Event 1 - $1,100 No Limit Hold'em | 2009 Aussie Millions

01-11-2009 17:43 UTC+11

Andrew Mercaldi Eliminated in 15th Place (AU$6,579)

[user67765]

Andrew Mercaldi raised it up to 45,000 from under the gun, before Steve Topakas moved all in from the small blind. Mercaldi made the call.

Mercaldi: {A-Hearts}

Topakas:

The board ran out {6-Diamonds}

and Mercaldi hits the road in 15th place as Topakas claims another one as he storms up the chip count leaderboard to now sit with 435,000 chips.

Tags: Andrew Mercaldi Steve Topakas

01-11-2009 17:41 UTC+11

Dhiya Majeed Eliminated in 17th Place (AU$6,579); Thomas Lindbjerg Eliminated in 16th Place (AU$6,579)

[user75032]

A single pot has resulted in a double elimination by Steve Topakas. The recently-crippled Dhiya Majeed opened the pot from the button with an all-in raise. He had barely put his chips into the middle when Thomas Lindbjerg, the small blind, announced that he was all in. Before he could even finish his sentence, Topakas moved all in over both of them.

Majeed: {A-Hearts}

Lindbjerg: {A-Spades}

Topakas:

There was a bit of a sweat for Topakas when the flop came {10-Clubs}

, giving Majeed an inside straight draw. But it was no worries for Topakas when the board completed {J-Hearts}

. Topakas eliminated both players, and since Majeed was the shorter stack he was deemed to be the 17th-place finisher.

Tags: Dhiya Majeed Steve Topakas Thomas Lindbjerg

01-11-2009 17:34 UTC+11

Rodney Snider Eliminated in 18th Place (AU$6,579)

[user67765]

Rodney Snider was crippled after running his pocket eights into the pocket aces of Scott Peters, before busting out in 18th place at the hands of Sam Khouiss.

Snider was then down to his last 48,000 chips and moved them all in from the small blind, with Sam Khouiss making a pot-committed call in the big blind.

Snider: {9-Diamonds}

Khouiss:

Despite being dominated, Khouiss spiked a pair on the board of {5-Spades}

to send Snider to the rail with AU$6,579 for his efforts.

Tags: Rodney Snider Sam Khouiss Scott Peters

Level: 19

Blinds: 10,000/20,000

Ante: 2,000

01-11-2009 17:28 UTC+11

Majeed Crippled

[user75032]

Dhiya Majeed started the day with 13,700 chips -- fewer than seven big blinds. He managed to turn that into a run to the final two tables but now finds himself crippled. He opened for 50,000 from middle position, then was faced with a big decision when action passed to David Griffiths in the big blind. Griffiths moved all in for about 150,000 total. Majeed made the call with {A-Diamonds}

, leaving himself 45,000 behind if he lost the hand. He found himself racing Griffiths' {8-Hearts}

. The flop came eight-high, {3-Hearts}

. Griffiths had a good set when a third heart hit the turn, {9-Hearts}

, giving Majeed outs to a heart flush. It didn't come. The river was the {Q-Spades}

.

Griffiths stack is up to 320,000 as a result of the hand. Majeed needs now to find more of his earlier short-stack magic. He has only 45,000 remaining chips.

Tags: David Griffiths Dhiya Majeed

01-11-2009 17:21 UTC+11

Jim Mastorakos Eliminated in 19th Place (AU$5,482)

[user75032]

Paul Rochford has re-taken the chip lead and is punishing his table with his big stack. He opened for 40,000 from the button, prompting Jim Mastorakos to call all in for less. Rochford showed a pair, {4-Hearts}

, against Mastorakos' {J-Diamonds}

. Mastorakos was racing to stay in the tournament but came up short on a board of {9-Spades}

. Despite the four-flush on board, neither player had a spade. Rochford's pair held up, sending Mastorakos to the rail in 19th place. He collected AU$5,482.

Tags: Jim Mastorakos Paul Rochford

01-11-2009 17:19 UTC+11

Emotional Ride for Ismail

[user67765]

It's been an emotional few minutes for Ismail Ismail. First he found himself all in holding {K-Diamonds}

against the {J-Clubs}

of chip leader Christian Heich.

Not a bad position to be in for Ismail, that is, until the community cards landed {7-Hearts}

to make Heich a straight. However remarkably the {10-Diamonds}

fell on the river to give Ismail a straight as well and both players chopped it up!

The two tangled again a few hands later, with Heich taking {Q-Spades}

into battle against Ismail's {7-Clubs}

. This time Ismail was able to hang on as the board was spread {A-Spades}

.

Ismail doubles up to 146,000 with Heich falling back to 365,000.

Tags: Christian Heich Ismail Ismail

01-11-2009 17:12 UTC+11

Jason White Eliminated in 20th Place (AU$5,482)

[user75032]

Sam Khouiss is feeling just fine. He opened for 40,000 before action passed to Jason White in late position, who moved in for 67,000. Khouiss made the call with {A-Clubs}

. White showed {8-Diamonds}

, at which point a player in-between White and Khouiss mentioned the he had folded {A-?}

. No matter -- the flop came {Q-Hearts}

. White needed an eight to survive and didn't get it. He's out in 20th place.

Tags: Jason White Sam Khouiss

01-11-2009 17:10 UTC+11

Jack Efaraimo Eliminated in 21st Place (AU$5,482)

[user67765]

Paul Rochford raised it up from under the gun and Jack Efaraimo shoved from the big blind. Rochford insta-called.

Efaraimo: {A-Spades}

Rochford:

The board was {8-Spades}

to send Efaraimo to the exit in 21st place. He'll take home AU$5,482 for a fine tournament.

Tags: Jack Efaraimo Paul Rochford

01-11-2009 17:08 UTC+11

Peter Denver Eliminated in 22nd Place (AU$5,482)

[user75032]

The beats only seem more brutal the deeper one gets in a major buy-in poker tournament. Peter Denver was all in for his tournament life and tabled the favorite: {A-Hearts}

against Steven Bouya's {A-Clubs}

. Denver let out a groan when the flop made trips for Bouya, {8-Spades}

. The turn {3-Diamonds}