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

01-09-2009 19:50 UTC+11

Preflop Blinds Battle for the Chip Lead

[user92162]

In a battle of the blinds Naz Sibaei raised to 4,400 from the small blind, only for the big blind to suddenly push all in for around 37,000. Sibaei went into the tank for about two minutes before making the call for his last 30,300, and tabling {A-Clubs}

. He must have had a good read because his opponent meekly tabled {A-Spades}

leaving Sibaei in excellent shape.

The board blanked out {6-Spades}

and Sibaei has moved up to a mammoth 70,300.

Tags: Naz Sibaei

Level: 11

Blinds: 800/1,600

Ante: 100

01-09-2009 19:38 UTC+11

David Saab Strong Arms Emad Tahtouh

[user92162]

Tahtouh obviously pained with David Saab's position at the table.

In what was shaping to be a monster pot, David Saab has still managed to take 5,900 chips off Emad Tahtouh.

Preflop Tahtouh raised 2,400 from the cutoff and found a caller to his immediate left in David Saab on the button. They went to the flop heads up, which came {10-Clubs}

.

Tahtouh fired a continuation bet of 3,500, at which point David Saab moved all in covering Tahtouh. It was certainly a bold move on Saab’s part, with Tahtouh having 24,000 behind.

After tanking for a good while Tahtouh eventually laid his hand down, leaving the rail to speculate on the potential holdings of both players. David Saab is one of the chip-leaders at 63,000.

Tags: David Saab Emad Tahtouh

01-09-2009 19:31 UTC+11

Harvey Finds Ace From Space

[user67765]

Martin Harvey and an opponent committed all of their chips preflop with Harvey's {A-Spades}

trailing the {K-Diamonds}

of his opponent.

Harvey was in trouble as the first four community cards fell {10-Diamonds}

however the {a-Diamonds}

fell on the river to pair up Harvey's ace and send his opponent crashing out of the tournament. Harvey is now back up over the 20,000 mark.

Tags: Martin Harvey

01-09-2009 19:18 UTC+11

Thinking of Tomorrow?

[user67765]

It's that time of the evening where the play generally slows up and players think about living to fight another day. Since the break we've had little action to report as the field creeps towards a day two berth.

However perhaps it's a little early for players to play for time with still two hours of play still remaining until we bag and tag.

01-09-2009 19:08 UTC+11

Play Back Underway

[user92162]

After a slightly extended break of 15 minutes the players have returned to the felt and are on the home stretch for the day. Just three more levels and Day 1A will officially be in the books.

Level: 10

Blinds: 600/1,200

Ante: 100

01-09-2009 18:51 UTC+11

Last Break of the Day

[user75032]

Instead of a dinner break, players have been sent on their third and final ten-minute break of the day. After this break, we will come back and play three more levels before finishing for the day.

01-09-2009 18:43 UTC+11

Youssef Eliminated

[user75032]

Sam Youssef is out of escape pods. He was crippled once again in a flip against Mel Judah. Youssef was slightly ahead preflop with pocket tens, but Judah's ace-jack caught an ace on the flop. That hand moved Judah to 28,000 and Youssef down to 1,800.

A few hands later, Youssef was all in preflop and found two callers. The board came {A-Diamonds}

. One of the callers bet the flop, folding the other. With no further action remaining, each player opened his hand.

Youssef: {10-Clubs}

Opponent:

"Let's see how you win this one," Emad Tahtouh wryly remarked. Indeed, Youssef was out of magic when the turn and river came running queens. He has been eliminated.

Youssef's seat didn't remain empty for long. A table was broken just a few minutes later, and none other than David Saab moved into Youssef's old seat. "For the love of God!" cried Tahtouh. "Send me home right now! I heard you from across the room. I knew that Saab was here somewhere."

Tags: David Saab Emad Tahtouh Mel Judah Sam Youssef

01-09-2009 18:40 UTC+11

Tahtouh Takes Out the Hoon

[user67765]

A player in middle position opened with a raise to 2,700 before Emad Tahtouh shoved over the top for all of his chips. The action was folded to Mick "The Hoon" Stanton in the big blind, who called all in for his final 3,400. The original raiser stepped out of the way as the cards were revealed.

Tahtouh held {A-Diamonds}