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

01-09-2009 14:03 UTC+11

Antonio Fazzolari Early Leader

[user92162]

Antonio Fazzolari is certainly amongst the early chip leaders. In his latest winning hand, Fazzolari was holding {10-Diamonds}

and called down his opponent's flop and turn bets of 1,000 chips each.

On the river, his opponent checked to him with the board reading {9-Diamonds}

, which had given Fazzolari a rivered straight. Fazzolari bet out 2,000, and his opponent reluctantly made the call for his final 1,700 chips before open mucking {k-Spades}

.

Fazzolari continues to roll, sitting pretty at 15,300.

Tags: Antonio Fazzolari

01-09-2009 14:04 UTC+11

Chrisanthopoulos Doubles Through Powell

[user67765]

Michael Chrisanthopoulos has just doubled up his short stack at the expense of Julian Powell.

Powell held {10-Clubs}

to be well in front of the {A-Hearts}

of Chrisanthopoulos, however the board fell {K-Hearts}

, giving Chrisanthopoulos an ace on the turn to survive and double up.

Chrisanthopoulos now sits with 3,300 while Powell slips to 3,650.

Tags: Julian Powell Michael Chrisanthopoulos

01-09-2009 14:14 UTC+11

Cabrera Building Speed

[user75032]

Life on Day 1 of Event 1 at the 2009 Aussie Millions Poker Championships is pretty good for Abel Cabrera, who has just taken out another player. Cabrera called that player's all-in bet of 1,450 chips preflop holding {A-Spades}

and was up against {K-Diamonds}

. Neither player improved on a queen-high board, allowing Cabrera to scoop the pot with ace-high. He's up to 12,400 chips.

Tags: Abel Cabrera

01-09-2009 14:19 UTC+11

Casale Runs Kings into Aces

[user67765]

Antonio Casale's day continues to provide a mixed bag after he just ran his {K-Hearts}

into an opponent's {A-Spades}

. The board ran out {8-Hearts}

, dropping Casale down to 1,800.

Tags: Antonio Casale

01-09-2009 14:23 UTC+11

A Rose by Any Other Name

[user75032]

What's in a name? Everything, apparently.

Nobody has ever accused David Saab of being a quiet person. His chatty ways may have helped him win a pot at Annette Obrestad's expense. The action was all preflop. Saab was in late position and re-raised a player who had opened from middle position. The small blind called Saab's raise before Obrestad moved all in from the big blind.

Action folded back to Saab, who decided to press for information. "Is your name Annette?" he asked. Obrestad did not respond.

Saab then turned to the player sitting next to him. "Is her name Annette?" he asked again. That player replied that he wasn't sure but believed the answer was yes.

"I think your name is Annette," Saab announced to Obrestad. "So I call." He tabled pocket eights; Obrestad showed ace-eight and did not improve after the board ran out.

Obrestad was incensed that the player sitting beside Saab had given him information to use in the hand, but there was nothing she could do about it. Saab raked the pot to climb over 10,000 in chips as Obrestad headed for the cash games to blow off some steam.

Tags: Annette Obrestad David Saab

01-09-2009 14:31 UTC+11

Monaghan Doubles Back to the Beginning

[user75032]

It's been up-and-down for Adam Monaghan so far today, but most recently he's up. With 900 in the pot and the board showing {10-Spades}

, Monaghan bet 550. One player called him, bringing the hand to the river {A-Hearts}

. Monaghan moved all in for 1,500 chips and was called. He showed {K-Clubs}

for trip tens. That was the winner.

Monaghan is up to 5,100.

Tags: Adam Monaghan

01-09-2009 14:31 UTC+11

10 Minute Break

[user92162]

Players are now on the first 10 minute break of the day. The next break is expected to be a 10 minute break after level 6, followed by a major dinner break of 40 minutes to an hour after level 9. In all, players will play 12 levels today and the same will be repeated for Day 1B.

Level: 4

Blinds: 100/200

Ante: 0

01-09-2009 14:42 UTC+11

Play Resumes

[user67765]

The players are back and the cards are once again in the air. We have 269 players remaining in today's field.

01-09-2009 14:56 UTC+11

Best Hands in the Business!

[user92162]

It was recently revealed that Lee "Final Table" Nelson undergoes regular shiatsu massage sessions as apart of his pre-tournament preparation.

Nelson kick-started what is now certainly an Aussie Millions tradition, with the “Best Hands” shiatsu massage team on the floor here in the Crown Poker Room. During long and tiresome days slogging it out at the table, players can at least succumb to some momentary relief in the form of a well-earned massage for a modest fee. It remains to be seen whether a well-timed shiatsu massage is a performance enhancer or not.