KaleGozer
2016 Main Event Champion Ari Engel chases another victory
800 players entered, 158 players remain and 88 of them will finish in the money. Day 3 of the record-breaking 2018 Aussie Millions Main Event is the money day, with each of the last 88 standing guaranteed at least AUD$15,000 for their three-day survival. At 12:30 p.m. local time, cards will be in the air for what's sure to be another long and hotly contested day for the biggest prize pool in the Southern hemisphere.
Leading the way are two locals: Najeem Ajez (522,100) and Frank Pezzaniti (480,000). Ajez is a regular face in the crowd here, with cashes at the Aussie Millions dating all the way back to 2012. Despite a fistful of cashes in smaller events, Ajez has yet to score his first Main Event cash, and he's put himself in prime position to do so. Pezzaniti finished 32nd last year and is looking to improve onto that already impressive performance.
Notables in the hunt include former champions Ari Engel (334,000) and Ami Barer (202,400). Plenty of other big names from around the globe are looking to win the record-breaking edition, including Sam Grafton (419,900), Kahle Burns (201,500), Jonas Lauck (189,000), Jonathan Karamalikis (147,600) and Fedor Holz (71,100).
Seven levels of 90 minutes await the players on Day 3 in the Crown Casino in Melbourne, with much-needed 15-minute breaks scheduled after each level to reenergize. The blinds will start at 1,200/2,400 with a running ante of 400 and the long day will wrap up around 2 a.m. in the night.
PokerNews will again be your one-stop shop for all live updates on the floor so make sure to check back regularly to not miss out on any of the exciting action Down Under!
Jesse Sylvia started the day as one of the shortest stacks in the room and wasn't able to run it up. In his final hand, the 2012 WSOP Main Event runner-up raised from under the gun and faced a three-bet from Duy Ho to his direct left. Sylvia four-bet shoved and got a direct call from Ho.
Jesse Sylvia:
Duy Ho:
There was no help in the cards for Sylvia on and he said his goodbyes. With the pot, Ho became the second player to cross the half million mark.
Federico Butteroni's 2018 Main Event has come to a screeching halt after running pocket kings into the pocket aces of Tu Lan. The joyful Italian was still in good spirits, even after the board failed to provide any help.
His entire stack of 99,500 got forked over to Lan and Butteroni made his way to the exit.
In the first level of the day, Fedor Holz' run in the Main Event has come to an end. As he made his way to the exit, we quickly approached him to ask for details on his bustout.
According to Holz, after Con Krousoratis had raised he called from the small blind with and the big blind called as well. The flop was and Krousoratis bet 11,000, with Holz being the only caller.
The turn was an offsuit and Holz checked. Krousoratis bet 25,000, which was for nearly all of Holz' remaining 30,000 or so stack. The German prodigy stuck the rest in and Krousoratis added the few extra chips.
"Well, he had pocket queens," Holz said with a chuckle, meaning that the river was irrelevant.
Holz added that he will be back for the $100,000 Challenge, which will commence on Sunday, February 4, before making his way to the exit.
Rory Young finished eighth in the $25,000 Challenge earlier in the Aussie Millions festival and is now going well in the Main Event as we approach the money bubble. We asked him what the Aussie Millions as a festival means to him as an Australian.
"It's incredible how much it brings the Australian poker community together," said Young. "Everyone gets really excited for the whole month. There are so many recreational players within the Australian poker community, and it's really nice to see some of them do well.
"Everyone is really close friends; there's always someone who has a big break-out year, and it's great for the young regs who do have that break-out score because it really boosts their careers.
"It's always nice to see our Australian friends from overseas 'come home', so to speak. It's been an awesome series so far."
Frank Pezzaniti limped in on the button, the small blind completed and James Clarke checked in the big blind. The flop got checked to Pezzaniti, who bet 5,000. The small blind folded, but Clarke had a different plan and check-raised to 26,000.
Without hesitation, Pezzaniti put in a hefty three-bet to 116,500. Clarke went into the tank for a minute, then four-bet shoved all in for 289,000. Pezzaniti, who had 367,000 behind, snap-called. Just like that, a 150 big blind pot was created 14 spots away from the bubble.
James Clarke:
Frank Pezzaniti:
The moment Pezzaniti snap-called, Clarke flung his chair back, as he knew he was doomed. The local had Clarke's top pair completely crushed and clapped his hands in excitement. The Brit's 1.5x average stack was on the verge of being wiped out, and the on the turn and on the river didn't provide any help. WIth the pot, Pezzaniti is now close to the chip lead.
Mike Del Vecchio was in middle position and facing a bet of 63,000 from Jan Pettersson in the small blind. The flop had come and Del Vecchio decided to call. The turn brought the . Pettersson fired big again with 140,000 and Del Vecchio didn't take long before announcing all in. It was 393,000 and Pettersson called in short order.
Jan Pettersson:
Mike Del Vecchio:
Del Vecchio already had it locked in with a flush, rendering the river meaningless.
Matthew Wakeman's raise from under the gun was called by Toby Lewis on the button and Harry Demetriou in the big blind. The flop fell and action checked to Lewis, who bet 12,000. Demetriou raised to 30,000 and Wakeman check-shoved for his last 107,000. Lewis called and Demetriou was about to turn over his cards for a showdown, willing to call the shove of Lewis, who had left himself 53,000 behind instead of moving all in. Demetriou called and checked the on the turn, prompting Lewis to move all in.
"You probably have it but I cannot fold," Demetriou said and called to put two players at risk.
Matthew Wakeman: - for a set of jacks
Toby Lewis: - for the nut flush
Harry Demetriou: for a queen-high straight
Demetriou could not win the pot anymore while Wakeman still had outs. However, the river was none of them and that let the bubble burst. One hand was still going on on another table but no further elimination emerged, thus dubbing Wakeman as the bubble boy and ensuring a min-cash of A$15,000 for all remaining 88 players without hand-for-hand mode even getting underway.
and he said his goodbyes. With the pot, Ho became the second player to cross the half million mark.
and the big blind called as well. The flop was 
and Krousoratis bet 11,000, with Holz being the only caller.
and Holz checked. Krousoratis bet 25,000, which was for nearly all of Holz' remaining 30,000 or so stack. The German prodigy stuck the rest in and Krousoratis added the few extra chips.
and again Ajez check-called, this time for 78,000.
. Ajez checked for a third time and Grafton moved all in for 183,500. Ajez called.
- two pair (queens and jacks)
on the turn and 
on the river didn't provide any help. WIth the pot, Pezzaniti is now close to the chip lead.
. Pettersson fired big again with 140,000 and Del Vecchio didn't take long before announcing all in. It was 393,000 and Pettersson called in short order.
river meaningless.
and Barer doubled shortly before the dinner break.
