The Aussie Millions on GSN: Shak Defeats Ivey for $100K Title

July 14 2010, Nicole Gordon

There aren’t too many poker players who can say that they’ve gone heads-up with Phil Ivey and come away with the best of it. However, with his victory in the $100,000 buy-in No-Limit Hold’em High Roller event at the 2010 Aussie Millions, Dan Shak was granted membership to that elite club. When we last left off, four players remained in the hunt for the title, Tony Bloom holding the chip lead while Bill Jordanou was on the short stack. Here’s how they stacked up at the top of the episode:

Tony Bloom - 720,000
Phil Ivey - 680,000
Dan Shak - 610,000
Bill Jordanou - 390,000

Jordanou doubles through Bloom: Bloom opened for 50,000 from the button and Jordanou called with in the big blind. Jordanou hit two pair when the flop came down and led out for 35,000. Bloom raised to 200,000, and Jordanou immediately moved all-in. Bloom made the call. Jordanou’s hand held up through the on the turn and the on the river to give him the double-up.

The Bloom comes off the rose: With the blinds up to 12,000/24,000, Bloom opened for 60,000, and Ivey called from the big blind with a dominating . Both players hit top pair, Bloom leading out for 325,000 on the flop. Ivey moved all-in and Bloom called, the pot swelling to 1 million in chips. The on the turn was no help for Bloom and the on the river made Ivey a straight and put Tony Bloom’s run at an end in fourth place.

Ivey busts Jordanou: Melbourne’s Bill Jordanou was able to stave off elimination with a few timely double-ups but finally succumbed to Phil Ivey on this hand. Jordanou completed the small blind with . Ivey looked down at in the big blind and raised to 68,000. Jordanou called and hit a fortuitous flop, giving him top two pair. Jordanou bet 150,000, Ivey set him all in and Jordanou quickly called The turn, however, was a disaster, the falling to make Ivey a set. Jordanou was drawing dead and went out in third place for a $300,000 score.

Top of the heap: Guaranteed at least a second-place finish in this event, Phil Ivey leapfrogged Daniel Negreanu on the all-time money list, officially becoming the top earning tournament player in history.

Heads-up chip counts: Shak - 1.05 million, Ivey - 1.38 million.

Shak forces a fold: Shak raised to 90,000 with and Ivey made the call with . The flop gave both players flush draws. Ivey checked and Shak bet175,000. After using his entire time bank to mull his decision, Ivey called at the last second. The on the turn paired Shak who shoved when Ivey checked to him again. Ivey couldn’t find a call and gave up his hand.

"What happens if I raise the flop?" Ivey asked.

"You'll see," replied Shak.

Taking control: Ivey opened for 90,000 with and Shak called from the big blind with . Ivey led out for 125,000 on the flop and Shak called. The on the turn gave Shak a straight draw to go with his top pair. He checked to Ivey, who bet 300,000. Shak insta-shoved and Ivey folded with a simple "nice hand." Shak took a 3 to 1 chip lead on the hand.

Seven from heaven: Ivey raised his button to 90,000 with and Shak shoved from the big blind with .

"OK, I call," Ivey said calmly.

Although Ivey had the dominating hand, Shak paired his kicker on the flop. Ivey needed to find a ten or as Scotty Nguyen would say, “It’s all over, baby.” The turn was the , the river was the and at last, Dan Shak had every chip in front of him, making a career-high $1.2 million score.

Ivey earned $600,000 for his runner-up finish, but in his post-game interview, he sounded far more excited about knocking Negreanu off the top of the all-time money list.

The 2010 Aussie Millions continues on GSN on Saturday, July 17. Check your local listings.

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