2009 Aussie Millions

Day 2 completed

Posted 01-17-2009 00:09 GMT+12

Mark Kassis Wins Event #6: $1,150 No Limit Hold'em with Rebuys (AU$160,326)

Congratulations to Sydney's own Mark Kassis who overcame a field of 126; filled with some of the most talented poker players from Australia and the world. Not only was he crowned champion but is also AU$160,326 richer and now proud owner of an Aussie Millions Gold Championship ring!

Starting the final table in third chip position he was pretty quiet during the course of play until he reached heads up. Starting with a huge chip disadvantage to Jonathan Karamalikis; relentless aggression, solid play, a bit of luck and patience saw him dispatch the young online star on his way to victory. Congratulations to Mark Kassis for his victory and to all our final table participants and cash winners.

That wraps up our coverage of Event #6, but make sure to check out all the action from the Bounty Feature Event that is nearing its conclusion on the other side of the Crown Poker Room. Event #8: $100,000 No Limit Hold'em Challenge will kick off proceedings tomorrow from 2:15pm local time where PokerNews will be here to continue its live coverage from the 2009 Aussie Millions.

Tags: Jonathan Karamalikis, Mark Kassis.

Jonathan Karamalikis Eliminated in 2nd Place (AU$120,098); Mark Kassis Wins!

Jonathan Karamalikis moved all in for 85,000 from the button and with Mark Kassis slowly sweating his cards in the big blind he stood up, announced call and slammed down his . Karamalikis tapped the table and rolled over his .

Both players rose to their feet and the railbirds leaned as far as they could. The flop fell increasing Karamalikis' chances to double. Half the crowd were chanting for a deuces and threes while the half were calling for paint.

The dealer slowly turned the and instantly Sam Khouiss yelled out, "Only a deuce now" as he, Mick 'the Hoon' Stanton and David Saab crowded the dealer awaiting the fate-changing river.

The loudest screams echoed through the Crown Poker Room as the was dealt out sending Sydney-sider Mark Kassis to victory and Jonathan Karamalikis to a 2nd placing for AU$120,098.

Tags: Jonathan Karamalikis, Mark Kassis.

Karamalikis Nearing The End

In a limped pot both players saw the flop of . Jonathan Karamalikis checked, Mark Kassis led for 10,000 which was followed by a raise to 30,000 from Karamalikis.

Hiding behind his mountain of chips, Kassis moved all in and Karamalikis quickly mucked his hand.

Karamalikis now sits with only 100,000 chips as Kassis holds a near eight-to-one chip advantage on the young online sensation.

Tags: Jonathan Karamalikis, Mark Kassis.

Kassis Crushing Karamalikis

As both players limped in we saw a flop of . Mark Kassis checked to Jonathan Karamalikis who led out for 12,000. Kassis made the call and then also checked the turn of the .

Karamalikis then led out for a bet of 27,000 which was followed by a check-raise to 77,000 from Kassis. Karamalikis looked down at his stack a few times and the amount to call before putting in the additional 50,000.

The river fell the and this time Kassis took the time before sliding a stack of yellow 5,000 chips for a bet of 100,000. Karamalikis made the call and Kassis tabled for middle pair. Karamalikis dropped his head and mucked face-up his and slid 100,000 into the middle.

As Kassis raked in the biggest pot of the tournament sending him up to 733,000, Karamalikis looked down at what was left of his stack as he now sits with 140,000 in chips.

Tags: Jonathan Karamalikis, Mark Kassis.

Ace High For Kassis

Mark Kassis opens to 25,000 and Jonathan Karamalikis makes the call. Both players check it down to the river where Karamalikis bets out 25,000 with the board reading .

Kassis cuts out the call and throws in the chips to make the call. Karamalikis mucks his cards and Kassis tables for ace-high and the pot as he moves up to 540,000 in chips.

Tags: Jonathan Karamalikis, Mark Kassis.

Level 18 started

Posted 01-16-2009 23:14 GMT+12

Kassis Claims Chip Lead

Mark Kassis raised to 24,000 on the button and Jonathan Karamalikis made it a further 70,000 to go from the big blind. Kassis stalled for a while before making the call.

The flop fell down and Karamalikis moved all in and was instantly called by Kassis as he slammed down . Karamalikis sheepishly tabled as he looked to find a queen or running straight cards to send Kassis to the rail.

The turn improved both players falling the and when the river landed the Kassis doubled to 496,000 and took over the chip lead as Karamalikis sunk to a deficit holding 377,000 in chips.

Tags: Jonathan Karamalikis, Mark Kassis.

Kassis Doubles

Jonathan Karamalikis raises the button to 20,000 and Kassis splashes the pot with his call.

On a board of Kassis checks and Karamalikis makes it 20,000 to go. Kassis looks down at his stack and then back at the board before moving all in for his remaining 102,000. Karamalikis inta-calls tabling to be in great shape to take the tournament out against Kassis' .

With Kassis' rail of Sam Khouiss and Mick 'the Hoon' Stanton chanting for all types of cards, one of them would fall on the turn when the landed. Karamalikis would not be granted the win on the river when it dropped the and we would see Kassis double to 243,000 as Karamalikis slipped down to 630,000 in chips.

Tags: Jonathan Karamalikis, Mark Kassis.

Rivered Trips Cripple Kassis

Mark Kassis raises to 20,000 from the button and Jonathan Karamalikis makes the call. On a flop of Kassis bets out 30,000 and Karamalikis makes the call.

When the turn landed the Karamalikis led for 25,000 and was called by Kassis. With the river peeling the Karamalikis bet out 35,000 and was check-called by Kassis.

Karamalikis tabled for a rivered set of trips to boost his stack to over 760,000 as Kassis is left crippled with just over 100,000.

Tags: Jonathan Karamalikis, Mark Kassis.