The long answer is it doesn't feel all that different, but it's always good to play and have some chips to go through to Day 2 with. It always feels good. But as everyone says, you want to go far and make another deep run!" the 2015 champion Stavropoulos shared in the last level of the night.

Another big name Down Under took part and steadily grinded up his stack in Australian Poker Hall of Fame member Mel Judah
(86,900), Billy "The Croc" Argyros was less fortunate and busted. Judah sent several players to the rail including three-time WSOP bracelet winner Michael Gathy, who flopped an ace with ace-six suited only to see Judah turn a set of tens to eliminate the Belgian.

The day started with a bang when some 120 players had just taken their seats, as Kenny Hallaert endured a nightmare of just 13 minutes. Seven minutes into the Main Event, the Belgian turned top two pair with ace-ten suited in a three-bet pot and reluctantly called a big river shove only to lose all but one big blind against pocket aces for top set.

Samantha Abernathy, who finished third in the 2016 Aussie Millions Main Event two years ago, was eliminated in a three-way all in that also saw David “MissOracle” Yan hit the rail. Yan jammed a five-way flop with bottom pair and a gutshot to pick up calls from Abernathy and George Mamacas. Abernathy bet a king on the turn and shoved the river when a five appeared. Mamacas called with six-four for top pair that improved to a straight and Abernathy's set of kings was no good.

Other big names that took part and left the poker room of the Crown Casino empty-handed were Jake Balsiger, Jake Schwartz, Steven van Zadelhoff, Heidi May, Vojtech Ruzicka, Christopher Soyza, Rory Brown and Lily Kiletto to name just a few.

Action for the second flight will get underway at 12.30 p.m. local time on Monday, January 29, and the PokerNews live reporting team will be back on the floor to provide all the action.

Tags: Alex Lee Lin Hwaa Benny Spindler Billy Argyros Christopher Soyza Daniel Neilson David Gorr Duff Charette George Mamacas Heidi May Jake Balsiger Jake Schwartz John Overbeek Kenny Hallaert Kristen Bicknell Lee Armstrong Lily Kiletto Manny Stavropoulos Max Silver Mel Judah Michael Egan Michael Gathy Mike Del Vecchio Najeem Ajez Rory Brown Samantha Abernathy Steven van Zadelhoff Vojtech Ruzicka

2018-01-28 22:20 UTC+10

Game Over for Van Zadelhoff

zedmaster84

Niveau 6 : 250/500, 75 ante

Steven van Zadelhoff lost almost all of his stack in a set under set scenario against Dinesh Velupillay and was left with crumbs. According to Velupillay, the duo got into a three-bet pot and headed to a flop with bet and call incoming. Velupillay check-called a bet of 10,000 on the turn and check-shoved the river into a bet of 26,000 by van Zadelhoff. The Dutchman called with pocket fives only to get shown by Velupillay.

Then, Zachary Tay "raised" 700 and as that was less than 50%, it was ruled as a limp from middle position only. It folded to van Zadelhoff, who checked in the big blind and the duo checked the flop and the turn. The river brought a bet of van Zadelhoff for 1,000 and a call by Tay.

The Dutchman showed and Velupillay turned over the . "Nice limp," van Zadelhoff joked and caused laughter at the table. Soon after he was all in for 2,950 with against the of Velupillay and doubled thanks to the board .

"Can you please double through someone else?" Velupillay grinned.

As if it was destiny, the two clashed again shortly after, and it would be Van Zadelhoff's last hand in the 2018 Main Event. With 5,500, Van Zadelhoff was up with against Velupillay's , who told Van Zadelhoff he didn't want to bust him.

Velupillay's mercy wasn't answered by the poker gods, as the dealer fanned out to seal Van Zadelhoff's fate.

Joueur	Jetons	Progression
Dinesh Velupillay	115,000	70,000
Zachary Tay	70,000	-8,000
Steven van Zadelhoff	Eliminé

Tags: Dinesh Velupillay Steven van Zadelhoff Zachary Tay

2018-01-28 21:50 UTC+10

Brkic Eliminated; Neilson More Than Doubles

will_shill

Niveau 6 : 250/500, 75 ante

Srdjan Brkic moved all in from under the gun for 6,000. The player in the next position three-bet to 12,000. Daniel Neilson was on the button and four-bet all in for 23,025. It folded back to the raiser who called.

Srdjan Brkic:
Player 2:
Daniel Neilson:

"You need diamonds," said tablemate Steven van Zadelhoff to Brkic. The flop came giving Brkic a gutshot straight draw. The turn was the but the river the .

"What a time to get them," remarked Neilson's opponent as Brkic was sent to the rail, "You had my suits as well..."

Joueur	Jetons	Progression
Daniel Neilson	50,000	11,000
Srdjan Brkic	Eliminé

Tags: Daniel Neilson Srdjan Brkic

2018-01-28 20:56 UTC+10

Ship it to Mama-cas; Samantha Abernathy Eliminated

will_shill

Niveau 5 : 200/400, 50 ante

On a five-way flop of , [Removed:17] in the small blind moved all in for 12,425. Samantha Abernathy called and after tanking, George Mamacas called in late position while the other two players including Michael Del Vecchio folded.

The turn was the Abernathy bet 10,000 and Mamacas called.

The river was the . Abernathy announced all in for 14,650.

"All in," announced Mamacas, and there was some confusion at the table. Mamacas motioned all in with his chips and his intent was clear. All cards were turned over.

Yan showed for a rivered two pair. Abernathy had that beat with for a set of kings.

"Straight," said Mamacas, showing for a rivered six-high straight, sending Abernathy and Yan to the rail.

Joueur	Jetons	Progression
George Mamacas	140,000	140,000
Mike Del Vecchio	100,000	8,000
[Removed:17]	Eliminé
Samantha Abernathy	Eliminé

Tags: George Mamacas Samantha Abernathy Michael Del Vecchio

2018-01-28 20:37 UTC+10

Tay Sends May To the Rail

zedmaster84

Niveau 5 : 200/400, 50 ante

Down to just 6,200, Heidi May was all in and at risk with the and table neighbour Zachary Tay looked her up with the . The appeared right in the window and the rest of the board came to send May to the rail.

Joueur	Jetons	Progression
Zachary Tay	78,000	78,000
Heidi May	Eliminé

Tags: Heidi May Zachary Tay

2018-01-28 19:57 UTC+10

Former Champ Gorr Eliminates a Player

will_shill

Niveau 5 : 200/400, 50 ante

2011 Aussie Millions champion David Gorr raised to 900 and got one caller. Another player three-bet all in for 6,325 and action folded back to Gorr who just called. The third player in the hand folded and the cards were turned over.

David Gorr:
All-in Player:

The board ran out and Gorr sent a player to the rail.

Joueur	Jetons	Progression
David Gorr	50,000	22,000

Tags: David Gorr

2018-01-28 18:25 UTC+10

Ruzicka Eliminated by Silver

will_shill

Niveau 4 : 150/300, 25 ante

Max Silver raised pre-flop and Vojtech Ruzicka three-bet. Silver called and the flop came .

Silver checked the flop. Ruzicka bet and Silver just called. The turn was the . Silver bet on the turn and Ruzicka moved all in. Silver called.

Max Silver:
Vojtech Ruzicka:

The river was the and the 2016 November Niner Ruzicka was sent to the rail.

Joueur	Jetons	Progression
Max Silver	60,000	34,000
Vojtech Ruzicka	Eliminé

Tags: Max Silver Vojtech Ruzicka

2018-01-28 17:54 UTC+10

Deaf Poker Australia Raising Awareness at the Aussie Millions

will_shill

Niveau 4 : 150/300, 25 ante

As well as a whole host of staff, tournament directors and others roaming the floor on Day 1a of the Aussie Millions, are representatives from Deaf Poker Australia.

Landon Blackhall is the Deaf Poker Australia tournament director. As a hearing person, he's been involved in Deaf Poker Australia for nine years.

"I've been accepted into the community as if I were family. As a result, I've learned a new language, but for me and all the guys, it's voluntary and purely for the love of the game."

Blackhall is joined by Nikolas Schlie and Alisha Wormald who are part of the newly formed DPA player's advisory committee. Schlie final-tabled the 2012 Deaf Poker Australia Championships, and has two other five-figure wins on his poker resume, including a A$14,000 WPT League title in July 2017.

Wormald, meanwhile, is a two-time DPA New South Wales ladies champion. She also final tabled the WSOPC Ladies Event in Sydney in November 2016 and designed the DPA logo.

"The player’s advisory committee," continued Blackhall, "Is all about learning what to do behind the scenes when they’re organizing our events. It's a little bit of training in reporting and just managing tournaments."

"We're just trying to raise awareness for all the deaf community about deaf poker. There's a lot of passion worldwide for deaf poker organizations. I know that Ireland and Canada both have their own groups. There's a lot of European deaf poker organizations as well.

"It's a growing sport and a unique sport in that the deaf community is on the same playing field. There's no disadvantage for deaf poker players when it comes to poker. We really want to start promoting the potential for what poker can provide to all our players and really prove that poker is a game for everyone."

2017 DPA Championship Main Event winner Zisimos Jordan (centre)

All DPA's events are tailored towards deaf players. Blackhall says that, to them, it's all about the social interaction and just the competitiveness of poker. He says that a number of deaf players attempted to satellite into the Main Event this year, but there is yet to be any success.

"One of our reporters here today qualified two years ago, so there's some awareness about these bigger events. But within the deaf community, it's a new audience. Our goal here is to introduce the deaf community to bigger "mainstream" i.e. non-deaf events."

Coming up in October is 'DPA X' - the tenth anniversary of the Deaf Poker Australia Championship. The A$250 Main Event will have an estimated A$30,000 prize pool, and will also serve as both the Australian and International Deaf Poker Federation World Championships.

"It's a fantastic expansion," said Schlie. "I’m very excited. It's a great opportunity for it to come here to Australia. Poker gives deaf players more confidence. We have a home community games in the Australian states. There's a lot of deaf competition at home to learn the skills. The next step is to go to the State championships which have been very successful for a number of years."

For more information about Deaf Poker Australia, and to see results from past events as well as information on all upcoming events, head to deafpoker.com.au.

Tags: Alisha Wormald Deaf Poker Australia Landon Blackhall Nikolas Schlie

2018-01-28 15:35 UTC+10

Samantha Abernathy Joins the Main Event Field

will_shill

Niveau 3 : 100/200, 25 ante

Samantha Abernathy at the 2016 Aussie Millions Final Table

We spotted Samantha Abernathy walking through the poker room on her way to her table. We waited for her to get installed, fold her big blind and managed to grab a few words with her.

"I'm very excited!" said Abernathy, "I'm a little nervous just with all the buzz that's going around. It's a weird moment to sit down!"

Abernathy shot to fame with a third-place finish in this event two years ago, taking home $437,543 the year Ari Engel took down the title, and she said that it holds a special place in her annual poker calendar.

"I think about it through the whole year! There's always this looming feeling about this stop...in a good way of course. It's diferent to any other stop."

During her trip to Melbourne, Abernathy has managed to squeeze in a trip to the tennis as well as several media opportunities.

"I went to see the Men's Semi-final, but I've also had to deal with jet lag. There were a couple of media stuff with Kiss FM and the Herald Sun."

However, now she's seated in the Main Event, she says here eyes are firmly on the prize.

"I want to run deep. I really do. I'm feeling it again this time around!"

Joueur	Jetons	Progression
Samantha Abernathy	30,000

Tags: Ari Engel Samantha Abernathy

2018-01-28 14:43 UTC+10

Locke Flushes Soyza

zedmaster84

Niveau 2 : 100/200, 0 ante

Christopher Soyza won the Accumulator Event of the Aussie Millions in 2015 and 2016 while Andrew Locke won his first Aussie Millions ring just a few days ago here at the Crown Casino in Melbourne. Both clashed in a hand just now with the better end for Locke.

Picking up the action on the turn, Soyza bet 2,500 and Locke called. After the river, Soyza made it 5,500 to go and Locke shoved for another 8,200 on top. Soyza reluctantly called and mucked his cards when Locke flipped over the for the nut flush.

Joueur	Jetons	Progression
Andrew Lock	35,000	35,000
Christopher Soyza	21,000	21,000

Tags: Andrew Locke Christopher Soyza