APPT Sydney Grand Final Main Event | 2009 PokerStars.net APPT Sydney Grand Final

12-07-2009 00:26 UTC+11

Benton Wins a Small

donpeters

Ernst Hermans limped from the button and Aaron Benton checked. The flop came {K-Hearts}

and Benton fired 100,000. Hermans called.

The turn was the {4-Hearts}

and Benton bet 200,000. Hermans folded.

Tags: Aaron Benton Ernst Hermans

12-07-2009 00:28 UTC+11

Hermans Takes the Lead

donpeters

Ernst Hermans had the button in this one and raised to 200,000. Aaron Benton made the call.

The flop came down {K-Spades}

and Benton fired 225,000. Hermans raised to 800,000 and Benton folded. Hermans is now in lead by a tiny bit.

Tags: Aaron Benton Ernst Hermans

12-07-2009 00:34 UTC+11

Nine-high No Good

[user38449]

Ernst Hermans opened with a raise to 250,000 and Aaron Benton made the call.

Both players checked down the {J-Hearts}

board to the river where Benton fired a 275,000 bet. Hermans made the call and Benton announced "Nine high." Hermans then tabled the {10-Diamonds}

and took down the pot with a pair of fours.

Benton: 5.2 million
Hermans: 6.68 million

Tags: Aaron Benton Ernst Hermans

12-07-2009 00:39 UTC+11

Bluff This

[user38449]

Ernst Hermans opened the pot with a raise to 250,000 and Aaron Benton made the call. The flop came down {A-Spades}

and Benton checked to Hermans who fired a 125,000 continuation bet. Benton then check-raised to 500,000 prompting Hermans to fold.

As he raked in the pot, Benton tabled the {Q-Spades}

showing nothing but queen high as he told Hermans (paraphrased), "You're not the only one who can play poker, my friend!"

Tags: Aaron Benton Ernst Hermans

12-07-2009 00:43 UTC+11

Aaron Benton has just pulled within 100,000 chips of his heads-up nemesis courtesy of the following pot:

Ernst Hermans opened with a raise to 275,000 from the button and Benton three-bet to 800,000. Hermans made the call and saw the flop come down {3-Hearts}

.

Benton then fired a massive continuation bet, making it 1.2 million to go. Hermans laid down his hand and Benton showed a bluff -- {Q-Clubs}

.

Afterwards, Hermans told Benton he had the same hand.

Benton: 5.8 million
Hermans: 6.08 million

12-07-2009 00:55 UTC+11

Benton Reassumes the Lead

[user38449]

Aaron Benton is now up to 6.6 million in chips after stringing together a series of small pots.

In a recent hand that was opened to 275,000 preflop by Ernst Hermans, Benton called to see the flop -- {5-Clubs}

-- and led out with a 525,000 bet that prompted Hermans to lay down his hand.

Tags: Aaron Benton

12-07-2009 01:01 UTC+11

Benton Wins a Monster; Extends Lead

[user38449]

Ernst Hermans opened the pot with a raise to 275,000 from the button and Aaron Benton made the call.

The two saw an {A-Hearts}

flop and Benton passed the first option to Hermans who fired a 225,000 continuation bet. Benton made the call.

The {7-Clubs}

fell on the turn and Benton led out with a hefty 880,000 bet which was called by Hermans.

The last card off the deck was the {10-Diamonds}

and Benton putting on the brakes, allowing Hermans to take a 1.6 million dollar stab at the pot. Benton looked him up and Hermans tabled {8-Clubs}

for absolute air. Benton's {J-Diamonds}

would take down the pot, knocking Hermans down to 1.92 million in chips.

Benton now has a tournament-high 9.96 million.

Tags: Aaron Benton

Level: 29

Blinds: 60,000/120,000

Ante: 10,000

12-07-2009 01:07 UTC+11

Hermans Chopped Back Down

donpeters

With the button, Ernst Hermans raised to 300,000 and was called by Aaron Benton. The flop was {9-Clubs}

and Benton checked. Hermans checked behind.

The turn card was the {4-Hearts}

and Benton reached for chips. He fired 400,000 and Hermans folded.

Hermans got back up to roughly 2.3 million, but is now back down to 1.8 million.

Tags: Aaron Benton Ernst Hermans

12-07-2009 01:15 UTC+11

Hermans Movin' Up

donpeters

Ernst Hermans had the button and raised to 300,000. Aaron Benton made the call and the two players would see another flop. The dealer dealt the {Q-Hearts}