One flight down and two to go at the 2018 Aussie Millions $10,600 Main Event at the lovely Crown Melbourne.
After a day that saw over 200 players enter and just shy of 100 advance on to Day 2 here in Victoria, Australia. That puts the event right on pace to match last year's turnout of more than 700 runners.
Day 1b is set for a 12:30 p.m. kickoff. That means another lengthy day of seven levels, each lasting 90 minutes apiece. The day will see levels progress from 50/100 on to 300/600/100 like so:
Level
Small Blind
Big Blind
Ante
1
50
100
2
100
200
3
100
200
25
4
150
300
25
5
200
400
50
6
250
500
75
7
300
600
100
Players get 15-minute breaks after each level and a dinner break after Level 4.
Day 1a saw Lee Armstrong top the field with 165,400, while other notables advancing included David Gorr, Manny Stavropoulos, Mike Del Vecchio, Mel Judah, Benny Spindler, Jonas Lauck and Max Silver. We'll see if anyone can match Armstrong's total as Day 1b rolls through its ups and down.
Stay tuned to PokerNews for all of the live updates from Down Under.
Just like yesterday, Joel Williams welcomed players to the second starting flight of the 2018 Aussie Millions Main Event.
"The international contingent seems to arrive far earlier each and every year, and your continued patronage, particular with other offerings around the world, is particularly appreciated. Most importantly, I'd like to thank our local players who are present day in day out every single day of the year, without whose support it would be impossible to put on an event like this.
"It's a 12-month project making the event look as good as it is and it exceeds expectations each and every year. We pride ourselves on giving every possible player, with every possible bankroll, every possible opportunity to get a seat in our event."
He then introduced Australian Rules football legend Adam Goodes. A two-time Australian Football League (AFL) Premiership winner with the Sydney Swans (2005 & 2012), as well as a two-time Brownlow medallist (2003 & 2006), awarded to the "fairest and best" player in the AFL during the home-and-away season.
Williams then asked Goodes if he had room in his trophy cabinet for an Aussie Millions bracelet.
"There certainly is!" replied Goodes. "As well as the cash, I wouldn't say no to that at all. I'm not a big fan of bracelets, but I can definitely make room for one that's for sure.
"The best thing about poker is the people you get to play against. I've been playing against some awesome professional poker players, but instead of sitting there in awe of them I've been watching and trying to learn. The biggest thing to learn is that you have to minimize your mistakes because if you make one on the big stage it'll cost you your stack!
"Good luck to all players. Dealers - shuffle up and deal!"
Shane Warne is no stranger to the poker tables both here in Melbourne and at the WSOP in Las Vegas, and he's taken a seat in Day 1b of the Aussie Millions.
Warne took over 1,000 international wickets (in Tests and One-Day Internationals) in an international career spanning 15 years. He also has just under USD$100,000 in lifetime cashes, the biggest of which coming here in Melbourne in a High Stakes A$10,000 event in 2010.
We got to his table on the turn, with the board reading and Warne bet 1,150. His opponent raised to 3,300 and Warne quickly called. The river went check-check and Warne tabled to win the hand. Warne has lot a bit in the opening stages and currently sits at 23,000.
Stay tuned to see how one of the greatest bowlers in the history of cricket gets on at the poker table.
Picking up the action on the flop, Adam Owen checked in the small blind and Antoine Saout bet 400, which Owen called. After the turn, Owen led for 1,000 and Saout made it 3.500 to go in order to pick up a call and the mixed game specialist Owen checked the on the river.
Saout bet 11,575 and Owen reluctantly called before quickly mucking to the of the two-time WSOP Main Event finalist.
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We found Thomas Muehloecker all in for his final 7,625 in the cutoff. The board read and his opponent in the hijack was thinking things over. After about 30 seconds, he tossed in calling chips but sent his cards muckward when Muehloecker revealed .
Adam Owen took a big pot off Antoine Saout, calling a river bet of about 9,000 with in a button-versus-blind battle with on the board.
The next hand, Owen opened for 500 in the cutoff and Saout made it 1,600 in the small blind. Owen peeled to see a flop. He called 2,000. On the turn, he called another 3,100. The river was a and Saout piled in 17,650 most of his stack. Owen set him in for the last 7,000 or so and Saout splashed in calling chips since he had for the nuts. Owen showed .
2017 was a breakout year for Jack Sinclair; finishing eighth in the WSOP Main Event, and following it up by winning the €25,000 German Poker Championships Super High Roller.
And after a deep run in the PCA, Sinclair is now in Melbourne for his first taste of the Aussie Millions.
"2018 has started well for me," said Sinclair. "PCA was a lot of fun, and having already cashed in my first event here at the Aussie Millions is very encouraging!"
"Melbourne is a great place to be, especially in January, as it is usually pretty depressing in Europe right around now. The people here are outrageously friendly, being a Brit it is was initially a little disconcerting having so many strangers talk to me, but I am getting used to it. "
Sinclair said that everyone he had asked said that the Aussie Millions is one of their favourite stops on the tour, and it was one that he himself was excited for.
"The actual poker here is incredible, not like anywhere else. It seems like Australia has been isolated from the rest of the poker world for some time, they have a lot of crazy rules, and the Aussies play a very unconventional style. At the same time, it feels a lot like Vegas in the summer, which may possibly be due to the heat, but there is a real sense of excitement & grandeur surrounding the series."
And what does the future hold for the Brit after such a successful 2017?
"My short, medium & long term goal is always the same: trophies. I don't set financial goals for poker, and if I do they are very modest. I just want to make enough to keep playing. My only concern is getting better... and winning trophies for the glory!"
Paul Michaelis was recently moved to the same table as Ana Marquez and Rory Young. On a three-way turn of , Marquez checked in the big blind and so did the player from under the gun. Michaelis in early position bet 2,600 and Marquez was the only caller.
The appeared on the river and both opted to check. Marquez showed the for two pair and Michaelis mucked. "You had diamonds? I was calling for the diamonds," the Spaniard added while raking in the pot with a big smile on the face.
and Warne bet 1,150. His opponent raised to 3,300 and Warne quickly called. The 
river went check-check and Warne tabled 
to win the hand. Warne has lot a bit in the opening stages and currently sits at 23,000.
flop, Adam Owen checked in the small blind and Antoine Saout bet 400, which Owen called. After the 
on the river.
of the two-time WSOP Main Event finalist.
and his opponent in the hijack was thinking things over. After about 30 seconds, he tossed in calling chips but sent his cards muckward when Muehloecker revealed 
.
in a button-versus-blind battle with 
on the board.
flop. He called 2,000. On the 
turn, he called another 3,100. The river was a 
for the nuts. Owen showed 
, Marquez checked in the big blind and so did the player from under the gun. Michaelis in early position bet 2,600 and Marquez was the only caller.
appeared on the river and both opted to check. Marquez showed the 
for two pair and Michaelis mucked. "You had diamonds? I was calling for the diamonds," the Spaniard added while raking in the pot with a big smile on the face.
.
giving Chhay the lead and Farrell failed to make a full house on the 
river and was eliminated.
